Archive of articles - June 2014
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Theatre in English explores Slovak classics
BRIDGIN’ Drama is the only theatre in Slovakia that consistently performs its repertory in English. Putting on original plays, the team focuses on bringing Slovak classical literature and writers closer to English-speaking audiences.
Smer makes leadership changes
THE WORKING summit of the ruling Smer party at the end of June brought a number of changes in its leadership.
Rainbow Pride attracts hundreds; no incidents reported this year
SUPPORT for all types of families, not just those that fall under the constitutional definition recently passed by the Slovak parliament, was the theme of Bratislava’s fifth gay pride parade, which took place this year on June 28 in the centre of the capital.
NOVA dismisses 20 liberal presidium members
LEADER of the opposition Nova party Daniel Lipšic, who is a former prominent Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) politician, says he erred last year when he invited liberal defectors from the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, the Sme daily reported. Lipšic admitted his party’s result in the European Parliament (EP) elections was a disappointment and he blames this on the liberal wing of the party.
Foreign Ministry welcomes EU agreements with three countries
SLOVAKIA welcomes the signing of the Association Agreements between the EU, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine that took place on June 28.
Slovakia takes over Visegrad presidency July 1
SLOVAKIA will preside over the Visegrad Group for one year, starting July 1. The government’s top representatives have previously called the presidency over the group a top priority, and see it as preparation for Slovakia’s six-month presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2016.
Smer's popularity declines
VOTER support for the ruling Smer party continues to drop in the run-up to the party’s working congress, which is expected to reshuffle both the party’s leadership and the cabinet.
NGOs pan human rights strategy
FOR THREE years, dozens of people have been working to complete what is to become Slovakia’s first-ever comprehensive strategy to protect human rights. The 30-page document is now on the table, but human rights activists who participated in its creation are disappointed with the result.
Eating halušky in 45 seconds
THE JUBILEE 20th World Championship in cooking and eating bryndzové halušky (sheep-cheese dumplings), a typical Slovak delicacy, took place on June 14 in Banská Bystrica.
Telekom to face stiff fine
EU ANTITRUST regulators are set to fine Deutsche Telekom and its subsidiary Slovak Telekom after the August summer break for charging unfair wholesale prices in Slovakia.
Freedom vs limits, art vs taboo
THE Len Tak Tak (meaning “hardly,” or “just”) troupe and the eponymous civic association combines theatre performances for audiences on a regular basis, and a way for physically challenged performers to express their creativity and talents together with other artists. This is an original combination in Slovakia, but also as unique of an example of self-expression as one is likely to find anywhere.
Smer alters Supreme Court selection process
WHEN Štefan Harabin failed on May 19 in his bid for re-election as the head of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council, the body that oversees the country’s judiciary, the public learned the names of those in the council who supported the incumbent, as well as those who voted against him. This might not be possible when the Judicial Council makes another attempt in mid-September, however, as the ruling Smer party pushed through a change on June 24 to make the process a secret ballot.
Firms with Danish capital in Slovakia
Production, services and sales
Harabin gets low marks for time as top judge
DISSEMINATING fear among judges, controversial disciplinary proceedings, the sidelining of reformers and a “whip and honey” mentality are snapshots of the lengthy career of Štefan Harabin as the president of Supreme Court, according to comments from a number of experts addressed by The Slovak Spectator. When asked about positive contributions Harabin has made to the state of judiciary in Slovakia, one of his successors to the post of justice minister, Lucia Žitňanská, listed his engagement in the protection of consumers as minister. Another former justice minister Daniel Lipšic could not name a single positive contribution.
Cooling system company coming
NISSENS, one of the biggest world producers of cooling systems, which employs 350 people in Čachtice, near Nové Mesto nad Váhom, is moving part of its production from Denmark to Slovakia, the Hospodárske Noviny economic daily wrote in January.
Quote of the week
“If this is supposed to be a tawdry circus show, then let’s go all the way.”
Reducing illegal dumping sites
THE CITY of Trenčín has a new dumping site. The Slovak arm of the Danish company Marius Pedersen has invested €650,000 into reconstruction and enhancement of what is now the biggest dumping site in Trenčín Region. It will accept all kinds of consumer waste, the Trenčianske Echo newspaper wrote in March.
Remembering victims of WWII air raid
SEVENTY years ago, on June 16, 1944, the US Air Force bombed 80 percent of the Apollo refinery in Bratislava, claiming the lives of 176 locals.
Stake in SE might be for sale
RUMOURS have been circulating for several years that the dominant Slovak power producer, Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), is for sale, but after the new director of the Italian energy giant Enel indicated that its 66-percent stake in SE is among the assets Enel is offering for sale, they have become more realistic.
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
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- Show me your moves! Slovak hockey stars share their best pick-up lines
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
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- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- The compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Stupava 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list More articles ›
