Archive of articles - June 2012, page 14
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Alexandrovci to play with Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra
THE FAMOUS Red Army musical ensemble Alexandrovci, named after its founder, Russian musician and composer Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, has recently been touring Slovakia.
Slovak democracy gets an average grade
NEITHER extraordinary praise nor harsh criticism was in the report card assessing the quality of Slovak democracy during the first quarter of 2012 based on a barometer prepared by the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO), a non-governmental organisation. IVO released the results of its regular survey analysing the status of democracy in Slovakia on May 16 and stated that the country was only average and that the country’s overall grade had dropped slightly from the previous quarter.
Fico signals new one-off tax levy
STRATEGIC, regulated companies doing business in Slovakia will pay a one-off levy of 4.2 percent on their profits in 2012 and 2013, Prime Minister Robert Fico told a press conference on May 29. The government expects to raise €100 million a year via the measure, which would be used for activities aimed at boosting economic growth, the TASR newswire reported.
Skalica team breaks trdelník record with 199cm whopper
BREAKING world records can be considered a kind of sport in many countries around the world, and that certainly includes Slovakia. Attempts to reach new milestones have been a traditional aspect of Trdlofest, a festival celebrating wine and trdelník, a traditional Slovak bakery product that originated in the town of Skalica. Bakers at this year’s Trdlofest on May 19 succeeded in breaking their own world record by preparing a trdelník that stretched for 199 centimetres.
Ranking of foundations and non-profits in Slovakia for 2011
This ranking of foundations and other non-profit organisations is based on the amount they received in 2011 from tax assignments from corporations and individuals.
Most-Híd and SMK not much closer
MOST-HÍD party, which bills itself as an ethnic reconciliation party and has MPs in the current parliament, and the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), which has no representation in parliament, cannot merge as they differ on several fundamental issues, said Béla Bugár, chair of Most-Híd, after meeting with SMK leader József Berényi on May 30, the TASR newswire reported.
CSR helps regions and communities
The Slovak Spectator: How can large companies contribute to regional development as part of CSR? Does your company develop its own activities, or bring in models from its parent company? How do these two approaches work in your company?David J. Rintoul, President of U. S. Steel Košice (USSK): I am sure that we demonstrate through our everyday activities that we have a responsible approach to our business, our employees and partners, to the environment and the community. Though in all U. S. Steel plants we acknowledge the same corporate values, the needs of the communities we work and live in are different, so we develop our own activities here in Slovakia in line with our experience and knowledge of local challenges. Just a few days ago we extended our support to eleven non-profit organisations within our sixth USSK Volunteer Days.
Psychiatrists to examine Malinová
PSYCHIATRISTS are to evaluate the mental health of Hedviga Malinová based on a request from the General Prosecutor’s Office, according to a story in Új Szó, the Hungarian-language daily, as reported by the Sme daily.
Quote of the week
“I have a dream that Slovakia will become a place where politicians and the state help and protect decent people and not arrogant oligarchs.”
Change in tax assignment postponed
A CHANGE in the amount that corporations can assign from their corporate income tax to non-profit organisations has been postponed by one year after a vote taken by the Slovak parliament last December, the TASR newswire wrote.
Fico meets head of EP socialist group
THE PATH that Slovakia will take to consolidate its public finances is seen as in the social-democratic tradition, Prime Minister Robert Fico said after meeting Hannes Swoboda, the chairman of the European Parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, in Bratislava on May 29.
Firms asked for strong stand to end corruption
WHEN IT comes to its position in world rankings of corruption, Slovakia has little to shout about. And even though some other post-communist countries suffer from high corruption too, this is no reason for not tackling it in Slovakia. Ways to combat corruption are well-established and even those companies that do not want to expose themselves to public attention by speaking about the subject can make a contribution.
Café in Prievidza uses sign language
AT THE end of April a unique café opened in Prievidza in which sign language is used as the normal means of communication. Three waitresses with hearing disabilities serve guests at the café: Erika Gyetvaiová and Jana Izáková, both in their 30s, and the café’s owner, Lucia Ďurkovičová who is 26. Ďurkovičová dreamed of owning her own café and managed to make her dream come true thanks to a grant, the help of her family, as well as from other supportive people. The café is named U dobrej šálky (At the Good Cup) according to the owner’s mother, Silvia Bošnovičová, the TASR newswire wrote.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
SDKÚ's polling numbers improve
IF PARLIAMENTARY elections had been held in Slovakia at the beginning of May, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) would have had the support of 6.9 percent of those polled by the Focus agency, indicating that support for the party nearly doubled from its level in April, the TASR newswire reported.
Young Slovak takes 3rd prize at Intel competition
AT THE Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held in Pittsburgh, Peter Horváth, a student at the Ján Chalupka gymnázium in Brezno, took third place and a prize of $1,000 in the chemistry category for his innovative method to detect the concentration of cadmium, a toxic metal, in water such as that in sewerage systems.
Ex-minister Štefanov charged on tender
IGOR Štefanov, a former minister of construction and regional development and a previous MP from the Slovak National Party (SNS), has become the fifth person charged by police with manipulating public procurement in the so-called bulletin-board tender case dating from 2008, the TASR newswire reported, adding that if Štefanov is found guilty he could face seven to twelve years in prison.
New Drama 2012 chooses winners
THE WINNERS of the 8th year of the Slovak theatre festival have been announced. The event was contested by contemporary drama performances which premiered last year in Slovak theatres. The winner of the Grand Prix New Drama 2012 was a video-theatre piece by Blaho Uhlár entitled Pokus (Experiment).
Dreaming while falling
DANIEL Lipšic has a dream. The former interior minister envisions a country which is not ruled by oligarchs and where the state protects the interests of honest people. Aside from the oligarchs and their sidekicks who benefit from the existence of the clans of the privileged, pretty much everyone can identify with Lipšic’s dream, one that he extensively described on his blog by way of explaining his departure from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). However, the voters that Lipšic is trying to address will expect slightly more than just a dream: instead, they will want a solid plan shared by a number of trustworthy people.
Lipšic breaks with KDH
“I HAVE a dream that Slovakia will become a place where politicians and the state help and protect decent people and not arrogant oligarchs.” That is how former interior minister Daniel Lipšic describes his political vision, one which he now intends to pursue outside the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The MP announced his departure from the party, to which he has belonged for more than a decade, along with fellow MP and former journalist Jana Žitňanská on May 27, following weeks of speculation about his intentions.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Hockey legend with Slovak roots started playing without knowing any English Video
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Young British boxing star who quit Slovakia over racism is now aiming for the top
- 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
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey 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 ›
