Ex-SDĽ member among Devín banka accused

A POLICE investigator with the Organized Crime Bureau charged six people with fraud on February 7 - including several with ties to a former government party - alleging they had stripped almost Sk1 billion (€30million) in assets from the failed financial institution Devín banka from 1998 to 2001.

Crew of An-24 was on visual approach

WITH THE investigation into the January 19 air crash still a long way from completion, several theories have emerged as to what caused the Ukraine-built Antonov 24 to slam into a hill in north-eastern Hungary, killing 42 of 43 on board.

Pálffy retires after brilliant hockey career

ŽIGMUND Pálffy, one of the most exciting hockey players ever to wear a Slovak jersey, announced his retirement from the sport on January 17, citing a shoulder injury that has hurt his performance.

MP "wanted to compare" offers

THE PUBLICATION of another damning video transcript apparently catching a member of parliament discussing offers of bribery has again raised ugly questions of Slovak politics.

Deadly pileup due to snow

A HORRENDOUS pileup on the D1 freeway between Bratislava and Trnava on December 29 claimed four lives and left 28 people injured, 11 of them seriously.

Racketeering charges dropped in Takáč case

EIGHTEEN months after police rounded up the alleged leaders of the Takáč underworld gang in Bratislava, charges against seven men accused of racketeering and money laundering for the criminal group were dropped on December 20.

Reavis, Rodamco tie the knot at Aupark

HB REAVIS GROUP, the largest commercial real estate developer in Slovakia, has joined forces with the largest listed European retail sector property investor, Rodamco Europe N.V.

Interview with Carl-Ernst Giesting, CEO of VSE

Artmedia make UEFA Cup on tie

THEY WUZ robbed.Not by their opponents. Not by fate. But by their own football pitch, which under a December downpour turned into a swamp that smothered every chance that Artmedia Bratislava had of defeating Porto in the last game of the Champions League group round and advancing to the knockout phase.

Croatia takes Davis Cup after titanic battle with Slovaks

THREE days of seesaw tennis battles ended in a 3-2 win for Croatia over Slovakia in the Davis Cup final in Bratislava from December 2-4.

Spain slaps Slovakia out of World Cup dream

THE RAIN in Spain may stay mainly in the plain, but even the country's parched urban football grounds get a drop occasionally.An unexpected cold shower in Madrid on November 12 - with the downpour moving to Bratislava for the return match four days later - extinguished Slovakia's hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup of football in Germany.

"Pub team" chugs on in Champions League

WHAT a difference a few weeks can make.When Bratislava football club Artmedia began its Champions League group round with a 0-1 home loss to Inter Milan on September 13, their opponents appeared thoroughly in control, even after having a man sent off.

Interview with Jaroslav Haščák, member of the board of PENTA INVESTmeNts

Interview with Marián Jusko, Chairman of the Board of Slovnaft, a.s.

Interview with Robert Chvátal, CEO of T-Mobile Slovensko, a.s.

Interview with Juraj Taptič, General Director of e-Tel Slovensko, s.r.o.

Baring the Slovak elite and its "fascinating past"

WERE you ever curious about what job a Slovak prime minister held during Communism, but didn't know how to find out? Did you ever wonder why a certain businessman and politician seemed so friendly, but had no way of checking if they attended the same high school?

Slovakia makes World Cup playoffs

DISCIPLINE, smart tactics and a strong defense saw Slovakia through to the playoff round of World Cup qualifiers on October 12 - the furthest the country's national football team has advanced in top-level competition in 12 years of independence.

Live at Tehelné Pole: The match you didn't see on television

IT'S FOOTBALL night in Slovakia, October 12, and Bratislava's Hysteria Pub is full of warmly dressed fans sinking a last few pints before heading down the street to the Tehelné Pole stadium to watch their team play Russia.