Exports to US fell by 11.5 pc since Oct: FICCI

30.04.2009 8:28 - BRATISLAVA

NEW DELHI: India's exports to the US, the single largest market for local exporters, dropped 11.5% during October'08 - February'09, as per a study by industry chamber FICCI.

The study also revealed that India has lagged behind other competing countries such as China, South Korea and Brazil, that export to the US.

This has come about even as US-bound exports from Ireland, Indonesia and Vietnam have grown in the range of 3-12% during the same five month period. Although exports from China, Korea and Brazil have also dropped, India fared the worst, as per FICCI.

But India outperformed Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia and Singapore for the period.

In the first two months of 2009, Indian exports to the US dropped 23%, much more than the fourth quarter of 2008, indicating a worsening situation. In the previous quarter (July-September 2008) exports actually grew 14%.

Fiat, Chrysler to complete deal - source

Fiat SpA and Chrysler LLC are prepared to complete a merger deal by Thursday that would be taken into bankruptcy court as a key element of the U.S. automaker's restructuring plan if needed, a person with direct knowledge of the preparations said.
Chrysler faces a government-imposed deadline of Thursday to wrap up concessions from its unions and a group of lenders that hold $6.9 billion of its secured debt.

The United Auto Workers union was voting on Wednesday on whether to ratify cost-cutting contract terms that would also cut in half the remaining cash portion of Chrysler's $10.6-billion obligation to a trust fund for retiree health care.
If some Chrysler lenders reject an offer from U.S. officials to take $2 billion in cash in exchange for debt, a Fiat-Chrysler deal would be part of the plan submitted to a bankruptcy judge, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the merger discussions.

Havránok opens its doors in May

Archeoskanzen Havránok, located on the same hill above Liptovská Mara dam and falling under the administration of Museum Ružomberok opens its doors at the beginning of May the public.

Celtic dwelling, where the 60-years 20th century under the direction of archaeologist Charles Pietų carried out archaeological research in 1967 was declared a National Monument and was made available to the public in 1991.
Reconstructed objects belonged Púchovská culture of the stone age. Along with Celtic dwellings are located medieval buildings. Wooden walls with a bridge, guard tower and the foundations of buildings from 15-th century. During the season are prepared programme events in period costumes.

The Controversial Northern Ireland

Despite the fact that Ireland and Northern Ireland is situated on one island, they are not join in one state. North of the country is still falls under the administration of English neighbors.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. When you step into it, sometimes you feel as if time stood here. From building breathes history from anywhere and everywhere you can feel Victorian impact. The heart of Belfast you find in Donegall Square. From here you get to the historic town hall or to Belfast Castle. At Great Victoria Street, you can refresh in the Crown Liquor Saloon. In this venture once found Johnnie McQueen a shelter, a known rebel in the IRA.
Londonderry- Derry is the next stop in the pilgrimage after inglorious history of the country. In the centre you can find the Cechova house, tha was built of local sandstone, Cathedral of St. Columbus Tower and Museum. For night life you can choose to Waterloo Street, which is kind of analogous to the Dublin Temple Bar.

Oil prices end the week on the down side

DENVER (AP) -- After months of cutting oil production it appeared this week that oil producing nations had finally captured some control in the crude markets, at least until the latest batch of economic news sent oil prices falling yet again.

Benchmark crude for April delivery fell 80 cents at 44.44 pound a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

That is an 11 percent increase from Monday's open, but many oil traders say there is little chance prices will hold in the current economic environment, which has led to an anemic demand for energy.

The Commerce Department said Friday that the U.S. economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century.
Oil prices had risen for two consecutive days on government reports showing that oil imports were falling.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries appears to have stuck to production cuts of 4.2 million barrels a day. Most believe cut of 1 million barrels will be announced during the next OPEC meeting on April 15.

The General Motors reduced production 190 thousand cars

24.04.2009 15:10 – DETROIT

On Thursday the American automobil factory General Morors Corp reported to reduce of production in next three months to reduce of supply of private cars and trucks.

With closed 13 assembly planties in next 9 weeks GM reduced produktion in the North America 19O thousand cars. GM think, that restriction of production will reduce amount of seller in the USA 32 % to 525 thousand cars to the end of July.

In the closed assembly planties work 21 thousand staffs, who will be unnemployed.
According to analytics the closing of assembly planties of GM will deepen finance embarrassment.

The application of euro ecorted any radical problems

24.04.2009 18:58 – BRATISLAVA

From the application of euro als national currency in Slovakia in 1. January 2009 flowed more than 100 days.

