Slovakia
Sharapova shines in victory over Schiavone
Mar 08, 2013 23:44 EST
Maria Sharapova didn't need too much time out in the chilly wind at Indian Wells, sweeping into the third round with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Francesca Schiavone.
Switzerland's Albasini sprints to stage 4 win
Mar 07, 2013 12:26 EST
Switzerland's Michael Albasini sprinted to victory on the fourth stage of Paris-Nice on Thursday, as US rider Andrew Talansky held onto the leader's yellow jersey.
Schiavone books showdown with Sharapova
Mar 06, 2013 23:59 EST
Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone defeated fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-1 to book a clash with second-seeded Maria Sharapova at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
Ikea meatball producer finds horsemeat: agency
Feb 27, 2013 06:54 EST
The producer of the Ikea meatballs withdrawn from shelves in 25 countries has found horsemeat in its products, Sweden's national food agency SLA said Wednesday.
Vatican says Benedict XVI will have title 'pope emeritus'
Feb 26, 2013 15:39 EST
Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "pope emeritus" and can continue to wear the white papal cassock after he steps down this week, the Vatican said Tuesday, revealing details about the final moments surrounding the historic resignation.
Benedict to become 'pope emeritus': Vatican
Feb 26, 2013 11:07 EST
Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "pope emeritus" and can continue to wear the white papal cassock after he steps down this week, the Vatican said Tuesday.
Hawks rally to beat Oilers, extend NHL streak
Feb 26, 2013 01:53 EST
Slovakia's Marian Hossa scored 1:44 into overtime as the Chicago Blackhawks extended their record for the best start in NHL history by beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2.
Ikea pulls meatballs from Europe stores as horsemeat found
Feb 25, 2013 16:47 EST
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has withdrawn its own-label meatballs from sale in at least 16 European countries after Czech authorities found horsemeat in the product, the company said Monday.
Ikea withdraws meatballs as horsemeat 'found'
Feb 25, 2013 13:23 EST
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has withdrawn meatballs from sale in at least 15 European countries after horsemeat was found in the product by Czech authorities, the company said Monday.
Britain braces for fresh Eastern European immigration wave
Feb 22, 2013 05:22 EST
Coils of Polish sausages glisten on shop counters and vodka bottles line the shelves. In this corner of the English countryside, much of the chatter is in Latvian or Lithuanian.
Japan women ice hockey team hits big time
Feb 21, 2013 02:55 EST
The star striker works in a pizza delivery office and has not taken a holiday in five years. Like her teammates, she scrimps and saves to fund her own training, using every spare moment to practise.
Hansen slapped with one-game NHL ban
Feb 20, 2013 21:17 EST
Denmark's Jannik Hansen was slapped with a one-game ban after he delivered an illegal check to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa.
Revamped historic Czech breweries get back on tap
Feb 20, 2013 02:55 EST
Rising from the ashes after closure or near-collapse, historic Czech breweries are getting back on tap with new owners seeking to tickle the taste buds of the world's greatest beer lovers with exotic new flavours.
'Hawks beat Canucks to equal NHL record
Feb 20, 2013 02:05 EST
The Chicago Blackhawks matched an NHL record start to a season, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 to post their 16th consecutive game where they earned at least one point.
Kuznetsova's treatment 'weird', says Williams
Feb 19, 2013 14:46 EST
Serena Williams sprang to the defence of a fellow former US Open champion whose exclusion from the main draw of the Dubai Open had surprised some people here this week.
Slovakia woos US Steel amid European meltdown
Feb 16, 2013 22:48 EST
As meltdown menaces Europe's steel sector, Slovakia is scrambling to keep U.S. Steel -- the country's largest single employer -- from selling off a mammoth factory in Kosice, a gritty eastern industrial hub.
Del Potro to face Dimitrov in Rotterdam semi-final
Feb 15, 2013 12:54 EST
Second seed Juan Martin del Potro cruised into the semi-finals of the Rotterdam World Tennis tournament on Friday with a victory in straight sets against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
Froome wins stage, retains Tour of Oman lead
Feb 15, 2013 11:11 EST
Chris Froome of Britain won the fifth stage of the Tour of Oman cycle race on Friday to retain the overall leader's red jersey.
Russia counting on Sharapova, Kuznetsova in Fed Cup
Feb 12, 2013 05:53 EST
Russia's Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev said Tuesday he is still hopeful that top players -- Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova -- will be available for April's Fed Cup semi-final against Slovakia.
Gay rights mostly out of reach in central, eastern Europe
Feb 11, 2013 12:31 EST
Ania and Yga have been inseparable for the last 17 years, living together as a couple in the Polish capital Warsaw but their love is seen as second class in this deeply Roman Catholic country.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Slovak Republic
Slovenská republika
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: Nad Tatrou sa blýska "Lightning Over the Tatras" | ||||||
 Location of Slovakia (green)
– on the European continent (light green & grey) | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Bratislava 48°09′N 17°07′E / 48.15°N 17.117°E | |||||
| Official languages | Slovak | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 85.8% Slovak, 2.8% other minority groups | |||||
| Demonym | Slovak | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary republic | |||||
| - | President | Ivan Gašparovič | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Robert Fico | ||||
| - | President of National Council | Pavol Paška | ||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | from Austria–Hungary | October 28, 1918 | ||||
| - | from Czechoslovakia | January 1, 1993 | ||||
| EU accession | May 1, 2004[1] | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 49,035 km2 (123) 18,932 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | negligible | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2001 census | 5,379,455 (109th) | ||||
| - | Density | 111/km2 (88th) 287/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $119.464 billion[2] (58th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $22,096[2] (40th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $95.404 billion[2] (57th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $17,646[2] (40th) | ||||
| Gini (2008) | 19.5 (low) (1st) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.880 (high) (42nd) | |||||
| Currency | Euro (€)2 (EUR2) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .sk3 | |||||
| Calling code | +4214 | |||||
| 1 Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia; see Velvet Divorce. 2 Before 2009: Slovak Koruna 3 Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states. 4 Shared code 42 with Czech Republic until 1997. | ||||||
