Archive of articles - October 2013, page 12
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Patients prefer specialised hospitals
PATIENTS in Slovakia are most satisfied with medical facilities specialising in cardiovascular and oncologic diseases, but are the least happy with small hospitals administered by self-governing regions and municipalities, the results of a recent survey by state-run health insurer Všeobecná Zdravotná Poisťovňa (VšZP) show.
Slovak Philharmonic kicks off new season
ALTHOUGH the first two concerts of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra (Slovenská Filharmónia, SF) already took place on September 11 and 14, the regular season of the national ensemble of classical music will start on October 17 (with a repeat on October 18).
State employees to get €16 more
STATE employees will earn on average €16 more per month as of January 2014. The Finance Ministry conceded to the trade unions’ demand, despite admitting that the flat raise for all employees is non-systemic. The ministry has also agreed to hike teachers’ wages.
Jahnátek denies nepotism
IN AN attempt to defend itself against accusations of nepotism, Agriculture Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek is letting people see the ministry’s internal selection procedures, but few seem satisfied by what they find.
PM Fico unhappy with Enel
PRIME Minister Robert Fico is not happy with the operation of the Italian energy company Enel in Slovakia. He is especially dissatisfied with how Enel, holding 66 percent in Slovakia’s main energy producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), has proceeded in building the third and fourth units of the nuclear power station in Mochovce.
Up in smoke
IF IT DID not cost Slovak taxpayers €66 million, the story of the amorphous Interblue Group, which purchased the country’s excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas at a discount price, would be an entertaining political thriller.
Creating 'tradigital journalists'
THIS IS the golden age of journalism, Sig Gissler says, in contrast with the usual grim picture painted of the media business. Gissler is a purveyor of good news. Journalism is alive and well, and the stories entered into the Pulitzer Prize competition, which Gissler administers, prove it.
Glossary: Travel agencies struggling
Spectator College provides readers of The Slovak Spectator who are trying to improve their English with glossaries of useful and frequently used words and expressions from stories published as part of the Spectator College as well as in the rest of the newspaper. As well as this special glossary, which relates to the article Travel agencies struggling, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.
Exercise: Travel agencies struggling
This exercise is linked to the article: Travel agencies struggling.
Travel agencies struggling
A glossary of words as well as an exercise related to this article are also published online.
Tax license to target loss-making companies
The Finance Ministry plans to impose so-called tax licences, a minimum fee for companies that previously declared losses in their tax declaration and thus avoided paying taxes, but the Republic Union of Employers (RÚZ) complains that the measure will only place an additional tax burden on entrepreneurs.
Presidential candidates meet at debate
FOUR presidential candidates attended the debate at the private Pan-EuropeanUniversity held on October 10 to discuss their steps if elected to the post. Candidate of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Pavol Hrušovský was missing, explaining that he has to wait for official confirmation of his candidacy by his party council, the Sme daily reported.
Prosecutors will check exchange rate loss from emissions sale
THE OFFICE of General Prosecutor will check whether the Environmental Fund violated the law in 2009 when it changed more than 2 million Slovak crowns it received through sale of carbon-dioxide emissions quotas to Interblue Group to euros. The state lost €800,000 through the exchange, which then short-changed the programme for thermal isolation of buildings, the Pravda daily reported on October 11.
Fico dismisses calls to explain dinner
PRIME Minister Robert Fico refuses to show the invoice for the dinner with his assistant Jana Halászová in the Afrodita restaurant in Čereňany, saying it is his private business, the Sme daily reported in its October 11 issue.
Opposition calls on Health Minister to resign
OPPOSITION parties are calling on Health Minister Zuzana Zvolenská to resign for her post for what they call the unacceptable failure in managing the ministry. They criticise her for the tender on licences for helicopter rescue services.
Cabinet okays €2.3 million for Trenčín Region
The Trenčín Region will get €2.3 million from the General Treasury Administration for improving its social and economic situation. The government decided on the subsidy at its away-meeting in Handlová on October 9, where it also expressed support for the mining sector.
Office of the Government Proxy for Roma will move to Spišská Nová Ves
Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák has said that continuing problems with the Roma community must be solved from the place where they live in biggest numbers, the Spiš region in eastern Slovakia and has announced plans to move the Office of the Government Proxy for the Roma Community be moved.
Teachers to get 5 percent salary hike next year
Next year, teachers will see their salaries increase 5 percent, about €42 per month on average. Two days of negotiations between school unions and government representatives ended October 9 with an agreement.
New budget plans to cut income tax for companies
The income tax of legal entities should be reduced as of next year from 23 to 22 percent, according to the latest public budget proposal October 10, the Hospodárske Noviny daily wrote. While the proposal has not been published yet, the Finance Ministry has confirmed the planned change.
Seven Afghanis extradited from Slovakia
Seven citizens of Afghanistan were detained October 7 by police at the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Five men, one woman and one child were apprehended in the municipality of Ubľa in Snina in the east of Slovakia.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- Hockey legend with Slovak roots started playing without knowing any English Video
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Young British boxing star who quit Slovakia over racism is now aiming for the top
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- 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 More articles ›
