Archive of articles - August 2012, page 6
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Car manufacturing propels industrial output in Slovakia
THE AUTOMOTIVE industry continues to be the driving force behind Slovakia’s industrial production, growing at a solid double-digit pace. But declines reported by the biggest European economies, including Germany, are not a good signal for Slovakia. Analysts estimate that Slovakia will feel the impact in the coming months.
Cibulafest brought music, fun and charity
THE FOURTH year of the biggest Czecho-Slovak music festival, Cibulafest, which takes place in Holíč near the border between the two republics, attracted 8,000 people this year on the weekend of July 20-21, the highest turnout in the festival’s history.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Eagle released into the wild welcomed by another one
THE LESSER Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) that was found injured this past May in a family garden in the municipality of Hrušov, was released after being treated and given time to heal near the Jablonovské sedlo ridge, also known as Soroška, close to where it was originally found. By that time, another eagle had been spotted circling above the village and it seemed to be looking for something.
LOZ launches campaign against corruption among doctors
THE MEDICAL Trade Unions Association (LOZ) is launching an anti-corruption campaign with the slogan: “Thanks, I don't accept bribes”, the TASR newswire learned at a LOZ press conference on Monday, August 13.
UNITAS to be launched as of 2016, at the earliest
SLOVAKS will have to wait for unified collection of taxes, custom duties and payroll levies longer that originally projected. The Finance Ministry has re-evaluated the project known as UNITAS and declared that unified collection is realistic only from the beginning 2016 at the earliest. Originally the launch of UNITAS was projected for the beginning of 2013. The ministry ascribes the blame for the postponement to the previous cabinet of Iveta Radičová and the almost complete collapse of the financial administration earlier this year because of the non-functional information system. It is not certain whether the new system will be implemented in its planned form at all.
Stalinist-era art revives in the National gallery
DESPITE its exotic sound, “Sorela” is very much bound to the region as it stands for socialist realism, the official art style that dominated then-communist Czechoslovakia. The public can now travel back to that time period thanks to an exhibition called the Interrupted Song - the Art of Socialist Realism 1948 - 1956. Although Sorela began in the 1930s, mainly developed by Czech communist artists and intellectuals, it started to bloom after World War II, when communism set its foot firmly in Czechoslovakia.
Mello’s extradition saga continues
THE EXTRADITION saga involving Slovakia’s most wanted man Karol Mello is not anywhere close to its end. Slovakia has been trying to have Mello, who is accused of several serious crimes, including a double murder committed near Bratislava in 2004, extradited to his homeland since he was arrested on July 11 on the Caribbean island of San Pedro where he had apparently been living for several months.
Tatra Gallery revitalises the dilapidated complex of the sculptors’ symposium in Vyšné Ružbachy
THE GALA concert in the complex of the former International Sculptors’ Symposium (MSS) in Vyšné Ružbachy was the culmination of a project by Tatra Gallery (Trantranská galleria) in Poprad, aimed at saving and reviving this unique cultural monument. The concert featured singers Terézia Kružliaková-Babjaková, Martin Babjak, Daniel Buranovský and Alexander Jablokov.
Next proxy should be Roma
POLLÁK should replace Pollák in the post of government proxy for Roma communities, said Igor Matovič, the chairman of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities party (OĽaNO), who now claims that the ruling Smer party has offered the post to his party, which in fact brought the sole Roma deputy to parliament in the 2012 elections. If OĽaNO accepts the offer, the post currently held by Miroslav Pollák will most likely go to OĽaNO deputy Peter Pollák, the first Roma ever to sit in the Slovak Parliament. Even though the offer is neither official nor approved by Smer bodies, it has launched a dispute over Smer’s motives as well as the powers that should be granted to proxies.
Ways to address Roma issues
MAYBE there is a valid hypothesis, which the politicians might not want to hear, suggesting that people wait for political visionaries who will bring hope and perspective to these interracial relations, suggests Laco Oravec, a programme director of Milan Šimečka Foundation. He posits that policies should be made based on personal knowledge and, thus, more direct contact between politicians and the Roma population might in the end be beneficial. Yet, Oravec is aware of the dangers that populism might pose but adds that only results will show how useful the politicians’ trips to Roma settlements are.
FinMin tables draft budget for 2013
THE GOVERNMENT will stick to its ambition to squeeze the public finance deficit under 3 percent of the GDP; at least this is what the draft state budget for 2013 tabled by the Finance Ministry under the leadership of Smer’s Peter Kažimír suggests. The budget, which will be the most generous to the department of education next year, targets a deficit at €3.317 billion with revenues at €13.6 billion and spending at €16.917 billion, the draft budget suggests.
Rectors distanced themselves from Vozár
RECTORS of twelve Slovak universities and colleges are distancing themselves fromsome of the statements made by Slovak Rectors’ Conference and Rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra Libor Vozár for Sme on August 13.
Panta Rhei remains afloat
PANTA Rhei has made headlines this summer due to a bankruptcy proceeding hanging over the head of Slovakia’s largest bookshop chain. The bookseller, however, will remain afloat thanks to the financial group J&T acquiring a 40-percent share package of the retailer through Diversified Retail Company. The majority share and the management will remain in the hands of the founder and owner of Panta Rhei, Ladislav Bödök and his brother David, Eva Rezníková, marketing manager of Panta Rhei, told the SITA newswire.
Mid-summer pensions overhaul approved
AFTER some concessions made to the opposition, parliament, controlled by the ruling Smer party, approved the most radical change to Slovakia’s pension scheme since it was launched nearly 10 years ago. The most important change is a dramatic reduction of the amount that contributors pay into the second, private pension-saving pillar. Furthermore, the draft legislation increases payroll taxes for the self-employed and makes payment of payroll taxes for those working based on temporary employment agreements, known in Slovak as “na dohodu”, obligatory.
Police chased two drunk drivers, warning shots to no avail
Police in the Slovak capital had a busy night on early Thursday, August 16, giving chase after drunk drivers who did not stop despite warning gunshots, the TASR newswire learned from Bratislava Regional Police Headquarters spokesperson Petra Hrášková.
New members of Slovak Land Fund council officially appointed
Eleven members of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) council, whose nominations were approved by Parliament on August 2, received their appointment documents on Thursday, August 16, in the presence of agriculture and environment parliamentary committee chairman Mikuláš Huba, of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities.
Beblavý: Some Slovak banks charging clients illegal fees
Some major banks in Slovakia are allegedly disobeying the law by making clients pay fees linked to the early pay-out of their mortgages, Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MP Miroslav Beblavý said at a briefing on Thursday, August 16, stating that he has received complaints from a number of people.
First Slovak to be granted prestigious ERC support
Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) Chemistry Institute senior researcher Ján Tkáč has become the first Slovak to receive a prestigious European Research Council grant.
Summer in Piešťany Spa
Piešťany Spa has prepared special seasonal offers and services for its visitors this summer. The unique Sun Package combines rehabilitation with procedures using its healing waters as well as a mud wrap. This is an exceptional combination and an opportunity to enjoy the best that Piešťany Spa has to offer.
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
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- UK appoints Bilal Zahid as new ambassador to Slovakia
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
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- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
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- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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 Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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 ›
