A kindergarten on Vl. Clementis Road in Prievidza was transformed into a marketplace on Wednesday to highlight local products. The event at the preschool facility served to promote locally-made goods and connect the community with regional producers.
Š. Gabaj from Žilina has won Slovakia's national competition for young auto mechanics. The victory qualifies him to represent Slovakia at the international finals scheduled for June 11-14 in Riga, Latvia, where 15 European countries will be represented. The competition showcases emerging talent in automotive technical skills among young professionals across Europe.
The Pavel Horov Elementary School building in Michalovce, dating from 1886, will undergo a major €1.5 million renovation funded by EU funds. The historic structure currently faces high operating costs, outdated windows, and inadequate thermal insulation properties, according to city officials. The renovation project is designed to achieve nearly 80 percent energy savings, significantly reducing the school's environmental impact and operational expenses. Michalovce is a city in eastern Slovakia near the Ukrainian border.
Vladimír Hiadlovský has been elected as the new rector of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, one of Slovakia's public universities. The selection process involved public hearings where candidates were required to present their qualifications and vision for the institution. During the hearings, strict protocols were followed to ensure fairness - when one candidate was being interviewed, the other candidate was not permitted to be present in the room or observe the proceedings. Matej Bel University, founded in 1992, is a significant regional institution serving central Slovakia and offering programs across multiple faculties including education, humanities, natural sciences, and economics.
Installation workers are currently replacing piping at Trenčín Faculty Hospital while police simultaneously investigate a previous pipe replacement project at the same facility. The Prosecutor's Office has ordered police to examine whether the ongoing work could constitute evidence tampering, though it has not confirmed if such charges are being considered. This week, employees at the hospital noticed workers from Müller Inštal, a company that provides heating system repairs, excavating pipes in the hospital grounds. The investigation into the earlier pipe replacement work remains active, with forensic experts yet to complete their assessment of the original piping system. The timing of the new installation work has raised questions about potential interference with the ongoing criminal investigation.
A family from the Roma settlement in Kolačkov has been temporarily relocated to Swedish-style prefabricated housing units due to a landslide threatening their home. The hillside above their dwelling has become unstable and is sliding toward their residence, creating an immediate safety hazard. Kolačkov is a village in eastern Slovakia where Roma settlements face ongoing challenges with inadequate housing and infrastructure, making residents particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and unstable terrain.
Slovak national railway company ZSSK has partnered with the Slovak Red Cross to conduct an educational campaign directly aboard passenger trains on Friday, May 8, 2026. Passengers traveling on express trains Ex 613 and Ex 624 TATRAN will receive information about emergency preparedness for natural disasters including floods, storms, fires, and other natural catastrophes that could affect households and communities. The initiative aims to educate the public about how to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.
A Slovak concrete supplier defended its delivery to Prešov hospital construction, stating it provided exactly what was ordered, as authorities await an expert assessment of the material. The company's owner responded to concerns about the concrete quality used in the hospital project in Prešov, located in eastern Slovakia. The situation has prompted officials to commission a professional evaluation to determine whether the concrete meets required construction standards for the medical facility.
Slovakia has enacted new legislation that strengthens the legal position of biological fathers, allowing them to assert their parental rights even in cases of anonymous births or children placed in baby boxes. The law represents a significant shift in how paternity is determined when mothers choose to give birth secretly or abandon newborns at safe haven facilities. The legislation also targets parents who conceal their income during court proceedings. Under the new rules, if parents fail to prove their actual earnings, courts will automatically assign them a higher fictitious income level for the purpose of calculating child support payments. These changes aim to balance parental rights while ensuring proper financial support for children in complex family situations.
A Slovak news outlet has published commentary examining public responses to coverage of relationships between older men and younger women. The article highlights various reader comments that include both critical and sympathetic perspectives, with some commenters questioning the motivations of younger women in such relationships while others express understanding for complex situations involving power dynamics and financial dependency.
Slovakia is moving to classify two new substances as psychotropic drugs under proposed legislation that would add them to the country's controlled substances list. The amendment is based on the precautionary principle, as these substances have no therapeutic or veterinary applications and their presence is primarily associated with illegal drug markets. The proposal reflects Slovakia's efforts to stay ahead of emerging synthetic drugs that circumvent existing legal restrictions by creating new chemical compounds with similar effects to banned substances.
Non-governmental organizations often operate under the illusion that they can replace state functions, according to a new analysis. The commentary suggests that NGOs sometimes overestimate their capacity to fulfill roles traditionally handled by government institutions. This perspective challenges the notion of an all-powerful benevolent state while questioning whether civil society organizations can adequately substitute for formal governmental structures and services.
The Slovak government approved amendments to the law on drug and medical device reimbursements during its Wednesday session, aimed at simplifying patient access to necessary medications. The healthcare reform represents the government's effort to improve the country's pharmaceutical policy and ensure Slovak patients can more easily obtain required treatments. Slovakia's healthcare system, like many in Central Europe, has faced challenges with drug accessibility and reimbursement procedures, making this legislative change significant for public health policy.
A man injured two people at a restaurant in Slovakia after becoming angry that his food delivery arrived without a fork. Police arrested and charged the individual with disorderly conduct following the incident. The attack occurred when the man went to the establishment after receiving the incomplete food order.
A new report has drawn attention to mental health challenges facing Slovak men, revealing how traditional gender expectations prevent many from seeking help with psychological problems. The findings suggest that cultural attitudes telling men "real men don't cry" lead many to struggle silently with mental health issues rather than reach out for professional support. Mental health advocates emphasize that the silence surrounding men's emotional struggles often masks serious psychological distress rather than demonstrating strength, as commonly perceived in Slovak society.
Slovakia has the third-highest rate of students studying abroad in the European Union, with approximately 20 percent of Slovak students pursuing higher education outside the country as of 2023. More than half of Slovakia's top mathematics graduates from secondary schools continue their studies at foreign universities rather than domestic institutions. The Czech Republic serves as the primary destination, hosting over 20,000 Slovak students annually, representing more than two-thirds of all Slovaks studying abroad. This educational exodus reflects both students' pursuit of higher-quality academic programs and growing concerns about Slovakia's future prospects, according to Slovak political scientists studying the trend.
A Slovak media commentary has criticized what it describes as cynical historical revisionism regarding the Soviet Army's role in World War II. The piece appears to reference the common Russian phrase 'spasiba' (thank you) in connection with debates over how Slovakia should remember the Red Army's actions during the war. The commentary suggests there are attempts to present a 'historically more accurate version' of events, though the specific context of the historical debate being addressed remains unclear from the brief reference.
Slovak police conducted a traffic enforcement operation called Roadpol, checking nearly 400 drivers and discovering 122 traffic violations. Despite the significant number of infractions detected, all breath tests administered during the operation came back negative for alcohol. The Roadpol operation represents part of ongoing police efforts to improve road safety through targeted enforcement activities.
Zuzka Mračková, a Slovak social media personality, has made speaking about eating disorders her personal mission, aiming to help people recognize that recovery is possible. Mračková wants to show others who may be struggling with similar issues that there is a path forward and hope for healing from these conditions.
A Slovak mother has sought advice about her 30-year-old son who continues to live at home despite having a stable job and contributing to household expenses. The woman, who raised her son as a single parent, describes having maintained a close relationship with him throughout his life and considers him a responsible and decent person. However, she expresses concern that her son shows no signs of wanting to move out independently, has no romantic partner, and appears content with the current living arrangement. The advice column addresses her question about how to broach the topic of independence with her adult son.