Archive of articles - February 2012, page 11
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GDP growth forecast cut back again
RESPONDING to worsening economic news in the eurozone, Slovakia’s Finance Ministry cut its forecast for the country’s GDP growth in 2012 to 1.1 percent, backing off from its earlier prediction of 1.7-percent growth made in November.
Slovak band debuts its 'Family' CD with Latin flair
THE SLOVAK band La3no Cubano has been playing since 2003 in various line-ups, various styles and using an innovative approach to music. The band members themselves state that they have played about 1,000 gigs in various places, with the band varying in size from a mere duo to a 12-member orchestra. This multi-genre Slovak band started as a free grouping of percussionists who tried Cuban and Latin rhythms first, but then added African, Oriental, Balkan, Gypsy, drum 'n' bass and funk influences. Its combination of instruments has changed in the course of time, too, and the current band includes some typical Slovak instruments.
MPs vote to give up some privileges
A NUMBER of Slovakia’s top officials will soon lose their legal immunity from speeding fines, parking fines and fines for drink driving. After a series of failed attempts over the past two decades to curtail Slovak MPs’ privileges, deputies from across the political spectrum on February 3 agreed to scrap their own immunity and that of a range of public officials from punishment for minor offences classed as misdemeanours. MPs will still be immune from prosecution for criminal offences.
Workplace IT rules often ignored
AS MANY as seven out of 10 young employees knowingly break their companies’ IT policies on a regular basis and three out of five employees believe they are not responsible for protecting corporate information and devices. These are some of findings of a global survey conducted by IT giant Cisco summarised in its Connected World Technology Report, the SITA newswire reported in late January.
Gašparovič meets US ambassador
BILATERAL relations and the continuing presence of the Slovak contingent in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan were the main issues discussed during a meeting between Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and the US Ambassador to Slovakia, Theodore Sedgwick, held on February 8, the TASR newswire reported.“The president confirmed that Slovakia is determined to continue fulfilling its commitments as part of NATO’s ISAF operation in Afghanistan and any major political decisions as to the future nature of the operation will be up to the new Slovak government,” stated the president’s spokesman, Marek Trubač.
Spam costs Slovak firms €20 million
INTERNET users spend almost six hours a year deleting unwanted e-mails, costing Slovak companies over €20 million a year, telecoms firm Slovanet has found as part of its SPAMIA project to analyse spam.
Foreign trade surplus for 2011
Slovakia's foreign trade account posted a surplus of €82.1 million in December 2011, the Statistics Office (ŠÚ) announced on February 8, adding that the total trade surplus for all of 2011 came to €2.519 billion, the highest level recorded in the country’s history.
Quote of the week
“I found that we have been keeping snakes on our chests [i.e. harbouring traitors] who are able to conceive of any excuse to avoid being tested.”
Government issues two apologies
THE SLOVAK government has apologised to the former president, Michal Kováč, for not being able to find enough votes in parliament to abolish amnesties granted in 1998 by Vladimír Mečiar, the prime minister and acting-president at that time. The amnesties Mečiar issued made it impossible to investigate and prosecute individuals who were involved in abducting Kováč’s son and taking him to Austria in 1995, the SITA newswire reported.
The Most Beautiful Children’s Books
THE BIBIANA International House of Art, working together with the Museum of Czech Literature in Prague, has prepared a unique project: a touring exhibition called Najkrajšie české a slovenské detské knihy / The Most Beautiful Czech and Slovak Children’s Books.
Roma party criticises SNS ads
THE CHAIR of the Roma Union Party (SRÚ), František Tanko, called on the Slovak National Party (SNS) to immediately remove political ads that Tanko believes attack Slovakia’s Roma minority, the TASR newswire reported.
Some IT companies in Slovakia
-Anasoft,www.anasoft.com-Asseco Central Europe,www.asseco-ce.com-DATALAN,www.datalan.sk -DELL,www.dell.sk -ESET, www.eset.com -Gratext International,www.gratex.com -HP Slovakia,www.hp.sk -IBM Slovensko,www.ibm.com/sk -Microsoft Slovakia,www.microsoft.sk -Ness Slovensko,www.ness.com/SK-SK -PosAm,www.posam.sk -SAP Slovakia,www.sap.com/sk -Soitron,www.soitron.sk -Tempest,www.tempest.sk -T-Systems Slovakia,www.t-systems.sk
Detecting and zapping computer malware
ESET is a global leader in providing computer security solutions with more than 20 years of experience and more than one hundred million users of its products. It has been on the market since the first widespread appearance of computer viruses, which were mostly intended to demonstrate the ability of their writers, and now combats a whole range of sophisticated cyber-threats.
Finance Ministry cuts 2012 economic growth forecast to 1.1%
The Finance Ministry on Thursday, February 9, reduced its official prognosis for Slovakia's economic growth in 2012 from 1.7 percent to 1.1 percent of GDP. The forecast indicates that the Finance Ministry still doesn't expect the country to fall into recession this year.
Governing parties to turn to Constitutional Court over Čentéš
Deputies for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Most-Híd will sign up to a proposal by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether President Ivan Gašparovič has the right to put off the appointment of parliament's choice of general prosecutor, Jozef Čentéš.
Two minor planets named after Slovaks
Two minor planets orbiting the Sun were named after famous Slovak personalities after they were discovered in 2011 by Slovak amateur astronomer Štefan Kurti from Nové Zámky, the TASR newswire wrote on Thursday, February 9.
IVO: Quality of democracy rating stood still in second half of 2011
The level of democracy in Slovakia stayed put in the second half of 2011, with a mark of 2.6 in the twice-yearly Barometer survey carried out by the Public Affairs Institute (IVO), the think tank's president and political analyst Grigorij Mesežnikov said on Thursday, February 9, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Parliament rejects changes to Act on Citizenship
Slovak citizens who acquire the citizenship of another country will continue to be stripped automatically of their Slovak citizenship after parliament on Thursday, February 9, voted down an amendment to the Citizenship Act drafted by the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH).
Revolúcia
IF THERE was ever a terrible time to be starting a revolution in Slovakia, it’s now. Have you noticed the freezing cold? But if tens of thousands take to the streets despite the weather and the omnipresent lethargy, you know something is happening.
Big Ben is now in Nový Ruskov
THE MASTER of the Guild of Artistic Blacksmiths, Vladimír Eperješi, had promised somewhat tongue-in-cheek that he would construct replicas of the 100 most beautiful buildings in the world for his hometown of Nový Ruskov in eastern Slovakia. He has now added a replica of London’s Big Ben to his past works such as the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Statue of Liberty and a Dutch windmill.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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 More articles ›
