Archive of articles - March 2011, page 6
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This week in Slovakia
Content of programme: Opposition alleges widespread wiretapping; Ministers squabble over Cyprus mission; Honeywell confirms investment as job cuts continue
Slovak Defence Ministry states its positions on NATO action in Libya
Slovakia’s Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko stated that military intervention in Libya should be only a solution of last resort even if the UN Security Council passes a resolution on establishing a no-fly zone over the country, Galko said at a press conference on March 18, adding that Slovakia will act as a responsible NATO member regardless what comes, the TASR newswire reported.
SDKÚ re-elects Jozef Mikuš as its central council chair
Jozef Mikuš has succeeded in his re-election bid as chair of the central council of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), party chairman Mikuláš Dzurinda told a press conference after the party's central council session held in Strečno (Žilina region) on Saturday, March 19, the TASR newswire reported, writing that Mikuš received support from 108 of the 110 members of the central council.
Prosecutor and others are charged with bribery
A well-known Bratislava-based prosecutor, identified only as Michal B., has been charged by the police with receiving a bribe in a case that also includes charges against another four people suspected of being involved, the TASR newswire reported. The spokesman for the General Prosecutor's Office, Vladimír Ferko, told TASR that the issue falls under the remit of the Special Prosecutor's Office which will also deal with complaints made by those charged.
Slovakia’s Education Ministry reports secondary school test answers were on Facebook
An extraordinary session of the Central Commission for [School] Leaving Exams within the Education Ministry was convened on Friday, March 18, amid controversy concerning the publication of answers to the B1 secondary school year-end test, the TASR newswire was told by ministry spokesperson Miriam Žiaková. The session of the commission was closed to the public and the ministry would inform about the results later, according to Žiaková. The Sme daily on March 18 reported that the correct answers to the B1 test were available on Facebook. The solutions were originally posted on the ulozisko.sk website, according to Sme. "The file was posted on Tuesday, March 15, at 20.59," said Denis Donauer of the website.
Slovakia's integrity rating not a reason for joy
THE GLOBAL Integrity Report (GIR) has ranked Slovakia in the top half of monitored countries with an overall score of 73 out of 100, but its report on the country is not without criticism.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Slovak aid to Haiti finally released
HUMANITARIAN aid supplies from Slovakia have finally been released by customs in Haiti almost a year after delivery. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that the supplies, sent following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, are now ready for distribution to Haitians in need, the SITA newswire reported.
Car sales deliver positive surprise
THE FINAL figures for car sales in Slovakia in 2010 have returned a positive surprise: even though they lagged well behind the record set in 2008, not to mention sales last year, they exceeded market expectations. Sales of new cars rose strongly during the final months of 2010, indicating that the car market is recovering from the crisis and that the appetite of Slovak drivers for new cars is growing.
Minister stirs tuition fees debate
THE EDUCATION Ministry is analysing the possibility of introducing tuition fees for full-time university studies, Education Minister Eugen Jurzyca told the parliamentary committee on education. After his comments attracted heavy criticism from students and opposition, he stressed that tuition fees are not in the ministry’s plans for this parliament, nor are they mentioned in the government’s programme.
Minister: Reform, even if it hurts
REFORM is necessary even if it is going to hurt, said Slovakia’s Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš as he tried mid March to push his ruling coalition partners closer to a compromise over the changes it is considering making to ways of calculating income tax and mandatory payroll taxes.
Slovakia readies aid for Japan
SLOVAKIA has prepared an aid package consisting of funds and rescue workers to support recovery efforts and humanitarian projects in Japan in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in mid-March.
Hospitals face cuts in bed capacity
SLOVAK hospitals may lose 10 to 15 percent of their total 35,000 beds, based on a preliminary plan by the Health Ministry.The exact number and structure of the affected wards will be known after talks between the ministry, counties, managements of the affected facilities and insurance companies, the SITA newswire reported.
Life little healthier in settlements
A REPORT by the Programme for Health Support in Disadvantaged Communities shows that some of the Roma who inhabit Slovakia’s shantytowns are taking better care of their children’s health, but still tend to neglect the health and hygiene of adults, the Sme daily wrote.
Finding their own feet in BA
THE HOUSE of MOST-BRIDGE, a non-profit organisation that assists the mentally ill, is celebrating a milestone, its director, Andrea Beňušková, told the SITA newswire on February 3.
Slovakia’s electric avenue
THE FIRST vehicles powered entirely by electricity were manufactured as early as in the 1900s, but after more than one hundred years electric cars remain a curiosity, at least in Slovakia. Nevertheless, the situation is now set to change. As many companies worldwide plan to – or have already started – serial production of electric cars, a number of pilot e-mobility projects have emerged across Slovakia. Most of them are being run by electricity distribution companies since infrastructure, specifically charging stations, remains a critical issue, even though most electric cars can in theory be recharged from domestic power points.
Car sales
Sales of new passenger cars and small utility vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes:
Carmakers propel Slovakia’s economy
THE MANUFACTURING industry is growing in Slovakia. In January local production grew by 17.1 percent year-on-year. According to the Slovak Statistics Office, it was carmakers and mechanical engineering companies in particular that drove the growth in production. Analysts expect Slovak industry to continue to thrive in the coming months, the Hospodárske Noviny daily wrote.
Birds get three new shelters
THE ENVIRONMENT Ministry has designated three new, mountainous regions – the Malá Fatra, Slovenský Raj and the Tatra Mountains – as Protected Bird Areas (CHVÚ), ministry spokesperson Beatrice Hudáková told the SITA newswire.
Fuel prices soar in Slovakia
AVERAGE motor fuel prices have continued to grow in Slovakia, recently hitting record levels. The average price of the best-selling 95 Natural petrol is currently around €1.44 per litre and the average price of diesel is around €1.35 per litre, the natankuj.sk fuel-price monitoring website wrote on March 14.
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
