Archive of articles - April 2014, page 14
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New player in emissions case
A HIGH-level official might have benefited from the murky 2008 carbon dioxide emissions deal, one of the biggest scandals of first government of Robert Fico (2006-10), according to Fair-Play Alliance (AFP). They based their claim on documents provided by Swiss authorities, who were looking into allegations of money laundering in the emissions case. The investigation ended with no charges laid, the TASR newswire reported.
EC reviews exports ban
SLOVAKIA might face sanctions for passing a law that bans pharmaceutical distributors from exporting medicines abroad, if the inspection of the European Commission confirms that it is not compatible with the principle of the free movement of goods, the Hospodárske Noviny daily reported in its April 1 issue.
'Gypsy food' spices up Bratislava's gastronomy
THOUGH interest in gastronomy, especially in more distant, exotic cuisines, seems to be growing in Slovakia, some people may still be unfamiliar with what’s right “next door”. This may be the case with a culinary tradition that, while local, remains less known and appreciated than most others: Roma cuisine.
State targets problematic lending
HIGH-INTEREST loans provided by non-banking financial companies to vulnerable customer groups should be tamed by a series of laws targeting such usurious practices, with a definition of “usury” now part of the Civil Code approved by parliament on April 1.
Wind turbines resurrected
THE BRATISLAVA-based SWWE company has resurrected its €40-million plan to build 12 wind turbines near the Babín village in the Orava region. The firm first introduced the plan four years ago, the Hospodárske Noviny daily wrote.
SPP and Gazprom clinch agreement
THE SLOVAK and Russian gas companies, Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) and Gazprom Export LLC, reached an agreement over gas prices on March 28, but details of the contract remain concealed.
Illegal power consumption examined
THE POLICE have been investigating a 20-year case of alleged illegal consumption of electricity in Košice. A restaurant at a KVP housing estate was illegally connected to the mains of the public lighting since 1993. Damages have exceeded €26,000, Alexander Szabó, spokesman for Košice police, told the SITA newswire. The case is under investigation, while the investigator has accused the restaurant’s administrator, a 48-year old Košice citizen, of theft. If found guilty he faces three to 10 years in prison.
Quote of the week
“I think that from Smer’s perspective such results are very favourable.”
Harabin urgently calls for vote
THOUGH, Supreme Court President Štefan Harabin had very little to formally do with the election of Slovakia’s next president, his name kept regularly popping up during the campaign as a symbol of the decline of the country’s judiciary. That may not stop him from trying to guarantee his re-election before the new president takes office.
Sun in the Net film nominations announced
THE SUN in the Net national film award nominations for Slovak productions made in 2012 and 2013 have been announced. In February, members of the Slovak Film and TV Academy (SDTA) selected nominations from a total of 14 features, 13 documentaries, five animated films and five short films.
Politics without politics harvests success
WITH many feeling that today’s political parties have abandoned the principle of serving the people, several candidates in this year’s presidential race stressed their distance from the political establisment. This resonated with voters, who responded by electing one such candidate to the highest state office.
A change of direction
LITTLE did Robert Fico know last December that when he invited foreign diplomats and state officials to the historical building of the Slovak parliament to ceremonially announce his presidential bid that he was heading towards his worst political defeat in at least a decade.
Looking to tap geothermal potential
WHILE Slovakia is rich in geothermal energy, only a scrap of its potential has been utilised, while any plans for building geothermal power stations have not materialised yet. The price at which a geothermal power station would sell the electricity it produces remains of key importance.
Cabinet to clear new energy policy
THE GOVERNMENT is working on a new Energy Policy, defining its main goals and priorities for the energy sector through 2035 with an outlook up to 2050. While the original plan was for the Slovak cabinet to approve it in late 2013, late May is now the target. For now, Slovakia is following the energy policy adopted in 2008, the SITA newswire wrote on February 11.
Industry associations and organisations
-Association of Producers of Electricity from the Sun (AVES), www.aves.sk-Biomasa, www.biomasa.sk-Energy Analytics, www.energia.sk-Energy Security Institute (ESI), www.energetickyinstitut.sk-Slovak Association of Photovoltaic Industry (SAPI), www.sapi.sk-Slovak Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA), www.seva.sk-Slovak Gas and Oil Association (SPNZ), www.sgoa.sk-Slovak Renewable Energy Agency (SKREA), www.skrea.sk
Procházka says he is ready for a party
RADOSLAV Procházka is ready to found a new political party after all. How he came to this decision proves he is an unorthodox politician, despite the fact the he entered politics through the door of one of the most conservative parties on the Slovak political scene.
Highway toll investigation halted
THE EUROPEAN Commission has ended an investigation against Slovakia over the suspected violation of European rules on public procurement in the tender for the operator of the electronic highway toll system, the SITA newswire reported on March 28, concluding it was impossible to prove that certain bidders were unlawfully excluded from the process.
Turkish family name son after Slovak football player
SLOVAK football player Filip Hološko grew so close to the hearts of an Istanbul-based family that they decided to name their son after the family name of the striker of the Besiktas football club.
US Embassy awards Dubovcová
WHILE Slovak state officials turned a deaf ear to Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová’s report pointing to serious human rights violations by state bodies in its policy toward Roma and proposed to relocate her office from Bratislava to the east instead, the diplomatic community awarded her a prize.
State denies wrongdoing on food buy
THE ADMINISTRATION of State Material Reserves denied any wrongdoing when purchasing sugar and grain from private companies for its emergency stocks. This came in response to media reports in late March claiming that the state lost nearly €700,000 in the public competition, which was won, among others, by a firm with connections to the J&T financial group. The opposition, however, remains sceptical of the purchase and questions its transparency.
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- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- Hockey legend with Slovak roots started playing without knowing any English Video
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- Young British boxing star who quit Slovakia over racism is now aiming for the top
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- 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
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 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
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Zdeno Chára inducted into world hockey hall of fame Video
- Liberal MP’s boxing challenge backfires as far-right MEP seizes the moment
- 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 More articles ›
