Dávka - Your daily dose of Slovak news
♥ Support DávkaNewsletter
Last refreshed: 08/06/2026 05:40 · 33 articles added
Stories are refreshed at 05:30, 10:30, 15:30, and 21:30 UTC.

Society

View all1932 stories
Society

Bratislava University Hospital to Limit Services to Emergency Care Only on May 8

Bratislava University Hospital will restrict its operations to acute and emergency care only on May 8, postponing all scheduled procedures to alternative dates. Patients who had planned surgeries, scheduled hospitalizations, outpatient examinations, or other non-urgent medical procedures booked for May 8 have been notified of their appointment cancellations. The hospital, one of Slovakia's largest medical facilities, has not specified the reason for the temporary service limitation.

AktualityTASR/Teraz
|
Society

Network of State-Funded Schools Closes One Location as Owner Holds Luxury Property Portfolio

A private school network receiving state subsidies has closed one of its locations, while its owner maintains valuable real estate holdings including a house in an upscale area beneath the Tatra Mountains and an apartment in a new residential development. The closure raises questions about the financial management and sustainability of privately-operated educational institutions that depend on government funding. Slovakia's education system includes a mix of state schools and private institutions that receive public subsidies, with oversight of their operations and funding remaining a subject of ongoing policy debate.

Korzár
|
Society

State-Funded School Network Owner Owns Luxury Property Under Tatra Mountains

The owner of a network of state-subsidized schools has been revealed to own valuable real estate including a house in a lucrative area beneath the Tatra Mountains and an apartment in a new development. One school in the network has already been closed. The revelation raises questions about the financial management of educational institutions that receive public funding, as the operator appears to maintain significant personal wealth while running schools dependent on state subsidies.

Korzár
|
Society

Funeral Home Owner Confirms Body Remained Motionless After Reported Sounds

A funeral home owner in Slovakia confirmed that a deceased person did not move "even a millimeter" following reports of sounds that raised concerns about premature burial. The owner stated that findings were compared with photographs to verify the body's position. Investigators suggested the sounds may have originated from plumbing rather than any movement by the deceased.

Korzár
|
Society

Anti-corruption foundation director's car vandalized amid threatening emails

An unknown perpetrator vandalized the official car belonging to Zuzana Petková, director of the Stop Corruption Foundation, a Slovak anti-corruption watchdog organization. Petková reported receiving aggressive threatening emails and described the current level of aggression as reminiscent of the 1990s, a period marked by violence against journalists and activists in Slovakia. The incident highlights the dangers faced by anti-corruption advocates in the country, where civil society organizations and journalists investigating corruption have historically been targets of intimidation and violence.

SMEDennik N
|
Society

Police charge man with killing child in eastern Slovakia after year-long investigation

Police in Slovakia have charged a man with the killing of a minor child in the Trebišov district of eastern Slovakia following an investigation that lasted more than a year. The accused is the child's father, who faces charges for the crime of manslaughter of a minor. Prosecutors are seeking pretrial detention for the suspect, who could face between nine and twelve years in prison if convicted. The investigation has required particularly sensitive procedures due to the nature of the case involving the death of a child.

AktualityKorzár
|
Society

Man Faces Charges for Child's Death After Year-Long Police Investigation

A man has been charged with killing a child following a police investigation that lasted more than a year. The suspect faces a potential prison sentence of nine to twelve years if convicted. Slovak authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances of the case or the identity of the victim.

Korzár
|
Society

Slovak Ombudsman Submits Special Report Calling for Healthcare Fee Changes

Slovakia's ombudsman has submitted a special report to parliament demanding changes to healthcare fees currently charged to patients. The Public Defender of Rights, an independent parliamentary institution that investigates citizen complaints and monitors human rights compliance, identified problems with the current fee system that requires legislative action. The Health Ministry has promised to implement changes this autumn in response to the ombudsman's findings, though specific details about the proposed reforms have not been disclosed.

SME
|
Society

Slovakia's Abandoned Industrial Sites Present Urban Development Challenge

Across Slovakia, abandoned industrial facilities, agricultural complexes, and railway depots dot the landscape as visible reminders of the country's industrial past. These deteriorating structures with broken windows and overgrown weeds have become known in urban planning terminology as brownfields. The sites attract urban explorers who are fascinated by decaying infrastructure, while property developers often avoid them due to the complexity and cost of redevelopment. Brownfields represent a significant challenge for Slovak cities and towns seeking to revitalize unused land while dealing with potential environmental contamination and structural issues inherited from previous industrial use.

Aktuality
|
Society

Bee Theme Takes Center Stage in Fifth Annual Envirodesign 2026 Competition

The fifth edition of the Envirodesign 2026 competition has adopted a bee motif as its central theme. The competition was established five years ago when scouts from Senica and students from V. Paulíny-Tóth Elementary School collaborated on an environmental project. The contest has since evolved into an annual event focusing on environmental design and sustainability themes.

