Janka Rostásová, the wife of Slovak actor and entertainer Tibor Eliot Rostas, was buried in Nová Dubnica, a town in western Slovakia. A farewell ceremony was held to mark her passing, attended by those close to the family.
Members of the Club of Slovak Tourists (KST) will be permitted to climb nearly 50 Tatra mountain peaks and rock towers without a licensed mountain guide, following a rule change that expands access for those who complete a basic high-altitude hiking training course. Previously, that same certification only allowed movement in the mountains under the supervision of an instructor. Under the new arrangement, KST members who complete the basic course may ascend the designated peaks independently, while a further group of over 100 summits — including Gerlachovský štít, Slovakia's highest peak at 2,655 metres — remains accessible to them as part of supervised training with a certified high-mountain instructor. The change effectively grants KST members a privileged status compared to the general public, who are required to hire licensed mountain guides for access to restricted high-mountain terrain in the Tatras. The Tatras, a mountain range straddling the Slovak-Polish border and home to some of Central Europe's most demanding alpine terrain, have long had access restrictions in place for safety and conservation reasons. Slovakia's Mountain Rescue Service (Horská záchranná služba), which responds to emergencies across the country's mountain regions, has expressed concern that the loosened restrictions could lead to an increase in rescue operations, as hikers with only basic training may find themselves unprepared for the technical and weather challenges that high-altitude Tatra terrain presents.
Slovakia's railway system is falling badly behind European standards, with persistent train delays, poor cleanliness, and deteriorating station infrastructure drawing sharp criticism from transport experts. Rail conditions across the country have been described as undignified for passengers, with stations in particular singled out as neglected and unfit for modern public transport. Experts warn that Slovakia's rail network has failed to keep pace with improvements seen elsewhere in Central Europe, leaving commuters and long-distance travelers with a system that lags significantly behind neighboring countries. Modernizing rail infrastructure has long been a point of contention in Slovak transport policy, with investment levels and the pace of upgrades frequently criticized as insufficient given the country's EU membership and access to European structural funds.
A private operator running a network of schools in Slovakia while also conducting business activities in the United Arab Emirates is under investigation for financial irregularities, with state inspectors recommending that two of the schools be removed from the official register. The two schools in question are linked to potential losses of approximately 155,000 euros in state funding, money that schools receive from public budgets based on enrollment and accreditation status. Slovakia's school inspection authority has already proposed deregistering the two institutions, a move that would strip them of eligibility to receive further state subsidies. The case raises broader concerns about oversight of privately operated schools that receive public funding in Slovakia, where the state finances a significant portion of educational costs even at non-state institutions. The operator's ties to the Emirates add an international dimension to the scrutiny, prompting questions about transparency and the origins of investment in the Slovak private education sector.
Two men in Slovakia have been charged with robbing a wheelchair user and remanded in custody by a court. Both suspects were already serving suspended sentences for previous theft convictions at the time of the alleged attack. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison. The case highlights concerns about repeat offenders committing violent crimes while on probation.
Workers clearing out an attic in the central Slovak town of Zvolen discovered a live, unsafetied grenade dating from World War II. Police cordoned off the surrounding area and evacuated the residential building as a precaution while the device was made safe. The discovery of unexploded wartime ordnance is not uncommon in Slovakia, which saw significant military activity during World War II, particularly during the Slovak National Uprising of 1944, a major armed resistance against Nazi occupation centered in the region around Zvolen and Banská Bystrica.
Slovak runner Olha drew public attention after displaying both fear and apparent shame following an incident during a recent race. The commentary surrounding the episode noted a contrast with the behavior of prominent Slovak conspiracy figures Peter Kotlár and Milan Machal, suggesting that unlike Olha, those two individuals would never show such remorse or embarrassment. Kotlár, a public health official and ally of the ruling Smer-SD party known for promoting anti-vaccine and conspiracy-oriented views, and Machal, a fellow traveler in similar circles, have frequently been criticized for a perceived lack of accountability.
A hospital in Prešov, a major city in northeastern Slovakia, has completed its first 100 robotic surgeries using the da Vinci surgical system, marking a significant milestone for the region's medical capabilities. The da Vinci system is a advanced robotic-assisted surgical platform widely used in minimally invasive procedures, allowing surgeons to perform complex operations with greater precision through small incisions. Urologists performed the greatest number of the procedures, making urology the leading specialty in the hospital's robotic surgery program. The milestone reflects a broader push in Slovak regional healthcare to adopt cutting-edge medical technology, bringing advanced surgical options to patients outside the capital, Bratislava.
Hundreds of pilgrims gathered at Mariánska Hora, a traditional Catholic pilgrimage site in eastern Slovakia, for a religious procession organized in part by Caritas, the Catholic Church's charitable organization. This year's event was dedicated to senior citizens, reflecting a focus on the elderly within the local community. Mariánska Hora, located near Levoča, is one of the most significant Marian shrines in Slovakia, drawing pilgrims from across the country each year for its religious and cultural traditions.
