Slovakia's Ministry of Education will conduct a survey to assess how prepared schools and students are to use artificial intelligence technologies. The data collection will be conducted anonymously, allowing the ministry to gauge the current state of AI readiness across the country's educational institutions without identifying specific schools or individuals.
Slovakia's Ministry of Labor has begun preparing legislation that would cut child benefits to families whose children miss school excessively, with the new rules set to take effect January 1, 2027. Under the proposed "No School, No Benefits" initiative, families could lose child allowances if their children accumulate 15 unjustified absences per month or 60 unjustified absences during the school year, based on existing truancy definitions in Slovak law. The Ministry of Labor expects intense public debate over the legislation, which aims to combine stricter sanctions with motivational measures to address chronic school absenteeism. Child benefits in Slovakia are monthly payments provided to families to help cover the costs of raising children, and linking these payments to school attendance represents a significant shift in the country's social policy approach to education enforcement.
Slovakia's Social Insurance Agency will hold a special advisory session on Wednesday for people who have worked in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The consultation day will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the agency's branch office in Liptovský Mikuláš, a town in northern Slovakia. The session will focus on pension-related matters for cross-border workers who have contributed to social security systems in both countries.
Tourism preparations are reaching their final stages in the northern Spiš region of eastern Slovakia as the area prepares for the upcoming summer season. The tourism program will officially begin on April 30 with the traditional May pole raising ceremony in Stará Ľubovňa, which will be combined with demonstrations of traditional crafts and creative workshops. The Spiš region, located in northeastern Slovakia near the Polish border, is known for its medieval castles, folk traditions, and cultural heritage sites that attract both domestic and international visitors during the summer months.
A repeat offender used a baseball bat to attack multiple people, striking them in the head, in a housing estate in Bánovce nad Bebravou, a town in western Slovakia. The man has been charged with the assault and is being held in pre-trial detention while authorities investigate the violent incident. Bánovce nad Bebravou is located in the Trenčín region, approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Bratislava.
Health authorities in Slovakia's Bratislava region have confirmed one case of mumps, according to the Regional Public Health Office. The office reported that no cases of measles or rubella have been recorded in the region so far. Mumps is a viral infection that typically causes swelling of the salivary glands and can spread through respiratory droplets, though it is preventable through routine childhood vaccination as part of the MMR vaccine program.
Lenka Tkáčová has founded the Slow Glow Running Club in Bratislava, a running group specifically designed for women who want to exercise without fear. The club addresses the reality that women experience running differently than men, particularly regarding safety concerns while jogging. Tkáčová created the group as an inclusive space for women of all fitness levels and running speeds, recognizing that female runners often face unique challenges and anxieties that male runners may not experience. The initiative reflects growing awareness of women's safety concerns in public spaces and sports activities.
Martin Čupka, a Slovak sports nutritionist who now advises Olympic athletes on their diets, recently appeared as a guest on the television program Vizita. As a child, Čupka would hide chip packages in the couch, behavior that contrasts sharply with his current professional role helping elite athletes optimize their nutrition for peak performance. The interview highlighted his personal transformation from someone who struggled with unhealthy eating habits in childhood to becoming an expert who guides Slovakia's top competitors in making proper dietary choices for athletic success.
Amnesty International has condemned Slovakia for implementing repressive measures against civil society and violating human rights protections. The human rights organization specifically criticized restrictions on LGBTI rights and highlighted systematic discrimination against Roma communities in the country. The criticism comes as part of Amnesty's broader warning about a global human rights crisis, with Slovakia's constitutional amendments drawing particular scrutiny from the international watchdog organization.
Former Slovak dissident František Mikloško criticized the Slovak Catholic Church for failing to fully embrace Pope Francis's revolutionary approach to Christianity during the pontiff's lifetime. Speaking in a video podcast, Mikloško praised Francis's transformative vision, which he said was shaped by the pope's direct experience working in Argentina's slums. The former pontiff developed his compassionate worldview through face-to-face encounters with society's most marginalized people, including the poor, criminals, and prostitutes, rather than observing from academic distance. Mikloško highlighted Francis's famous question "Who am I to judge?" as emblematic of a revolutionary Christian perspective that emphasized Christ's ultimate judgment while showing mercy to all people regardless of their circumstances.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini highlighted the moral courage of individuals who risked their lives to help others during the Holocaust. Speaking at a Holocaust remembrance event, Pellegrini emphasized the critical importance of preserving historical memory and learning from the past. Slovakia, which was a client state of Nazi Germany during World War II, lost most of its Jewish population during the Holocaust, making such commemorative events significant for acknowledging this dark chapter in the country's history and honoring those who showed extraordinary bravery in helping victims.
