Archive of articles - December 2012, page 2
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Suspects in the Osrblie corruption to stand trial
The Special Prosecutor’s Office has filed a lawsuit against businessman Martin Novotný, who was aide of former Prime Minister Iveta Radičová in the Osrblie corruption case. Former diplomat Igor Liška has also been charged in the case. It took eight months for the prosecutor to conclude the case in which two other businessmen have also been charged, the Sme daily wrote in its Thursday, December 20, issue.
Slovakia's general government deficit to reach 4.62% of GDP in 2012
The general government deficit in Slovakia is expected to reach 4.62% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, according to a current report on macroeconomic development approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, December 19.
Further official complaint against Trnka’s letter in Glance House case
The Office of the General Prosecutor has submitted another complaint over the dubious transfer of the disputed Glance House property in Bernolákovo, near to Bratislava, to a shell company, CDI. The complaint affects the current deputy head of the prosecutor's office, Dobroslav Trnka, who sent a letter giving permission for the transfer, the Sme daily reported.
Plurality of asylum seekers in 2012 came from Somalia
About 205 Somalis have submitted applications for asylum in Slovakia since the beginning of the year. Asylum was also sought by 89 Afghans, 59 Georgians and 40 citizens of Congo. Altogether the Migration Office of the Interior Ministry, which decides on asylum applications, recorded 680 applications this year, the SITA newswire reported.
Moody’s reviews SPP's credit rating for downgrade
The international rating agency Moody’s has launched a review for downgrade of the credit rating of the Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) gas utility, the agency announced in a press release dated December 17. SPP's rating currently stands at A2.
Justice minister concedes state of judiciary is not satisfactory
The judiciary is not in a good condition and this problem should be dealt with, Justice Minister Tomáš Borec said after presenting a report on the current state of the Slovak judiciary in parliament on December 18, the TASR newswire reported.
Survey: More oppose single health-insurer plan than support it
The government's plan to impose a state-owned monopoly in the market for compulsory public health insurance is deemed correct by 41 percent of people – but incorrect by 46 percent, according to a recent survey.
Fugitive actor hands himself in
Actor Dušan Cinkota, who absconded after having a sentence of eight years in prison for serious drugs crimes confirmed earlier this month, handed himself into police early on Monday, December 17, the TASR newswire reported, citing Banská Bystrica regional police spokesperson Mária Faltániová.
Poll: Smer enjoys election support of 37 percent
The governing Smer party remains the most popular among Slovak voters, with 37-percent support, according to an opinion poll carried out by the Focus agency between November 28 and December 4 and published on Monday, December 17, the TASR newswire reported.
Gašparovič: I won't succumb to political pressure in Čentéš case
Following a meeting on the current state of the Slovak justice system with representatives of the People's Platform (comprising three centre-right opposition parties) on Monday, December 17, President Ivan Gašparovič said that he would not succumb what he called "political pressure" from the government or from the opposition in relation to his long-delayed appointment of a new general prosecutor, the TASR newswire learnt.
Ivana Boórová’s children can return to Slovakia
An appeals court in London has ruled that the children of Slovak Ivana Boórová can return home to Slovakia, the TASR newswire reported on December 14.
Teachers have protested for the last time this year
About 200 employees of schools came to Bratislava’s Trnavské mýto traffic junction on Friday, December 14, to express their discontent with the situation in the Slovak education system. The protest was the last that will be held this year, the TASR newswire reported.
Slovakia sends condolences to Newtown massacre victims
Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák have conveyed their deep sympathies and sorrow over the tragic events related to the shooting at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed 28 lives, the TASR newswire reported on December 16.
Harmonised inflation down to 3.5 percent
The rate of growth of consumer prices measured by the harmonised index of consumer prices has slowed down to 3.5 percent in November, which is 0.4 percentage points less than in the previous month. The average annual harmonised inflation rate reached 3.8 percent, down by 0.4 percentage points compared to October, the Statistics Office informed on its website on December 14.
Salary of judge responsible for Mello’s release will be reduced
The judge of the Bratislava I District Court, Stanislav Dutko, will have his salary reduced by half for one year for a mistake that allowed alleged mafia boss Karol Mello to be released and flee the country, the TASR newswire reported on December 14.
Freedom beats Chuck Norris
OCTOBER: IN THE end, Slovak regional officials rejected the results of an online poll asking what name locals would prefer for a new pedestrian and cycling bridge near Bratislava. The “Chuck Norris Bridge” received more than 12,000 popular votes but regional representatives finally, on September 21, approved the name “Freedom Cycling Bridge”. The Bratislava region agreed on this name together with their Austrian counterparts, the SITA newswire wrote.
October: The top business stories of 2012
Lonely Planet recommends Slovakia. Travel-guide publishing firm Lonely Planet includes Slovakia among its top-ten list of countries worth visiting in 2013. Slovakia is praised for its rich cultural heritage and for numerous adventure opportunities for tourists. Lonely Planet claims that Slovakia offers cheap opportunities for skiing and stag/hen parties, but is trying to overhaul its image. In addition, it emphasises the significant changes that the country has undergone since the Velvet Revolution in 1989.
Košice to build an open cultural centre
OCTOBER: AS PART of the 2013 European Capital of Culture project, a new cultural hub is to open in Košice: seven cultural institutions will be extended, modified, and interconnected, thus creating open zones without admission fees for the public. The goal is to lure visitors and offer them an open space to use, the Košice daily Korzár wrote.
Tants Mit Mir – Let’s dance!
FANS of the Pressburger Klezmer Band have had to wait six years for a new album. But the band, which performs the traditional Jewish music of central and eastern Europe, have finally delivered a new CD of recordings, Tants Mit Mir or Let’s dance!, which they launched at a sold-out concert at the P.O. Hviezdoslav City Theatre in Bratislava on November 30.
August: The top business stories of 2012
Mid-summer pensions overhaul approved. Parliament, controlled by the ruling Smer party, approves 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 in the amount that contributors pay into the second, private pension-saving pillar, from 9 to 4 percent as of September 1. This means that the ratio by which contributions are allocated to the social security provider Sociálna Poisťovňa and to funds managed by private pension savings companies will change from the previous 9:9 percent of salaries to 14:4 percent in favour of the social insurer.The new legislation also increases the minimum assessment base that self-employed people can use to calculate their social and health insurance contributions from the beginning of 2013 and decreases coefficients used to calculate contributions made by self-employed persons for social insurance and health insurance and thus actually increases contributions themselves. Because of the significant changes, the scheme was opened enabling those participating in the second pillar to shift to the first one.
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
