Archive of articles - October 2011, page 6
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Supreme Court backs Mello release
THE BRATISLAVA Regional Court was correct to release Karol Mello, a man accused of a double murder, from police custody, the Supreme Court ruled on October 18. The ruling marks the rejection of an appeal by Justice Minister Lucia Žitňanská, the SITA newswire reported.
Institutions and organisations in transport in Slovakia
Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development, www.telecom.gov.sk
Slovakia taxes banks
ROBERT Fico and his opposition Smer party had wanted a special tax on banks operating in Slovakia to be levied at a rate of 0.7 percent of their liabilities and had gone so far as to make this one of the party’s flagship policies. As it turns out, a special bank levy at 0.4 percent has now been passed by parliament – it was approved by MPs on October 20 – but at the initiative of the outgoing centre-right government.
Košice’s marathon draws crowds
THE 88th International Peace Marathon held in Košice on October 2 drew throngs of runners and spectators. The event is the second oldest marathon in the world and the oldest in Europe and this year’s race also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1961 victory of Ethiopian Abebe Bikila, the first two-time Olympic marathon champion.
It happens
“SHIT happens” is becoming a standard political phrase. Prime Minister Iveta Radičová’s spokesperson Rado Baťo used it in his Facebook status after the government was brought down. Former speaker of parliament Richard Sulík drew on it to explain why, despite previous agreements, his SaS party failed to support a bill proposed by the Finance Ministry.
Freight transporters face uncertainty
ALMOST the entire European freight market, including the Slovak market, is suffering from insufficient capacity and that is pushing up transport prices, according to a press release issued by the Slovak branch of DHL Freight in early October.
Constitutional Court rules against Supreme Court and in favour of Tipos
The Constitutional Court has agreed with a complaint filed by betting and lottery company Tipos on Tuesday, October 18, and ruled that a decision in November 2010 reached by the Supreme Court violated Tipos's right to legal protection, the right not to have its case taken away from a legally-appointed judge and the right to a fair trial.
Radičová will represent Slovakia at eurozone summit in Brussels
Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič will charge Prime Minister Iveta Radičová with the task of representing Slovakia at a forthcoming top-level eurozone summit, the Sme daily reported on Friday, October 21. Radičová’s government is being dismissed after a failed confidence vote in parliament on October 11, but should then be re-installed by Gašparovič in the same form after a revision is made to the constitution.
Unemployment rate rose to 13.37 percent in September, highest since 2005
The number of unemployed Slovaks grew by 0.25 percentage points month-on-month in September 2011 to 13.37 percent, the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Centre (ÚPSVaR) announced on Thursday, October 20.
Radičová’s government to remain until early elections
The cabinet of Iveta Radičová will govern the country until elections scheduled for March 10, the four centre-right coalition parties have agreed with President Ivan Gašparovič. Nevertheless, the constitution will have to be amended to allow this to happen.
Orphanage gets recycled mobile phones
A CHILDREN’S orphanage in Ružomberok received twenty mobile phones for its children from an unexpected source – the phones were made operable again from salvaged parts and batteries from more than a hundred mobile phones that would have been disposed of otherwise. The old mobile phones were donated by employees of Mondi SCP company, a pulp and paper mill in Ružomberok, as part of its corporate recycling programme.
Exhibition features Franz Ferdinand’s carriage
HORSES once were popular domestic animals in Slovakia but horse breeding has diminished in importance over recent years. So the 8th year of Kôň 2011, Slovakia’s international horse show, had as its goal the promotion of domestic horse breeding.
Student sets excavator afire
AN EXCAVATOR parked at a construction site on Partizánska Street in Banská Bystrica was set afire by a 16-year-old teenager, apparently drunk, who broke the vehicle’s window with a rock, got inside and then set the seat on fire with a lighter, according to Mária Faltániová, the Banská Bystrica police department’s spokeswoman.
Arbat club features debates in Russian
FANS of Russian language and culture, Russian expats and Slovaks who had worked or studied in Russia started to get together four years ago under the name Arbat for regular meetings on Sundays. Inspired by philosophical cafes in Paris and on Moscow’s Arbat Street, these enthusiasts have now formed the Arbat Russian Club to serve as a vehicle for cultural activities and debates in the Russian language.
Deal reached over interim government
AFTER a period of uncertainty over who would govern the country until the next general election in March 2012, the leaders of the centre-right parties and Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič agreed on a solution on October 20. The constitution will be revised to allow the president to charge the existing government of Iveta Radičová, which was defeated in a confidence vote in parliament on October 11, with governing the country until next year’s elections.
Slovak Armed Forces chief insists on retiring
General Ľubomír Bulík, chief of the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces, still wants to quit his post even though Defence Minister Ľubomír Galko (SaS) withdrew a proposal for his recall from a cabinet session held last week. Galko’s move came in the wake of the collapse of the centre-right government after it lost a vote of confidence in parliament on October 11.
Presidency is the most trusted institution, courts the least, survey shows
The most trusted institution in the Slovak constitutional system is the presidency. This was the result of a research project conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs (IVO) entitled The Slovak Judiciary in the Eyes of the Public, Experts and Judges. Within the project, the polling agency Focus surveyed 1,004 respondents in September, the SITA newswire wrote. The respondents were asked to say how much they trusted or did not trust the following institutions: the president, the Justice Ministry, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, parliament, the cabinet, courts, and the judiciary. Based on the results, a lack of public trust affected all the institutions apart from the presidency. Citizens said they trust the courts and the judiciary the least. But people have little trust in the cabinet or parliament either.
Identity of Slovakia’s representative at EU summit remains unclear
Just days ahead of a crucial EU summit this weekend to discuss future measures to shore up the eurozone it is still not clear which – if any – of Slovakia’s top politicians will travel to represent the country in Brussels. After the cabinet commissioned Prime Minister Iveta Radičová (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)) to lead the Slovak delegation to the top-level EU meeting, President Ivan Gašparovič said that he would decide on the matter.
Mayor of Veľká Lomnica wants to show local Roma settlement to tourists
Peter Duda, the mayor of Veľká Lomnica in eastern Slovakia, which is home to a community of 1,800 Roma, wants to open their settlement to tourists interested in seeing how Roma live. But in its prime-time news programme on Wednesday, October 19, the private broadcaster TV Markíza quoted Roma activist Denisa Havrlová as saying that she found it unethical to turn the lives of Roma into a tourist attraction. Mayor Duda argued the move would also get Roma to think about their attitude towards their own lifestyle.
Around 250 new jobs start at Levice's industrial park
Companies operating in the Levice-Juh industrial park in Nitra Region employ a total of 2,507 people and 250 new jobs have been created over the past few months, the TASR newswire reported. The new jobs were created mainly by LEAF Slovakia, ZF Sachs Slovakia (of Germany) and de Miclen (of Italy), Levice’s deputy mayor, Beata Vrábelová, told TASR.
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- He said he wanted a guitar and ran away. About the time a famous NHL team picked up an unknown Slovak
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Hollywood turns Slovak highlands into high-speed playground Video
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- He has been disciplined for delays. Now he will lead Slovakia’s top court
- Slovak startup Upfan declares war on fake tickets
- Smer MEP tells Slovaks to learn the EU’s rules – so they can break free from Brussels
- Too small to cope alone, Slovak villages are teaming up
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
