Archive of articles - August 2012, page 9
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Spanish investor aims for Prešov
THE EAST of Slovakia is continuing to attract foreign investors. A Spanish company now says it wants to employ 400 people in the IPZ Záborské industrial park in Prešov, the Hospodárske Noviny financial daily reported in late June.
Courts won’t tackle PPC privatisation
THE OFFICE of the Prosecutor General did not accept a complaint by former interior minister Daniel Lipšic to reverse the 2004 privatisation of Bratislava-based electricity generator Steam-Gas Cycle (PPC), which he alleged caused the state a loss at about €500 million, the Aktuálne.sk website reported.
Portuguese firms have a light presence
PORTUGAL and Slovakia are among the smaller member countries of the European Union, located at opposite ends of its territory. Even though the mutual presence of either country is not particularly visible in their respective economies, there are some links and similarities between them. Both countries use the euro, the automotive industry is an important segment in both of their economies, and both are hungry for more foreign investment. There are also ways in which Portugal could be an inspiration to Slovakia, as in its use of renewable sources of energy or its services sector.
Portuguese institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of PortugalAmbassador: Joao Luís Niza PinheiroMoskovská 10, Bratislava
Spanish institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of SpainAmbassador: Félix Valdéswww.maec.es
Water taps run dry in Lunik IX
SINCE August 1, inhabitants of Lunik IX have turned their water taps on in vain after city authorities shut off water supplies for 400 flats of the densely-populated Košice suburb, which is mainly home to Roma. A water tank is provided each morning from 7:30 to 8:30 to supply drinking water to the local community. The main supply was turned off, according to the municipality, because of extensive damage to water pipes and what they called “suspicious leaks of water” from individual apartments. Lunik IX has long made headlines due to its poor living conditions and residents’ difficulties paying their utility bills.
Spain: General facts
Political system: parliamentary monarchyCapital: MadridTotal area: 505,370 square kilometresPopulation: 47 millionMain language: SpanishCurrency: euroSource: CIA/The World Factbook
Slovak athletes reap four medals
SLOVAK athletes had won one silver and three bronze medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London by the time The Slovak Spectator went to print on August 9, failing to fully meet the expectations pinned on them. But despite Slovak canoeists’ failure to defend their gold medals from previous Olympics, Slovakia demonstrated its continuing strength in shooting and white-water disciplines.
Portugal supports language training
THE CULTURAL exchange between Portugal and Slovakia is enduring, and currently includes a Portuguese studies course offered at Comenius University in Bratislava, and the efforts of the private Portuguese Institute to help spread the Portuguese language and culture.
Banská Štiavnica is festive in the summer
THE CENTRAL Slovak town of Banská Štiavnica comes to life in the summer, during the high tourist season, when every weekend a different historical, cultural or folklore event takes place. On the last weekend in July, it saw the 13th year of the Festival of Nice Music (Festival peknej hudby) as well as the Knights’ Tournament.
Studia Academica Slovaca still attracts foreigners to learn Slovak
THE 48th YEAR of Studia Academica Slovaca, SAS, opened on August 6 in the Auditory of the Comenius University in Bratislava. The annual event aims at teaching foreign students basic Slovak language during a three week long course. Organisers prepared 80 to 100 hours of Slovak-language lessons for 161 participants coming from 38 countries.
From Spanish guitar to Picasso
SPANISH is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, a fact reflected even in Slovakia.A Spanish influence is quite palpable here, and when also taking into consideration Latin American culture, it could be considered wide-spread, ranging from flamenco music and dance through classical guitar music, movies, photographic and art exhibitions, to Spanish-themed festivals like Košice’s Days of Spanish Culture.
Quote of the week
“If I were sure that it would help, and stop the socialists, we would read them twice.”
Slovakia lacks good waste plan
SLOVAKIA is doing a poor job of managing its rubbish, according to a European Commission ranking of member states that identified major shortcomings in the implementation of an efficient approach towards waste, the TASR newswire reported.
Mika takes RTVS helm
AT FIRST a little euphoria, then feelings of responsibility, followed by humbleness, but now it is down to work: this is how Václav Mika, who previously managed a private television network and a radio station, described his feelings upon being selected to head Slovakia’s public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS). Mika has now joined Slovakia’s long roll-call of general directors since 1989, replacing Miloslava Zemková, who in June was ousted by the new government after just 18 months in the job.
Haščák appeals to the Supreme Court
JAROSLAV Haščák, a co-owner of the Penta financial group, has challenged a recent ruling of the Regional Court in Bratislava which allowed the publishing of Gorilla, a book written by Slovak - Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson, former editor-inchief of The Slovak Spectator. Paradoxically, the book has already been released and has made the list of bestsellers, the SITA newswire reported.
Portugal: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: LisbonTotal area: 92,090 square kilometresPopulation: nearly 11 millionMain language: PortugueseCurrency: euroSource: CIA/The World Factbook
Hussites from Posádka
IN THE 15th century, the territory of Slovakia was threatened by armed raids by Czech Hussites.It is not surprising that the far western corner of Great Hungary – today’s Slovak region of Záhorie – also became a target of their raids. It was close to Hussite settlements, and its strategic location allowed them to plunder two countries at once: Austria and Hungary. Around the middle of the 15th century, rebels from Bohemia settled near today’s village of Gajary. Only 250 metres from the Morava River, they built a fortified camp on a sand dune, called Posádka (Garrison), from which they terrorised part of Záhorie. The presence of the Hussites became so unbearable that during their stay, several villages, including Jakubov, Kiripolec, and Gajary, became completely depopulated. Hussite activity on Slovak territory, including Posádka, came to an end in 1467, when their army was scattered by royal units in a battle near Veľké Kostoľany.
Twilight of the titles
YEARS of diligent study and research resulting in a dissertation work that meets academic standards may not be the only way to acquire an academic title. At least, this is the conclusion one could draw from some of the recently publicised cases of politicians acquiring academic titles in dubious circumstances.
The 'renewable' dream
JOAO Luís Niza Pinheiro, who has been a diplomat all his professional life and served the interests of Portugal in Latvia and Senegal among other places, says that Europeans are now living in a time of fundamental change and unprecedented financial crisis in which their leaders might not know exactly what scenarios the future will present. The Portuguese ambassador to Slovakia is optimistic about Europe’s future, though he warns that the years ahead will be difficult. He says that not even the painful austerity measures that his government has had to take have changed the fact that the Portuguese continue to identify themselves as European citizens.
- 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
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- 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
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- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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 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
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- 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
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process More articles ›
