Archive of articles - December 2012, page 6
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Slovak NGO receives prestigious French award
The Slovak non-governmental organisation the Advisory Centre for Civil and Human Rights has received a French annual award, Freedom, Equality, Fraternity (Liberté - Egalité – Fraternité), for its activities in the area of human rights protection. The Košice-based organisation is the first from the former communist countries of Europe to be awarded this prize, the SITA newswire reported on December 11.
Some schools might not give students their half-year certificates
Several teachers have announced that they will not give students their half-year certificates. By doing so they want to persuade the government to devote more money to education and to increase the salaries of school staff including teachers, the Sme daily wrote on December 12.
Šaľa declared Slovakia’s most transparent town, again
Šaľa has been declared the most transparent municipality in Slovakia for 2012, receiving again the accolade it gained in 2010. The result stems from the Open Municipality list compiled by anti-corruption NGO Transparency International Slovensko (TIS). In second was Martin, followed by Rožňava, according to TIS.
Bratislava: One dead in Mudrochova Street fire
A fire in a flat on Mudrochova Street in the Rača borough of Bratislava claimed one life. On the night of Tuesday, December 11, five fire trucks and seventeen firemen helped extinguish the fire: thirteen inhabitants had to be evacuated and one person died. The cause of death will be determined once the autopsy is completed, the SITA newswire wrote. An expert will inspect the building and in the event of a negative evaluation, locals will be evacuated to an emergency accommodation. The events surrounding the fire are currently being investigated.
Figeľ’s diploma was confirmed
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) chairman Ján Figeľ received his diploma rightly and duly, according to the independent accreditation committee, despite having received it for a book about Slovakia’s accession talks before joining the European Union, in which he had a leading role as a negotiator.
Slovakia and US sign agreement on social security
Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Ján Richter and US Ambassador to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick on Monday, December 10, signed an agreement between Slovakia and the US on social security, the TASR newswire learned later on the same day.
Slovakia sold over €76 million in bonds in Monday’s auction
At the week's start, Slovakia borrowed €76.3 million on financial markets.Demand in the auction on Monday, December 10, of government bonds maturingin October 2025, totalled €102 million, of which bids by non-residents reached €47.5 million, the Finance Ministry's Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) informed the SITA newswire. It ultimately sold securities for €37.5 million to foreign investors in the auction of the overall accepted demand of over €76 million.
Fico attended the Nobel Prize ceremony
Prime Minister Robert Fico took part in the ceremony in Oslo on Monday, December 10, at which the European Union will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the TASR newswire wrote.
Čarnogurský officially enters contest for Slovak presidency
The founder and first chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Ján Čarnogurský officially launched his bid for the post of Slovak president on Monday, December 10, as his petition committee began collecting the signatures necessary for his candidacy symbolically in front of the President's Office in Bratislava.
Delphi managers and employees reach agreement, strike called off
The trade union in Senica-based cable-bundle producer Delphi Slovensko called off the strike alert on Monday, December 10, after reaching an agreement with the company management concerning higher severance payments for its 540 employees due to be laid off. Based on the length of employment, employees will receive 4.7-11 times their monthly salary.
Teachers continue relay strike, maintain FinMin’s 11% figure is misleading
An increase in salaries by 5 percent and a regulation according to which towns and cities would have to allocate all their per-head contributions (based on the number of pupils, and used to cover all school operational costs) on teachers’ salaries will certainly not result in the 11.2-percent hike in salaries declared by the Finance Ministry last week, the teachers’ trade union stated on Monday, December 10.
Slovakia listed among 10 best budget destinations for 2013
American internet magazine Budget Travel has included Slovakia among the 10 best and most affordable vacation destinations for 2013. The magazine took into account flight ticket prices, hotels, cultural events, current exchange rates and other factors, the TASR newswire reported on December 7.
Energy prices for households to change
BASED on the decision of the country’s energy regulator, energy prices for households will change at the start of 2013. While natural gas prices will increase by 0.46 percent on average, electricity prices will decrease by an average 3.28 percent. The Office for Regulation of Network Industries (ÚRSO) announced new price caps on November 30.
EC OKs D1 between Turany and Hubová
The European Commission has accepted the steps taken by Slovakia when assessing the environmental impacts of the construction of cross-country highway D1 between Turany and Hubová. According to the final report prepared by independent expert Peter Roth, the construction will not have a significant effect on the integrity of the protected area and the whole project can be paid for by structural funds, spokesperson for the Transport Ministry Martin Kóňa told the SITA newswire.
Slovakia loses court case, must pay €22 million to health insurer Union
Slovakia has lost a court proceeding initiated by Dutch company Achmea, which owns private health insurer Union. The International Court of Arbitration has ruled that the country must pay €22 million in compensation for preventing the company from retaining its profits. In addition, Slovakia must cover the court costs and other fees linked to the arbitration proceedings which stand at €3 million, the TASR newswire reported.
NBS predicts slower economic growth and increasing unemployment
The Slovak GDP will rise by only 1.6 percent next year, compared to the 2.4-percent growth predicted for this year, according to the latest information released by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), the country’s central bank.
V4 doctors rallied
DOCTORS from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia held their first joint rally to show their dissatisfaction with the direction in which health-care systems in their countries are headed. Symbolic protests were organised by local medical trade unions, in which doctors met on November 20, at 12:05, for 30 minutes, to point out that the current state of health care conflicts with the needs of patients.
More ways to cooperate
THE BEGINNINGS of the Visegrad Group (V4) lay in the efforts of its four central European member countries to join the wider European integration process. Their aim of joining the European Union was seen as another step forward in the process of removing artificial borders in Europe by means of mutual cooperation. Twenty-one years since its launch, the V4 remains an important grouping with a strong voice respected by powerful EU players. Not only does it focus on issues of particular interest to its members, but it also serves as a bridge between the EU and countries beyond.
Let it Roll through the borders
SOME might not think that winter is the best season for music festivals. However, the winter edition of drum and bass festival Let it Roll might dispel such notions, even more so given that over the course of its existence it has expanded into three countries. Bratislava will host the Let it Roll event on January 19, 2013, with headliners such as Calyx&TeeBee and Culture Shock, while the full line-up is yet to be announced. The Czech Republic will hold its winter edition of the festival on February 15, 2013 in Prague.
Hungary
Capital: BudapestArea: 93,036 sq kmPopulation: 9.96 millionCurrency: Hungarian forintExchange rate: €1/HUF283.48 (December 6)Earnings in the business economy (average gross annual earnings of full-time employees): €10,100Employment rate: 50.6% (second quarter 2012)Unemployment rate: 10.9% (second quarter 2012)Inflation rate: 3.9% (2011)GDP per capita in PPS: 66 (2011)Real GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2011)Real GDP growth rate: -1.2% (forecast for 2012)
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