Archive of articles - November 2013, page 8
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US culture in Slovakia
IT SEEMS that the presence of American culture in Slovakia is so strong that it needs little promotion. However, certain elements of the culture may still be unfamiliar to Slovaks, who may find there is more worth discovering.
The end of crisis mode?
Improved tax collection, state administration reform and measures to support economic growth will lead the government to unfreeze the salaries of approximately 340,000 public servants, while keeping the public finance deficit under 3 percent as required by the European Union and dropping corporate income taxes from 23 to 22 percent, Prime Minister Robert Fico said when introducing the draft state budget approved by his government on October 10.
Rankings are meaningful, says AmCham director
INVESTORS do look at global competitiveness surveys when considering where to invest, says American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jake Slegers in reference to Slovakia’s declining performance on such lists in 2013. He said he finds the results from these “meaningful, globally supported surveys” disturbing. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Slegers about the business environment, prospects for tourism, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, and AmCham’s plans for 2014.
Two books on Bezák published
FORMER Trnava Archbishop Róbert Bezák is the central figure of two books of interviews published in Slovakia in November: Between Heaven and Hell, by the Týždeň weekly’s editor-in-chief Štefan Hríb, and Confession, by Vasárnap weekly journalist Marie Vrabcová.
Slovak painter Laluha dies
ON THE night of November 10, prominent Slovak artist Milan Laluha died, one day before his 83rd birthday. Born in Tekovské Lužany, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava and later founded the famous Mikuláš Galanda group in 1957 (which existed until 1968). Later he lived in Dolná Mičiná, Martin and Bratislava.
Extremist reaches run-off round
LONG considered to be uneventful, regional elections in Banská Bystrica have delivered a surprising result and brought political extremism into the spotlight.
US institutions in Slovakia
US Embassy to SlovakiaAmbassador: Theodore Sedgwickslovakia.usembassy.gov
Global industry in Slovakia
Automotive production in Slovakia continues to grow even though carmakers operating in the country are not immune to the impacts of shrinking car sales throughout Europe. Despite this, the auto industry set new records in 2012 and its outlook for 2013 remains positive. This is due in part to the varied classes of cars produced and exported, and to the fact that it does not focus exclusively on the European market.
Budgetary council nixes draft budget
THE DRAFT state budget for 2014, proposed by Finance Minister Peter Kažimír, was assessed by the government’s Council for Budgetary Responsibility as hinging mostly on one-time and temporary measures, with rising structural deficit and an increasing burden of consolidation.
Slovakia no longer leads the V4 region
Slovakia’s business environment is not improving in global comparisons. In fact, international rankings measuring the country’s level of competitiveness for investors show the contrary. In September 2013, when Slovakia saw its seventh consecutive drop in the Global Competitiveness Report, government officials blamed entrepreneurs for being political and biased. Prime Minister Robert Fico dismissed the report and showcased the previous year’s result in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking, which ranked Slovakia as the best in the Visegrad Group region. However, there is little about the results of the recently published 2014 Doing Business to be proud of, as Slovakia’s ratings have dropped in that as well.
'Slovaks can do something about it'
US AMBASSADOR to Slovakia Theodore Sedgwick keeps in his Bratislava office a large map of Slovakia with numerous pins marking all the places in the country he has visited. “I am not just the ambassador to Bratislava; I am an ambassador to the whole of Slovakia,” said Sedgwick, adding that he adores the beauty that Slovakia has to offer and he will remember all of his travels.
Oak: Tree of the Year
THE WINNER of the 2013 Tree of the Year poll in Slovakia is an English oak (also known as pedunculate oak, Quercus robur) that dominates a garden once belonging to doctor and writer Gustáv Kazimír Zechenter in downtown Kremnica, which received 1,955 votes.
Tower's foundation found
THE FOUNDATION of a defensive tower was found on a castle hill near the town of Širkovce in the Rimavská Sobota district. Archaeological research in the summer and early autumn turned a good deal of pottery and silver coins of King Ladislaus V and Emperor Rudolf II.
Owners change in Slovak energy sector
Slovakia’s energy companies have recently seen several ownership changes, such as the Czech Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) entering the natural gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel SPP earlier in 2013, only to leave its share in the parent company to the state while acquiring a stake in a regional power distributor Stredoslovenská Energetika (SSE). Analysts and experts say such changes are natural and reflect the current development of Europe’s energy market.“In general, energy suppliers change owners everywhere,” Zuzana Lukáčová, head of analysis at Energy Analytics, told The Slovak Spectator. “As long as it does not happen on a big scale, and it does not in Slovakia and in neighbouring countries, it is natural.”
Fusing hip-hop with jazz
JOSÉ James, a 35-year-old American, is often described as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation. He admits that this genre, together with indie rock, has helped shape his music and has become a kind of stylistic reference point for his music and his performances.
Lajčák gives address at Harvard
MIROSLAV Lajčák, the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, described Slovakia in his address at the Law Faculty of Harvard University in Boston as a successful country situated in the very centre of European integration, and as an active member of the eurozone and the Schengen agreement area. His speech on November 7 concluded his visit to the US, the ministry informed on its website.
One World film festival aims to change world
THE INTERNATIONAL film festival of documentaries that focus on pressing issues, One World, organised by the People in Peril civic association, offers several new events in its 14th year, as well as a new motto: We Are Changing the World.
'Good journalism might make people mad'
GOOD journalism might make some people cancel their newspaper subscriptions, Pulitzer Prize winner Abigail Goldman said when admitting that journalists seem to have become overly worried about making people angry and are thus ready to compromise the very nature of their work.
Smer dominates; extremist in run-off
SHORTLY after the election results poured in from the eight self-governing regions, known by the Slovak acronym VÚCs, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced that his Smer party was the victor of the November 9 regional vote. However, it was not Smer’s performance which attracted the most attention, but rather the election success of extremist leader Marian Kotleba of People’s Party – Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) in Banská Bystrica Region after he qualified for the second-round run-off in the governor’s race.
New plan to fight floods
FLOODING remains an ongoing struggle for Slovakia. The Environment Ministry says its new flood protection plan will help the country withstand floods like the 2010 deluge that caused considerable damage across the regions. The plan, unveiled on October 28, was designed for the next seven years and relies on traditional preventive measures, like building barriers and other forms of flood prevention, and regulating water flow.
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
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- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- 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 ›