Five defendants facing charges in connection with a deadly gas explosion that killed eight people have entered not guilty pleas in Slovak court. The case involves a gas leak that led to an explosion and subsequent fire, resulting in eight fatalities. While all five accused individuals agreed they are not guilty of the charges against them, they appear to have differing positions on other aspects of the case. The trial represents a significant legal proceeding in Slovakia, as prosecutors seek to establish criminal responsibility for the deadly incident that claimed multiple lives.
Police investigators in Nitra seized a self-service vending machine that was dispensing psychoactive substances. The machine's discovery prompted law enforcement to launch criminal proceedings for the crime of spreading drug addiction. The investigation is being handled by the Police Corps, which treats the distribution of such substances as a serious criminal offense under Slovak law.
Slovak teenagers spend between two and six hours daily on social media platforms and believe networks like Instagram, TikTok, and X should be regulated by law similar to driving or alcohol access, according to a new survey. The qualitative research, conducted by civic organization IPčko in cooperation with Focus agency, used focus groups with 31 respondents aged 13 to 16 across four locations. Despite supporting regulation in principle, the teenagers acknowledged they would find ways to bypass any social media bans if implemented. The findings highlight the complex relationship young people have with social media platforms, recognizing potential harms while remaining heavily engaged with the technology.
A man was arrested and returned to prison just one day after being released from serving his previous sentence. He will now serve an additional 18 months behind bars. The case highlights the challenges some individuals face in reintegrating into society after incarceration, with some quickly finding themselves back in the criminal justice system.
The village of Vítkovce in Slovakia organized a record-breaking community chain measuring 736 meters that symbolically connected the majority population with the local Roma community. The human chain represents an effort to bridge social divides and foster unity between different ethnic groups within the village. Such community initiatives aim to address longstanding tensions between Slovakia's majority population and its Roma minority, which is the country's largest ethnic minority group and has historically faced discrimination and social exclusion.
Slovakia's Health Ministry has proposed adding 2-methylmethcatinone and 4-bromomethcatinone to the official list of controlled psychotropic substances. The amendment responds to the emergence of new psychoactive substances in the Slovak market and is built on the principle of precautionary measures. The new legislation is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2024, as authorities work to keep pace with evolving synthetic drug markets that often introduce chemical variants to circumvent existing laws.
Two separate incidents of impaired driving occurred in eastern Slovakia, with both drivers now facing criminal charges. In one case, a woman with a blood alcohol level of 2.1 promille crashed her vehicle into a roadside ditch. In the second incident, a man was caught driving under the influence of drugs in Bardejov, a town in the Prešov region near the Polish border. Both individuals are facing criminal charges for driving under the influence, which carries penalties including license suspension, fines, and potential imprisonment under Slovak law.
Police in Slovakia have uncovered a fraud case involving a married couple who illegally obtained humanitarian benefits intended for Ukrainian citizens. The couple collected more than 300,000 Czech crowns (approximately 12,300 euros) in payments despite being ineligible for the assistance. The fraudulent scheme continued for several months before authorities detected the illegal activity. The case highlights ongoing challenges with benefit fraud related to refugee assistance programs established following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which prompted Slovakia and other EU countries to create emergency financial support systems for displaced Ukrainians.
Police have uncovered a fraud case in which a married couple illegally obtained humanitarian benefits intended for Ukrainian citizens, collecting more than 300,000 Czech crowns (approximately €12,300) over several months. The couple continued receiving the payments despite being ineligible for the assistance. The investigation reveals systematic abuse of aid programs established to support Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Slovakia, like other EU countries, implemented various financial assistance schemes for Ukrainians fleeing the war, including housing allowances, food support, and integration benefits administered through social services offices.