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Krajcer: Subsidies from Audiovisual Fund Now More Transparent

Bratislava, August 17 (TASR) - Culture Minister Daniel Krajcer has pushed for greater transparency in Slovakia's Audiovisual Fund and new rules on the allocation of subsidies have been approved by seven out of nine members of the Fund's board, TASR learnt on Tuesday. "I'm certain I did the right thing, and I'm glad it was backed," said Krajcer. In line with the… read more

Radicova Holiday Now Over as She\'s On Her Way to Visit Flood-hit Areas

Bratislava, August 17 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has decided to come back to Slovakia from her holiday abroad earlier than planned due to floods hitting some areas of Slovakia and will arrive on Tuesday evening, the Government Office press department told TASR earlier in the day. Upon her arrival, she is slated to attend a session of the country's crisis-management… read more

Most-Hid to Field EnviroMin Nominee After President Signs Law

Bratislava, August 17 (TASR) - The governing-coalition Most-Hid party said on Tuesday that it won't put up a nominee for the post of environment minister until after President Ivan Gasparovic has signed an amendment to the Competences Act allowing the Government to set up such a ministry, which was terminated under the previous government of Robert Fico as a cost-saving measure.… read more

Foreign Ministry: We Can Ask for More Flood Relief From EU

Bratislava, August 17 (TASR) - Slovakia can ask for more money from the EU Solidarity Fund to deal with the effects of the recent floods as long as it meets the conditions, said Juraj Tomaga from the Foreign Affairs Ministry state department on Tuesday. The floods hit mainly the northern and central parts of Slovakia over the weekend. Tomaga said that according to the… read more

Radicova Interrupts Holiday and Comes Back to Slovakia Due to Floods

Bratislava, August 16 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has interrupted her holiday in Croatia and is coming back to Slovakia due to the floods that are hitting the Upper Nitra area especially hard, Radicova's spokesman Rado Bato told TASR on Monday. The premier is set to visit the most affected areas on Tuesday before chairing a Government session on Wednesday.… read more

Third-Degree Flood Alert Resumed on Handlovka River

Handlova/Prievidza, August 16 (TASR) - A third-degree flood alert was declared on the Handlovka River again on Monday, head of the water-management company in Upper Nitra area based in Topolcany (Nitra region) Marian Jursa told TASR later in the day. He added that the move is due to a severe storm that hit the Upper Nitra area at around 3 p.m. and lasted approximately… read more

Hlina: Bratislava Should Apologise for Luxorka or I\'ll Run for Mayor

Bratislava, August 16 (TASR) - Entrepreneur Alojz Hlina, who became well-known after stealing the Slovak state flag from Slovak National Party (SNS) headquarters in Bratislava and engaging in various types of political action, announced that he will probably stand for the post of mayor of Bratislava outside the Slavicie Udolie cemetery on Monday. Hlina said that he won't… read more

Galko: Overpriced Boats for Army Bought Without Tender Are Unusable

Sered, August 16 (TASR) - A public procurement involving the purchase of ZODIAC FC 470 inflatable boats for the armed forces was at odds with the law, said Defence Minister Lubomir Galko at a press conference in Sered (Trnava region) on Monday. According to Galko, the army bought boats in 2008 that it can't use properly and which cost Slovakia almost twice as much as… read more

More Than 640 Soldiers On Standby to Alleviate Flood Damage

Bratislava, August 15 (TASR) - More than 640 soldiers with 60 engineering vehicles are on standby to aid civilians in Slovakia affected by the ongoing floods, TASR learned from Slovak Armed Forces spokesman Milan Vanga on Sunday. According to Vanga, 23 soldiers along with 48 members of the Military Police, have been despatched to clear the river banks and protect the… read more

One Man Dies in Upper Nitra Floods

Bratislava, August 15 (TASR) - Extensive flooding in the Upper Nitra area on Sunday claimed its first victim, Lucia Garajova from the Interior Ministry told TASR later in the day. A storm lasting several hours in Upper Nitra caused local floods, with the towns of Handlova and Prievidza (Trencin region) facing the gravest results. The overflowing Handlovka River shortly… read more

Galko Now in Flood-stricken Handlova, Due in Prievidza Later Sunday

Bratislava, August 15 (TASR) - Defence Minister Lubomir Galko has arrived in the flood-stricken town of Handlova (Trencin region), the minister's spokesman Richard Sumeghy told TASR on Sunday. "Around 50 military police officers in 16 vehicles have come here, too. In addition, a sapper (engineering) company and a transport unit from Hlohovec (Trnava region) are heading… read more

Prievidza Declares State of Emergency as Handlovka River Rises

Bratislava, August 15 (TASR) - A state of crisis and the third-degree flood alert was declared in the town of Prievidza on Sunday at 2 p.m., TASR learnt on the same day. The overflowing Handlovka River shortly after noon submerged several roads in the town as well as a road connecting Prievidza and the nearby town of Handlova. In addition, local neighbourhoods including… read more

Bugar: Many SMK Members Want to Join Most-Hid

Bratislava, August 14 (TASR) - Many members of the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party are interested in joining Most-Hid, TASR learned from Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar. Bugar couldn't specify the exact numbers. He stressed that the purpose of the party is not to enlarge its ranks at all costs, but rather "have a lot of active people everywhere, who know what politics is about".… read more

Slovakia to Provide Assistance to Flood-stricken Pakistan

Bratislava, August 13 (TASR) - Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda on Friday decided to provide humanitarian help to flood-hit Pakistan, including financial assistance amounting to €50,000, the ministry's press department told TASR on the same day. The funds will be used toward humanitarian initiatives via Slovak organisations Man in Peril and ADRA.… read more

Chmel: We\'ll Reconsider 20-percent Threshold for Minority Languages

Bratislava, August 13 (TASR) - Slovakia will re-evaluate the rule that at least 20-percent of local people are required to speak a minority language in order for it to be used in public administration in a given area, Deputy Premier for Minorities Rudolf Chmel told TASR after the Government session held on Friday. The threshold in question was introduced by the act on… read more