Archive of articles - March 2012
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Sme: Bubeníková claims money came from lottery win
The former head of the National Property Fund (FNM) state privatisation agency, Anna Bubeníková, who lost her job earlier in the year over suspicions of misconduct linked to revelations in the so-called Gorilla file, has told police that a payment she received in 2009 came from a lottery win, the Sme daily reported in this morning's edition.
WiFi trial begins on Bratislava-Košice trains
First-class passengers on selected InterCity (IC) trains between Bratislava and Košice can now get wireless internet access after the state-owned rail passenger operator ZSSK began a trial operation of onboard WiFi, the TASR newswire reported, citing ZSSK communications director Alexander Buzinkay.
ÚPSVaR: Almost half of unemployed Slovaks have now been jobless for over a year
Almost one half of all unemployed Slovaks have been looking for a job for more than a year, according to data published by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Centre (ÚPSVaR) on Thursday, March 29.
Glváč gets defence, Žiga environment
Smer party leader and incoming prime minister Robert Fico confirmed on Thursday, March 29, that regional party boss Martin Glváč would be defence minister in his new government. Fico also confirmed that Smer MP Peter Žiga would become environment minister, the TASR newswire reported.
Petrol price increases slacken in the EU
The growth of petrol prices in the European Union eased as last week petrol prices increased by less than 0.5 cents per litre on average and diesel prices even fell slightly, according to the natankuj.sk website, as reported by the SITA newswire.
World Touring Car Championship comes to Slovakia in April
The Slovakia Ring race track in Orechová Potôň, 36 kilometres southeast of Bratislava, will host an event of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) on April 28 and 29 for the first time ever in Slovakia giving Slovaks the opportunity to watch a race of this category from terraces, the Slovakia Ring racetrack informed the media.
Vice-chair of Anti-Monopoly Office to leave post
The vice chair of Slovakia’s Anti-Monopoly Office (PMÚ), Daniela Zemanovičová, will leave her post at the end of the month, PMÚ spokesperson Alena Sedláková told the TASR newswire on March 28. Sedláková refused to say whether Zemanovičová, who has held the post since 2004, was dismissed or is leaving of her own accord. The spokesperson did not comment either when asked if Zemanovičová's departure had anything to do with Smer's plans to merge PMÚ and the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ).
Economic sentiment indicator gains 1.2 points in March
Following a small drop reported in February 2012, the economic sentiment index in Slovakia improved in March by 1.2 points to 91 points. The Slovak Statistics Office reported positive development in all sectors used to calculate the index, the SITA newswire wrote. Nonetheless, the indicator is still 4.6 points behind last year’s figure and is 6.6 points lower than its long-term average.
Slovak flag to be flown in parliamentary chamber
Two flags, of Slovakia and of the European Union, are set to be displayed in the parliamentary chamber in future, Speaker of Parliament Pavol Hrušovský (Christian Democratic Movement (KDH)) said on Wednesday, March 28, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Počiatek to become transport minister
Former finance minister Jan Počiatek (Smer) will officially become the new transport, construction and regional development minister, Smer leader Robert Fico said after round-table talks with social partners and representatives of churches and the education sector on Wednesday, March 28.
Fico: Richter meets all criteria for post of labour minister
Smer leader Robert Fico, speaking at a press conference after round-table talks with social partners held on Wednesday, March 28, indirectly confirmed that the party's general manager, Ján Richter, will become the new minister for labour, social affairs and the family.
Dubovcová sworn in as new ombudswoman
Former judge and Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MP Jana Dubovcová was sworn in as Slovakia’s new ombudswoman by Speaker of Parliament Pavol Hrušovský on Wednesday, March 28, the TASR newswire wrote.
Borec
BOREC (a top gun, ace) is a name that probably teaches you to get used to wordplays. But if someone starts toying with the idea of giving you a government ministry, that’s a new situation altogether.So the head of the Slovak Bar Association, Tomáš Borec, must have felt some surprise when he, as a non-partisan widely perceived as being ideologically more on the right, was approached by the Smer party to take over the Justice Ministry.
Justice Ministry goes to non-partisan figure
ONLY a few positions in the new Robert Fico cabinet now remain unfilled: in a steady stream of announcements and comments during the last week in March, the prime minister-elect has informed the public about most of the ministerial team that will run the government for the next four years. Despite media speculation that Martin Glváč, the chairman of Smer’s Bratislava regional branch, might get the post of justice minister, Fico has chosen a non-partisan nominee, the chairman of the Slovak Bar Association, Tomáš Borec, for one of the most closely watched ministerial seats.
Coneco Expo and other exhibitions begin in Bratislava
The annual Coneco Expo building industry exhibition, along with four other specialised expositions – Climatherm, Conecoinvest, Racioenergia and Stavebna Mechanizacia – opened in Bratislava on Tuesday, March 27.
Moody's lowers outlook on Slovak banking sector to negative
Moody's Investors Service has lowered its outlook on Slovakia's banking system from stable to negative. The reason Moody's gave was the risk of weaker economic growth and asset quality in the sector, the agency stated in its latest report on the outlook for the country's banking system, which was released on Tuesday, March 27.
Ľudovít Kaník becomes SDKÚ’s new caucus chairman
Ľudovít Kaník was elected chairman of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union’s (SDKÚ) 11-member parliamentary caucus by fellow MPs of his party on Tuesday, March 27. Kaník, the sole candidate for the post, replaces MP Jozef Mikuš.
Zmajkovičová in frame to become parliamentary deputy-speaker
The Smer party’s regional chief in Trnava, Renáta Zmajkovičová, is expected to take one of the four parliamentary deputy-speaker posts, the party’s vice-chairman and parliamentary speaker-in-waiting Pavol Paška said, as reported by the TASR newswire on Tuesday, March 27. Even though a meeting of Smer members will have the final say at a session on Friday, Zmajkovičová's nomination for the post should be a foregone conclusion, said Paška.
Gučík leaves TA3, Ilavský takes over
Slovakia’s only all-news TV channel, TA3, has a new director. The current head of printing company Slovenská Grafia, Martin Ilavský, will take over from Michal Gučík after the latter's 15 months at the helm of TA3, the TASR newswire reported, citing the O médiách (About the media) blog and Gučík himself on Tuesday, March 27.
Slovak scientists move closer to invention of ‘invisibility cloak’
After years of trying, a group of Slovak scientists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) has created a device which can hide objects from magnetic fields and create an illusion of invisibility. Though the original idea was developed by a team of Barcelona-based scientists, it was three Slovaks who confirmed the hypothesis via experiments, the TASR newswire reported.
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- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- 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 ›
