Good evening. Here is theThursday, October 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Bratislava restaurant on fire
A fire shuts down a Bratislava restaurant by the Danube. (source: Facebook/Bratislava Police)
An early Wednesday morning fire destroyed a popular restaurant, Pláž Staré Mesto, situated under the Old Bridge by the Danube River.
"An unknown perpetrator caused the fire in a way, with an object that has not been identified," said the police.
The total damage is estimated at €167,500.
"Life sometimes presents situations that are very difficult to process. Unfortunately, we have to inform you of the circumstances why we have to end this year's season early," said the restaurant, hoping that it can reopen next year.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Economy: The interim technocratic government unveiled consolidation measures, which the future government could follow to reduce Slovakia's debt.
Good news: A Slovak designed the livery for a Wizz Air aircraft.
Bratislava: Changes to Bratislava city transport during tram line reconstruction have been announced.
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FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY
Czech hikers fall in love with a Veľká Fatra hut
The Smrekovica mountain hut surrounded by hills. (source: Facebook of Horská Chata Smrekovica)
A trio of Czech hikers has breathed life into a run-down mountain chalet in the Veľká Fatra mountains, central Slovakia, after coming across it on their winter holiday.
3 EVENTS FOR FREE IN BRATISLAVA REGION
Apple Feast
The atmosphere at the Apple Feast in Modra. (source: Bratislava Region)
People in the Bratislava Region will celebrate cabbages and apples at the weekend. Join them or go on a hike and explore local nature.
In other news
The growth of the Slovak economy should accelerate to 2.7 percent next year from this year's 1.5 percent, according to new autumn predictions by the National Bank of Slovakia. "Compared to the summer forecast, our autumn forecast presents a somewhat less cheerful and pleasing view of what awaits us in the near future," said Governor Peter Kažimír. The growth estimate is lower than in the summer forecast. The central bank expects inflation at 10.9 percent this year. It also expects that the real income of households will fall by an average of 1.2 percent this year.
Almost half of Slovaks, 48.8 percent, think that Ukrainian refugees receive too much and that the aid should be restricted by time, found an August survey by the Centre for Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. "It's essential to realise that solidarity fatigue is a natural human reaction to protracted and burdensome crises. Addressing solidarity fatigue and its consequences is key to maintaining social cohesion and promoting the values of empathy, tolerance and solidarity in host communities," said social psychologist Jana Papcunová.
The Defence Ministry considered providing another package of military aid to Ukraine, writes Denník N. Ukraine could have received it from the government of Ľudovít Ódor. President Zuzana Čaputová, who supports military aid to Ukraine but is politically responsible for the interim technocratic government, thinks that the decision on further aid should be made by the new government.
The National Crime Agency is dealing with far-right politician Marian Kotleba's homophobic billboards. The Human Rights Institute drew attention to them in June. The billboards feature Kotleba's face and the text "We will protect Slovakia from LGBT and gender". Kotleba used a similar billboard in 2019. Back then, he ran for president.
ĽSNS: "We'll protect Slovakia against LGBT and gender!" (source: Facebook)
The Trnava police are investigating an attack on two Turkish fans of Fenerbahce Istanbul, which happened last night in Trnava. Nobody got hurt. A fan had his club jacket forcibly torn off, and the other gave it up voluntarily out of fear of being attacked. Five young people were detained. Spartak Trnava, a local football club, will play against the Turkish club tonight. The match is labelled as high risk.
Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Kachka claims that Kyiv "paused" the consideration of the complaint against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in the World Trade Organisation in order to solve the general issue of Ukraine's trade with EU countries. (Interfax)
On Thursday, OĽaNO leader Igor Matovič met with President Zuzana Čaputová. After the meeting, he said that "three years of propaganda, lynching and manipulation by the media are also to blame for the election results". Matovič confirmed that his movement will be in the opposition. On Wednesday, Sme Rodina leader Boris Kollár called selected media outlets "PR agencies" and their journalists "propagandists".
This year's summer was not as hot as in 2022 due to precipitation and storms. The maximum air temperature was 36.5 °C. It is ranked among the warmest in the history of weather measurement in Slovakia, said the meteorological office.
Maximum air temperature (°C) in summer from 2001 to date. (source: SHMÚ)
WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: You can look forward to clear skies. Occasional showers are expected in some places. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 22°C. Light breeze. (SHMÚ)
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