A Polish retail chain has withdrawn frozen raspberries from sale after contamination with Salmonella bacteria was detected. The Slovak Public Health Authority issued a warning about the frozen raspberries imported from Poland. The contamination poses potential health risks to consumers who may have purchased the product before the recall was announced.
The owners of Kauka, Slovakia's highest-rated coffee shop according to European Coffee Trip app users last year, have addressed a mandatory government requirement to display notices about providing receipts through satirical means. Simona Rosinská and Mikuláš Senič, the café's proprietors, described the mandatory receipt notice as "humiliating" but said they resolved the issue with humor. While they found starting a business in Slovakia relatively straightforward, the requirement to post notices informing customers about receipt obligations proved particularly irksome to the award-winning establishment.
A Slovak police officer has been given a suspended sentence after shooting a man he discovered with his girlfriend in intimate clothing. The officer's claim of self-defense was rejected by the court. The charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, resulting in the conditional sentence rather than imprisonment.
A platform of patient advocacy organizations has unveiled a Patient Manifesto aimed at strengthening the role of patients in Slovakia's healthcare decision-making processes. The manifesto identifies a fundamental problem in the current system where patient voices are present only formally and lack real influence on final healthcare decisions. The document presents concrete solutions for meaningful patient participation in policy and treatment decisions that affect them.
A healthcare school in Bratislava's Petržalka district has unveiled a new simulation center equipped with modern medical training technology. The facility at the Secondary Healthcare School on Strečnianska Street includes specialized medical simulators, a camera system for recording and analyzing training sessions, digital and multimedia classrooms, and a multifunctional wellness center. The simulation center allows students to practice professional medical skills in realistic scenarios using advanced technology. The school also completed reconstruction of its practical education pavilion as part of the modernization project funded by the Bratislava Region, which operates the institution.
Nearly 200 young people in Slovakia received the International Duke of Edinburgh Award, a prestigious youth development program that promotes talent development, sports participation, and volunteerism. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an international youth achievement program founded by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, which challenges young people aged 14-24 to complete activities in four key areas: volunteering, physical recreation, skills development, and adventurous journeys. The program operates in over 130 countries worldwide and aims to help young people develop confidence, resilience, and life skills while contributing to their communities through volunteer work and personal challenges.
A fraudster stole more than 30,000 euros from an elderly woman in Slovakia by calling her and pretending to be her grandson. The man convinced the victim that he urgently needed to deposit money into a bank account. The case highlights a growing problem of telephone fraud targeting senior citizens, who are often deceived by criminals impersonating family members to create a sense of urgency and emotional pressure. Such scams typically involve requests for immediate financial assistance for fabricated emergencies.
Slovakia's Education Ministry and the National Bank of Slovakia have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at improving financial literacy among students. The agreement is designed to help children and students better understand financial concepts and money management. The National Bank of Slovakia, the country's central bank, will work with the education ministry to develop programs that enhance financial education in Slovak schools, addressing what educators see as a critical gap in students' practical life skills.
A commemoration was held at a cemetery in Veľká, a district of Poprad in northern Slovakia, to honor victims of the Barbarous Night. The Barbarous Night refers to a dark chapter in Slovak history that remains a chilling reminder of past atrocities. The memorial service took place in the Veľká district, where community members gathered to pay their respects to those who perished during this historical tragedy.
The Prešov Archeparchy currently operates 21 parish charities that collect food and provide assistance to elderly residents, with plans to establish additional charitable organizations in the region. The Prešov Archeparchy is one of the administrative divisions of the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia, serving the eastern regions of the country. These parish-based charitable organizations represent grassroots efforts to address social needs in local communities through food collection drives and support services for senior citizens.
Slovak universities are facing criticism for maintaining silence on political issues under the guise of apolitical neutrality. Critics argue that this approach of avoiding political engagement does not constitute true neutrality, as institutions of higher education have a responsibility to engage with societal issues. The debate highlights tensions over the role universities should play in public discourse, with some arguing that remaining silent on important political developments actually represents a form of political stance itself rather than genuine neutrality.
