Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, May 29 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
New discount chain coming to Slovakia, reports claim
Illustrative image. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Slovakia may soon be home to yet another discount retail chain, according to the Aktuality.sk news site.
The arrival of Irish chain Dealz, which offers foodstuffs, cosmetics, household equipment, toys, decorations, would be direct competition for discount chains such as Action and KiK. Dealz is part of the same group as the Pepco chain of stores which is thriving in Slovakia.
Of neighbouring countries, Dealz currently operates only in Poland, and it was here that local journalists noticed that Slovak descriptions were being added to items on sale. This also happened before Action opened up stores in Slovakia.
However, there has been no official confirmation of the move or where and when Dealz would open stores in the country if it did come to Slovakia.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
EUROPEAN UNION: Residents of V4 countries think Russia most likely to influence EP election, Slovaks are an exception.
AUTOMOTIVE: A new carmaker is to produce a retro city car with an electric-model.
BUSINESS: Top two Slovak webhosting companies change hands.
ASTRONOMY: Hlohovec observatory sets out to become one of the top institutions of its kind in Central Europe.
POPULAR EVENT: Enjoy gardens with all your senses this weekend.
FINANCES: False self-employment in Slovakia is the highest in EU, state inspectors are on their way.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
Matica. What is it good for?
The Matica Slovenská building in Martin, northern Slovakia. (source: TASR)
When the Matica Slovenská national heritage organisation was established in 1863, Slovaks supported it with their first major successful crowdfunding campaign. Its members were Jews, it actively cooperated with Ukrainians, was non-partisan and had a clear European orientation.
Very little of this can be said about Matica today. According to critics, it is a relic of times long past, and capable of little self-reflection.
EVENT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
Celebration of Italian culture
Last year's edition of the Dolce Vitaj Italian culture festival. (source: TASR)
The 17th edition of the Dolce Vitaj festival is back and with a taste of the best from Italian culture at select venues. Until June 20, the Kino Lumiere cinema is paying tribute to actor and director Massimo Troisi by screening four of his works. On June 5 you can meet award-winning writer Veronica Raimo in the Martinus bookshop. Between June 6 and September 9 Bratislava Castle will host an exhibition dedicated to painter Giovanni Segantini whose work depicts the symbiosis of shepherds and Alps. Finally, the Slovak Radio building will host a concert on June 13. Find out more here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Slovakia and Hungary have started negotiations on the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros waterworks. Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nom.) said he held a working meeting with Hungary's Energy Minister Csaba Lantos in Budapest in order to end a 30-year dispute over the plant. (SITA)
The government has approved a motion that the families of the two firefighters killed in a tragic traffic accident on the D1 highway near Horná Streda on Monday, May 27, will be paid €50,000 each. (TASR)
On Wednesday, Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová (second from left) paid her last official visit to Austria. She met with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (second from right) at the Schloss Hof castle near both countries' border and was presented with Austria's highest state decoration, the Grand Star. (source: TASR)
On Wednesday, the Health Ministry building was evacuated by police after an envelope with unknown content was found there. (TASR)
The Defence Ministry has narrowed the procurement of new air defence systems down to two options, both from Israel. According to Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer), the difference between the two offers amounts to tens of millions of euros. The process could be completed in June. (TASR)
The government has approved the construction of a new national hospital in Bratislava's Ružinov district. The hospital, with a capacity of 1,015 beds, should be completed by the end of 2032 at the latest. The project will involve the reconstruction of the Ružinov hospital's Bloc D and an addition of a new pavilion. Opposition parties Progresívne Slovensko, KDH and Slovensko (formerly OĽaNO) have blasted the decision, but SaS has backed it. Originally, the hospital was supposed to be built in the Rázsochy locality. Instead, a paediatric hospital with a capacity of 446 beds will be built there by 2031. (TASR)
An oversized viewing wooden bench near Pezinok, Bratislava Region. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Partly cloudy to overcast skies, occasional showers or storms in the afternoon. A level 1 storm warning has been issued for districts in central and eastern Slovakia, see map here. Daily temperatures between 19 °C and 27 °C. (SHMÚ)
MAY 30 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Ferdinand
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