Good evening. Here is the Monday, December 11 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
An airplane from London Luton circled above Košice, unable to land
Košice airport (source: TASR)
Passengers were in the air for over four hours. The regular Wizz Air flight from Luton Airport in London was scheduled to land in Košice on Monday at 9:45. However, even after 11:00, passengers were still on board the aircraft, which was circling around Košice.
According to information from the daily Sme, it couldn't land due to adverse weather conditions. The issue was reportedly caused by fog and relatively strong winds. They couldn't take off either. Passengers who were supposed to depart from Košice to London on the same plane were already waiting at the airport.
One Košice resident informed the daily Sme that her niece was also waiting to depart after passport check. The passengers didn't know much. "An hour after the planned departure, which was supposed to be at 10:20, they received information that the departure would be delayed. No further details were provided," said a resident of Košice.
The plane finally landed at 11:45, as was confirmed by Košice Airport spokesperson Lucia Kočišová. The passengers spent over four hours in the air after departing from Luton.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Opinion: Despite facing protests and criticism from President Zuzana Čaputová, Brussels, experts, and the opposition, Prime Minister Robert Fico's plan to make changes to the prosecution system is moving forward with approval from the government.
Business: Fitch Ratings downgraded Slovakia to 'A-' from 'A' citing fiscal uncertainties, marking its lowest rating since 2004.
Culture: Astrophysicist Garik Israelian shares his journey from a music enthusiast to becoming a scientist, emphasising the fusion of art and science at the Starmus festival, which is coming to Slovakia.
Sport: Slovak figure skater achieves historic success, winning a bronze medal in the junior Grand Prix final in Beijing and becoming the first Slovak to qualify for the event.
Politics: Former police chief Tibor Gašpar, along with oligarch Norbert Bödör and others, faces new charges, including breach of confidentiality and bribery, as the Ezekiel 7 case adds to their legal troubles.
Advertorial: Premises for a wide variety of industries - a logistics park spanning over 240 hectares, will have plots with valid construction permits for three industrial buildings.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
Obama's ex-advisor on global crises, future of Ukraine
Ben Rhodes (source: Sme - Jozef Jakubco)
Ben Rhodes, former adviser to Barack Obama, expressed concerns about rising authoritarianism, attributing it to failures in addressing societal issues and a complacency around democracy. Reflecting on his experience in the White House, he acknowledged the challenge of managing high expectations.
Discussing the conflict in Ukraine, Rhodes warned against premature triumphalism, urging sustained Western support for Ukraine. Regarding the Middle East, he criticized the military approach in Gaza and highlighted the importance of recognizing Palestinian rights for global stability. The whole article can be found on the Slovak Spectator website in the Opinion section.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Slovak national gallery's one-year celebration with an art-filled day
SNG welcomes new visitors. (source: Archív SNG)
Join the Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava for guided tours, curator insights, creative workshops, and the premiere of the 'Watch Out, SNG is Falling!' documentary —a glimpse into the story of the new SNG building to celebrate a year since reopening.
The event unfolds on December 16 with free admission! The program begins at 10:00 and continues until 18:00. Don't miss out – come and visit the Slovak National Gallery.
In other news
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has been ranked 84th in Forbes' annual list of the world's 100 most influential women, emphasising her role as an "isolated voice in the sea of demagogy", with Forbes recognising her role as the youngest and first female head of state in Slovakia's history.
Ryanair will launch flights between Košice and Zadar in Croatia twice a week from March 31 to August 28, 2024, offering convenient travel options for residents in the region according to the Ryanair representative. The route aims to cater to spring and summer vacationers, providing an alternative to lengthy car journeys to the popular Croatian destination, said Thomas Dworschak, CEO of Košice Airport. (TASR)
According to Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický, the government and parliament will approve Slovakia's budget without the final approval of the European Commission, adding that the EC had approved the basic figures and agreed that Slovakia should approve it in December. In addition, although some organisations and groups had reservations, they do not want a provisional budget. According to the budget draft, despite an expected deficit of more than 6 percent of GDP, the public debt is likely to go down temporarily below 57 percent of GDP; although it is projected to resume its rise as of next year and gradually increase to over 60 percent of GDP. (TASR)
The Union of Slovak Road Carriers resumed protests at the Vyšné Nemecké - Užhorod border crossing, blocking the entry of Ukrainian truck traffic into Slovakia, joining similar protests in Poland and Hungary against the cancellation of permits for Ukrainian carriers in the European Union. (TASR)
Peter Pellegrini, leader of Hlas, responded to a request from SNS party leader Andrej Danko to announce his decision on running in the upcoming presidential elections this week. Pellegrini stated that he will reveal his decision at the beginning of the year after consulting with the party's members across Slovakia, and wants to make the decision during the Christmas holidays. (TASR)
Scouts deliver the Peace light of Betlehem to Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
Tomorrow's weather promises to be cloudy. Some scattered showers or rain, particularly in the north, with snowfall in higher altitudes and, in the far east, expected even in lower areas. The highest daily temperatures will range from 1 to 6 °C, while mostly between 6 and 10 °C in the southern half of western Slovakia. (SHMÚ)
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