Archive of articles - August 2013, page 3
If you desire to read an old article, use the search bar or select the publication date.
Dubovcová: Rights of Roma violated
IN CONTRAST to police and Interior Ministry statements on the police raid of the Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou, eastern Slovakia, the Slovak ombudswoman has said that by entering people’s homes without a warrant, the police violated a basic human right.
When Judgment Day comes
THIS postcard of the small town of Brezová pod Bradlom, dating back to 1919, is a print of a drawing by Czech painter Aleš Krátký, who worked in Slovakia at that time. In addition to several other postcards of Brezová, his postcards of Trnava and Modra are also well known.
Quote of the week
“I don’t know why they called it that; it was a difficult work programme during which we had the opportunity to learn about the functioning of institutions.”
Finnish recipes: Oven pancake (video included)
Ingredients and preparation.
Portugal: General facts
Political system: parliamentary democracyCapital: LisbonTotal area: 92,090 square kilometresPopulation: 10.8 millionMain language: PortugueseCurrency: euro
Talking tourism, trade and tapas
FÉLIX Valdés, who is an admirer of Slovak churches, is supportive of a project which looks into the possibility of extending the famed El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk into Slovakia. Spain’s ambassador also pointed to growing ties among university students and a future push for business collaboration. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Valdés about the challenges of combating his country’s high unemployment rate, Spain's draw as a pensioner paradise and the joys of the Mediterranean diet.
ÚJD loses permit for Mochovce
THE SUPREME Court has revoked the Nuclear Regulatory Authority’s (ÚJD) amended permit for completion of the construction of the third and fourth reactor blocks at the nuclear plant in Mochovce, Nitra Region. With this verdict the court overturned a 2012 decision of the Bratislava Regional Court, and ruled in favour of objections on the part of Greenpeace Slovensko, which has criticised ÚJD’s refusal to allow environmentalists to take part in the permission process, the TASR newswire reported on August 21.
Spanish institutions in Slovakia
Embassy of Spain Ambassador: Félix Valdésemb.bratislava@maec.eswww.exteriores.gob.es
Common currency serves as a bridge for business
PORTUGAL and Slovakia are countries on opposite edges of the European Union, and each can help open new markets for the other. While Portugal offers links to Portuguese-speaking countries, Slovakia is one of a few countries in central and eastern Europe which has adopted the European single currency. Still, the two countries are looking to turn potential into actual business.
More Spanish investments may come
SPAIN is already a significant investor in Slovakia, but many untapped investment opportunities remain. Yet, recession-hit Spanish companies have realised that firms active abroad are better able to cope with the crisis in Spain, which could bring more investments this way.
2014 draft budget eases austerity
THE FINANCE Ministry’s first draft budget for 2014 is making several departments edgy about the prospect of getting a thinner slice of the pie, as Prime Minister Robert Fico tried to ease worries by saying that the state may yet get more generous toward some departments. Though still declaring the ambition to keep the budget deficit under the European Union’s 3-percent-redline, the Ministry of Finance is to abandon an earlier plan for a 2.4 percent deficit and settle for 2.9 percent instead.
Spanish brandy celebrated
THERE is more to Spain than economic crisis and high unemployment. Over the last century, Spain has given the world everything from popular personalities like actress Pénelope Cruz and painter Salvador Dalí, world-renowned restaurants and the popular brandy, Soberano, as Ambassador Félix Valdés pointed out when marking the 100-year anniversary of the beverage.
Bratislava plans to introduce bicycle rental service in spring 2014
A BICYCLE-rental system is to be introduced in Bratislava as of spring 2014.
Finnish recipes: Creamy salmon soup (video included)
Ingredients and preparation.
Economy grew slightly in 2Q 2013
SLOVAKIA’s economy in the second quarter of 2013 posted 0.9 percent growth on an annual basis, thus keeping the country out of recession. However, the growth is still too feeble to support the creation of new jobs, as indicated by the 1.3 percent drop in employment when compared to the second quarter last year, according to the flash estimate of the Slovak Statistics Office released on August 14.
Close ties in tough times
STUDENT exchanges through the EU-sponsored Erasmus programme are putting Slovakia on the map of young Portuguese, says Ana Maria Coelho Ribeiro da Silva, the head of the diplomatic mission of Portugal to Slovakia. Scores of young Portuguese professionals have moved to Slovakia since the beginning of the year and stronger business ties may aid in Europe’s economic recovery. Speaking in an interview with The Slovak Spectator, the Portuguese diplomat noted that, among other things, natives of her country have always sought to look for new horizons.
Finnish recipes:Vatruskat (video included)
Ingredients and preparation.
Helping children from far away
WHILE A Vietnamese child walking hand in hand with her European parents is a common sight in western-European cities, in Slovakia one is unlikely to encounter a foreigner outside of the biggest towns, let alone a mixed-race family. Although there is interest among Slovaks in adopting children from developing countries, Slovak legislation does not yet allow it.
Harabin clashes with judges
SUPREME Court President Štefan Harabin has been increasingly critical of the performance of several judges on the Constitutional Court in recent days – so much so that he is taking tough action against specific judges. The Constitutional Court judges responded that Harabin’s action might be motivated by proposed disciplinary proceedings against the Supreme Court president.
Two old Tatra legends revived
THE OLD cable car building at Skalnaté Pleso was reconstructed after 12 weeks of intensive work efforts. The building, designed by famous architect Sušan Samuel Jurkovič, is also known as Encián (Gentian) and at 1,751 metres above sea level, it will become the highest gallery in Slovakia and central Europe.
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: What to make of Easter in Slovakia
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Cockroaches and crumbling toilets greet seven-year-old battling serious virus
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- US giant pulls plug on Slovak factory, axing 137 jobs
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- When to shop over Easter: Opening hours for supermarkets in Slovakia
- News digest: A parade too far? Fico heads to Moscow despite EU warnings Video
- A café in an ice cellar, sand dunes and a flower shop at the border
- “Return not,” the ocean cried. But I returned for her
- Hollywood turns Slovak highlands into high-speed playground Video
- German shoemaker Lowa joins wave of factory closures in Slovakia
- Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Chicken Jockey! Video
- Danish shoemaker to shut Slovak factory, axing 650 jobs in fresh blow to struggling region
- Prices surge in Slovakia as inflation hits 15-month high
- Hundreds of people ousted from Bratislava’s Volkswagen
- Slovakia's latest basketball star is destined for great things in the USA
- News digest: Finns air unseen video of Fico shooting, PM’s bloody jacket driven away by minister
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- He has been disciplined for delays. Now he will lead Slovakia’s top court
- Slovak startup Upfan declares war on fake tickets
- Smer MEP tells Slovaks to learn the EU’s rules – so they can break free from Brussels
- Too small to cope alone, Slovak villages are teaming up
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
