A popular hiking trail leading to the Sedielko mountain pass in the High Tatras has reopened after several months of reconstruction work. The trail, located in Slovakia's most prominent mountain range along the northern border with Poland, underwent extensive repairs and was also fitted with new safety installations along certain sections to better protect hikers navigating the terrain.
Three new rest shelters have been installed along frequently used hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains in northern Slovakia. The structures are intended to provide hikers with covered resting spots during ascents along the routes. The Tatras, a major mountain range on the Slovak-Polish border, are one of Slovakia's most visited natural attractions and draw hundreds of thousands of hikers and tourists each year.
A reader living in a shared rental apartment seeks advice on how to brighten and personalize a large but dark room — furnished mostly in black furniture and facing an interior courtyard — along with an adjoining spacious balcony, without making permanent changes or significant financial investment. The advice focuses on low-cost, non-invasive decorating ideas suitable for renters, including options beyond plants for balcony decoration.
Slovaks are increasingly replacing traditional snacks like crisps with healthier options during common snacking moments, such as the mid-afternoon energy slump at work or evening television viewing. The shift reflects a broader change in consumer habits, as people seek alternatives that satisfy cravings for something crunchy without relying on high-sugar or heavily processed foods.
Peter Kravárik, a Slovak scientist living with two psychiatric conditions, has spoken publicly about his personal journey with mental illness, describing how he once believed happiness was beyond his reach. Kravárik, who has not shied away from discussing his diagnoses openly, shared his experience to help reduce stigma surrounding mental health in Slovakia. He reflected on the challenges of managing his conditions while pursuing a career in science, and said his outlook has fundamentally changed over time — he now knows that his earlier belief that he would never find happiness was not true. His story highlights the broader social challenge of mental health awareness in Slovakia, where public discussion of psychiatric disorders remains relatively uncommon.
Katarína Košťálová, a pioneering figure in Slovak civil society and higher education, has died. She was a co-founder and former director of SAIA — the Slovak Academic Information Agency, an organization that promotes international mobility and cooperation in Slovakia's higher education and research sectors. Košťálová dedicated her career to developing civil society and the non-governmental sector in Slovakia, and was regarded as one of the leading figures in advancing international academic exchange and research collaboration in the country. Her work helped connect Slovak universities and researchers with international partners during a formative period for Slovak higher education following the country's transition to democracy.
Slovakia saw several notable developments on Thursday. New regulations governing the conduct and duties of police officers came into effect, introducing updated rules on how officers must carry out their work. Near the western Slovak city of Trenčín, a fatal traffic accident claimed at least one life, adding to concerns about road safety in the region. In the business sector, Dôvera, one of Slovakia's three licensed health insurance companies, announced it is acquiring Union, another Slovak health insurer, a move that would consolidate a significant portion of the country's private health insurance market under a single operator. Slovakia's health insurance system operates through three competing providers — the state-owned Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa and two private insurers, Dôvera and Union — meaning the merger, if approved by regulators, would reduce the number of private competitors from two to one.
Slovakia's private health insurance sector is set to consolidate significantly after Dôvera, one of the country's two major private health insurers, announced plans to acquire and merge with Union, the third and smallest player in the market. The deal will reduce Slovakia's health insurance landscape from three competing providers to just two — the merged Dôvera-Union entity and the state-owned Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP) — creating what critics are calling a duopoly. Slovakia operates a mixed health insurance system in which citizens must be enrolled with one of the country's licensed health insurers. Until now, they could choose between the state-run VšZP and two private alternatives, Dôvera and Union. The absorption of Union into Dôvera eliminates that second private option, leaving patients with fewer choices when selecting their insurer. Among the practical concerns raised is how the merger will affect benefits that Union customers currently enjoy, including preventive care coverage, dental subsidies, and access to specific doctors and medical facilities. Opposition politicians have condemned the transaction, arguing it will substantially weaken competition in the sector. Reduced competition in health insurance markets can lead to fewer consumer benefits, less pressure on insurers to improve service quality, and potentially worse outcomes for patients. The merger represents one of the most significant structural changes to Slovakia's healthcare financing system in recent years, and its approval by relevant regulatory authorities will be closely watched.
The World Health Organization is recommending that people maintain active social lives and engage in mentally stimulating activities as key measures to reduce the risk of dementia. The WHO guidance encourages regular social interaction alongside activities that challenge the mind, such as reading, storytelling, and playing board or card games. Dementia, a condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily functioning, is a growing global health concern as populations age. The WHO's recommendations reflect an increasing body of evidence suggesting that keeping the brain active and socially engaged throughout life can help delay or reduce the onset of cognitive decline.
A Czech teenager was injured after slipping in the Veľká Fatra mountain range in central Slovakia. Mountain rescue teams responded to the scene, where they examined the young woman, immobilized the injured limb, and transported her by off-road vehicle to a hospital in Ružomberok for further medical assessment. Veľká Fatra is a popular hiking destination in central Slovakia, and mountain rescue services regularly respond to incidents involving visitors unfamiliar with the terrain.
