Archive of articles - November 2011, page 3
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Some Slovak collective shopping websites
Collective shopping websites:
Military spy agency bugged journalists
THE INTERCEPTION of journalists’ telephone calls by the Defence Ministry’s counterintelligence arm has cost the defence minister his job. However, as the wiretapping scandal, which involved the Military Defence Intelligence (VOS), has unfolded the public has learned that one of the journalists monitored on Galko’s watch was also wiretapped when the ministry was controlled by a nominee of the Smer party back in 2007. It has also emerged that the recent VOS operation involved wiretapping of the head of TV news channel TA3 and two senior Defence Ministry employees, according to leaked documents obtained by Slovak media outlets.
Galko ‘the fighter’ goes
THE CURRENT Iveta Radičová government might be an interim arrangement, but that does not mean it is immune to high-level changes. Seventeen months after Radičová and her ministers took office, and just over a month after they lost the confidence of parliament in a joint vote on the EU bailout mechanism, Ľubomír Galko, the defence minister, has become the first cabinet-level casualty.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Christmas spending may rise a little
HOW deep will Slovaks reach into their pockets for Christmas this year? It is a question asked by retailers at this time every year but the answer is even more difficult to fathom in 2011 as what has been called ‘depression from recession’ is making Slovak households behave much more cautiously. Estimates made by several researchers indicate that Slovaks may spend a bit more this year despite the difficult economic situation but that it is very unlikely that Slovaks will borrow money for Christmas purchases, preferring to tap into savings if necessary.
Top US artist visits Slovakia
The renowned US photographer David LaChapelle, who has worked in several genres of the medium but has focused on its more artistic form in recent years, was the author of a recent exhibition called Lost and Found at the Bratislava City Gallery (GMB). Starting on September 14 and continuing, after it had been extended due to high visitor numbers, until November 16, it also formed part of the annual Month of Photography festival. With 17,595 recorded visitors, it ranks among the most popular exhibitions ever hosted by the GMB.
Lantern procession
A PROCESSION carrying Chinese lanterns was held for the first time in Ružomberok on November 11, to mark the Christian holiday of St Martin. The event began at Š.N. Hýroš park and after lighting the lanterns the procession of children and parents walked through the town’s streets and then back to the park where treats and tea were served.
No outlet centres before Christmas
IF ALL had gone to plan, Slovaks would by now have been able to do their Christmas shopping at the county’s first fashion outlet centres. But things have turned out differently and eager shoppers must for now continue trekking to the Austrian village of Parndorf if they want to experience this kind of retail shopping experience. Both Slovak projects – One Fashion Outlet by Realiz in Voderady, near Trnava, and D1 Outlet by IPEC Group, near Senec – have now been postponed to next year. While Realiz announced back in February this year that its outlet centre would not open until 2012, IPEC only did the same this autumn.
International Women's Club Xmas Bazaar raises €88,000
THE ANNUAL Christmas Bazaar hosted by IWCB, the International Women’s Club of Bratislava held at Stará Tržnica, the old market hall in the Slovak capital on November 20, raised a record sum of €88,000.
Some online shops in Slovakia
www.gorila.sk
PM expresses doubts over nuclear
PRIME Minister Iveta Radičová has said she does not think that using nuclear energy is advantageous for Slovakia.
Small-leaf lime is Tree of the Year
A 320-YEAR-old small-leaf lime growing in Lipany in eastern Slovakia has been chosen as Slovakia’s Tree of the Year for 2011. Interestingly, the Slovak word for a lime tree, or linden, is “lipa” so the tree comes from its namesake town. The winning tree attracted 1,699 of the 10,167 votes that were cast in the competition.
Defence minister sacked
AFTER losing his job as defence minister over the wiretapping of journalists by his ministry's Military Defence Intelligence (VOS) unit, Ľubomír Galko will return to parliament as an MP for the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party. SaS has objected to both Galko’s dismissal and the way it was handled by Prime Minister Iveta Radičová. Galko is the first minister to leave the Radičová government, which will itself stand down after an early general election on March 10 which was brought about by SaS opposition to eurozone bailout plans. The already frosty relations between the governing parties have worsened further, but SaS is unlikely to quit the government.
Percussion as a globalising power
What do an Iranian student of classical music, a Polish graduate of geo-information studies, an Indian classical percussionist, a US percussionist and percussion-maker, a Czech band and Slovak musicians have in common? The answer is a love of percussion – as well as their participation in the first Slovak festival of drums. Taking place on October 28 and 29, World of Drums combined different musical styles, and artists of various nationalities, ages, and sometimes even professions.
Wiretapping provokes strong reactions
FOLLOWING revelations that the Military Defence Intelligence (VOS), the counterintelligence arm of the Defence Ministry, has been wiretapping journalists, media experts have stressed that eavesdropping on journalists or their contacts is unacceptable in a democracy.
Staying secure in times of austerity
‘SECURITY issues’ is no longer code for just military-related affairs: many other aspects need to be taken into account when ensuring a country’s capacity for effective security. That, as well as other challenges, was among the topics debated by central European experts in Bratislava in mid-November.
Pravda
THE EVENTS of this week show that there are at least two things you should be careful about when you’re looking for the truth - wiretapping journalists and buying Pravda (The Truth).
Radičová: Giving more powers to EU would require referendum
Giving up certain national powers in the economic and monetary fields in favour of the EU is a matter on which Slovak citizens would have to decide in a referendum, said Prime Minister Iveta Radičová at a conference entitled 'The EU after the Lisbon Treaty and during a crisis' in Bratislava on November 25. Radičová's statement came in reaction to possible future changes to the European Union founding documents; changes that could stave off another eurozone debt crisis by ensuring compliance with budgetary regulations and improving administration of the eurozone, the TASR newswire reported.
Galko says VOS informer is responsible for information leak; Kaliňák surprised
Head of Military Defence Intelligence (VOS) Pavol Brychta allegedly pinpointed the person who was responsible for leaking information from military counterintelligence VOS, including typescripts of wiretapped phone calls, said outgoing defence minister Ľubomír Galko (SaS) at a press conference on November 25, the TASR newswire reported.
Lipšic threatens to quit politics over KDH election slate
Interior minister and Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) vice-chairman Daniel Lipšic is considering leaving politics, the Sme daily reported on Friday, November 25. He is disappointed with his party’s candidate list, which is to be approved on Friday by a KDH Council session in Martin.
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- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- 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 ›
