Archive of articles - July 2013, page 10
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Slovakia's list of nominees for ECHR judge refused
THE GOVERNMENT must suggest three new candidates to serve on the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after the Council of Europe rejected Slovakia’s appointees in late June.
Lithuania: Eyeing Slovak skiers
IF SLOVAK skiers put Lithuania on their map, they might be able to keep their skiing gear on even in the summer, so suggests Edvilas Raudonikis, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Lithuania to Slovakia based in Vienna. According to Raudonikis, due to the lack of direct flights between Slovakia and Lithuania, there has so far not been sufficient cultural exchange between the countries, although he sees a positive trend. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Raudonikis about Lithuania’s experiences with EU membership, its challenges as well as business ties between the countries.
Latvia: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: RigaTotal area: 64,589 square kilometresPopulation: 2.2 millionOfficial language: LatvianCurrency: latiEmbassy of Latvia (in Vienna) www.mfa.gov.lvLatvian Ambassador: Indulis Berzinš
Lithuania: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: VilniusTotal area: 65,300 square kilometresPopulation: 3.5 millionOfficial language: LithuanianCurrency: litasEmbassy of Lithuania (in Vienna): http://at.mfa.lt/Lithuanian Chargé d'Affaires: Edvilas Raudonikis
Quote of the week
“€3 billion in tax evasion a year cannot be found among confectioners or florists or waiters.”
Sculptures invade Slovak capital again
AS WITH every summer, creative objects are appearing in downtown Bratislava's public spaces and galleries. The 18th annual Socha a objekt / Sculpture and Object project held throughout the Slovak capital, which attracts thousands of visitors, was launched on June 27 and will last until the end of August. The project involves more than 90 artists from 19 countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Cyprus, Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries, the US and Slovakia's next-door neighbours.
Cargo plan passed by cabinet
THE STATE-run rail freight company Cargo might soon see part of its operations taken over by a private investor, after the cabinet green lighted a consolidation plan drafted by the Transport Ministry at its July 10 session.
What analysts say about the candidates
Pavol Hrušovskýpros - experienced politician, former parliamentary speaker.cons - “old” face, bureaucratic politician, no charisma, very narrow partisan profile, did not succeed as KDH leader, under his leadership a strong group of the party’s founders left.“He has no chance, even if he was the only candidate of the right wing,” Miroslav Kusý said.
Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
Presidential race: no strong candidate yet
IVAN Gašparovič has yet to finish his second term as Slovakia’s president, but his potential successors have already started gathering forces for the race they will run in 2014. While the centre-right has produced more than enough candidates - and the number is still likely to change - the ruling Smer party has remained silent about whom they will nominate.
Foreign trade surplus on the rise
SLOVAKIA’s foreign trade recorded a surplus of €664.1 million in May, a decrease of €251.7 million in annual terms, the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) reported on July 9.
Labour market sees slight revival in May, salaries rise
The labour market in Slovakia began to see a revival in May, as the newest figures from the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) show employment in selected market segments rise month-on-month by 0.3 percent - representing some 4,000 jobs. "Quite robust employment growth was recorded in May, which is good news after the adverse end of the past year and ostensible growth in the beginning of this year,” the Slovak Central Bank (NBS) analytic team said to the TASR newswire. “However, this presents grounds for cautious optimism only, as industry contributed to the growth to a minimum degree and the revival is attributed mostly to a significant employment rise in services". Only the transport and IT sectors created new jobs. Based on this development, NBS predicts a slight growth in economic activity in next months, particularly in exports and production, fuelled by the rising employment. "Expectations regarding employment in Slovak firms have seen improvement, too, even though they still remain quite low," reads the analysis. In May, salaries on the whole went up by 1.1 percent month-on-month and 3.8 percent year-on-year.
Another wall against Roma erected in Košice
The housing estate Západ (West) in the eastern-Slovak city of Košice tried to seclude neighbouring “inadaptable citizens”, by erecting a wall that divides the inhabitants of the estate from the Roma living in the nearby Lunik IX and Lunik VIII estates.
President Gašparovič returns amended law on copyright to parliament
Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič refused to sign into law changes to the copyright rules regulating the intellectual property rights.
Seriously injured Slovak soldiers at U.S. military hospital in Germany
A US aircraft carrying the two Slovak soldiers seriously injured in the attack at the military base in Kandahar on Tuesday, July 9 has landed at Ramstein air base in Germany, and then immediately transferred to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, according to the TASR newswire.
A lively start to the Pohoda festival
THE PERFORMANCES by British indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs and American alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins on July 11 at the 17th Bažant Pohoda music festival confirmed the words of Pohoda CEO Michal Kaščák that Thursday, the first day of the festival, is not “just a warm-up day” anymore.
New Trnava Archbishop is Ján Orosch
Pope Francis appointed a new Archbishop of the Trnava archdiocese – Ján Orosch, spokesman of the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia (KBS) JozefKováčik informed the SITA newswire.
Government OKs aid for railways, ZSSK Cargo to be split into three subsidiaries
The Slovak government plans to allocate €141.5 million to the public freight railway sector and create three new subsidiary companies out of the freight carrier ZSSK Cargo, as part of railway transport support measures, reads the proposal on freight railway transport consolidation that was passed by the government on Wednesday, July 10. This means that the freight carrier will be compensated for a portion of the money it paid to state-owned infrastructure owner ŽSK for using its lines in 2010. The carriers are set to divide the remaining €74 million among themselves, with the 2014-16 infrastructure fees for freight carriers slated to be decreased - a measure that will cost the state another €67.5 million.
Double-decker bus to cruise Bratislava’s streets
Bratislava’s inhabitants and visitors will be able to get a ride in a double-decker bus starting Monday, July 15, as the city transport company will obtain one such vehicle on loan for a two week trial period.
Single health insurer postponed for one year
The government-sponsored plan of introducing a single health insurer, masterminded by Prime Minister Robert Fico, will be delayed by a year at least.
- 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
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- From eight to thousands of runners. How Košice marathon rose to prominence Photo
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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 ›
