Archive of articles - February 2012, page 13
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District court says its book ruling is not censorship
The temporary ban on publication of the book by journalist Tom Nicholson on political corruption in Slovakia is not censorship, according to the Bratislava I District Court, which stated on February 6 that an individual’s right to personal protection prevails over publication of the book, the SITA newswire reported.
Dzurinda and Fico comment on meetings with Penta group
Mikuláš Dzurinda, the chairman of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), said on February 5 that meetings with Jaroslav Haščák, a partner of the Penta private equity group, had been held at the home of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová. The chairman of the opposition Smer party, Robert Fico, drew attention to this but did not answer whether he was ever in the wiretapped apartment described in the so-called Gorilla file, the SITA newswire wrote. Fico repeated only that Smer was an opposition party at the time of the wiretapping.
Dispute within Ordinary People’s election slate over polygraph tests
The chairman of the Ordinary People and and Independent Personalities (OĽNO) party, Igor Matovič, said he had invited only Peter Zajac, the chairman of the Civic Conservative Party (OKS) and Vladimír Palko, the chairman of the Conservative Democrats of Slovakia (KDS) to take a polygraph test to determine whether or not they have ever taken a bribe, the TASR newswire wrote. "I met Mr. Palko and Mr. Zajac for lunch today and said I wanted to take a polygraph test with a single question: had I ever taken a bribe. And I told them I'd love to have them take the test, too, and prove that we're different and serious about this fight against corruption," Matovič said on February 6, as quoted by TASR.
Slovak Economy Minister says ACTA puts copyrights above basic freedoms
Economy Minister Juraj Miškov (Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS)) said on February 6 that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) contains a lot of vague formulations and offers many interpretations that pose a potential risk of undesired outcomes, the TASR newswire reported. "I won't support an agreement that would curtail basic human rights in any shape or form, particularly the right to freedom and privacy and that will superimpose copyright protection over these rights," Miškov stated, as quoted by TASR. "We want to prevent Slovakia and Slovak citizens becoming hostages in the hands of agreements that are not fully clear which could restrict the basic human rights and freedoms of every individual," added the minister. Miškov's view is shared by Smer party chairman Robert Fico who said that Slovakia should not ratify ACTA in its current form, adding that if Smer is part of the future government, it will not lend any support to ACTA. Fico also said the agreement was drafted under wraps to a large degree and its protocols are unknown.
Finance Ministry cuts estimate for Slovakia's 2012 GDP to 1.1 percent
The Finance Ministry's Financial Policy Institute (IFP) cut its prognosis for growth in the Slovak economy in 2012 from 1.7 percent to 1.1 percent, the TASR newswire reported on February 6. "Obviously, a great deal of uncertainty in the external environment persists. According to IFP, the risks in this prognosis are well balanced unlike in previous predictions in which negative risk factors prevailed," said ministry spokesman Martin Jaroš to TASR.
Ice suspends navigation on the Danube River
Navigation on the section of the Danube River between Bratislava and Gabčíkovo dam has been suspended due to ice floes, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovak parliament votes to scrap MPs’ immunity for minor offences
Members of Slovakia’s parliament and a number of other top public officials will no longer enjoy protection from prosecution for minor offences as parliament passed a measure to scrap their immunity for misdemeanours on February 3, the TASR newswire reported.
Russia’s Gazprom reduces natural gas flowing to Europe
Europe is becoming concerned about another natural gas crisis as Gazprom, the Russian gas supplier, reduced its supply of natural gas flowing west to Europe at the beginning of February, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported, with Gazprom reportedly saying that it does not have enough gas to fulfil the increased demand of European countries hit with an arctic winter. Russian Prime Minister Vladimír Putin also said that it is more important for the company to first supply the Russian market, the daily wrote.
Organisers say Gorilla protests will continue
Organisers of the so-called Gorilla protests against political corruption in Slovakia plan to continue organising additional demonstrations, said Peter Pčolinský, one of the organisers, to the TASR newswire.
‘Good Night’ from Slovakia
WHILE most of the world’s beverage companies are competing to make and market the best energy drink, a Slovak company is moving in the opposite direction. The Red Point company is producing a drink to calm people down.
Carmakers launch new shifts
THE BIG three carmakers in Slovakia are continuing to hire new staff and have all announced that they are launching new shifts to meet demand, the Sme daily reported.
Quote of the week
“For an artist who earns €10 million a month or a year it makes no difference whether someone has his song on their mobile phone.”
Building innovation centres and technology incubators
MANY universities across Slovakia have realised the importance of innovation and the commercialisation of research results. They have launched innovation centres and technology incubators hoping that these can make a significant contribution to putting Slovakia on the road to an innovative economy.
Roma exclusion judged costly
“THE ECONOMIC losses to Slovakia resulting from social exclusion of Roma citizens comes to 7 percent of GDP,” said Miroslav Pollák, the government proxy for Roma communities. He added the losses of not including Roma in the country’s labour market are higher than the costs of integrating them into society, the SITA newswire wrote.
Yellow trains coming soon to Slovakia
AFTER all the negative headlines about higher fares and discontinued services, rail passengers have now been served up some better-sounding news. On March 4, RegioJet, a member of the Czech Student Agency group, will start operating regional rail service on a route linking Bratislava, Dunajská Streda and Komárno, south-east from the capital. It promises a new, improved quality of rail passenger transport. This, along with the raising price of motor fuels, may get more people onto trains and relieve the overloaded road transport system around Bratislava. RegioJet introduced two train sets in the firm’s distinctive yellow livery, as well as timetables and fares, on January 31.
Sasanka
THE NUMBER of animals active in Slovak politics is increasing dramatically. Here is a brief overview:Sasanka (anemone) – codename for anonymous files released on the internet, which contain text messages between then-speaker of parliament Richard Sulík and Marián Kočner, a controversial entrepreneur with his own entry in the notorious “mafia lists” leaked from the police. The two men discuss mainly the election of the general prosecutor. The underwater creature has not yet managed to drown Sulík, but, to cite a Slovak proverb, he must already feel water pouring into his shoes.
Slovak institutions and organisations with innovation in their portfolios
Ministry of Economywww.economy.gov.sk
Slovak startups head off to Silicon Valley
SILICON Valley is at the heart of innovation in the US. Last year representatives of four Slovak startup companies won the chance to spend three months in this environment to see how IT innovation occurs in that part of the world. While the competition to choose the winning companies was organised rather quickly, the level of interest from Slovak innovators and startup companies was very high. Based on the electrifying atmosphere of the competition, the organisers of the first Startup Awards.SK are positive that additional Slovak startups will seek to transform their bright ideas into globally-successful companies in coming years.
Stimulating innovation at Bratislava's STU
ROBERT Redhammer envisions a university campus where firms involved in scientific and technological ventures regularly bump into students and routinely involve them in their projects, while students have an opportunity to work on diploma theses that could have better practical applications. Redhammer, the rector of the Slovak University of Technology (STU) in Bratislava, the country’s oldest technical university, believes this kind of model would also help to retain experienced professors and keep them inspired as well.
Italian nostalgia in photos
THE EXHIBITION Naples - Florence - Venice / Italian Travelogue Photography currently running at the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) has – apart from its obvious aesthetic value – a double historical role: it documents not just the albumen phase in the development of photography, but also its role in the nineteenth-century expansion of travel and, with it, tourism.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- Liberal MP's boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence 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
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- 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
- 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
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame Video
- 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 More articles ›
