Archive of articles - April 2011, page 5
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35 Old Town dog owners pardoned
THE Staré Mesto (Old Town) district of Bratislava granted general pardons to 35 dog owners who registered their pets only in February even though the original deadline was January 31.
No insurance for gravestones
THE RECENT strong winds that hit the High Tatras in the first half of April damaged more than forests and roofs. A cemetery in the town of Vysoké Tatry had more than 60 gravestones damaged or completely destroyed, the Sme daily wrote.
Internet paywall erected
THE DAY of the thin grey stripe has arrived. Now appearing above content on some of Slovakia’s biggest online news providers, the stripe indicates that users will soon – though not quite yet – have to pay to view the content beneath it. The appearance of the stripe marks the launch of a unique multi-site paywall which is about to divide the Slovak internet into ‘free’ and ‘premium’ content.
Slovakia stung by Orbán’s constitution
THE EYES of much of Europe turned once again to Hungary on April 18 when its parliament passed an amendment to the country’s constitution, dubbed as conservative, controversial and problematic by the world’s media as well as by the parliamentary opposition to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Slovak politicians also poured their share of cross-border criticism on the government and parliament dominated by Orbán’s Fidesz party.
Flooding highlighted insurance gaps
AFTER a decrease in premiums in 2009 the Slovak insurance sector reported slight growth last year. Insurance companies hope that a growing economy will bring them new business – and that the extensive floods that hit Slovakia in 2010 will prompt more property owners to insure their assets against adverse impacts from severe weather and other risks.
100 days of online public contracts
SLOVAK state, regional and municipal governments have been required to publish all their contracts, paid invoices and orders online for the past 100 days. The requirement, which took effect on January 1, was designed to improve transparency in how public money is spent and has been called a show-case initiative by the government and has aided the media in reporting some questionable spending at Slovak ministries and state-run companies.
Inflation exceeds EU average
INFLATION has joined exhausted treasuries and climbing jobless rates on the list of worries for many European Union countries.
Hockey Guide: Tasting Slovak cuisine
Read more about the Ice Hockey World Championship in Slovakia in our Hockey Fan Guide.
Hockey Guide: The World Championship on TV
Read more about the Ice Hockey World Championship in Slovakia in our Hockey Fan Guide.
Radičová: Mikulčík departure was the only way out, hence my actions
Prime Minister Iveta Radičová has suggested that she personally insisted on the resignation of Tax Directorate head Miroslav Mikulčík as the only way to rid the government of what she called "a shadow of non-transparency" which had emerged following a property leasing deal agreed by Mikulčík. "This is why I took certain action this [Wednesday] morning" she commented, shortly after Mikulčík stepped down from his post on April 20.
Government okays national reform programme aimed at boosting economy
The government, at its session on Wednesday, April 20, approved an ongoing National Programme of Reforms that is due to remain in place until the middle of 2014, the TASR newswire reported. The document introduces a package of measures aimed at reviving the Slovak economy and improving living standards. Gradual compliance with the objectives set forth in the EU's Europe 2020 programme is also addressed.
SNS asks ministry to examine Berényi's election as SMK leader
The opposition Slovak National Party (SNS) filed a motion with the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, April 20, asking it to examine the legality of József Berényi's election to the post of chairman of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) at its party congress on Saturday, April 16.
Jobless rate dropped slightly in March
Slovakia's unemployment rate was 13.13 percent in March, a fall of 0.03 percentage points from February but representing a year-on-year rise of 0.25 percentage points, the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Centre (ÚPSVaR) announced on Wednesday, April 20.
Poll: Distrust in politicians rises; Fico remains most popular
The popularity of most Slovak politicians has experienced steep falls over the past year, although opposition leader and former premier Robert Fico is still top of the rankings, according to a Public Affairs Institute (IVO) survey released on Wednesday, April 20.
Tax boss quits as PM refuses to back down
THE BOSS of Slovakia’s Tax Directorate, who earlier this year nodded through a five-year, €6.6-million office leasing deal with a firm co-owned by a regional official of the ruling Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), resigned on April 20. A day earlier, SDKÚ leaders had appeared to agree that Slovakia’s public-finance watchdog would decide his fate via an audit of the deal.
Constitutional Court rules general prosecutor vote was invalid
On Wednesday, April 20, the Slovak Constitutional Court ruled that a parliamentary vote held on December 7, 2011, to select the general prosecutor was invalid, as the rights of one of the candidates, Dobroslav Trnka, who at the time was the incumbent general prosecutor, were violated. The vote was inconclusive, with Trnka failing by one vote to be selected.
SaS will not support Slovakia’s participation in ESM
At a press conference on Wednesday, April 20, the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party announced that it would not support Slovakia’s involvement in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in a vote in parliament.
Mikulčík resigns as general director of Tax Directorate
Miroslav Mikulčík, the general director of Slovakia’s Tax Directorate will resign, directorate spokesperson Gabriela Dianová announced on Wednesday, April 20, the TASR newswire reported.
Court blocks proposed restructuring of Tipos
The Bratislava I District Court on Wednesday, April 13, rejected a restructuring proposal by state-owned lottery company Tipos intended to protect it from its creditors. The verdict, which cannot be appealed, was published on April 20 in the Business Journal. It becomes effective one day after publication, i.e. tomorrow.
TV Markíza: Tax Directorate has family connection to NKÚ
A Slovak TV station has reported a family connection between senior staff members of Slovakia’s Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) and the Slovak Tax Directorate, which is to be the subject of an NKÚ audit.
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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 ›