TASR asked representative of government for application of euro Igor Barat to evaluate present experiences with new national currency in Slovakia.

According to him the application of euro in Slovakia overshooted really slick and no problems.

The 16 –days dual revolution overshooted slick, nowhere arised stess abating, long rows, exchange of cash money was continuous and everywhere was her sufficient and prices haven´t incereased relatively.

Today is euro practical actual daily reality, about which undiscuss.

The Slovakia showed, that is really advanced country, which proves to rise to this difficult historical step in a organizational and technical aspect very good.

The Treasure In Silver Lake

Today we offer you the ideal place, where you can feel beautiful and unchecked. You returned to the times, when you have eagerly watched the films about Winnetou.Today in places, where camped Winnetou you import by car, you pay the entrance fee but the beauty of Plitvice lakes remained equally unaffected. In addition, this natural treasure in Croatia is the only eight hour journey from Slovakia.
Plitvice Lakes are a cultural gem. The park is opened from early morning until evening hours and those who woke up rather, say that the area in the East or sunset is a romantic lagoon.

Although Plitvice Lakes occupy the entire length of the weekend, unless you have time to explore the surroundings, we recommend Senj. Senj is a typical Croatian village. When you are entangled among the aisles you have cared about entertainment, whether you are walking on the mole or to the lighthouse. You have quite a nice moment across Croatia.

The largest rivers of world wither

Have you already seen the Yellow River in China, the Ganga in India and Niger in Africa?

Can it be that until they decide to visit, will no longer exist in its current form. These alarming reports mediated to the world National Center for atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado U.S. Scientists have found that global warming has an increasing impact on water flows. Most at risk are densely populated areas of large rivers in the subtropics, where is the danger of thirst and famine. By examining the available data from 925 rivers flows from 1948 to the year 2004 brought shocking results.
Up to one third of large rivers is directly threatened by global warming and about 500 rivers is now much weaker than the flow of water in the past.

Vojany thermal power plant to start unit 6 by end of May

Electricity generator Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) will re-launch unit 6 of its thermal power plant at Vojany in the Košice region, which caught fire on April 14, by the end of May.

The starting date for unit 5, which was more severely damaged by the fire, is not yet known. The fire broke out in a turbine in the power plant shortly after 21:00 on April 14.
 Economy Minister Ľubomír Jahnátek said at a press conference the day after the outage that units 5 and 6 had been put in “cold storage”. As many Slovak companies are operating at a reduced level at the current time there is sufficient electrical power on the Slovak market.

This is a temporary phenomenon. Of course, when industry is running at full steam we'll feel the lack of this generator.

 

Slovak economy to shrink by 0.9% in 2009

Slovakia's economy is heading for a contraction of 0.9 percent this year, claims Irish market-research consultancy Research and Markets, whose economic forecast for the country in 2009 is still considerably more upbeat than that of the Slovak central bank (NBS).

“We don't believe that Slovakia will avoid a recession and predict that the country's gross domestic product will fall by a real 0.9 percent in 2009,” Research and Markets says in its report on the Slovak banking sector in the first quarter of 2009.

The latest NBS forecast published two weeks ago forecast that Slovakia’s GDP would shrink by 2.4 percent in 2009. According to the Irish company, a reduction in foreign demand and falling consumer confidence will have a major impact on exports and household consumption. Research and Markets expects the Slovak economy to recover next year, with GDP growth of 2 percent. 

Easter

Easter is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year . According to Christian belief, Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to be between A.D. 26 and 36. Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.
Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. Easter falls each year on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 inclusive, following the cycle of the Moon.
Cultural elements, such as the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts, have become part of the holiday's modern celebrations, and those aspects are often celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike. There are also some Christian denominations who do not celebrate Easter.

PKO damaged by demolation work

The owner of the Bratislava Culture and Leisure Park (PKO), Henbury Deveploment, s.r.o., is continuing work to repair the exterior and interior parts of the venue’s Vaudeville Hall which was damaged during short-lived demolition works on April 14.

The investor was thereby fulfilling a pledge given in return for the city council prolonging the validity of the company’s demolition permit, which was originally due to expire April 19, 2009. The city had asked the Construction Office of the Bratislava Old Town district to prolong the licence until the end of 2011; Old Town Mayor Andrej Petrek signed a new licence, valid until the end of 2011, on April 15.

