Archive of articles - October 2011, page 5
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The wooden church of Zboj
THE TRADITION of wooden churches in Slovakia goes far back into history. It is known that Celts and Slavs constructed their religious buildings from wood. After Christianity came to this region, churches made of stone became more common. So even though the region was rich in wood resources, churches began to be constructed of stone as early as the Great Moravian period. Wooden churches were built even later because their construction was cheaper and simpler. But they were more prone to quick destruction as well, and that is why so few of them are preserved.
A click can save a monument
IN OCTOBER the VÚB Foundation is giving the public the opportunity to decide which of eight historical monuments will be renovated with help from the foundation. On the www.vub.sk/sochy webpage, a person can choose which of the eight sculptures that will be, the foundation’s press release stated.
Eurostat reports on inflation
THE RATE of inflation in Slovakia grew faster in September than the average across the eurozone and all countries of the European Union, according to a Eurostat report on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, the SITA newswire reported.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Quote of the week
“I will get in the car on Tuesday [October 18] and, metaphorically speaking, I’ll be back on March 9.”
Slovak archaeologists dig in Guatemala
A TEAM of archaeologists from the Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute (SAHI), led by Milan Kováč, has completed their third season of researching pre-Colombian Maya settlements in Guatemala. The research team has focused primarily on a settlement in Uaxactún, one of the most important and oldest Mayan sites in this Central American country.
Slovaks join Wall Street protests
HUNDREDS of mostly young people gathered on Hviezdoslavovo Square on October 15 and then marched to the headquarters of the Penta financial group to protest against what they called the undue influence of business groups on the distribution of national wealth, the TASR newswire reported. The protest was patterned after the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations that started in New York City which have spread to other cities across the world.
Elections draw closer
A FEW weeks ago the next parliamentary elections in Slovakia were nearly three years away. But in a blink of an eye the vote on the European bailout mechanism tied to a confidence vote in the government turned the Slovak political scene upside-down and politicians and the electorate now find themselves preparing for elections that are only just 16 weeks away.
Doctors vow to continue protest
NEITHER the fall of the government of Iveta Radičová nor the desire of the main opposition party Smer to halt the transformation of hospitals into joint-stock companies has changed the minds of doctors about their current mass protest. Hospital doctors submitted their resignations en masse in September to demonstrate their opposition to the Health Ministry’s plan to change the legal form of state-run hospitals. They are also demanding more health-care funding, higher salaries and adherence by hospitals to the Labour Code.
What legacy does the Radičová cabinet leave ?
IVETA Radičová and her cabinet are leaving after only one year and four months in their posts. Time will tell whether this was long enough for Slovakia’s first woman prime minister and her cabinet to have left a lasting mark on the country and be remembered as they wanted to be seen: as a government bringing transparency to public affairs and managing the economy responsibly.
EBRD slashes GDP growth forecast
THE LATEST GDP-growth estimates released by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for countries in central and eastern Europe with strong ties to the eurozone indicater a major economic slowdown, especially for Slovakia and Hungary, the SITA newswire reported.
Bratislava to Paris in two hours: privately and in comfort and style
To enhance charter transportation services for private clientele AIR – TRANSPORT EUROPE, Ltd. enlarged its fleet last year with a Cessna Citation 560 Encore jet. It is a top of the line business jet capable of meeting the needs of the most demanding travellers who need fast and reliable transport at a superior level. You can plan your trip in your personal organizer so that you easily manage your morning meeting in Riga, followed with a business lunch in Berlin and capped off with a romantic dinner in Paris – all without delay or stress. With its superb aircraft parameters and its excellent speed the Cessna Citation 560 Encore will take you from Bratislava to Riga in 1hr 50min or to Dűsseldorf in 1hr 35min; Poprad to Vienna is only 55min and Poprad to Bologna 1hr 40min.
Mulled wine, ski slopes and politics
WINTER is a very unusual season for Slovaks to be viewing billboards with party slogans or watching sharply-drawn political debates on TV. Nevertheless, after the fall of the four-party coalition government on October 11 the leaders of Slovakia’s political parties agreed that the next parliamentary elections would be held in March, perhaps before the last snow melts even in southern parts of the country.
Film festival tours Slovakia
A SPECIALISED film festival presenting environmental documentaries and promoting sustainable development is currently celebrating its 38th year. Ekotopfilm is showing a host of movies this year, including documentaries about ‘dancing’ deer and the first solar aeroplane. This year, the leitmotif is each person’s individual responsibility for the future of the world, and the shape in which we choose to leave it for our descendants.
Revitalisation of rail firms continues
ALL three of Slovakia’s state railway companies are continuing their revitalisation programmes despite the fall of the Iveta Radičová government. Together, the companies have so far laid off over 3,000 employees from an aggregate total of 31,000, the SITA newswire reported on October 17.
Most police 'pass' new evaluations
THE NEW system to evaluate the work of police officers is good and a new government should not change it, said Slovakia’s national police chief, Jaroslav Spišiak, as he released information showing that 66 percent of Slovakia’s police officers were evaluated as satisfactory, the TASR newswire reported.
Organisations supporting cycling as a means of transport
Cyklokoalícia, www.cyklokoalicia.sk
Moody’s warns about deficit targets
THE FALL of Slovakia’s four-party coalition government could endanger the credit rating of the country and increase the cost of servicing state debt, according to analysts from Moody’s rating agency. It commented that the uncertain political situation could threaten fiscal consolidation of the state budget, the SITA newswire reported.
The battle to pass the budget
PASSING a state budget when there are fears of a new recession and there is a need to bring the public finances into balance is a thorny undertaking, even for a well-functioning government. Now Slovakia’s outgoing government, which collapsed under the weight of a two-in-one vote on changes to the eurozone bailout scheme and confidence in the cabinet of Iveta Radičová, is attempting to pass its budget plan in parliament so that the state will not need to operate using a provisional budget in 2012.
Hostages to circumstance
IVAN Gašparovič is having the time of his presidential life. If the government had not fallen, the rest of his term in office would probably have been occupied with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, attending folk festivals and cheering at sporting stadiums – an outcome with which the many Slovaks who have long since given up any hope of detecting even a hint of statesmanship or political wisdom in his actions would have been more than happy.
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- News digest: House passes what activists and civic organisations call Russian law Photo
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Police detains ankle monitor wearing extremist Bombic
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- News digest: President Pellegrini opposes PM Fico on several issues
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Last Week: Fico erupts as ‘Purgatory’ case heads to court
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- Authoritarian echoes from Delhi to Bratislava
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- News digest: President Pellegrini opposes PM Fico on several issues
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- Hollywood turns Slovak highlands into high-speed playground Video
- Bratislava opens new support centre for foreigners
- You say nazdar, I say dovi
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Last Week: Fico erupts as ‘Purgatory’ case heads to court
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- News digest: House passes what activists and civic organisations call Russian law Photo
- Woman kills two cockroaches in two days in Bratislava's University Hospital
- Police detains ankle monitor wearing extremist Bombic
- Slovakia's top ice-hockey league finals may see a new record
- The Slovak singer who wants to help Czechia achieve its best result in Eurovision
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high More articles ›
