Dávka - Your daily dose of Slovak news
Last refreshed: 07/06/2026 15:41 · 49 articles added
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High School Student Adam Takáč Wins Slovakia's Ninth Economic Olympiad

High school student Adam Takáč emerged victorious in Slovakia's ninth annual Economic Olympiad, a national competition testing students' knowledge of economic principles and theory. Branislav Juhás from the Milan Hodža Bilingual Grammar School in Sučany placed second in the competition, while Jakub Gerbery from the Ladislav Sár Grammar School in Bratislava finished third. The Economic Olympiad represents one of Slovakia's premier academic competitions, designed to identify and recognize the country's most promising young economics students at the secondary school level.

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Society

Pet Owners Face Dilemma Between Chemical and Natural Parasite Protection as Spring Arrives

As spring temperatures rise across Slovakia, pet owners are beginning their annual battle against fleas and ticks that threaten dogs and cats. Many owners seek natural alternatives to chemical treatments to protect their animals from parasites. However, veterinary experts are warning that not all natural remedies are safe for pets, particularly for cats who can be especially vulnerable to certain natural substances. The seasonal increase in parasite activity forces pet owners to weigh the benefits of chemical treatments against potentially risky natural alternatives in protecting their animals' health.

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Society

Slovak Photographer Challenges Traditional Gender Roles in Domestic Life

Slovak photographer Milota Havránková has gained attention for living her life in a way that breaks conventional gender expectations, with her children adapting to a household that doesn't follow traditional rules. The photographer's lifestyle represents a broader trend of women challenging conventional domestic roles, with observers noting that she is not alone among Slovak women in choosing to live according to patterns more typically associated with men's lifestyles.

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Society

Slovakia launches electronic enrollment system for kindergartens

Slovakia's Ministry of Education has launched an electronic enrollment system for kindergartens starting May 1, expanding its new unified ePrihlášky (eApplications) platform. The ministry expects approximately 65,000 to 70,000 applications for kindergarten spots during May. The digital system requires parents to submit applications in order of preference and includes mandatory medical certificates from doctors. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker's ministry is progressively rolling out the electronic enrollment system after previously implementing it for high schools and elementary schools, though the high school launch experienced technical difficulties.

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Society

Slovakia's May Day Holiday Dates Back to 1919, Not Communist Era

May 1st has been celebrated as a state holiday in Slovakia since 1919, predating the communist period by decades. The Labor Day holiday commemorates the strikes and demonstrations by Chicago workers that resulted in loss of human life. While many associate May Day celebrations in Central Europe with the communist era, Slovakia's recognition of the workers' holiday actually originates from the First Czechoslovak Republic, established after World War I when the country gained independence from Austria-Hungary.

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Society

Expert Identifies Warning Signs of Hidden Alcoholism in Slovakia

Health experts are highlighting the risks of hidden alcoholism, a form of alcohol dependency that can develop without obvious signs of intoxication. According to specialists, individuals can become addicted to alcohol while maintaining normal daily routines, such as drinking just one beer daily or only consuming alcohol on weekends, while continuing to work and build their careers. Medical professionals advise focusing on two specific warning signs to identify this concealed form of addiction, which can trap people in dependency without the typical symptoms associated with alcoholism.

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Society

Bratislava Region Develops Modern Agricultural Campus in Bernolákovo

The Bratislava Self-Governing Region is advancing construction of a modern educational campus in Bernolákovo focused on bioenergy and landscape management. The project aims to become a key center for vocational education in agriculture, landscape design, bioenergy, and environmental studies. Classrooms and dormitory facilities have been completed, with plans to proceed with energy renovation of existing buildings and construction of a greenhouse facility. The campus represents the region's investment in specialized technical education to meet growing demand for environmental and agricultural expertise.

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Society

Police arrest human smuggler leading ten migrants through eastern Slovakia forest

Border control officers in eastern Slovakia arrested a Ukrainian citizen on Tuesday for illegally smuggling ten people across the border. The arrest occurred in the Ulič border area, where the smuggler was guiding the group through forested terrain. The incident represents part of ongoing illegal migration activity along Slovakia's eastern frontier with Ukraine, where border authorities regularly intercept attempts to transport migrants westward into the European Union. Slovakia's eastern border has become a significant transit route for migrants seeking to reach Western Europe, with smugglers frequently using remote forest paths to avoid official border crossings.

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Society

Slovakia Proposes Prison Reform to Reduce Restrictions on Inmates

Slovakia has drafted new regulations aimed at humanizing prison conditions by reducing unnecessary restrictions imposed on convicted inmates. The proposed decree seeks to minimize the extent to which various limitations are applied to prisoners during their incarceration. The reform represents part of broader efforts to improve the country's correctional system and align prison conditions with modern standards of prisoner treatment.

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Society

Survey: 75% of Young Slovaks Consider or Plan to Leave the Country

Three-quarters of young people in Slovakia are considering or actively planning to emigrate abroad, according to a new survey. The findings reveal a significant potential brain drain, with 42.3% of those contemplating departure stating they do not plan to return to Slovakia. The survey highlights growing concerns about youth emigration in the Central European nation, where young people have increasingly sought opportunities in Western Europe and other developed countries in recent years. Slovakia has experienced sustained emigration since joining the European Union in 2004, with younger generations particularly drawn to higher wages and better career prospects abroad.