PKO was built between 1940 and 1948. In 1975, steel pavilions were added. PKO is a famous venue for the Bratislava Jazz Days, balls, concerts, exhibitions, and university events. Henbury bought the site from the city in 2005 and started demolition work on the morning of April 14, 2009, but the work was halted after council intervention.

European Capital of Culture 2009 - Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. The Baltic country has a very rich and interesting history. In medieval Europe, was even one of the major European powers-at the time of Union with Poland, in the state known as a whole Rzeczpospolita. Vilnius is the city, of that breathe history and visitors surprises unprecedented amount of churches and the churches. Vilnius has about half a million people, while almost 10% are students. It is a young city, full of life and cultural events.

Old town shines bright colors and the happy tourists wander in the hidden streets. Very impressive is square with Cathedral of St. Stanislav and carillon. If you are already in the capital city of Lithuania, then do not miss the opportunity to visit the Trakai castle located about 30 km from Vilnius. The castle is situated on the island of the middle lake galva. About the castle is said to be the only castle in Eastern Europe, which built on the island. The bridge is connected with the peninsula, which lies along the historic town of the same name. At the castle courtyard held various cultural events. This entire region has more than 200 lakes and nature here is really beautiful.

You can pay taxation by installments

22.03.2009 16:58 - BRATISLAVA

When taxpayer can´t play tax to the end of March, he can unquire Board of Inland Revenue for settlement of the tax by installments. In the demand must he point the reason, why he can´t pay tax.

The paying of delintruent tax is eventual only 12 month from the tax maturity.
Tax Procedure (DR SR) expect the increasing of the persons concerned paying by installments.

The taxpayer, whose taxable income per last year overreached 49 248 Sk (1,635 tis. Euro), is owing submit declaration of taxes from gains of the personal entity to the end of March.
Accounting forms of the tax decleration are available in all Board of Inland Revenue and in the internet address DR SR.

The Slovak post office elongate in the last Marchday hours of opening.

American banks will buy next toxic assets

04.04.2009 18:58 - NEW YORK

The government of the USA have to salvage Citygroup with milliard sums. Citygroup meditate about baying next toxic assets.

March-end disclosed the American Department of the Exchequer plan of buying of toxic assest in the value 1 billion USD (744,88 milliard euro), that should help to justification of the bank balance.

The program will use 75 - 100 milliard USD, what will be start capital. This should help to inveigle private investors together with government security to buying toxic assets in the value 500 milliard USD. This program should redouble with time.The government tries inveigle private investors with cheap loans and advantageous security.

Slovak banks need no state aid 

Slovakia is a country whose banking sector is among the least affected by the current global financial crisis.    

The sector enjoys high profits and liquidity, stable interest rates from credits – including those on the interbank market – as well as the low exposure of Slovak banks to risk assets.           

The Slovak banking sector was highly profitable in 2008, with sufficient liquidity and without any need for special state aid programmes.                                                                               

The risk that Slovak banks face the most now concerns the ability of enterprises to settle their debts stemming from loans.                                                                                              

According to the ministry, the initiative lays the groundwork for providing possible stabilisation aid to a bank afflicted by the global crisis. The assistance would feature the state depositing financial assets into a bank's basic capital, or it could be a state guarantee for bonds issued by the bank or a loan provided to the bank.

Industrial employment drops 10 percent in February

Industrial employment in Slovakia shrank 10 percent y-o-y in February 2009.
The number of employees in the wholesale sector also fell by 19.8 percent, in restaurants and pubs by 14.5 percent, in sales and repairs of motor vehicles by 8.6 percent, in accommodation services by 4.6 percent, and in retail business and selected market services, each by 2 percent. Employment went up 6.6 percent y-o-y in construction, 6.1 percent in postal services,information and communication and 5.7 percent in transport.
In the first two months of 2009, 541,800 people worked in the industrial sector, of which 490,800 were in manufacturing. The construction sector reported a labor force of 183,000 people, the retail sector of 158,200 people, selected market services of 126,500 people, and wholesale of 110,000 people. 98,000 people worked in transport, 55,900 in postal services, information and communications, 33,500 in restaurants and pubs, 23,900 in car sales and repairs, and 10,800 in accommodations.

Into Serbia With A Passport

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia informs, that on the first April 2009 entered into force in Serbia a new Law on Residence of Aliens, which allows citiziens of countries European Union the entry in Serbia only for holders of passports.