A man in Slovakia has been formally charged after setting fire to an apartment door and himself while threatening to burn down an entire residential building. The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly released, faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. Slovak police filed charges following the incident, which endangered the lives of residents in the apartment block. Arson in a residential building is treated as a serious criminal offense under Slovak law due to the potential for mass casualties and property destruction.
Despite rising food prices across Europe, Slovakia still has ice cream parlours where a scoop costs under €1.50, according to a guide to the best-rated venues across the country's regional cities. The roundup highlights top-performing ice cream shops in major Slovak cities and their surroundings, offering locals and visitors a guide to quality frozen treats at accessible prices.
Slovak traveler Julián Vrábel has shared his reflections after spending two months living with Palestinian families in the West Bank, offering a firsthand account of daily life in one of the world's most contested territories. Vrábel described how the experience gave him a deeper understanding of the central role religion plays in Palestinian society, noting that living closely with local families provided insights that go beyond what outside observers typically encounter. The West Bank, a landlocked territory on the west bank of the Jordan River, has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967 and is home to roughly three million Palestinians, who live alongside Israeli settlements in a region at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Vrábel's account highlights the human dimension of life in the territory, focusing on family, faith, and everyday existence rather than the political dimensions of the conflict.
Július Turček, a well-known Slovak sports media personality, has spoken publicly about the death of his daughter Ema, who spent three and a half years in a waking coma after falling into the condition at the age of 12. Turček, widely known by his nickname 'Julo,' co-hosts VAR, one of Slovakia's most popular sports podcasts, alongside his friend Matej 'Muťo' Mutiš. In a candid interview, he reflected on the experience of losing his daughter, revealing that the hardest day was not her funeral. A waking coma, also known as a vegetative state, is a condition in which a person loses higher brain functions but retains basic bodily functions, leaving them unresponsive to their environment for extended periods. Turček's willingness to speak openly about the prolonged ordeal and its emotional aftermath has drawn significant public attention in Slovakia, where stories of personal grief shared by public figures remain relatively rare.
Traffic signs equipped with supplementary plates warning drivers of vehicle towing were found to have been unlawfully placed on roads in Slovakia, amounting to illegal pressure on motorists. The signs, which displayed additional panels indicating vehicles could be towed away, had no legal basis for their placement and should not have been erected on the roads in question. The discovery raises concerns about the legality of enforcement measures targeting drivers in affected areas.
A family from eastern Slovakia has been charged by police with fraud after allegedly deceiving a man out of nearly €10,000 using a fabricated story about a sick child needing surgery. The suspects constructed a false narrative to solicit the money, with police treating the case as a warning about the dangers of fake online fundraising campaigns. Authorities are urging the public to verify the legitimacy of charitable collections before donating, as such scams exploit sympathy for ill or vulnerable children to extract large sums from unsuspecting donors.
Roughly one in six students in Slovakia leaves the education system without completing a vocational certificate or school-leaving exam, according to a new analysis — a finding that researchers describe as shocking. The vocational certificate, known in Slovak as a 'výučný list,' is awarded upon completing a trade or craft apprenticeship, while the school-leaving exam, or 'maturita,' is the standard qualification for completing secondary school and a prerequisite for university entry. Together, they represent the two primary educational credentials for young people in Slovakia. Analysts emphasized that the problem is not confined to marginalized communities, such as Roma settlements, which are often cited in discussions of educational disadvantage in Slovakia. The dropout rate appears to cut across broader segments of society, suggesting the issue is more widespread than previously acknowledged. The findings point to a significant structural challenge in the Slovak education system, with implications for youth employment, social mobility, and long-term economic productivity.
Alžbeta Koldová, the oldest known resident of Prešov — a city in northeastern Slovakia — has celebrated her 106th birthday. She currently lives in a senior care facility in Zborov, a village in the Bardejov district of the region.
Slovak police are investigating a violent nighttime assault in Banská Bystrica, a city in central Slovakia, and are appealing to the public for help in identifying three men captured on surveillance cameras near the scene. The attack is being treated as a criminal offense of hooliganism under Slovak law. Investigators believe the three individuals recorded on CCTV footage may hold key information that could help clarify the circumstances of the brutal assault on the victim.
Slovak police will suspend driver's license processing services on Thursday afternoon due to scheduled system maintenance and modernization work. The services are expected to be unavailable until Friday, when normal operations are set to resume. Drivers needing to apply for or renew their licenses are advised to plan accordingly and visit the relevant offices on a different day.
Health authorities have confirmed a case of Hepatitis A in Hviezdoslavov, a village near the Slovak capital Bratislava. People who came into contact with the infected individual are being monitored by public health officials as part of standard outbreak-prevention procedures. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection spread primarily through contaminated food or water, or close contact with an infected person. Slovak public health authorities routinely trace and monitor contacts following confirmed cases to prevent wider transmission.