OtherOther Economy

Political Parties Enter Official Campaign Season

Bratislava, May 22 (TASR) - Slovakia's official 2010 election campaign - the airing of advertising spots - kicked off Saturday with eighteen political parties (including six parliamentary ones) registered for the June 12 event. The state-run Slovak Television (STV) and Slovak Radio (SRo) have by law to provide up to 10 hours of total airtime for all parties to present… read more

Radicova Calls on Figel to Show \'Manly Attitude\'

Skalica, May 22 (TASR) - Re-ignition of Slovakia's economy, getting rid of arrogance in politics, and installing responsible governance bringing positive results for citizens - those are the key priorities of SDKU-DS, currently the strongest opposition party, for the next election term, according to SDKU election leader Iveta Radicova, speaking at a session of her party's central… read more

Pravda Daily on Saturday, May 22

Pravda daily wrote Saturday on page 12 about Slovakia's growing debts and attempts to not exceed the targeted foreign trade deficit of €3.7 billion. Analysts urge the country to retrench or see the gap in tax revenues rise further. The country's Debt Management and Liquidity Agency has this year borrowed €4.5 billion via a bond issue, setting everyone back €830,… read more

SME Daily on Saturday, May 22

When it comes to post-election talks held between parties to discuss possible coalitions, the now-strongest opposition SDKU-DS will not even sit down at a table with the currently strongest ruling Smer-SD party. SDKU election leader Iveta Radicova ruled it out in an interview for SME daily, published on page 5 on Saturday. "For four years, Smer has been rejecting any… read more

Euro Exchange Rates

European Central Bank Euro exchange rates valid until the new exchange-rates list is published on May 24, 2010. Currency Country Rate USD United States 1.2497 JPY Japan 112.08 CZK Czech Republic 25.917 GBP United Kingdom 0.87035 HUF Hungary 281.33 PLN Poland 4.1530 CHF Switzerland 1.4408 RUB Russia 39.0459… read more

Slovenske Elektrarne to Invest Their Profit into Mochovce Power Plant

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - The energy producer Slovenske Elektrarne (SE) made a net profit of €279.9 million in 2009, SE spokesperson Jana Burdova reported on the approved conclusions passed by Thursday's SE General Assembly. "The proceeds were €2.05 billion in 2009, with EBITDA at €827 million and the company's debt of €187 million," said Burdova. She… read more

Bratislava Airport Gets Another Carrier, Adds New Destination

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - Israeli airline Sun d'Or International Airlines will conduct scheduled return flights three times a week between Slovakia's capital Bratislava and the Israeli capital Tel Aviv from June, Radek Zabransky, marketing director of the Bratislava's M.R. Stefanik Airport, announced on Friday. Reeling from a flurry of bankrupcies last year to air… read more

Labour Ministry: Extension of Collective Agreement Won\'t Cause Lay-offs

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - The Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry is convinced that the planned extension of the current Collective Agreement in engineering and electronic industry won't cause lay-offs, ministry spokesman Michal Stuska told TASR on Friday. The situation in the two sectors has been tense, with trade unions pursuing the extension of the collective… read more

Ethnic-Hungarians Living in Slovakia Feel Safe

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - Most (70 percent) of the ethnic-Hungarians living in Slovakia feel as safe as ever despite the escalation of tension in Slovak-Hungarian relations, according to a sociological survey carried out by the Forum of the Institute for Minority Research in late March. The survey, conducted on a sample of 1,022 respondents, was focused on national… read more

Fresh Facts About Census Due in 2011 Revealed by Statistics Office

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - With one year to go before the day in which Slovaks will be asked to complete census forms, TASR news agency questioned the Slovak Statistics Office on Friday about innovations in the process. The 2011 Census will be conducted under a European Parliament and Council of European Community edict in all European Union countries. Zuzana Stukovska… read more

Amnesty International Backing Gay Pride Parade in Bratislava

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) - Members of Amnesty International (AI) from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary will join the Gay Pride parade in Bratislava this coming Saturday, head of AI's branch in Bratislava Branislav Tichy said on Friday. "We're proud to be able to take part in the Rainbow Pride. Diversity and tolerance, equality before the law for all… read more

Bus Drivers Plan to Go on Strike on Tuesday

Bratislava, May 21 (TASR) – Slovak bus drivers may well go on strike on Tuesday next week. According to Emil Machyna from KOVO Unions Association, speaking to TASR on Friday, if the Unions, the Slovak Bus Transport (SAD) and regional governments (VUCs) don't reach an agreement concerning benefits for employees, the drivers are ready to come out on strike. Machyna said… read more

New Airport Terminal Opening in Afghanistan Thanks to Slovak Sappers

Kandahar, May 20 (TASR) - A new airfield terminal has been opened in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Thursday thanks to Slovak sappers, with company commander Major Dalibor Jelinek ceremoniously handing over the keys for the departure terminal to KAF base commander Gordon Moulds. The airfield was under reconstruction since March this year. The Slovak sappers changed the entrance… read more

Flood Situation in Trebisov District Improving

Trebisov, May 20 (TASR) - It's only the Bodrog River that keeps rising in Trebisov district (Kosice region), as the Latorica River is returning to more normal water levels and the Ondava River has stabilised, TASR learned from head of Trebisov District Office Robert Puci on Thursday. According to Puci, the weather forecasts are favourable, with no further extreme rainfalls… read more

Number of People on Unemployment Benefits Going Down

Bratislava, May 20 (TASR) - The number of people drawing unemployment benefits went down in April to 48,442, reports the state-owned insurer Socialna Poistovna (SP). This figure is the lowest since April 2009, when 47,220 people were on unemployment benefits. The number had been going up quite steadily since that time, peaking in August 2009 on 63,495 claimants. … read more