Good evening. Here is theWednesday, June 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Markíza ready for employees' leaving
The private TV Markíza resides in the Záhorská Bystrica borough of Bratislava. (source: Sme - Gabriel Kuchta)
According to a statement sent to media, private television Markíza is admitting that some of its newsroom reporters might leave.
"With immediate effect, it [the management] is ready to accept resignation letters from employees who cannot accept the ethical framework and professional standards," reads the statement, reports Sme daily.
Markíza journalists have been complaining about interference in their work for quite some time now. It began after the parliamentary election last year and escalated at the end of May when Michal Kovačič, the host of political show Na Telo, spoke out openly on live television about the pressures Markíza's newsroom has been facing from the station’s management. Kovačič has since been suspended and Na Telo was not broadcast last Sunday.
Employees of the most-watched television channel in Slovakia are on strike alert. There have been negotiations with the managements over the recent days - the last of which took place on Tuesday - but to no avail.
On Wednesday, the management of the television said it was ending negotiations with the strike committee as the committee did not responded to their proposals. It follows from Markíza's own statement that the reporters were given a few hours in the morning at the most to respond.
Even though the Tuesday negotiation did not end in agreement, both parties agreed that the television would write its own statement and send it to employees for comments. Even though the latter eventually received the statement, it was different from that sent to media. In the original version, the management talked about 'constructive and reasonable discussion' and that employees' requests were in line with the views of the management.
However, media received a statement about ending negotiations and that the television is prepared for leaving of its employees who learned about it once the news was out.
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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY
Where cycling and wine combines
A lookout tower in the Tokaj wine region in south-eastern Slovakia. (source: SITA)
The Slovak part of the Tokaj wine region is small. "A skilled cyclist can be done exploring it in one day, and then wants to explore the more distant surroundings," a local winemaker opines. If you like both, the region in eastern Slovakia is a great way to spend your holiday. Find out more about it in this story.
EVENT FOR SATURDAY
Meet knights
The Stredovek v Sade medieval festival. (source: TASR)
On Saturday, Bratislava's Janko Kráľ City Park will play host to the popular Stredovek v Sade mediaeval festival, showcasing period fencing, dances, archery, recreation of battles, and more, many of which you will be able to try out yourselves under the tutelage of 120 history afficionados from both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The programme starts at 09:00.
IN OTHER NEWS
A number of risks to the Slovak financial sector have recently diminished, with inflation falling and interest rates expected to decline gradually as well, according to the Slovak central bank's (NBS) latest financial stability report.
Geopolitical developments and concerns about the sustainability of public finances in Slovakia in the event of insufficient consolidation remain the main sources of risk going forward, said NBS. (TASR)According to a new Median SK agency survey, 93 percent of people think politicians should try to calm the current situation and residents. Only four percent were of the opposite opinion and three percent cannot comment. The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,006 respondents aged 18 and over at the end of May. (TASR)
The Czech energy company UCED has acquired a 100 percent stake in Slovak company GGE, one of the leading electricity and heat producers and distributors in the latter. (SITA)
According to Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nominee), the Danube is expected to culminate on Wednesday evening. As all eight turbines at the Gabčíkovo dam were put in operation on Tuesday to increase the flow of water, more electricity was produced than usual, earning €12 million extra. (TASR)
Contributions for providing accommodation to refugees should now last 120 days after the first day of temporary shelter in Slovakia was provided, according to an amendment to the law on asylum approved by the government. Only vulnerable groups of people would be able to draw these contributions without a time limit. (TASR)
According to Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštók (Hlas), increased security measures will last at least until the inauguration of the newly elected president on Saturday, June 15. In addition, an information about an attack on the Dúhový Pride march to be held in July was intercepted. "Regardless of the event, we will ensure security and safety so that all participants in any gathering feel safe," he noted. (TASR)
The first discgolf course in Košice Region was opened in Košice on Tuesday. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Light cloud cover, with occasional shower and storm mostly in northern and eastern parts of Slovakia. Level 1 storm warning applies to evening hours in the entire country. Daily temperatures between 22 °C to 29 °C. (SHMÚ)
JUNE 6 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Norbert
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