Archive of articles - September 2014, page 11
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Poll: Smer top party by far, Sieť shedding support
Had a general election taken place in late July and the first half of August, the ruling Smer party would have won it on 44 percent of votes. This follows from a poll that Median SK agency conducted between July 21 and August 17 on a sample of 1,058 respondents.
Opposition boycotts parliament after bills blocked
After 10 opposition draft bills were scrapped from the agenda of the current parliamentary session by ruling Smer’s caucus head Jana Laššáková on September 9, opposition MPs out of solidarity withdrew also 30 more of their proposals the next day, protesting the “arrogance of the ruling party”, as quoted by the Sme daily.
Penta
THERE are a great number of Slovak proverbs that warn against premature joy. “Nechváľ rána pred večerom” (Do not praise the morning before the eve), “Nekrič hop, kým nepreskočíš” (Do not yell hop before you jump over), or “Po veľkom smiechu prichádza veľký plač” (After great laughter comes great grief). So even though rumours that the Petit Press publishing house, owner of both SME and this newspaper, will be taken over by the Penta investment group, seem to be unfounded, there is still reason for caution. Who knows what tomorrow may bring.
Gas flow to Slovakia slowed
THE NATIONAL gas utility Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel (SPP) reported a 10-percent reduction in Russian natural gas flow to Slovakia during the two days before the current issue of The Slovak Spectator went to print, but was quick to note that clients will continue to receive fuel as normal. Meanwhile, the Economy Ministry insists the country is better prepared for any potential shutdown of gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine than it was during the gas crisis of 2009. SPP, which operates the distribution pipeline network across Slovakia, has not specified the reasons behind the lower supplies and does not see the reduction as reason for serious concern.
Getting cultured in Košice
Olympic host cities and European Capital of Culture (ECoC) cities have a similar goal: to build a foundation and create a legacy that outlasts the events themselves. While an Olympic host city concentrates on athletes and venues, an ECoC concentrates on artists and venues. Košice’s designation as the 2013 ECoC accelerated the creation of a lasting cultural infrastructure to nurture art, and its projects add another layer to the city’s already rich cultural offerings.
Employers complain about high electricity bills
ASSOCIATIONS of employers in Slovakia have criticised the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (ÚRSO) for increasing tariffs for operating the electricity distribution network by more than 10 percent. The tariff represents about 11 percent of the end price of electricity.
Slovakia allocates less than 5 percent of GDP to education
SLOVAKIA belongs among the countries which spend comparatively little on education. While about one half of the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) contributed more than 6 percent of GDP to education in 2011, Slovakia allocated less than 5 percent, the Education at Glance 2014 report showed.
Šefčovič to oversee transport and space in EC
SLOVAK representative in the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič will be responsible for the agenda of Transport and Space, the TASR newswire reported on September 10.
Parliament recalls Dušan Čimo from Judicial Council
PARLIAMENT dismissed Dušan Čimo as a member of the Judicial Council on September 10. The proposal was supported by 82 of the 82 deputies present in parliament. The opposition did not attend the vote in reaction to Smer’s decision on September 9 to throw out 10 opposition draft bills from the parliament’s agenda, the SITA newswire reported.
Government replaces four state secretaries
THE GOVERNMENT appointed four new state secretaries at its September 10 session.
Academy of Sciences warns budget cuts in 2015 will damage research
Drastic cuts that appeared in the draft state budget for 2015 force the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), the institution claims in an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Fico. The letter calling for support for research in Slovakia was discussed and supported by the scientific councils of the majority of research institutes of SAV and it was also circulated by the Institute of Molecular Biology.
Opposition proposals blocked at first after-summer parliament session
At its first session after the summer break, the ruling Smer party on September 9 scrapped from the agenda of the parliament 10 opposition draft bills, as it deemed them part of the campaign before the November municipal elections.
Kiska appoints several new ambassadors
President Andrej Kiska appointed several new ambassadors on September 9, the president’s official website reported.
Government expected to decide on more changes at ministries
Further personnel changes in the posts of state secretaries at four ministries should take place on September 10. The government at its regular Wednesday session is expected to discuss the changes.
Piano Media purchases US Press+
PIANO Media, a company offering an online payment scheme in Slovakia, has bought its biggest rival on the market, US Press+ firm. The acquisition has resulted in the creation of the biggest online payment scheme in the world, operating 630 publishing houses on five continents, the Omediach.com website wrote on September 9.
Penta reportedly plans to acquire Petit Press
THE PENTA Investments financial group is allegedly close to signing an agreement over acquiring the Petit Press publishing house, the Motejlek.com website wrote. Neither Penta nor Petit Press has confirmed information about the trade, however.
Ščurko sentenced to five years in prison
LADISLAV Ščurko, a former ice hockey player who was found guilty of murdering referee Marek Liptaj, will spend five years in a medium security prison, one year less than was originally proposed. The Košice Regional Court threw out the original verdict. Ščurko was also ordered to undergo protective outpatient psychiatric treatment.
Šefčovič might oversee EU enlargement
SLOVAKIA’S European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič may receive the post in which he would oversee European neighbourhood policy and European Union enlargement, the EurActiv website wrote on September 8. The specific names and the distribution of the posts should be revealed on September 10.
Slovakia commemorates Holocaust victims
COMMEMORATING the victims of the Holocaust is an important tool to suppress any signs leading towards its denial, Slovakia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said on the occasion of the Memorial Day for Victims of the Holocaust and Racial Violence, which falls on September 9 in Slovakia.
Foreign trade balance reached €502.7 million
SLOVAKIA’s active foreign trade balance stood at €502.7 million in June. Total exports from Slovakia increased by 2.5 percent year-on-year to €5.379 billion, while total imports rose by 0.5 percent y/y to €4.877 billion, the Statistics Office reported on September 8.
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- 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
- Iconic Slovak barn still draws crowds. Without donors, it might have been lost Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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
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- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
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- A mayor resigns over €2.7 million fraud scandal at town hall
- 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
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- News digest: Prosecutor seeks jail for NBS Governor Kažimír as his political support wanes
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- 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 ›
