Good evening. Here is theWednesday, November 22 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Tatra National Park gets new visitor rules
Tourists in the Poľský Hrebeň saddle. (source: Matúš Beňo)
After six years of effort, the Tatra National Park (TANAP) finally has a new set of rules governing the conduct of visitors in the oldest national park in Slovakia
"The rules may not suit everyone, but the fact is that they reflect a compromise between the interests of nature conservationists and the demands of interest groups that use the territory of the national park," stated TANAP Deputy Director of Administration Peter Spitzkopf.
The new rules, which come into effect on December 15, bring several key changes.
Seasonal closures will be shortened, the movement of dogs and other pets will be restricted to locations without marmot and chamois colonies and where large, rare and endangered animals are not present. Meanwhile, the movement of tourists in the vicinity of mountain huts, peaks and other places outside marked hiking trails will no longer be prohibited. Large numbers of people tend to gather in such places for short-term rest.
Existing cycling routes are to be extended and new areas for cycling designated. New rules also apply to mountain climbers, ski mountaineers and fans of winter hikes.
TANAP will gradually provide more details about the rules on its website, while tourists will also be able to learn about them directly in the park.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
When life has other ideas
Ukrainian journalism student Vladyslav Yatskovyi. (source: Kvet Nguyen)
Vladyslav Yatskovyi had it all planned out - he would become a dentist in Kyiv. Life had other ideas. Instead of dentistry, he has ended up studying journalism in Slovakia.
A week after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he joined a Slovak television channel. He also debunks disinformation about the war in Ukraine via his social media profiles and helps fundraise for Ukrainian soldiers.
MUSIC FOR WEDNESDAY
New album by the first Slovak Idol
Slovak singer Katarína Koščová and pianist Daniel Špiner have produced a new album together. Called Krehkosť (Fragility), the album was created in a log cabin under the Tatra mountains and offers minimalist piano and vocal arrangements, sometimes with double bass, guitar and accordion in the background.
You can hear the rest of the album and buy it here. And while listening, you can read her interview from last year.
IN OTHER NEWS
On Wednesday, MPs from all opposition parties proposed a vote of no confidence in Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas). They say the minister should be dismissed over purges in the police and violations of the law and measures taken on the Slovak-Hungarian border to stop illegal migration, which they called "a spectacle" and a fiasco. (TASR)
A protest blockade at the Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod border crossing ended before midnight on Tuesday. Yesterday, a van with a trailer bearing banners and logo of Slovakia's Road Hauliers (UNAS) had blocked the crossing, but UNAS distanced itself from the protest, saying it was the work of an individual. Last week, UNAS blocked the crossing for an hour, demanding the European Commission fix a problem with suspended permits for Ukrainian lorries entering EU, and threatening a complete blockage in Slovakia. The crossing has been facing increased lorry traffic recently because Polish hauliers have blocked their crossings on the border with Ukraine. (TASR)
S&P Global Ratings affirmed Slovakia's 'A+/A-1' long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings, with a stable outlook. Inflation is on a downward path, external and government leverage is moderate, and the economy is still resilient to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, said the agency. However, the new government faces the challenge of reining in budget deficits.
The Interior Ministry has rented a luxurious Range Rover for Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer) to drive from Kaliňák's company Kallan Consulting for one year. The ministry does not have to pay for the car, but it has to keep it in perfect condition, pay for fuel, regular repairs and any damage. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštók (Hlas) does not see a problem in the contract, although in 2021 he criticised former government official Štefan Holý for a similar agreement. (Sme)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY
Over the course of the day, cloud cover will change and occasional showers are expected. Daily temperatures will rise to between -1 °C and 6 °C, up to 9 °C in the south-west of the country. A level 2 wind warning is in place for both Tatra mountain ranges, and a level 1 warning for the Žilina and Orava regions. (SHMÚ)
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