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Last refreshed: 19/06/2026 15:43 · 74 articles added
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Society

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Society

Slovak Parents Grapple with Social Media's Impact on Children's Body Image in the Age of Weight-Loss Drugs

Slovak parents are increasingly concerned about social media's influence on their children's body image and self-acceptance, particularly as weight-loss treatments become more accessible. A Bratislava mother reports that her 12-year-old daughter, despite having a naturally slim figure, has become preoccupied with appearance after being allowed to use Instagram. The parent attributes this shift to constant exposure to cosmetic company marketing, subliminal advertising, and influencer content on social platforms. The concerns arise during a period when pharmaceutical weight-loss treatments like Ozempic have made achieving slimness easier than ever before, creating new pressures around body image and self-acceptance among young people.

Dennik N
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Society

EU Smoking Rates Decline While New Risk Products Spread Among Youth

Smoking rates across the European Union are declining, according to new data, but health officials are expressing concern about the growing popularity of new tobacco and nicotine products among young people. The trend comes as harmonized EU regulations have improved the functioning of the internal market for tobacco products. While traditional cigarette use continues to drop across member states, alternative products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices are gaining traction particularly among younger demographics, potentially offsetting some of the public health gains from reduced conventional smoking.

SME
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Society

Slovak Police Launch Crackdown on Electric Scooter Riders with Fines Up to Four Figures

Slovak police have launched a targeted enforcement campaign against electric scooter riders, with potential fines reaching into the thousands of euros. The crackdown focuses on violations including riding in pairs and endangering pedestrians on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones. The enforcement action comes as electric scooters have become increasingly popular in Slovak cities, leading to growing safety concerns about improper use of the devices in areas designated for pedestrian traffic.

Korzár
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Society

Canadian Professor Acquitted in Sexual Crime Case in Slovakia

A Canadian professor has been definitively acquitted of sexual crime charges in Slovakia, ending a lengthy legal saga. The case has attracted enough attention that the professor's lawyer is now writing a book about the Scheffel case. The acquittal represents the final resolution of what appears to have been a protracted legal battle involving the academic.

Korzár
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Society

Slovak Municipality Loses Millions and School Project Due to Bungled Tender Process

A Slovak municipality has lost millions in funding and its planned school construction project after a tender process went wrong. Local officials are attributing the failure to mistakes made by an external company that was handling the procurement process. The failed tender has cost the community what was described as a historic investment opportunity, leaving residents without the promised educational facility and the municipality without the substantial funding that had been allocated for the project.

Korzár
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Society

Construction Engineers Chamber Issues Guidelines on Building Vibration Damage Prevention

Slovakia's Chamber of Construction Engineers has issued advisory guidelines regarding building vibrations and structural damage, particularly focusing on preventive measures during the planning stages of construction projects. The recommendations address concerns about strong vibrations that can cause wall cracks and other structural problems in nearby buildings. The chamber emphasized the importance of being vigilant even during the preliminary planning phases of construction work, before actual building begins. The guidelines aim to help property owners and construction professionals identify potential risks and take appropriate precautionary measures to prevent damage to existing structures from construction-related vibrations.

Korzár
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Society

Construction Vibrations Causing Wall Cracks, Engineers Warn Property Owners to Take Precautions

Slovakia's Chamber of Construction Engineers is advising property owners to take preventive measures against structural damage from construction vibrations even before building projects begin in their neighborhoods. The professional body issued guidance after reports of strong vibrations and wall cracks affecting nearby buildings during construction work. The chamber recommends property owners document the condition of their buildings before construction starts and remain vigilant throughout the building process to protect against potential damage from heavy machinery and construction activities.

Korzár
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Society

Health Minister Reduces Crisis Managers in Hospitals, Says Will Not Pay Them for Nothing

Slovak Health Minister Kamil Šaško is cutting the number of crisis managers working in the country's hospitals, stating he refuses to pay them for doing nothing. Slovakia currently employs 89 crisis managers across its hospital network. The move represents Šaško's effort to reduce what he views as unnecessary spending on administrative positions within the healthcare system. Crisis managers were typically appointed to oversee hospital operations during financial or operational difficulties, but the minister appears to question their current effectiveness and value.

SME
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Society

Doctor Returns to Eastern Slovak Town Where Apartments Cost 80,000 Euros But Remain Unaffordable for Locals

A surgeon named Šimon has returned to work in his hometown of Svidník, a town in eastern Slovakia near the Polish border. While apartments in the area can be purchased for around 80,000 euros, these prices remain prohibitively expensive for local residents given the region's lower average incomes. The case highlights the ongoing challenge of housing affordability in Slovakia's smaller towns, where even relatively modest property prices by national standards can be out of reach for local workers. Eastern Slovakia has historically faced economic challenges and lower wages compared to the western regions of the country, making homeownership difficult even when absolute prices appear reasonable.