The new Law does not allow exposure to the tourist passes to the identity card. The new Law does not permit a person, who arrives to the Serbian border crossing / airport with identification card, that was exposed for a fee "tourist pass“, which in the past, such a person (eg, participant residence tour organized travel agent in another country) could transit through the Republic of Serbia and vice versa.

Around 3,500 cars already registered for stage II scrapping bonus

More than 3,500 cars had already been registered for the scrapyard contribution programme, according to Car Industry Association data released on Monday, April 6 - the day when the second round of the programme designed to see old cars replaced with new ones began.   

This could mean that the budget earmarked by the government for 22,100 vehicles will last for only a few days. The first round lasted from March 9 to March 25 and €33.2 million was spent; the Government decided last week to up the amount of money by an additional €22.1 million. The rules for the second round are different.

The New Nature Reservation

Papua New Guinea, the home of many diverse ecosystems in the world, created the first national reservation that it maintains the primeval tropical forests-larger than Singapore.

The decision of the goverment was supported with public and the name of the park will be YUS Protected Area. The name is derived from 3 rivers YOPNO, URUWA and SOM. The protected area has over 760 square kilometres and intervenes from the north PNG up to the inland hills. One of the recent campaigns in the mysterious forests has brought about 60 new species. Among them 50 new species of spiders, three new species of frogs, a new type of lizards and two new species of plants.

President Ivan Gašparovič pays official visit to the Czech Republic

To start his one-day official visit to the Czech Republic, the Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič met the Czech President Václav Klaus. Gašparovič thanked his Czech counterpart for supporting Slovakia with his views throughout his tenure.

He appreciated the Czech Republic’s attitude during the Russia-Ukraine gas row, amidst which Slovakia received selfless help from its western neighbours. On the other hand, according to Gašparovič, the approach of Ukraine, with which Slovakia had signed a gas supply contract, was disappointing. The Slovak President also touched on the issue of Slovakia’s entry into the Eurozone, which has unquestionably been a positive move: “There are more pros than cons to euro adoption in terms of our economy and people”.

Both partners agreed that Ukraine had missed a vital chance during the recent gas dispute.
Gašparovič and his Czech counterpart also discussed relations between the EU and Russia. Gašparovič is convinced that a partnership among the EU, Russia and the USA could foster global stability. Both politicians also discussed the impacts of the global financial crisis.

During his official visit, President Ivan Gašparovič also met the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Přemysl Sobotka and the meeting with the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek confirmed the excellent quality of Slovak-Czech relations.
Ivan Gašparovič: “our Eurozone entry came at just the right time and stabilised Slovakia’s economy”.

 

The second round of the car-scrapping 

The government is to allocate €22.1 million to a second round of the so-called car-scrapping bonus, due to be launched on Monday, April 6.This involves state support for people who scrap an old car and replace it with a new one.However, the rules for the second round are different from the first. The state will contribute €1,000 if the seller [of the new car] provides €1,000. In the first round, which took lasted from March 9 and March 25, the basic contribution from the state was €1,000, but if car dealers contributed another €500, the state subsidy was increased to €1,500. The maximum value of a new car for which the measure applies will remain at €25,000.The second round of the car-scrapping bonus will be the last one.As many as 672 cars were scrapped in the first round in the period immediately after the budget allocation had been used up. The 2,400 applicants who took their cars to scrapyards or took them home but were put on a waiting list on Wednesday or Thursday will also come under the provisions for the first round.

The Volatile Exotica

Maldives form a hundred of small islands, that offer a piece of privacy not only for residents but also for all tourists.The big bonus are beaches with clear water, where you can watch the undersea world. The favourite sport is diving and because it this island is visited by many tourists.

The goverment keeps the enviromental cleanliness with strict laws and hence all marine corners have original beauty. The fishing is allowed, when you have the permit and you can´t take corals from their natural enviroment. These are small areas of rainforests in islands. The symbol are cocos palms, which are at every step. Aborigines produce of them carved souvenirs.

The Statue Of The Liberty Is All Open

The visitors of the noble Statue Of Liberty finally can look in bowels of the crown after 7 years. These spaces were prohibited for visitors from safety reasons, after attack on the WTC in 2001. According to American Interior Minister Ken Salazar, evacuation of people of this part of the statue is very complicated and in case of emergency may be huge loss of life.

The Statue Of Liberty is 93 metres high, in right hand holds the torch, in left holds plates, which represent the statement of the independence with the inscription JULY IV MDCCLXXVI and in feet has bonds of tyranny. The crown has 7 rays, that symbolize the Liberty.