Archive of articles - January 2014, page 9
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Development aid to go to ten countries
In the next five years, Slovakia will provide development aid to ten priority countries: Afghanistan, Kenya, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and South Sudan. Previously, it rendered development aid to 19 countries.
Government grants arena project strategic investment status
The Slovak government cleared a certificate guaranteeing the status of ’strategic investment’ to the Metropolis project on the outskirts of Bratislava on January 15. The project entails building a multi-purpose complex, including a congress centre and arena. The first phase of the project will be completed between 2014 and 2018 and is set to cost €223 million. The investor, the Cypriot firm Trigranit, expects that at least 330 new jobs will be created by the end of 2018. “The proposed Metropolis project meets all the attributes of a strategic investment that aims to build a tourist destination of significant importance for the city, as well as in cross-region terms, and to increase significantly the number of visitors to Bratislava,” the TASR newswire quotes a document elaborated jointly by Deputy Prime Minister for Investments Ľubomír Vážny and Transport, Construction and Regional Development Minister Ján Počiatek. It’s estimated that the project will yield €10 million per year in taxes. The multi-purpose complex will be erected in Bratislava’s borough of Jarovce in the immediate vicinity of the D2 motorway. The project is slated to be carried out by a company called Hervex which is a subsidiary of Trigranit Holding Limited.
IKEA
IT SEEMS that horse meat in beef meatballs is not the only scandalous union IKEA is promoting. Now they also have a lesbian couple in their magazine. Of course, this is not something local pro-family groups take lightly, especially given the fact that the Swedish furniture-maker refuses to apologise for publishing the story of Clara and Kirsty, and does not plan to withdraw the publication, as they did with Köttbullar when its identity crisis emerged.
Prosecutor to target Moldava police raid
THE GOVERNMENT has balked at examining Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová’s report, which cites serious violations of human rights by state bodies in its policy toward the Roma. Prosecutors, however, are taking note and have announced plans to look into the controversial police raid on a Roma settlement in June 2013.
All 15 candidates now officially in presidential race
THE OFFICE of parliament officially registered all of the candidates who have submitted their petitions to run in the presidential race on March 15, the SITA newswire reported.
Traditional family advocates criticise Ikea
ACTIVISTS from the Alliance for Family claim Swedish furniture giant Ikea is harming traditional family by featuring a story of a British lesbian couple in its corporate magazine.
Another automaker possibly eyeing Slovakia
YET another automotive producer might be looking to invest in Slovakia in 2014.
Slovakia ready to sign Cluster Munitions Convention in 2015
SLOVAKIA plans to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2015, with the accession process planned to start this year. The convention would become effective for Slovakia on January 1, 2016, which means that the country would have to destroy its munitions by the end of 2023.
KDH wants constitution to define marriage
The opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) is lobbying for marriage to be laid down as solely the union of one man and one woman in the constitution. According to a legislative proposal due to be submitted to parliament in March, KDH also proposes rewriting the Constitution so that the current wording pertaining to marriage is replaced by “The Slovak Republic protects marriage universally and contributes towards its well-being” plus the aforementioned definition of marriage. In its current form, the constitution guarantees legal protection to marriage in general terms.
Hayek Foundation: Economic freedom takes turn for worse
Economic freedom in Slovakia has fallen 15 places year-on-year, with the country ending up in 57th spot - the worst result among Central European countries, claimed the F.A. Hayek Foundation, citing data from the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal. “This result has completely overturned last year’s improvement by 9 places and thus confirmed our negative outlook in the context of the consolidation measures that the incumbent government has introduced following its rise to power,” said the Hayek Foundation. The table was drafted based on the data from 2012 that had been fully collected in September 2013. Slovakia’s fall was attributed to tax hikes, an increase in the state debt and negative amendments to the Labour Code, as lower flexibility on the labour market is considered to be the main culprit behind high unemployment. High levels of corruption pose another negative factor.
Shooting in downtown Bratislava claims one life
A shooting on Obchodná street in downtown Bratislava on the afternoon of January 14 left one man dead and another two people injured.
CNN: Piešťany among deluxe weight-loss destinations
The US news TV channel CNN has published, in its travel section,a story with the chart of nine best holiday destinations for those interested in losing weight.
Inflation continues to slow
THE PACE of growth in consumer prices continues to slow as inflation stood at only 0.4 percent in December 2013, which is 0.13 percentage points less than in the previous month. Average inflation last year reached 1.4 percent, the Statistics Office informed on January 14.
Quality of democracy in Slovakia in 2013 slipped
THE QUALITY of democracy in Slovakia in 2013 declined slightly, with the country having earned 2.9 points, down by 0.1 point compared to the previous year.
NGO calls for disciplinary proceeding against Harabin
THE NON-governmental organisation Via Iuris has called on Justice Minister Tomáš Borec and Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová to submit a motion to launch a disciplinary proceeding against Supreme Court President Štefan Harabin. The association claims that Harabin violates the law and international rules on judicial behaviour, the SITA newswire reported on January 14.
Police reportedly know who in Interblue profited from emissions
THE SLOVAK police confirmed on January 13 that they received information from the Swiss police on copies of bank statements and transfer orders of the company Interblue Group, which earned about €47 million in profits in 2008 from selling excess carbon dioxide emissions quotas purchased from Slovakia.
Three in four Slovaks have trouble paying expenses
THREE quarters of Slovaks admit to having difficulty with paying their current expenses, based on data from the Slovak Statistics Office. The statistics show that up to 76.4 percent of Slovak households have problems paying for basic expenditures such as clothing, food and pet supplies.
Electronisation of judiciary underway
THIS YEAR Slovak citizens should see several improvements that the electronisation of the judiciary is expected to bring. Most of the key projects of the electronisation will be carried out at Slovak courts in 2014, Justice Minister Tomáš Borec said, as reported by the SITA newswire.
Opposition challenges income tax laws at Constitutional Court
A GROUP of opposition MPs filed a motion with the Constitutional Court, complaining about the law on income tax as being retroactive. They also claim some provisions in the law violate the right to doing business and have consequences that might seriously interfere with this right. The MPs requested the Constitutional Court to deem the law unconstitutional.
Vareha’s trial continues in prison
THE TRIAL of Mikuláš Vareha, nicknamed the Lord of Zemplín, is taking place in prison due to Vareha’s health condition.
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- 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
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The law changed. Our family papers were ready. Now my kids are Slovak citizens
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- 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
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 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
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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 ›
