Archive of articles - September 2011, page 5
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Stand-off over eurozone bailout
OBSERVERS are warning that it could end up having a more serious impact on the country than those involved seem to realise. But the battle of words over changes to the eurozone bailout scheme intensified on September 20 when Richard Sulík, the leader of the dissenting coalition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), lined up 18 of his party’s MPs to restate that their party will not support the proposed changes in a parliamentary vote.
Radičová meets Van Rompuy, warns of Slovak political deadlock
At a meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in New York on Thursday, September 22, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová told him that the eurozone financial stability mechanism is becoming a hot topic in Slovak politics and that “it is even being connected to the future of the current government”, according to a Government Office press statement.
Slota wins libel lawsuit against 7 Plus publishing house
The Žilina District Court ruled that the 7 Plus publishing house, publisher of the Plus 7 Dní weekly and Plus 1 Deň daily, must pay €3,000 in compensation to SNS chairman Ján Slota based on the libel lawsuit he initiated against the company for an article titled "Does He Fear His Past?" that appeared in Plus 7 Dní weekly on May 2, 2008 as well as for an article published by Plus 1 Deň daily on March 26, 2008, the SITA newswire reported.
Cigarette prices likely to increase in February
The price of cigarettes is set to increase in February 2012 as the government cabinet on September 21 approved the Finance Ministry's proposal to hike the excise tax on cigarettes one year earlier than originally planned, the TASR newswire reported. Two parties of the governing coalition, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party and the OKS faction of Most-Híd party announced they will decide on their position on the tax rise towards the end of the year when the 2012 budget is in the approval process.
Section of R1 highway to open later than planned
A much-awaited section of the R1 highway between Lehota and Tekovské Nemce in Nitra Region will not be finished as early as planned, the Transport Ministry announced on September 20, the Sme daily wrote.
Slovakia’s cabinet approves special bank levy
Commercial banks operating in Slovakia will pay a special levy based on 0.2 percent of a certain part of their liabilities to a special state financial assets account, according to draft legislation approved by Slovakia’s cabinet on September 21, the TASR newsier reported.
Labour Ministry announces four projects to fight long-term unemployment
Four new projects could help address long-term unemployment, including that among Roma citizens, said Lucia Nicholsonová, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family and Miroslav Pollák, the Government Proxy for Roma Communities, at a joint press conference on September 21, the TASR newswire reported. With a total cost of €93.3 million, much of which will be financed from the European Social Fund (ESF), the projects are expected to be launched in 2012. The first project is planned to last for four years and is aimed specifically at residents of Roma settlements. Social workers in the settlements will be assisting people in these communities in situations involving communicating with local authorities or visiting a doctor. The second project concerns community centres and will finance the salaries of social workers, community workers, assistant teachers and health-care workers involved in the first project. The third project involves so-called social enterprises, which in some places have proven useful in tackling long-term unemployment and employment of people with low qualifications. The last project targets marginalised groups of people, who after successfully passing a course will qualify to work as caregivers. Nicholsonová said, as reported by TASR, that designing national projects like this will help prevent the misuse of money destined for marginalized communities of people, adding that out of the 587 approved support projects only 342 were aimed at the social work field for these communities. She stated that only these projects have been used effectively – unlike many others that often had little or nothing to do with the target group of marginalised communities.
200 Slovak Roma citizens protest at president's palace
Some 200 Roma citizens gathered in front of the presidential palace in Bratislava on September 21, holding flags of the Roma Union Party and expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the Slovak government is handling their problems, the TASR newswire reported. "Iveta Radičová [Slovak Prime Minister] said she would put an end to our social allowance payments, but we want to get higher allowances for the poor people living in the [Roma] settlements," said one of the demonstrators, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Larry King visits Bratislava to mark TA3 broadcaster’s anniversary
Legendary American broadcaster Larry King is expected to arrive in Bratislava on Thursday, September 22 and his visit will be coupled with the presence of another legend – popular Czech talk show host Jan Kraus – who will be shooting a special show at TA3 to mark the news network's 10th anniversary, the TASR newswire reported. King became famous primarily because of his work with CNN where he hosted a talk show for 25 years. During his 53-year career in television he conducted approximately 50,000 interviews.
Radičová meets Obama
TRANSPARENCY is a key principle in governing a country, Slovak Prime Minister IvetaRadičová and US President Barack Obama agreed during a personal meeting between the twoleaders in New York City on September 20.
500 Roma expected to protest in Bratislava
About 500 Roma are expected to attend a rally in Bratislava in front of parliament on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 21. The citizens want to complain about their social situation and seek possible solutions. The organiser of the protest, activist Alojz Hlina, told the Hospodárske Noviny daily that the number of rally attendees had to be decreased from 1,000 to 500 due to reconstruction work at the parliament building.
Slovak state budget already assumes slower growth
According to the Slovak Finance Ministry’s revised forecast, the economy will not grow by 4.4 percent but only by 3.4 percent in 2012, the Sme daily wrote in its Wednesday, September 21. The Finance Ministry prognosis was more or less confirmed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday, September 20, which confirmed its estimate for the growth of Slovak economy at 3.3 percent.
SND head Ondrej Šoth resigns
The general manager of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Ondrej Šoth, handed in his resignation on Tuesday, September 20, Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer told journalists on September 21, adding that he had accepted the resignation.
Former minister Štefanov refuses to testify
Opposition Slovak National party (SNS) party MP and former construction minister Igor Štefanov on Tuesday, September 20, refused to testify before an investigator in the case of the so-called bulletin-board tender. He claimed that the prosecution procedure is effectively criminalising him, the Sme daily reported on Wednesday, September 21.
Harabin is allowed to work from home
The Judicial Council has made it possible for Supreme Court president and chairman of the Judicial Council Štefan Harabin to work from home on Mondays and Fridays. When asked how fast he is able to reach the Supreme Court building, he wrote that he can manage it in 30 minutes – or in 5 hours. The first time probably refers to his home in Bratislava; the latter to his wife's home town of Hranovnica, eastern Slovakia.
More foreign tourists arrive in Slovakia
The number of foreign tourists coming to Slovakia is increasing. During the first half of 2011 it grew by 12 percent year-on-year to 658,000, the Slovak Tourist Board (SACR) said at a press conference on September 20.
Radičová outlines solutions to debt crisis
During her visit to the USA, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová attended a symposium entitled ‘Road to Prosperity’ where she talked about the current economic situation and Slovakia’s position on the eurozone debt crisis. The event was held in the Harvard Club in New York on September 20 and was attended by 150 businessmen, financiers and representatives of US companies, the Slovak Government Office reported.
Slovakia’s central bank warns about fraudulent SMS messages
Slovakia’s central bank, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), has issued a warning to the public concerning attempted fraud in a process it called "mishing", which the bank said is spreading mostly in the Czech Republic at the moment, the SITA newswire reported.
Survey: Fewer Slovaks support Obama
A survey conducted by the American public policy and grant-making institution the German Marshall Fund suggests that the popularity of US President Barack Obama in Slovakia is fading. While last year about 76 percent of Slovaks supported him as the leader of the US, this year he would be supported by only 58 percent of respondents here, the SITA newswire reported.
Berényi criticises Slovak government
The current ruling Slovak government is not fulfilling most of the recommendations of European institutions including the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), according to the leader of the extra-parliamentary Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), József Berényi. His comments came during a meeting with Joseph Daul, chairman of the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament, the TASR newswire reported.
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- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
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- 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
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- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
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- 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 ›