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Society

State Audit Office Finds Transparency Risks in Health Insurance Financing

Slovakia's Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) has identified transparency and efficiency problems in the financing system for medical services provided by the country's general health insurance company. The audit found that the financing system was neither transparently nor effectively designed. The Supreme Audit Office, which serves as Slovakia's independent financial watchdog, conducts regular reviews of how public institutions manage taxpayer funds. This finding highlights ongoing concerns about the management of Slovakia's public healthcare financing system, which covers medical services for the majority of the population through the state-run general health insurance scheme.

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Society

Living Healthy But Still Exhausted: Common Reasons Behind Persistent Fatigue

Many people who adopt healthier lifestyles find themselves experiencing unexpected fatigue and irritability despite their efforts to improve their wellbeing. Health experts explain that this phenomenon occurs when individuals make dramatic changes to their exercise routines and diet without properly adjusting their overall energy balance. The body can respond to sudden increases in physical activity and dietary restrictions with stress responses that lead to exhaustion, mood changes, and hormonal disruptions including menstrual cycle irregularities. Fitness and nutrition professionals emphasize that sustainable health improvements require gradual transitions rather than dramatic overnight changes, allowing the body time to adapt to new routines while maintaining adequate energy intake to support increased activity levels.

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Society

Communication Expert Discusses How Decades-Old Method Helps Navigate Relationships

A Slovak instructor in nonviolent communication explains how a decades-old methodology can help people better manage their relationships and emotional responses. The practitioner describes how situations that would previously trigger aggressive reactions can now be handled with greater understanding and composure through the application of nonviolent communication techniques. The approach, developed several decades ago, focuses on helping individuals respond to challenging interpersonal situations with empathy and clarity rather than defensiveness or hostility.

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Society

Nearly 895,000 People at Risk of Poverty in Slovakia in 2023, Down by 85,000 from Previous Year

Slovakia recorded 895,000 people at risk of poverty in 2023, representing a year-on-year decrease of nearly 85,000 individuals according to official statistics. The decline marks a significant improvement in the country's poverty indicators, though the figure still represents a substantial portion of Slovakia's population of approximately 5.4 million. The data reflects ongoing economic and social trends in the Central European nation, where poverty rates have fluctuated in recent years amid various economic pressures and government social policies.

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Society

Spišské Podhradie begins restoration of historic elementary school buildings

The town of Spišské Podhradie has launched a restoration project for the historic buildings of its elementary school. The renovation work is expected to take eighteen months to complete. Spišské Podhradie, located in eastern Slovakia near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Spiš Castle, is undertaking the project to preserve and modernize the school's heritage architecture while maintaining its educational function.

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Society

Suspicious Financial Transactions Uncovered Near Slovak Football Chief

Investigators have discovered questionable money transfers involving associates of Ján Kováčik, head of the Slovak Football Association. Kováčik's right-hand person withdrew hundreds of thousands of euros from accounts belonging to SFZ Marketing, a company linked to the football association. Additionally, Kováčik himself sent thousands of euros to a financially troubled friend. The Slovak Football Association is the governing body for professional and amateur football in Slovakia, responsible for managing the national teams and overseeing domestic competitions. The revelations suggest potential misuse of funds within Slovakia's football administration, raising questions about financial oversight and governance in the country's premier sporting organization.

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Society

Slovak Ombudsman Calls for Electronic Cash Registers in Healthcare Sector Worth 500 Million Euros

Slovak Ombudsman Róbert Dobrovodský has called for doctors to use electronic cash registers and issue receipts for patient payments, just like other service providers. He argued that while a craftsman at a market selling a small item must have an electronic cash register and issue a receipt or face a fine, the same rules should apply to doctors who collect 30, 40 or 50 euros from patients. Dobrovodský emphasized the scale of the issue, noting that the healthcare sector collects approximately 500 million euros in such payments annually. The ombudsman's comments highlight ongoing concerns about transparency and tax compliance in Slovakia's healthcare system, where patients routinely make direct payments to medical professionals for various services.

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Society

Construction of Prešov Hospital Faces Halt Over Unpaid Bills, Opposition Party Claims

Construction of a new hospital in Prešov was supposed to be halted due to unpaid invoices, according to claims by the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), an opposition party in Slovakia's parliament. The party is questioning the health minister about what is happening with the construction project. The Prešov hospital project represents a significant healthcare infrastructure investment in eastern Slovakia, where KDH is raising concerns about potential financial irregularities or payment delays that could jeopardize the completion of this important medical facility.

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Society

Construction of New Hospital in Prešov Halted Due to Concrete Quality Issues

Construction of a new hospital in Prešov has been suspended due to problems with concrete quality, according to Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák. The project, which has been a key priority for Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, now faces significant delays as officials consider launching a new tender process or potentially demolishing already completed work. The hospital construction was part of Fico's flagship healthcare infrastructure initiatives aimed at modernizing Slovakia's medical facilities. The concrete quality issues represent a major setback for the project, which was intended to improve healthcare services in eastern Slovakia's Prešov region.

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Society

Slovak Woman Who Built Business Empire Now Lives on Streets

Miroslava Miláčková, a 44-year-old Slovak woman who once ran a successful caregiving agency on the Isle of Man, now finds herself homeless. The businesswoman recalls how locals in Douglas, the island's capital, would point at her and her business partner with admiration as successful foreign entrepreneurs who had established their own company. Her story illustrates how dramatically life circumstances can change, as she went from being a respected business owner to living on the streets. The Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency, had provided the setting for what appeared to be a thriving enterprise before her fortunes reversed.

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