Archive of articles - December 2013, page 10
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Harabin to appeal to Strasbourg over Finance Ministry audit
SUPREME Court Chairman Štefan Harabin is likely to sue Slovakia at the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, after the Constitutional Court refused to renew the proceedings in his disciplinary case concerning a Finance Ministry audit at the Supreme Court.
Smer holds annual convention; no presidential candidate announced yet
THE RULING Smer party held its annual convention on December 7, at which it was expected that the party would announce the name of its presidential candidate.
Enjoy a winter in Slovakia
The winter season is approaching and ski resorts have been busy preparing for it ever since the last one ended. The most intense work was seen in Slovakia’s biggest and most visited skiing destinations in Jasná and the High Tatras. In Jasná, work to connect the northern and southern part of the Chopok peak continues.
Norwegian institution in Slovakia
Royal Norwegian EmbassyNorwegian Ambassador to Slovakia: Inga Magistadwww.norway.sk
Danish institution in Slovakia
Embassy of Denmarkwww.slovakiet.um.dkAmbassador: Christian Konigsfeldt
Denmark: general facts
Head of state: Queen Margrethe IIForm of government: parliamentary democracyCapital: CopenhagenTotal area: 43,098 square kilometresPopulation: 5.6 millionOfficial language: DanishCurrency: Danish KronerSource: www.denmark.dk
Curiosities of Čáry
IN THE north-western part of Záhorie is a municipality with an interesting name – Čáry. The name is in the local dialect and is derived from the word čiara, meaning line. In this case, it refers to the borderline of the municipal territory, marked by a deep furrow or forest path.
Bratislava tram driver celebrates birthday by offering sweets to passengers
Sweets and pieces of chocolate hanging from the handrails awaited passengers on one of Bratislava trams on November 26.
Quote of the week
“The candidacy is meant for someone who arrives well known and does not need a year and a half to show his face.”
Fewer Slovaks attending university
THE NUMBER of people enrolled in many Slovak universities and colleges this year was lower than the number of openings, with schools seeing fewer doctoral students than the year before, according to an annual report ranking Slovak universities.
Art, film and fish
TO MANY Slovaks, Norwegian culture combines the traditional with the modern and progressive. Norway’s myriad cultural offerings range from traditional folk art to contemporary design, and also include film, photography, music, and even traditional cuisine, which to landlocked Slovaks may seem exotic.
Glossary: Recreation centres struggle financially
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 Recreation centres struggle financially, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.
Slovakia receptive to Danish culture
SLOVAKS seem to have an affinity for Denmark’s cultural offerings, especially when it comes to that country’s films and its renowned author Hans Christian Andersen. However, connoisseurs of photography, art, philosophy and a variety of musical genres can also find much to love about Danish culture, and Slovaks need not travel far to experience it.
SSE transaction finalised
CZECH company Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) has definitely finished acquiring shares of the Stredoslovenská Energetika (SSE) energy supplier. EPH, owned by Czech businessmen Daniel Křetínský and Petr Kellner and Slovak J&T financial group, bought a 49-percent share with managerial control from Electricité de France for €400 million.
Better tax collection anticipated
THE GOVERNMENT expects to collect millions of euros more in taxes and levies than it had previously anticipated. The state treasury raised its estimated revenue in taxes and levies compared to September’s forecast for 2013 by €154 million, or 0.2 percent of GDP. It expects similarly better tax revenue for the years 2014-2016, with its estimated revenue in taxes and levies increasing by €375 million in 2014, €361 million in 2015 and €365 million in 2016.
Tax licence passes; a tax rate cut to 22%
SHORTLY after the Smer-controlled parliament passed a tax licence law obliging limited liability or joint stock companies to pay annually into the state coffers regardless of whether or not they make a profit, some were quick to remind Prime Minister Robert Fico of his promise not to raise taxes. In response Fico has pointed to another law passed in parliament on December 3, which cuts corporate income tax rates from 23 to 22 percent, and suggested there may be more tax cuts to come.
Norway: General facts
Head of state: King Harald V of NorwayForm of government: parliamentary democracyCapital: OsloTotal area: 385,186 square kilometresPopulation: 5 millionOfficial languages: Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk) (In some districts, Sámi is also an official language) Currency: Norwegian Kroner
Helping to save heritage
INGA Magistad prefers not to pick favourites when it comes to projects supported by Norway through the EEA/Norway Grants in Slovakia, since for her, “projects that have helped disadvantaged Roma children in eastern Slovakia to go to school and to develop their abilities are as notable as the more visible projects of restoration of venerated historic monuments”. As the Norwegian ambassador to Slovakia, she plans to further pursue projects through the EEA/Norway Grants. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Magistad about gender equality achievements in her homeland, environmental challenges and Norwegian medical students acquiring their degrees in Slovakia.
Košice House of Arts alight with Hanukkah lights
THE JEWISH festival of Hanukkah was celebrated in several places throughout Slovakia, but a big Hanukkah menorah was placed near the former Košice synagogue, now the House of Arts. The nine-branched candelabrum was two metres tall and the first of eight lights placed in it was lit on November 27 by the president of B’nai B’rith Concordia, Tomáš Teššer. Other lights were lit on each of the successive days.
Prosecutor's office appeals
THE GENERAL Prosecutor’s Office is taking steps to avoid paying the €150,000 awarded to Supreme Court President Štefan Harabin based on a verdict recently confirmed by the Bratislava Regional Court in the case of Harabin’s alleged phone call with drug lord Baki Sadiki.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- 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
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- 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
- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- 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 ›
