Archive of articles - November 2013, page 14
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Slovak media education project wins prize
THE SLOVAK project Ovce.sk (sheeplive.eu) was awarded a prize at the World Summit Award (WSA) competition in the category of e-Inclusion and Empowerment.
Regional elections tomorrow, foreign permanent residents can vote
RESIDENTS of eight regions in Slovakia will be able to elect the regional presidents and members of regional councils in their respective regions November 9.
PAS elects new president
THE BUSINESS Alliance of Slovakia (PAS), one of the major association of businesses in the country, elected new board members November 7. Ondrej Smolár, the executive director of the Soitron company, was elected president.
Dual carriageway opened near Košice
TWO days before the regional elections Prime Minister Robert Fico ceremonially opened the R4 motorway between Košice and the border village of Milhošť, in eastern Slovakia.
Figeľ asks prosecutors to investigate SPP share transfer
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Chairman Ján Figeľ has appealed to the General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO) to initiate a probe into the government-sponsored restructuring of gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) after the Czech company Energetický a Prúmyslový Holding (EPH) acquired a minority stake in the company.
OECD: Well-being in Slovakia is average
In the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) annual “How’s Life?” report published November 6, Slovakia finished in the middle zone of countries measured by their subjective well-being of citizens. This zone included 60 percent of all countries compared, including Poland, Slovenia, Great Britain and Spain.
Žiga to lead Slovak delegation at Warsaw climate conference
Slovakia will send a delegation led by Environment Minister Peter Žiga to Warsaw for the United Nations climate change conference scheduled for November 11-22, following a decision made by the government on November 6. The conference will include the 19th session of the Conference on the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the ninth session of the Kyoto Protocol signatories. The event will focus on ways to finance tackling climate change, the TASR newswire wrote.
Harabin to get €150,000 in damages over alleged call with Sadiki
In the case concerning the alleged phone call between the President of the Supreme Court Štefan Harabin and the gangland boss Baki Sadiki, the Bratislava Regional Court has upheld the verdict of the lower court on September 25. The information was published by the Sme daily only on November 6.
Retail sales in Slovakia fall for second straight month
Sales in Slovakia’s retail sector fell for the second consecutive month and failed to reach last year’s level. Compared to September 2012, retail sales fell 1 percent while in August the decline was 0.2 percent.
Man who defrauded Deaflympics sentenced to 14.5 years in prison
A higher-instance court decided on November 6 in the case of defrauded and scrapped Olympic Games for the hearing-impaired, the Deaflympics, that was to take place in Slovakia in 2011, sentencing the former chairman of the Deaflympic Committee to 14 years and 6 months in prison.
Government deficit was €3.23 billion last year
The deficit of Slovak government in 2012 was €3.23 billion which is 4.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Compared to 2011, the deficit decreased by 0.6 percent of GDP. This stems from the summary of annual financial statements of the government for 2012 which the Ministry of Finance published for the second consecutive year. The cabinet discussed the numbers November 6.
Senior public officials to see salaries frozen in 2014
Top public officials will see their salaries and lump-sum compensation frozen at this year’s level next year, according to an amendment to measures approved by the government November 6.
Nu Dance Fest explores modern aspects
CONTEMPORARY dance and physical theatre are the focus of the Nu Dance festival, the 8th year of which begins on November 7 and lasts until November 12.
EC foresees growth but higher deficit
CORPORATE taxes might drop if the country’s economy heads in the right direction, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said, shortly after the European Commission (EC) published its autumn prognosis for economic developments in the 28 EU-member states, including Slovakia. Real GDP is projected to increase by 0.9 percent in 2013, “supported by recovering household demand, with net exports driving growth through a strong positive contribution”, said the EC in its prognosis published on November 5.
Quality over quantity at Bratislava film festival
A FUNDAMENTAL change in the 15th International Film Festival Bratislava, an annual event featuring award-winning international movies and notable Slovak and Czech cinematic newcomers in the Slovak capital, is its move from big multiplex-cinema theatres to smaller venues.
Župy
LET’S start with a quiz: The slogan “So that your children won’t depart” promotes: a) a children’s hospital, b) a religious sect, c) a candidate in Slovakia’s regional elections. If you guessed c), you have an unusually deep understanding of political marketing. And you got it right. The motto can be seen on billboards in Košice, a city many people tend to leave to find better jobs elsewhere. Sadly, unconventional local ads are the most amusing part of the campaign, in what is one of the world’s more absurd elections. Here are just some of the reasons why it is difficult to take voting, and the regional governments (župy) in general, too seriously:
Court gives suspended sentences in Osrblie corruption case
THE RECONSTRUCTION of the biathlon centre in Osrblie was mired in corruption under the government of Iveta Radičová. The Specialised Court handed down fines and suspended sentences to the culprits.
US businesses call on president to stop collective bargaining law
THE AMERICAN Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia (AmCham) has expressed concerns about the amendment to the law on collective bargaining that parliament passed at the end of October, and which strengthens the position of labour unions.
VAT collection better than expected
THE COLLECTION of value added tax in September and October exceeded the government’s expectations. It is €130 million, or one fifth, higher than what was projected, the Sme daily reported, adding that the government does not yet know whether the higher amount is due to increased spending by households in shops or a drop in occurrences of tax fraud.
Single state-run health insurer project is delayed
THE HEALTH Ministry still has not presented the law to transform the country’s health insurance system into a system with a single health insurer. There is no new deadline scheduled for the law, which was originally slated to take effect as of May 2013. At its November 6 session the cabinet acknowledged the ministry’s report, which however does not include any deadlines, the TASR newswire reported.
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- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Slovakia passes NGO law, civil society fears a chilling new era
- They could have left. But these young Slovaks stayed
- News digest: Brussels committee launches scrutiny of EU funds in Slovakia
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- Fico’s adviser accused of corruption, then hits back at prosecutor
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- News digest: Brussels committee launches scrutiny of EU funds in Slovakia
- They could have left. But these young Slovaks stayed
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- ‘Listen, Martina, this is not just your country’: protest song becomes rallying cry for folklorists Video
- Slovakia passes NGO law, civil society fears a chilling new era
- 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
- Bratislava unveils its first 3D-printed bus stop Photo
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Why a British teacher chose Slovakia as home Audio
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- 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
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovak roots: claiming what you knew you had
- Poland edges toward green light on long-delayed Kraków–Košice rail revival
- After years of straddling two worlds, this American is now reconnecting with his Slovak roots
- Fico’s adviser accused of corruption, then hits back at prosecutor
- Slovak Chamber of Auditors introduces Europe’s first AI platform for auditors
- Slovakia passes NGO law, civil society fears a chilling new era
- Irish metal band to make long-awaited debut in Bratislava Video
- News digest: Brussels committee launches scrutiny of EU funds in Slovakia More articles ›