The Medical Faculty at Comenius University in Bratislava admitted 145 applicants without requiring entrance examinations this year. The faculty received applications from 2,405 prospective students for the current academic year. This represents a significant portion of applicants who gained direct admission to one of Slovakia's most prestigious medical programs, which typically requires competitive entrance testing due to high demand for limited spots in medical education.
An elementary school in Brezno has registered 256 children for first grade enrollment in the upcoming academic year. The Elementary School with Kindergarten on Májového povstania českého ľudu Street expects to open four first-grade classes to accommodate the incoming students. The enrollment figures indicate strong demand for primary education in the central Slovak town, located in the Banská Bystrica region.
Police charged two men with drug-related offenses following a search operation in Prievidza, a city in western Slovakia. During the house search, officers seized paper packets containing methamphetamine along with various items and chemical substances used for drug production. The arrests were part of Operation Cukrár (Confectioner), a police investigation targeting drug trafficking networks in the region.
Karol Mišovic, who has visited nearly 180 zoos across Europe, warns against harmful trends in modern zoos that turn animals into internet celebrities. The Slovak zoo enthusiast, part of a community of zoological garden fans, tracks how facilities develop their enclosures and what problematic practices they sometimes adopt. He argues that creating human-like identities for animals, including social media profiles, represents a concerning trend that undermines proper zoological practices. Mišovic believes good zoos should not display animals from every angle or transform them into internet stars, emphasizing the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries between animal welfare and public entertainment.
Slovak schools have received new mandatory procedures for addressing suspected inappropriate behavior by teachers toward students, following a rise in reported cases of misconduct. The State School Inspectorate, Slovakia's educational oversight body, has seen an increase in complaints about teacher behavior including bullying, unfair grading, and sexual harassment of students. Chief Inspector Alžbeta Štofková Dianovská criticized schools for sometimes trivializing these incidents and handling them only formally rather than taking decisive action. In response, the Ministry of Education introduced new protocols in early April that clearly define schools' obligations when such cases arise and specify sanctions for institutions that fail to comply with proper procedures.
A new pumptrack bike course and inclusive playground will be constructed at a lake recreation area. The development project will also include the construction of new walkways to improve accessibility throughout the recreational site. The facilities are designed to enhance recreational opportunities for visitors to the lakeside location.
Slovak psychologist Martin Cvrkal has publicly criticized the reality television show "Extreme Makeovers" on social media platforms, arguing that the program promotes harmful misconceptions about obesity. The show, adapted from the American format "Extreme Weight Loss," follows severely obese individuals through radical physical and psychological transformations over one year under professional guidance. Cvrkal argues that the program perpetuates the damaging belief that obesity stems solely from weak willpower, lack of discipline, and inability to control oneself, rather than addressing the complex medical and psychological factors that contribute to the condition. His criticism highlights growing concerns among health professionals about how weight loss entertainment programs may stigmatize people with obesity and oversimplify a serious health issue.
A hiking trail between Hrebienok and Zamkovského Chata in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains remains closed after collapsing in November 2023, with repairs now entering their third year. The trail failure has created ongoing safety concerns as many tourists continue to ignore closure barriers and use the damaged path. The Tatras, Slovakia's premier mountain range and part of a national park shared with Poland, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for hiking and mountain tourism. The extended closure highlights infrastructure challenges in maintaining the extensive network of mountain trails that are essential to Slovakia's tourism industry.
Slovak architect Marianna Markusková from the MUUR studio highlighted the crucial role of building facades in creating first impressions and determining property value. She discussed emerging trends for 2026, explaining that facade design goes beyond simple color choices and represents a significant investment in a home's worth. Markusková addressed common misconceptions, noting that "white is not always clean" and provided guidance on when premium facade technologies justify their cost. The architect emphasized that property impressions form within seconds, with the facade playing the primary role in that initial assessment.