Archive of articles - December 2012, page 8
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Rail freight operator prepares to make further mass layoffs
NEARLY two years after a revitalisation process was launched by the previous government to return the loss-making state-run railway companies to financial stability, state-run railway freight carrier Cargo is preparing another wave of layoffs. Last year the company’s payroll was cut by nearly 1,700; this time the company is planning to sack another 600 people by the end of 2013.
Kosovar minister in unofficial visit
ENVER Hoxhaj, the Kosovar foreign minister, unofficially visited Bratislava at the invitation of the Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC) and its think tank the Central European Policy Institute. Hoxhaj met Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák on December 3. The Slovak Republic has not officially recognised Kosovo as an independent state.
Crisis affects employment across the V4 region
DESPITE their common history as Soviet satellite states and their current shared experience as fully-fledged members of the European Union, the Visegrad Group (V4) countries report considerable differences within their labour markets. The biggest problem in the Slovak labour market is long-term unemployment, while the Czech and Hungarian markets report a relatively high jobless rate among unqualified workers. The Czech Republic boasts the lowest unemployment rate in the V4, while Slovakia has the highest.
Slovak actor Cinkota will go to jail
THE BRATISLAVA Regional Court has sent Slovak actor Dušan Cinkota to jail for eight years after it rejected his appeal against the verdict of a lower court. Cinkota, together with another accused in the case, Martin Havran, who received a five year sentence, was found guilty of drug trafficking, the SITA newswire reported on December 5.
Fico wants to buy gas sale concern
PRIME Minister Robert Fico wants to acquire 100 percent of the company that sells gas to consumers for the gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP). He plans to agree on the acquisition of shares in the trade company of SPP with the prospective new co-owner of the gas utility, the Czech company Energetický Průmyslový Holding (EPH), which wants to purchase the minority stake currently owned by two investors from France and Germany. Yet, to realise the deal EPH needs the approval of the government, the Sme daily reported.
Photo exhibitions continue
ALTHOUGH numerous photography exhibitions were presented in November as part of Bratislava’s annual Month of Photography festival, some will continue until 2013. The Slovak National Museum (SNM) still houses six photographic exhibitions in its several branches across the capital.
Turkish cuisine: Far more than kebabs
THE IMPRESSION that döner kebabs are the most typical Turkish dish is actually incorrect, suggests Gülhan Ulutekin, the Turkish ambassador to Slovakia, who is quick to offer ‘sarma’, grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of minced meat and rice; cacik, a yogurt-cucumber dish which has many variations throughout the region and pilav, a simple but popular rice side dish, as examples of dishes that are just as common as kebabs.
Slovakia
Capital: BratislavaArea: 49,035 sq kmPopulation: 5.4 millionCurrency: euroEarnings in the business economy (average gross annual earnings of full-time employees): €10,100Employment rate: 54.5% (second quarter 2012)Unemployment rate: 13.6% (second quarter 2012)Inflation rate: 4.1% (2011)GDP per capita in PPS: 73 (2011)Real GDP growth rate: 3.2% (2011)Real GDP growth rate: 2.6% (forecast for 2012)
Nu Dance Festival brings Slovak and foreign novelties
TOMÁŠ Danielis, one of several leading Slovak dancers living abroad, says that unlike in foreign countries, contemporary dance in his home country has little backing among local audiences and institutions alike – which is the reason why so many dancers have left Slovakia to make their careers abroad. However, in spite of this – and despite the initial fears of insiders – the recent Nu Dance Festival managed to attract welcoming and supportive audiences, evoke debates, and fill workshops.
Turkish recipes: Cigarette pastry
Ingredients and preparation.
Unique aerial cable car in Bratislava Volkswagen plant marks 10th anniversary
The ten year anniversary of a unique aerial cable car, constructed specifically for the Volkswagen Slovakia (VW SK) car manufacturing plant in Bratislava, was celebrated on November 27. This one-of-a-kind aerial lift, which transports cars between the assembly hall and the test track, dominates the silhouette of the plant.
Hurbanovo shooting case closed
THE POLICE have completed their investigation of a shooting in Hurbanovo, Nitra Region, during which local police officer Milan J. killed three people and injured another two. The case will now be sent to the prosecutor, the TASR newswire reported on November 30.
Poland
Capital: WarsawArea: 312,685 sq kmPopulation: 38.6 millionCurrency: Polish złotyExchange rate: €1/PLN4.134 (December 6)Earnings in the business economy (average gross annual earnings of full-time employees): €9,435Employment rate: 54.9% (second quarter 2012)Unemployment rate: 10.0% (second quarter 2012)Inflation rate: 3.9% (2011)GDP per capita in PPS: 65 (2011)Real GDP growth rate: 4.3% (2011)Real GDP growth rate: 2.4% (forecast for 2012)
YIT Reding bringing to Bratislava the Finnish style of housing
Finnish-Slovak developer YIT Reding belongs to the remarkable and unique group of developers, which are catchy and memorable not only thanks to its attitude to their own projects but also to their immediate surroundings. Modern approach, open communication and the clean ways and methods are one of signs of exceptionality and rarity of the brand YIT Reding. YIT Reding has been active in Slovakia since 2010, when the Finnish company YIT merged with the Slovak Reding, a.s.
Poland to build LNG terminal
POLAND took a decisive step on November 20 towards building a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on its Baltic coast, a project that could significantly reduce central and eastern Europe’s reliance on Russian imports, the EurActiv informed.
Škripek initiates debate over nudity in media
A CRUSADE against nudity and obscenity in the media has been on the agenda of the Slovak Parliament recently thanks to Branislav Škripek, an MP with the opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), who not only prepared a revision to the Children and Youth Morality Protection Act, but also initiated a petition for what he called protection of the morality of children. Škripek wants to stop nude pictures from being published in newspapers and magazines that are not identified as pornographic and parliament, with the support of deputies from the ruling Smer party, advanced the draft amendment to its second reading on November 7. Yet the Slovak branch of the International Press Institute (IPI), a media freedom watchdog, believes Škripek’s crusade smacks of censorship.
Teachers: Change school financing
BEING ready to answer any question, to praise good work but to be strict when it is not good enough, to put up with teenagers’ moods when they have a bad day, to lend a sympathetic ear or give a helping hand when these things are missing at home: the work of a teacher is far more than teaching, and Slovak teachers feel the public does not appreciate this.
Turkish recipes: Orange revani
Ingredients and preparation.
Warehouse market signals growth
Over the last few years Slovakia has been catching up with its neighbours in the development of logistics premises and a number of modern logistics centres and warehouses have been built here. The current vacancy rate in Slovakia is low enough to encourage further and also speculative construction, i.e. building new premises without pre-lease contracts, among developers. On the other hand clients are becoming more demanding and competition is growing, creating a challenge for developers and distribution space providers.
Slovakia’s ratings continue to drop
Though competitiveness rankings are not the sole factor that investors consider when searching for new homes for their investments, business professionals agree that the charts transmit important signals about the challenges that countries need to address if they want to remain competitive.
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- 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 ›