A Slovak government home renovation grant program has attracted exceptional public interest in its first application round, the Environment Ministry announced. The scheme, known as 'Obnov dom mini+' (Renovate Your Home mini+), is designed to help Slovak homeowners fund energy-efficiency improvements and renovations to residential properties. The program falls under Slovakia's broader environmental and energy policy framework, which is partly supported by European Union funds aimed at reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in the housing sector. The high level of demand signals strong public appetite for financial support for home upgrades, though officials have not yet released specific figures on the number of applications received.
Slovakia's Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities has confirmed that a key social inclusion initiative will continue, dismissing concerns that the program was ending. The office announced that a new call for applications was launched on July 10 for the continuation of the MOPS project — the Mobile Community and Support Services program, which provides civic and support services to marginalized Roma communities across Slovakia. The new phase not only continues the existing work but expands the program's reach and scope. The plenipotentiary's office serves as the main government body responsible for coordinating policies aimed at improving the living conditions of Slovakia's Roma population, one of the largest Roma communities in the European Union. Roma communities in Slovakia face significant socioeconomic disadvantages, including high unemployment, limited access to education, and inadequate housing, making programs like MOPS an important part of government and EU-funded efforts to address systemic inequality.
Milan Desiatnik, a longtime Slovak journalist who spent three decades working in radio broadcasting, has died. Desiatnik was a veteran figure in Slovak media, with his career in radio spanning thirty years. Further details about the circumstances of his death were not immediately available.
A Slovak court is hearing a case involving the alleged torture and death of a months-old baby girl, with the child's mother and her former partner offering conflicting accounts of responsibility. The mother has admitted her involvement in the case, while her former partner maintains he is innocent and denies any wrongdoing. The two stood before the court trading accusations, each placing blame on the other for the infant's death. Cases of fatal child abuse are treated as among the most serious criminal offenses in Slovakia, typically carrying lengthy prison sentences. The trial is ongoing.
Nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes and better management of health risk factors, the World Health Organization has concluded. Dementia, a condition that causes progressive deterioration of memory and cognitive function, is currently the seventh leading cause of death globally. The WHO findings point to factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and untreated conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes as key contributors that individuals and health systems could address to reduce the burden of the disease.
A cyclist was struck by a car in Rimavská Sobota, a town in southern Slovakia, and has been hospitalized following the incident. A female driver hit the cyclist while making a turn. Slovak police have opened a criminal investigation into the case on charges of causing bodily harm.
Slovak authorities have declared emergency situations in several districts in eastern Slovakia following repeated sightings of brown bears in populated areas. Local municipalities activated the emergency status after bears were spotted moving through multiple villages in the region. Brown bear encounters have become an increasingly serious issue in Slovakia, where the species is native to forested mountain areas. As bear populations have grown and their habitat overlaps more frequently with human settlements, incidents involving bears wandering into villages and towns have prompted authorities to take precautionary measures. An emergency situation declaration allows local governments to coordinate rapid response efforts, restrict movement in affected areas, and deploy wildlife management teams. Slovakia has faced ongoing debate over how to manage its brown bear population, with conservationists advocating for habitat protection while local residents and farmers in affected areas have pushed for stronger intervention measures to protect communities and livestock.
Police in Bardejov, a town in northeastern Slovakia, uncovered two separate cases of forged driving licences as the men involved attempted to obtain official Slovak documents. Both individuals have been charged in connection with the fraud. The cases came to light when authorities detected the falsified licences during document checks. The men had apparently presented the fake driving licences as part of an effort to secure legitimate Slovak identity documents, a scheme that Slovak law enforcement has been increasingly vigilant about in border regions. Presenting forged documents to obtain official state identification is a criminal offence under Slovak law, carrying potential penalties including fines and imprisonment. Both suspects now face formal criminal proceedings.
A reader of Slovak daily Denník N writes about struggling with lifelong submissiveness, describing how she has allowed others to take advantage of her in an effort to be liked by everyone. The reader, who identifies herself as Magda, says she is exhausted by her own behavior — always agreeing with others, never expressing displeasure, and maintaining a cheerful, accommodating persona at any cost. The column, which features psychological and personal advice, addresses how individuals can develop assertiveness and learn to set boundaries in their personal and social lives.
Receiving a diagnosis of disability or developmental disadvantage for a child can be a devastating moment for Slovak families, upending their sense of normality and leaving parents struggling to find their footing. The journey for affected families often begins with acute shock and grief, as parents grapple with a reality they had not anticipated. Support systems — whether from medical professionals, social workers, peer communities, or psychological services — play a critical role in helping families navigate the emotional turmoil that follows such a diagnosis. For many parents, the path eventually leads from initial crisis toward adaptation and a rediscovered sense of purpose, though the road can be long and difficult. Awareness of the importance of timely psychological and practical support for these families remains a key issue in Slovak social and healthcare policy.