Archive of articles - January 2015, page 4

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Ján Mazák elected as third candidate for judge in Strasbourg

CONSTITUTIONAL lawyer Ján Mazák has become the third candidate for judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, his candidacy was approved by the Judicial Council on January 26, the TASR newswire reported.

Niki postponed its expansion into Bratislava

AIR carrier Niki, a subsidiary of Air Berlin, has postponed its expansion into Bratislava. Direct flights on the line Bratislava-Brussels, will become reality as late as October 5, 2015 due to the market situation, the Hospodárske noviny daily reported on January 26, citing the Austrian APA newswire.

Secret service will focus more on foreigners

Slovakia is joining the list of countries that are strengthening security controls following the terrorist attack in Paris. Its counterintelligence service plans changes in the aim and also scope of activities.

European Parliament awarded the founder of the Slovak League against Cancer Siracká

On January 23, founder and head of the League against Cancer, Eva Siracká received the European Citizen 2015 prize granted by the European Parliament.

Former VSS head Mikulec succeeded at court

The Slovak court turned down a complaint over slander against former head of the Military Intelligence Service (VSS) Roman Mikulec.

Constitutional Court refused President Kiska’s proposal

Slovak President Andrej Kiska has repeatedly contested at the Constitutional Court (CC) the alleged bias of its justice Jana Baricová – whom he personally picked for the position – in connection with her role to decide over the complaints of three unsuccessful candidates for the CC post whom Kiska refused to appoint last year due to lack of experience.

Amazon plans major Slovak expansion in 2015

Amazon (US) announced on January 23 that it plans to create 100 new jobs at its branch in Bratislava this year. Currently, the internet trading company Amazon employs 600 people in its Bratislava branch.

UPDATED: Referendum leader talks vote

THE GRASSROOTS Alliance for Family (AZR) collected more than 400,000 signatures to put ballot questions that could ultimately amend the constitution to tighten the definition of family and ban same sex couples from adopting children. President Andrej Kiska has set February 7 as the date voters will face three referendum questions: Do you agree that only a bond between one man and one woman can be called marriage? Do you agree that same-sex couples or groups shouldn’t be allowed to adopt and raise children? Do you agree that schools cannot require children to participate in education pertaining to sexual behaviour or euthanasia if their parents don’t agree?

Benjamin Cunningham

UPDATED: Slovak films get rave reviews

IT SEEMS that recently, several Slovak films have proven successful even outside the country’s borders, being released with much appraisal, while also being nominated for screenings at festivals and for awards.

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská

Car industry exceeds expectations

IN SPITE of concerns that the EU-Russia tit-for-tat sanction war would reduce production of cars in Slovakia, the reality exceeded expectations as carmakers in Slovakia managed to find alternative markets. The Slovak Automotive Industry Association (ZAP) estimates that carmakers manufactured more than 970,000 cars in 2014 while the original expectation was more than 930,000, maintaining the country’s position as the biggest carmaker per capita in the world.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Glossary: Mandatory vaccination is constitutional

Spectator College provides readers of The Slovak Spectator who are trying to improve their English with glossaries of useful and frequently used words and expressions from stories published as part of the Spectator College as well as in the rest of the newspaper. As well as this special glossary, which relates to the article Mandatory vaccination is constitutional, you can find more expressions in our Glossary for politics & business or in the List of names of institutions in English and Slovak.

Exercise: Mandatory vaccination is constitutional

This exercise is linked to the article: Mandatory vaccination is constitutional

Erik Rédli

Bratislava bypass as PPP

THE MUCH needed bypass of Bratislava will be built as a public-private partnership (PPP) project. The government green lighted this variant of its construction on January 21. The opposition, which also sees building the bypass as necessary, criticises this variant as too expensive and calls for usage of the so-called Juncker’s fund or the Slovak Investment Holding.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Rastislav Podoba: The end of the garden.

Three Slovaks to be at Italian art fair

THE ITALIAN international fair of modern and contemporary art, Arte Fiera, takes place between January 22 and 26. The art fair in Bologna also hosts works of Slovak artists.

Compiled by Spectator staff

The referendum is said to protect traditional families.

Turnout key to referendum result

EVEN amid heated discussion about the content of a February 7 referendum targeting the constitutional definition of family, experts say the biggest test for supporters of the Alliance for Family (AZR) ballot initiative is whether turnout surpasses the required 50-percent quorum of eligible voters.

Radka Minarechová

Vaccination is in compliance with the constitution.

Mandatory vaccination is constitutional

A glossary of words as well as an exercise related to this article are also published online.

Radka Minarechová

Kotleba must explain gifts

BANSKÁ Bystrica region (BBSK) governor Marian Kotleba has to provide to each regional councillor a written explanation addressing two complaints filed against him by independent MP Miroslav Beblavý over the violation of constitutional law and conflict of interest, the TASR newswire reported on January 21.

Compiled by Spectator staff