Archive of articles - August 2012, page 3
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Two former ministers charged
TWO FORMER environment ministers have been charged with damage to the environment for not allowing the logging of wood in the Kôprová and Tichá valleys in the High Tatras more than five years ago. László Miklós of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) and Jaroslav Izák of the Slovak National Party (SNS) could each face up to eight years in prison if found guilty, the TASR newswire reported on August 23.
Gelnica wins environmental prize
THE TOWN of Gelnica has won one of the categories of the second year of the national Green for the Town competition, thereby becoming one of the most environmentally friendly Slovak towns in the country.
Electricity markets will unite
SLOVAKIA, the Czech Republic and Hungary will unite their electricity markets within the Market Coupling project as of September, the SITA newswire reported on August 20.
Organisations and institutions active in the environmental sphere
Ministry of the EnvironmentMinister: Peter Žigawww.minzp.sk
Roma festival returns to Červený Kameň Castle
THE GYPSY Bashavel, which has become part of the busy western Slovak summer festival schedule, will return this year on August 29 to its original venue at Červený Kameň Castle in Častá. Starting in 2009 as “the zero year”, it drew around 2,500 attendees in its first official year in 2010 (both times at the castle). Last year, a scaled-down version called Mini-Bashavel was organised in Senec, just outside Bratislava. This year the picturesque Červený Kameň Castle, also close to the capital, will once again host the festival in its original size.
Carmakers drive Slovakia's economy
OWING a big thanks to its automotive sector, Slovakia’s economy continued growing in the second quarter of 2012, a time when some of the European giants either stagnated or grew at a rate slower than 1 percent. The country’s economy grew at a rate of 2.7 percent year-on-year, a slight fall from the 3.0-percent growth recorded in the first quarter of 2012. The economy maintained a solid quarter-on-quarter growth at 0.7 percent, the country’s statistics authority reported in its flash estimate on August 14. Nevertheless, market watchers warn that due to the openness of the Slovak economy, Slovakia cannot fully escape the fate of its major trading partners: slower growth or stagnation.
Dumped: Ministry bins new draft law on waste
SLOVAKIA’S ambition of adopting a brand new law on waste has not been achieved. The Slovak Ministry of Environment this month withdrew its draft bill from the legislative process saying that it had received too many reservations and comments and had too little time to deal with them. Instead, it promised to prepare a revision to the existing law to transpose EU directives and thus avoid hefty fines from Brussels.
Finnish folklore troupe visits Slovakia
A FINNISH folklore ensemble of 21 dancers, along with musical accompaniment, is coming to Slovakia for the first time in 50 years. Kärri is an ensemble which travels around the world to present Finnish folklore – mainly from the region of Karelia, but also from other parts of the country.
Ironworks in the heart of the mountains
THIS POSTCARD from the 1920s depicts the former Coburg ironworks on the Červená Skala rock.It is no coincidence that a factory for iron processing was built at this location, in the heart of the mountains. The Horehronie (Upper Hron) region is defined by wooded areas and an abundance of wood was, along with hydraulic energy and, of course, rich deposits of iron ore, one of the necessary elements for the production of iron.
‘Thanks, I do not take bribes’
WHITE envelopes containing cash slipped into the pockets of physicians in the hope of better treatment should vanish from Slovakia’s hospitals if an anti-bribery campaign recently launched by the Medical Trade Unions Association (LOZ) proves effective. LOZ wants to persuade doctors countrywide to wear badges with the “Thanks, I do not take bribes” slogan, and about 300 physicians have joined the campaign so far.
Slovak flight simulator to Afghans
REPRESENTATIVES of the US Army have accepted delivery of a Slovak-manufactured simulator that will be used to train Afghan crews to operate G222 military cargo planes. The simulator, worth $2.5 million, is one of the biggest of six flight training systems supplied to the US Army, stated an official press release issued on August 21.
Firms discover ‘waste business’
WHILE in the past it seemed that waste processing did not appeal to Slovak entrepreneurs, nowadays the situation has reversed, with a number of projects worth millions of euros mushrooming across Slovakia. An increasing number of companies are starting to use waste to produce electricity and heat, or for reprocessing into new products. The possibility of obtaining subsidies from the EU Operational Programme Environment, the Recycling Fund as well as the Environmental Fund may further the boom, the Hospodárske Noviny daily wrote in April.
Slovak Roma take case to UN
THE CASE of three Slovak Roma citizens who were barred from entering a café in Michalovce due to their skin colour in 2005 could go before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the SITA newswire reported.
Trnava stairs might lead to underground tunnels
ARCHAEOLOGICAL research on Kapitulská Street in Trnava has recently unearthed stairs leading to the underground cellar of a medieval house. Some speculate that the stairs could possibly lead to a complex of nearby underground tunnels.
Vranov library has a new biblio-box
THE UPPER Zemplín library in Vranov nad Topľou in eastern Slovakia, has had a new biblio-box since August 2. The self-service device enables readers to return books to the library even after opening hours, the TASR newswire wrote.
Waste collection remains a problem
THE ONLY Slovak processor of multilayer combined materials, the Kuruc company, processed about 3,000 tons of waste packaging last year, much below its actual capacity. The problem is that out of about 10,000 tons of multilayer combined materials placed on the Slovak market annually, only less than one third is collected for recycling, the TASR newswire wrote.
Books in English now available in Slovakia
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Deborah Moggach. Vintage Books, Random House, London.This book by Deborah Moggach, the author of several successful novels including Tulip Fever, was originally published in 2005 and last year was made into a movie directed by John Madden and starring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith. Enticed by advertisements for a newly restored palatial hotel and filled with visions of a life of leisure, good weather and delicacies, a group of very different pensioners leave England to begin a new life in India. On arrival, they are dismayed to find the palace is a shell of its former self, the staff rather eccentric, and the days of the Raj long gone. They soon discover, however, that life and love can begin again, even in these quite unexpected circumstances.
Slovak driver still held over fatal accident in Hungary
After a fatal car accident in which she was involved on Hungary's M3 highway on August 21, Slovak citizen Eva Varholíková-Rezešová will spend the next 30 days in custody, a Budapest court has ruled, the Nový Čas daily reported on Friday, August 24. After 30 days, custody can be extended by up to 90 days.
Prosecutor confirms investigation into actions of Izák and Miklós
Former environment ministers László Miklós (Party of Hungarian Coalition (SMK); in office 2002-06) and Jaroslav Izák (Slovak National Party (SNS); in office 2006-08) are under investigation in connection with alleged damage caused by bark beetles in the High Tatra mountains, the Office of the General Prosecutor confirmed on Thursday, August 23, the TASR newswire reported.
Agrokomplex fair opens, featuring almost 500 companies
This year's Agrokomplex international agriculture and food fair opened in Nitra on Thursday, August 23, with almost 500 companies taking part. Until it ends on August 26, the fair, which ranks among the most-frequently visited events at Nitra's famous exhibition ground each year, will host thematic exhibitions showcasing Slovak national as well as regional products and services.
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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 ›
