Archive of articles - September 2014, page 2
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ECRI report praises Dubovcová
THE EUROPEAN Commission against Racism and Intolerance published its fifth report on Slovakia on September 16, which states that Slovak Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová has taken a proactive role in the area of anti-discrimination.
French win big in aerobatic championship in Slávnica
THE 11th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championship 2014 took place in mid August at the Slávnica airport in Dubnica, western Slovakia.
Nitra-made chocolate wins ‘food Oscar’
CHOCOLATE produced in Nitra ranks among the top global products, with Lyra Mandala having won the Great Taste Award 2014 in London in mid August at one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious culinary competitions. The chocolate received the golden star for Great Taste.
Maria Theresa’s edict introduced compulsory education for all in 1777
EMPRESS Maria Theresa made a host of reforms transforming the feudal Great Hungary into a modern, centralised country. One of the last to come was the compulsory basic education for everyone, which was established by the special curriculum called Ratio Educationis, issued on August 22, 1777. It introduced six years of compulsory school attendance for all children between the age of six and 12.
Norwegian solidarity
INGA Magistad, the Norwegian Ambassador to Slovakia, offers a long list of projects that have come to fruition thanks to the EEA/Norway Grants, including that of a community centre in Moldava nad Bodvou run by a local Roma woman who tutors children from the Roma settlement, as well as reconstructed cultural heritage monuments, a swimming pool for the disabled and shelters for abused women. Her homeland has so far allocated more than €150 million to support projects for social and economic development.
Norway: General facts
Head of state: King Harald V of NorwayForm of government: parliamentary democracyCapital: OsloTotal area: 385,186 square kilometresPopulation: 5 millionOfficial languages: Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk) (In some districts, Sámi is also an official language) Currency: Norwegian Kroner
Kiska marks 100 days as president
PLAYING judiciary musical chairs and giving Slovakia a more welcoming face for the country’s transatlantic partners is what has kept the country’s fourth, and still quite new, President Andrej Kiska busy during his initial days in office.`
Demand for payment, audit pressure SE
THE STATE has intensified pressure on the country’s largest power producer, Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), in which it holds a minority share, and whose majority stake is for sale. Officials are asking for an additional payment of €200 million from SE’s majority owner, the Italian energy group Enel, to close a still disputed privatisation deal, and have sent the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) to SE to check the management and accounting to find out why the completion of the second two units of the nuclear power station in Mochovce has seen delays and cost overruns.
Norwegian institution in Slovakia
Royal Norwegian EmbassyNorwegian Ambassador to Slovakia: Inga Magistad www.norway.sk
Elections draw independents
NOVEMBER’S municipal elections are not likely to be about traditional competition along left and right political lines with independent candidates making up a significant share of those running for office. The phenomenon, analysts say, is indicative of the reduced appeal of the country’s most-established political parties.
New challenges for auditors
AUDITING is facing several challenges in the form of new rules from the European Commission, as well as drastic price competition and difficulties attracting talent. The Slovak Spectator spoke about these issues and more with Dalimil Draganovský, partner and head of assurance of EY in Slovakia; Ján Bobocký, director of audit at Deloitte in Slovakia; and Bart Waterloos, partner of VGD - AVOS Bratislava.
Blacksmiths show off skills in Nitrianske Pravno
THOUGH you might have missed the fourth edition of the Jurčove dni (Jurčo’s Days) event in Nitrianske Pravno, western Slovakia, back in mid August, the results of this festival, where both local and international blacksmiths converge each year to demonstrate their skills, will have a lasting effect.
More than money
SHOPPING for media outlets is the latest trend among local billionaires and business moguls, spurring fear among journalists who thought they chose their profession and employer based on the relative independence they were offered in their work.
Construction giant in trouble
AFTER Doprastav, another large construction company, Váhostav-SK, is facing problems with late payments to its subcontractors. The district court in Bratislava launched on September 23 a bankruptcy proceeding against Váhostav-SK over unpaid debts, the TASR newswire reported.
South Korean artist wins international piano competition
SOUTH-Korean piano player Su Yeon Kim won the eighth year of the International Piano Competition of Johann Nepomuk Hummel held on September 20 in Bratislava.
Some of companies with Norwegian capital in Slovakia
Blomquist Transport, Žiar nad Hronom, www.blomquist.skCEPM, Bratislava, www.cepm.skEltek, Liptovský Hrádok, www.eltek.com/wip4/countryItera, Bratislava, www.itera.noJotun, www.jotun.comKongsberg Automotive, Vráble, www.kongsbergautomotive.comNera Networks, Liptovský Hrádok, www.neratelecom.comSlovalco, Žiar nad Hronom, www.slovalco.skSapa Profily, Žiar nad Hronom, www.sapagroup.comTimm Slovakia, Trenčín, www.timms.no/index.php
Quote of the week
“I have never experienced something like this.”
Convergences was a hit again
THE 15TH year of the Konvergencie (Convergences) music festival once again offered a wide range of events, including an exhibition, a concert for children, less traditional performances involving the Japanese koto and a 1980s Slovak punk rock group and, of course, the creme de la creme of chamber music. The shows took place across several venues in Bratislava between September 11-24.
Ministry proposes virtual cash registers
DOCTORS, dentists and hoteliers are exempt from having to use cash registers, but the Finance Ministry is proposing to scrap this exception in an effort to curb tax evasion. The proposal has met with protest from some business owners, who point to the increased costs that come with registers. To silence the criticism, the ministry has introduced virtual cash registers, which will be free of charge. Though some professions see this as a positive step, they also point to potential risks.
CC to deal with referendum
THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court (CC) has accepted the motion of President Andrej Kiska to look into the constitutionality of four questions of the referendum prepared by the Alliance for Family (AZR), the SITA newswire reported on September 24.
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- Slovakia loses another EV model to Spain as Stellantis chooses Zaragoza over Trnava
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Convicted of multiple murders, Slovakia’s mafia boss seeks release from prison
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- News digest: Fico’s bloc wants to save money by restricting electoral access
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Slovakia plans to restrict access to new medicines amid funding shortfall
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- News digest: Violent gang in Bratislava is under arrest
- The Kremlin’s security agency has a Russian contractor in Slovakia - no one has noticed
- 3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
- Digital Jarvis is real now. He is coming for your to-do list
- Weekend: Celebration of fun comes to Malacky Photo
- The disinformation scene has become a tool of media capture
- Maria Theresa on the banks of Bratislava
- 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
- No more photos or bank statements? Slovakia moves to ease residence process
- 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 compass points to Kúty, and people are starting to follow
- 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
- Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners More articles ›
