Archive of articles - November 2013, page 13
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Deep topics via dance
THIS YEAR’S Bratislava in Movement festival offered yet another programme of Slovak and international performers displaying the latest trends in contemporary dance. While many of this edition’s performances were worthy of praise, two were particularly notable: one creatively explored complicated emotional entanglements, while the other interpreted the experiences of a young Polish Jew separated from his family in the Second World War.
Card fees increase at some banks
SEVERAL banks are increasing cashless payment fees, while Zuno bank is introducing a new fee for expedited issuance of a bank card.
Slovaks want card payment rewards
SLOVAK bank customers expect to receive some form of financial reward for making payments with cards, according to a poll conducted for Prima Banka by the 2muse agency in summer.
Banks have lower borrowing costs
IN SPITE of the special banking levy introduced this year, most Slovak banks are reporting an increase in profits. Some banks reported profits exceeding €50 million for the first nine months of 2013. Paradoxically, this was helped not only by the growing appetite of households for buying on credit but also by the eurozone crisis, the analyst says.
Phishing attacks target bank accounts
personal data. In the wake of a court decision that forced one bank to compensate a client harmed in such an attack, the issue is drawing increased attention.
Top officials’ salaries frozen in 2014
TOP PUBLIC officials will see their salaries and lump-sum compensation frozen at this year’s level in 2014, according to an amendment to measures approved by the cabinet on November 6.
Three VÚC heads elected; Fico claims victory for Smer
THREE of the eight self-governing regions, known by Slovaks under the acronym VÚCs have elected their leaders in the first round of regional elections held on November 9: Incumbent Peter Chudík, supported by Smer, Our Region and the Party of Modern Slovakia, won the Prešov race and Smer-backed incumbent Juraj Blanár has secured his position in Žilina. Trenčín went to Smer candidate Jaroslav Baška, according to the official results announced by the Central Elections Commission on November 10.
VUC VOTE: 21.1 percent of voters attended regional elections
IN THE first round of regional elections, 20.1 percent of 4,463,039 eligible voters cast their ballots, according to the official results announced by the Central Elections Commission on November 10.
VUC VOTE: Prešov, Žilina and Trenčín elect regional leaders in first round
THREE of the eight self-governing regions, known by Slovaks under the acronym VÚCs, have elected their leaders in the first round of regional elections held on November 9. Incumbent Peter Chudík, supported by Smer, Our Region and the Party of Modern Slovakia, won the Prešov race and incumbent Juraj Blanár, supported by Smer, Slovak National Party (SNS) and Green Party, has secured his position in Žilina, while Trenčín went to Smer’s candidate Jaroslav Baška, according to the official results announced by the Central Elections Commission on November 10.
VÚC VOTE: Prešov, Žilina and Trenčín elect regional leaders in first round
THREE of the eight self-governing regions, known by Slovaks under the acronym VÚCs, have elected their leaders in the first round of regional elections held on November 9. Incumbent Peter Chudík, supported by Smer, Our Region and the Party of Modern Slovakia, won the Prešov race and incumbent Juraj Blanár, supported by Smer, has secured his position in Žilina, while Trenčín went to Smer’s candidate Jaroslav Baška, according to unofficial results provided by the Slovak Statistics Office.
State to stimulate rental housing market
SLOVAKS tend to own, rather than rent, their homes, with just 2.7 percent of flats nationwide available for rent. But the government is seeking to change this, as it will now allow developers to tap low interest loans in the hope that it will boost the number of rental properties on the market. Such loans were once only available to municipalities, families or non-profit groups. The Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development has revised the law on the State Fund for Housing Development [ŠFRB] to incentivise private sector construction.
Glossary: State to stimulate rental housing market
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 State to stimulate rental housing market, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.
Polling stations closed
VOTERS in Slovakia’s eight self-governing regions elected regional governors and members of the country’s regional parliaments for the next four years on November 9. The polls closed at 22:00. The first preliminary results will be published on the website of the Statistics Office (www.statistics.sk) or at www.volbysr.sk shortly after 22:00.
People elect regional leaders
VOTERS in Slovakia’s eight self-governing regions will elect regional governors and members of the country’s regional parliaments for the next four years. The polls opened at 7:00 and will close at 22:00.
Tracking the money spent by VÚCs
THE VÚCs, created in 2001 as the state’s declared effort to decentralise public administration, handle more than €1 billion in state funds each year and have decision-making powers in education, social services and public transport, and oversee the maintenance of lower category roads, while coordinating inter-regional and cross-border cooperation and tourism.
The regional VÚC races
BratislavaPavol Frešo (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-SDKÚ, Christian Democratic Movement-KDH, Most-Híd, Party of Hungarian Community-SMK, Freedom and Solidarity-SaS, Civic Conservative Party-OKS, Green Party); Monika Flašíková-Beňová (Smer); Daniel Krajcer (New Majority – Agreement-NOVA); Jaroslav Paška (Slovak National Party-SNS); Oskar Dobrovodský (Nation and Justice – Our Party); Rastislav Blaško (independent); Zdenka Beňová (People’s Party – Our Slovakia-ĽSNS); Anton Čulen (Magnificat Slovakia); Gabriel Karácsony (Direct Democracy); Peter Marček (Party of Citizens of Slovakia); Karol Ondriaš (Communist Party of Slovakia-KSS); Roman Ruhig (New Parliament).
Slovaks vote in regional elections
CITIZENS in Slovakia’s eight self-governing regions, including foreigners with permanent residence in the country, are to elect their regional governors and members of the regional parliaments for the next four years on November 9. Unlike the parliamentary elections where each political party is kicking for its own success, the regional elections give rise to unusual coalitions that often cross government-opposition lines at the national level. The regional elections (known by the Slovak-language acronym VÚC) also provide a platform for one-time parties with varying degrees of success.
Results in 2009
IN THE last regional elections in 2009, Smer almost doubled the number of seats it previously held in the regional parliaments, from the 70 seats it won in 2005 to 137 seats.
Elections basics
THE POLLING stations open at 7:00 and close at 22:00. No political campaigning or promotion is allowed during election day until the polling stations are closed.
Strange dealings on judge panel for Harabin case
THE COURT which ordered compensation paid to Supreme Court Chairman Štefan Harabin was the scene of several unusual developments during the adjudicating process, the Sme daily reported on November 8.
- 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
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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 ›
