Archive of articles - August 2014, page 8
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Roma Holocaust finally getting attention
IT IS essential to commemorate the victims of the Roma Holocaust so that the persecution of the Roma during the Second World War is not forgotten, and because associating the whole Roma minority with asocial behaviour is dangerous, according to Zuzana Kumanová, an ethnographer from the In Minorita non-governmental organisation. In connection with the 70th anniversary of the Roma Holocaust, The Slovak Spectator spoke to Kumanová about how Slovak society approaches this issue and how the Roma deal with this part of their history.
PM Fico calls sanctions senseless
TIT-FOR-TAT sanctions that the European Union and Russia have imposed on one another are senseless and they threaten Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said of recent developments on August 9, inviting criticism from members of the opposition and local media.
Culture station unites and inspires
IN A time when many cultural institutions, including bigger, well-established ones, are struggling to fill their seats, the Stanica Žilina-Záriečie culture hub is attracting not just local ‘regulars’, but also culture fans from far and wide, and from much bigger cities.
Second candidate named for top court job
SUPREME Court Justice and former state secretary of the Justice Ministry Daniel Hudák has joined Daniela Švecová on the list of candidates for the second round of elections of the Supreme Court (SC) president, a post which has been vacant since the tenure of Štefan Harabin expired on June 22.
Poll of Median confirmed second place for Sieť
IF A PARLIAMENTARY election had taken place in early July, the ruling Smer party would have won 45.9 percent of the vote, according to the latest poll by the Median polling agency. Sieť would get 10.7 percent, just ahead of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) with 8 percent.
UPDATED: Countrywide Events
Western SLOVAKIA
TIS: Bribery going unpunished
THE COURTS punished people for a total of €120,000 in received bribes each year, while it is estimated that actual bribes amount to many times higher, according to Transparency International Slovakia (TIS).
Minimum wage to see record high increase
THE LABOUR Ministry has proposed the highest minimum wage increase in the last few years. As of next year, the minimum monthly wage should rise by 7.95 percent (or €28) to €380. In previous years the increase oscillated around 3-4 percent. The proposal still has to be approved by the cabinet in order to appear on the payroll of low-income employees. The trade unions, however, want a higher increase in the minimum wage, while employers say the minimum salary should not rise at all. The representatives of towns and villages are likely to support the wage increase, but a lower one than what the ministry has proposed.
Slovakia less religious than census numbers show
THE VAST majority of Slovaks claim to have some religious affiliation, with most describing themselves as Roman Catholic. But on closer inspection, the population is far less religious than the simple numbers of believers would suggest.
Kotleba not invited to SNP celebrations
THE REGION known as the centre of anti-fascist resistance during the Second World War shocked the country by electing a man with a far-right background as its regional governor. Now this paradox comes to light again, when the central-Slovak city of Banská Bystrica is the key venue for celebrating the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). Governor Marian Kotleba, however, is not invited.
Scything lives on at annual Grass Cutters’ League competition
THE OLD skill of scything is alive and well among participants of the national Grass Cutters’ League, which culminated this year on July 26 in Cigeľ, near Prievidza, in central Slovakia.
Bardejov’s UNESCO inscription threatened
EASTERN-Slovak town Bardejov may lose its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of ongoing construction of a shopping mall and a pedestrian overpass near its historical centre. The town’s representatives, however, have accused the media of waging a politically motivated campaign over the issue.
Companies are looking for specialists
QUALITY engineers, project managers, SAP consultants and payroll accountants are among the most sought after specialists on the job market, and wages for these jobs may differ by hundreds of euros per month depending on the region in which they work.
Culture connoisseurs gear up for September festivals
THIS SUMMER’S cultural events seem to be lighter in nature, with many having moved out of the usual brick-and-mortar venues into the open air. Yet, with the upcoming theatre and musical season inching closer, a few big, highly anticipated international festivals are coming in September.
The Czech Philharmonic performed in Roma settlemen
CZECH singer Ida Kelarová, in collaboration with the Čhavorenge children’s choir and the Czech Philharmonic orchestra, kicked off a series of three concerts held in Roma settlements and a Jewish synagogue on August 6.
Quote of the week
“It has been a long time since I brought home two gold medals. I have repeated this after some time, and I have to admit that it tastes just as good.”
Czechs, Slovaks celebrate brotherhood on Veľká Javorina hill
SLOVAKS and Czechs met for an annual celebration of Czech-Slovak brotherhood on the Veľká Javorina hill in Trenčín Region, Slovakia, on July 27.
New investments target disadvantaged regions
FOREIGN investments keep flowing into Slovakia. During the first half of 2014 the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) in cooperation with the Economy Ministry mediated 15 investment projects, mostly creating job opportunities in regions suffering from high unemployment.
Insurance debt from self-employed spikes
HEALTH insurance companies have recently sent annual clearings for people who are self employed and have a license to run their own business, and report a huge increase in unpaid health insurance contributions because of a change in payroll tax accounting.
Improved economy is visible on labour market
SLOVAK GDP grew by 0.6 percent over the previous quarter, according to he National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), but the positive trend is threatened by stagnation within Eurozone.
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- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Slovak female triathlete shatters barriers with historic win at Himalayan event
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
- 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
- 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
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- 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
- He designed Gatwick. But this is his masterpiece
- Fico praises China and Vietnam as models, says liberal democracy has failed
- 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 ›
