Archive of articles - February 2014, page 3
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EU Commissioner to lead Smer’s EP slate
EUROPEAN Commission Vice-president Maroš Šefčovič will top the governing Smer party's slate for the European Parliament (EP) elections.
Fico injured while campaigning
PRIME Minister Robert Fico seriously injured his left foot during a football match in Košice, which was part of his campaign before presidential election, on Sunday February 23. His injury required surgery.
Slovakia takes in 11 Somali refugees
SLOVAKIA has granted temporary asylum to 11 Somali refugees arriving from Yemen, who will spend the next six months at the emergency transit centre in the eastern Slovak town of Humenné in Prešov Region, the TASR newswire reported.
Irish recipes: Irish Whiskey cocktail
Ingredients: 50ml Irish Whiskey, 100ml cranberry juice, wedge of fresh lime, wedge of fresh tangerine.
Giraffe born in Bratislava Zoo
THE YOUNGEST baby born in the Bratislava Zoo is a male Rothschild’s giraffe – it was born on January 18. However, the zoo officially presented him only in mid February, when it allowed the toddler to wander outside the heated quarters.
Biggest construction companies in Slovakia
Ranking of firms according to sales in 2012:
Stará Tržnica gets new life
BRATISLAVA’S Old Market Hall, or Stará Tržnica, fell on hard times – but efforts to revive the spirit of the landmark building have proved fruitful according to the non-profit group now tasked with reviving its fortunes.
Gent demands answers about Roma
THE MAYOR of the Belgian city of Gent has sent an open letter to the European Commission and the Belgian government in reaction to information that a wave of immigrants from the infamous Lunik IX neighbourhood in Košice is coming to the city.
GDP growing at moderate pace
SLOVAKIA’S economy in the last three months of 2013 performed better than the eurozone average, fuelled by recovering industry and even good weather.
Procházka: They cannot pull my leg
SLOVAKIA needs an active president, a stable middle class and laws that are equally valid for all, one of the youngest of the presidential candidates believes. The Slovak Spectator interviewed Radoslav Procházka, who sees the combination of his young age and his experience in politics, as his main strength.
Quote of the week
“The society is like its prison system.”
Making Bratislava a smart city
WITH Bratislava’s rapid population growth after the Second World War came high demand for affordable housing, often resulting in low quality buildings and high energy bills due to poor insulation. When energy prices surged following the communist regime’s 1989 collapse, owners of these apartment blocks responded by refurbishing the flats to improve their energy efficiency.
EU-GUGLE
CITIES are responsible for 70 percent of Europe’s energy consumption, with buildings contributing 40 percent of the total, the leaflet of the EU-GUGLE project reads. In this context, reducing energy consumption in buildings is essential if Europe is to meet its energy targets for 2020, i.e. a 20-percent reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels, raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20 percent, and a 20-percent improvement in the EU’s energy efficiency. While crucial to the sustainability of European cities, building renovation is a complicated process involving several technical, financial and social constraints. For this reason integrated strategies are needed. By implementing a balanced mix of technical, socio-economic and financial solutions that are adapted to local needs, the participating cities aim to achieve 40 – 80 percent primary energy savings per pilot district, while increasing their share of renewable energy sources by 25 percent. The main output will be the integration of the results into comprehensive “smart renovation strategies” which are easily transposable to other municipalities.
Comenius hosts young law students
FOR THE second time in its history, Bratislava will host participants in the European Law Moot Court (ELMC) Competition, organised since 1988. Twelve teams composed of law students from the European Union as well as the US will demonstrate their ability to lead the proceeding and defend their arguments in a made-up scenario pertaining to the implementation of EU legislation.
Building a new brand
DESPITE being on the global stage for more than two decades, Slovakia still lacks its own distinctive brand, which observers consider crucial when fighting for foreign investments and tourists. This has become increasingly important with the country’s 2016 presidency of the Council of the European Union fast approaching.
Leadership and the Brain – A User´s Guide to Empathy
Insights into leadership in the fast-evolving business environment can be found in the history of our own evolution. Over the last few million years, the human brain has changed faster than that of any other living species. We have developed such a large cortex (modern brain) in comparison to the deeper, older regions of the brain, that we are less in touch with our instincts and non-verbal signals. Not only is the cortex the most modern part of our brain, it is also the most considered, reflective and forward-thinking. Most of this brain growth is connected to the evolution of language and interpersonal capabilities, such as empathy, cooperation and strategizing as a group.
Slovakia's hotels are empty
TWO THIRDS of the beds in Slovakia’s hotels remain empty, which puts Slovakia at the bottom of the EU hotel occupancy chart compiled by Eurostat.
Extension of higher level collective agreements in Slovakia
New rules for the extension of applicability of collective agreements entered into force on 1 January 2014. Compared to the past, the employer’s consent is no longer a condition for extension of the binding force of higher level collective agreements. Although pessimistic scenarios on the possible effects accompanying this legislation could be forecast, only the future will show how the law will be brought into life. In the meantime, it is recommended to become familiar with the new legislation.
FinMin praises VAT collection
THE STATE is forecast to have collected €261 million more in taxes and levies in 2013 than expected in the previous estimate of November, Finance Minister Peter Kažimír reported at a press conference on February 15, citing data from the latest tax prognosis drawn up by the ministry’s Financial Policy Institute (IFP).
Irish cuisine: A shared potato tradition
YOU would rarely find an Irishman who hates potatoes, said Anne-Marie Callan, making Irish cuisine instantly appealing to Slovaks who appreciate their own potato-based food traditions.
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- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
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- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
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- 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
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- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