TASR/Teraz
|
Society

Nitra Needs Nearly 1.9 Million Euros for School Building Maintenance

The city of Nitra requires nearly 1.9 million euros for the maintenance of its school buildings. The western Slovak city operates an extensive educational network under its jurisdiction, including 12 elementary schools, two combined elementary and kindergarten facilities, eight kindergarten complexes, one arts school, and a leisure center. The substantial maintenance budget reflects the city's responsibility for maintaining its educational infrastructure across these 24 educational facilities.

TASR/Teraz
|
Society

Firefighters from Michalovce and Trebišov Practice High-Altitude Rescue Techniques

Firefighters from the eastern Slovak towns of Michalovce and Trebišov conducted specialized training exercises focusing on high-altitude rescue operations. The training session concentrated on climbing techniques essential for emergency responses in elevated locations. Such exercises are part of regular professional development programs designed to maintain firefighters' readiness for complex rescue scenarios that may require working at significant heights, including building rescues, industrial accidents, or natural disaster responses.

Korzár
|
Society

School Inspectors Find Teaching Assistants Failing to Support Student Independence

Slovakia's education inspectors have identified significant problems with teaching assistants in classrooms, finding that their mere presence is insufficient to help students with special needs. The inspection revealed that many assistants are not effectively supporting student independence and are failing to collaborate properly with classroom teachers. The findings highlight systemic issues in how Slovakia implements support for students requiring additional assistance, pointing to problems with training and coordination rather than just staffing levels. The inspection results suggest that the country's inclusive education efforts may be undermined by poor execution, despite having personnel in place to help vulnerable students.

SME
|
Society

American Journalist Who Covered Czechoslovak Upheavals Recalls Reporting from Behind Iron Curtain

American journalist Jolyon Naegele, who served as a Voice of America correspondent, brought news from communist Czechoslovakia to the free world during some of the country's most pivotal moments. Naegele covered major events including the Candle Demonstration and Palach Week, conducted interviews with key figures Alexander Dubček and Václav Havel, and documented the persecution of dissidents under the totalitarian regime. His interest in Czechoslovakia began as a student, when he wrote a 1971 essay exploring whether there could be such a thing as a "good communist," using Alexander Dubček as an example. The journalist's work provided crucial reporting on the struggles for freedom and human rights in communist-era Czechoslovakia to Western audiences during the Cold War period.

Dennik N
|
Society

Hundreds of volunteers collect over 700 bags of waste during Hornád river cleanup

Hundreds of volunteers participated in a cleanup operation along the Hornád river, collecting more than 700 bags of waste from the waterway and its surroundings. The majority of the debris consisted of plastic materials, though volunteers also recovered discarded tires during the environmental initiative. The Hornád is a major river in eastern Slovakia that flows through Košice, the country's second-largest city, before continuing into Hungary.

Korzár
|
Society

Slovak Youth Turn to Social Media for Connection as Traditional Family Bonds Weaken, Study Shows

Slovak teenagers are increasingly using social media platforms as substitutes for family connections, according to new research findings. Marek Madro from the Institute for Public Affairs explained that young people's need to feel that someone cares about them often matters more than the actual content they consume on social platforms. The research highlights how social media is filling emotional gaps traditionally provided by family environments, suggesting a shift in how young Slovaks seek validation and belonging.

Aktuality
|
Society

Slovak health authorities warn of dangerous cosmetic products found in nail salons

The Public Health Authority of Slovakia has issued a warning about dangerous gel nail polishes discovered on the Slovak market. The products, found in establishments offering manicure and pedicure services, contain hazardous substances that pose serious health risks to consumers. The Public Health Authority, which monitors product safety and health standards in Slovakia, has classified these cosmetic items as presenting a significant danger to public health.

SMEAktuality
|
Society

Prešov vocational school undergoes major modernization after 40 years

A vocational school in Prešov is undergoing significant modernization of its workshops and equipment, marking the first major upgrade in four decades. The modernization project is being financed through European Union structural funds, representing a substantial investment in technical education infrastructure in eastern Slovakia's largest city after Košice.

Korzár
|
Society

Slovak Health Minister Faces Criticism Over Video Joking About Menstrual Pain

Slovak Health Minister Kamil Šaško has drawn criticism from experts after posting a video in which he made jokes about menstrual pain. Medical professionals and women's rights advocates described the minister's comments as degrading and inappropriate for someone in his position. The Ministry of Health's press office responded to the criticism by stating that Šaško publicly expressed recognition and respect for women and how they manage these challenges. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about how public officials address women's health issues in Slovakia.

Dennik N
|
Society

Former Akademický Prešov Students Launch Professional Careers

Several notable figures including Kovalčíková, Farkaš, Forgáč, Koščová, and Husovský began their professional careers at Akademický Prešov, a educational institution in eastern Slovakia. Diana Laciaková, commenting on the development, noted that the normalization period presented the greatest challenges for those starting their careers at the institution.

Korzár
|