SME
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Society

Danone Recalls Baby Formula from Slovak Market Due to Toxin Contamination

French food giant Danone has withdrawn infant formula from the Slovak market after detecting the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting, fatigue, and dehydration in babies. The recall affects baby food products distributed in Slovakia, marking a significant food safety concern for parents and caregivers. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced by certain bacteria that can survive standard food processing temperatures, making contaminated products particularly dangerous for infants whose immune systems are still developing.

SME
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Society

Bardejov Secondary School to Undergo Major Renovation Worth 2.4 Million Euros

A secondary school in Bardejov will undergo a comprehensive renovation project valued at 2.4 million euros. The project includes reconstruction of school buildings and upgrading of classroom equipment. Bardejov is a historic town in northeastern Slovakia near the Polish border, and the investment represents a significant modernization effort for educational infrastructure in the region.

Korzár
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Society

Slovak Statistical Office Analyzes Traditional Easter Food Consumption Patterns

The Slovak Statistical Office has examined food consumption patterns during Easter holidays, revealing distinct eating habits associated with the Christian tradition of Lent followed by celebratory feasting. The data shows that on Maundy Thursday, Slovaks significantly increase their consumption of spinach and salad, reflecting traditional dietary practices during Holy Week. The study tracked products specifically associated with the Easter celebration, highlighting how religious customs continue to influence modern consumer behavior during Slovakia's most important Christian holiday period.

SME
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Society

Košice Archbishop Offers Resignation to Pope, Calls for Prayers for Successor

Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice has submitted his resignation to Pope Francis, marking the end of his tenure leading the Catholic archdiocese in eastern Slovakia. The archbishop has called on the faithful to pray for his successor, with the transition potentially taking place within this year. The Košice archdiocese is one of Slovakia's major Catholic administrative regions, serving hundreds of thousands of believers in the eastern part of the country where the Catholic Church maintains significant influence in social and cultural life.

Korzár
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Society

Bus driver charged in fatal accident that killed three young girls in eastern Slovakia

Police have filed charges against a bus driver involved in a fatal traffic accident in Spišské Podhradie, a town in eastern Slovakia's Spiš region. Three young girls died in the crash. The incident occurred in the historic town, which is located near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Spiš Castle, one of Slovakia's most significant medieval fortifications. Police have not released additional details about the circumstances of the accident or the specific charges filed against the driver.

Korzár
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Society

Slovak man faces fraud charges after falling victim to investment scam

A Slovak man who initially fell victim to an investment fraud scheme now faces criminal charges for participating in the scam. The man believed false promises about a profitable investment opportunity, but authorities have determined he subsequently became involved in perpetuating the fraudulent scheme. The case highlights how victims of financial scams can sometimes become unwitting participants in the criminal activity, leading to their own prosecution under Slovak law.

Korzár
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Society

Slovak Firefighters Appeal for Proper Emergency Vehicle Corridors

Slovak firefighters are urging drivers to properly create emergency vehicle corridors on roads to allow rescue services to reach accident scenes quickly. The fire service emphasized that correctly formed corridors between lanes of traffic can be crucial in saving lives during emergency responses. The appeal comes as part of ongoing efforts to improve emergency response times and public safety awareness across Slovakia's road network.

TASR/Teraz
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Society

Scammers Create Fake Government Websites to Steal Personal Data in Slovakia

Fraudsters are creating fake websites that mimic official Slovak government services in an attempt to steal personal information from citizens. The scammers aim to collect users' personal data, obtain identity verification through SMS messages, or coerce victims into making payments. Authorities are warning the public not to be deceived by these fraudulent sites, which pose as legitimate state services to gain users' trust and extract sensitive information.

TASR/Teraz
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Society

Slovak Educators Question Need for Traditional Learning in Age of ChatGPT

Slovak educators and researchers are grappling with fundamental questions about the future of education as artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT become increasingly prevalent. The debate centers on whether traditional learning methods remain necessary when AI can provide instant answers and assistance. However, experts warn that artificial intelligence systems may overlook critical connections and nuances that are not explicitly present in their training data, potentially leading to incomplete or flawed analysis. This limitation highlights the continued importance of human critical thinking skills and comprehensive education, even as AI tools become more sophisticated and widely adopted in academic and professional settings.

SME
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Society

Slovak cinemas host autism-friendly film screenings with adapted environment

Slovak cinemas organized special film screenings adapted for children with autism spectrum disorders. The theaters were exclusively reserved for this activity during the events, with free admission provided for participating families. The screenings were designed to create a more accessible cinema environment for children with autism, who often face challenges in traditional movie theater settings due to sensory sensitivities.

TASR/Teraz
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Society

Autism Expert: It's Not a Disease, It's a Way of Being

April 2 marks World Autism Awareness Day, with experts emphasizing a shift in understanding autism spectrum conditions. Rather than viewing autism as a disease requiring treatment, specialists advocate for recognizing it as a different way of experiencing and interacting with the world. This perspective change reflects broader efforts to reduce stigma and promote acceptance of neurological diversity in society.

SME
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