Archive of articles - January 2013, page 5
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Lajčák to head Slovak delegation to summit in Chile
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák is to head the country's delegation to a summit of the EU and CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) due to take place in Santiago de Chile between January 25 and 27, the TASR newswire reported, citing the ministry press department.
Slovak public debt grows to more than 50 percent of GDP
In the third quarter of 2012, Slovakia’s public debt exceeded 51 percent of the country’s GDP, the Sme daily reported on Thursday, January 24. A similar level of public debt was last recorded in 2000, data from Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, show.
SOPK: 68% of businesses expect worse business environment in 2013
Deterioration in the quality of Slovakia's business environment is expected by 68 percent of the members of the Slovak Trade and Industry Chamber (SOPK), the chamber announced on Wednesday, January 23.
MESA 10: Slovakia ranks 15th in budget transparency survey
Slovakia ranked 15th among 100 countries surveyed in a budget transparency poll in 2012, according to an analysis carried out by the Centre for Economic and Social Analysis MESA 10 as part of the Open Budget Initiative (OBI).
Constitutional Court accepts Čentéš’ objections to judges hearing his case
The Constitutional Court has accepted a challenge lodged by general prosecutor-elect Jozef Čentéš, on grounds of suspected bias, against Justices Peter Brňák and Milan Ľalík ruling on a complaint also lodged by Čentéš, related to the president’s failure to appoint him as general prosecutor. The court senate, comprising Justices Lajos Mészáros, Juraj Horvát and Sergej Kohut, issued the ruling on Thursday, January 24, the TASR newswire reported.
MVK poll: Fico ranks high on lists of most trusted – and least trusted – politicians
Prime Minister Robert Fico tops the latest MVK agency survey as the most trusted politician in Slovakia with 35.8-percent support, the TASR newswire reported, citing Pavel Haulík of MVK, on Wednesday, January 23. Even though Fico ranked as the most trusted politician, he also ended up in second place, after Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chairman Richard Sulík, on the list of the least trusted politicians in Slovakia. Sulík was mistrusted by 35.8 percent of respondents and Fico by 26.9 percent.
Interior Ministry releases data on Gašparovič’s whereabouts at time of death in Lešť hunting area
The Interior Ministry has gathered information on the whereabouts of President Ivan Gašparovič's bodyguards during a hunt in Lešť in August 2009 during which Michal Bobák was shot and killed, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák told the TASR newswire on Wednesday, January 23. Kaliňák said that he is not authorised to release the information because it is classified, and this can only be done by the president himself.
Fatal collision between train and salt-spreader in Liptov
A train driver was killed on Wednesday, January 23, in a collision between the Intercity express train he was driving and a salt-spreading truck at a level crossing near Liptovský Mikuláš, Žilina Region. The train was heading from Bratislava to Košice. The truck driver survived and none of the passengers on the train was hurt, the Topky.sk internet news website reported.
Cabinet puts off transfer of transmission system from SPP to Eustream
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Slovak cabinet deferred a decision on whether to transfer ownership of Slovakia’s gas transmission system and transport activities from gas utility SPP to another company, Eustream. "The cabinet did not deal with this material as the new minority shareholder has still not definitely entered into SPP," Economy Ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovič told the SITA newswire.
Kotolník
IF THERE is one significant difference between the communist era and the present, it’s the status of the boilerman (kotolník). Back then, the boiler room was a place where the regime sent its enemies. Now, it is a place where it finds its friends.
UPDATED: Slovak held by Iran over spying claims (video included)
“MY NAME is Matej Valuch and I am from the Slovak Republic.” This is how a 26-year-old Slovak national, who has been detained in Iran over what Iranian officials allege is a case of espionage, introduces himself in a video recording called ‘Hunter in Trap [sic]’, shot by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. In the video, posted on YouTube, Valuch speaks in English, dubbed into Persian, and appears to confess to working clandestinely for the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Most Eurozone finance ministers OK FTT; Kažimír has conditions
On Tuesday, January 21, 11 eurozone countries, including Slovakia, approved the financial transaction tax (FTT). Only ministers from Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Malta and the UK opposed the FTT, and these countries will not adopt it for now, the Sme daily wrote. The original rates – 0.1 percent for bonds and 0.01 for derivatives - should be preserved, although the proposal is to be re-elaborated, the daily wrote.
433 lose Slovak citizenship, most due to Czech move
A total of 433 people (182 men, 251 women) lost their Slovak passports over the course of two and half years due to the State Citizenship Act that automatically strips people of Slovak citizenship if they accept the citizenship of another state.
Candidates for ECHR representative elected
Judicial Council members on Tuesday, January 22, elected judges Marica Pirošiková, Ján Drgonec and Marek Tomašovič as candidates for the post of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judge, the TASR newswire wrote.
Public Health Office to inspect Polish candy with rat poison
The Public Health Office (ÚVZ) ordered the inspection of all bars and restaurants which could have received Polish confectioneries made from dried milk containing rat poison, the TASR newswire learned from Chief Hygienist Ivan Rovný on Tuesday, January 22. This concerns mostly canteens and cafeterias, even those at schools, as well as snack bars, confectioner's shops and coffee bars, due to a suspicion that they could have purchased the products in question from Slovak vendors or straight from the Polish manufacturer.
Slovak customs officers seize contraband cigarettes worth €35 million
Customs officers in Galanta have seized contraband cigarettes reportedly worth €35 million, TV Markíza reported on January 21.
Quality of democracy deteriorated in 2012, IVO Barometer finds
The level of democracy in Slovakia dropped from an average of 2.6 points in 2011 to 2.8 points in 2012, according to a survey carried out by the Institute of Public Affairs (IVO) released on January 22, the TASR newswire reported.
Fico still talking to U.S. Steel
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is still talking to U.S. Steel about the future ownership of its steelworks in Košice, the SITA newswire reported. Last year U.S. Steel said it was planning to sell the plant, which is the largest employer in eastern Slovakia.
Iranian government refuses to say where Slovak is being held
Slovak diplomats still do not know where Iranian officials are holding a Slovak national, 26-year-old Matej Valúch, who was arrested last week on suspicion of spying. Despite repeated telephone requests and notes, Slovak representatives in Iran have not yet been permitted to meet the suspect, the TASR newswire wrote.
Prosecution of alleged MP wire-tapping case halted
The prosecution in the case of alleged wire-tapping of some deputies – that was supposed to have taken place with the consent of then interior minister Daniel Lipšic – was halted. The case was being handled by the Department of Special Assignment of the General Prosecutor’s Office after then-opposition MP Igor Štefanov reported the alleged wire-tapping of 40 MPs with the consent of Lipšic.
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- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
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- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
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- 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 compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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 ›
