Dávka - Your daily dose of Slovak news
♥ Support DávkaNewsletter
Last refreshed: 20/06/2026 10:38 · 48 articles added
Stories are refreshed at 05:30, 10:30, 15:30, and 21:30 UTC.

Society

View all2221 stories
Society

Patient Receives Walking Aid After Extended Administrative Battle

A Slovak senior citizen finally received a prescribed walking aid after a lengthy bureaucratic process that began in early December when she was discharged from hospital. The patient's doctor prescribed the mobility device and provided contact information to facilitate insurance coverage, but the acquisition process became protracted. The case highlights ongoing challenges in Slovakia's healthcare system regarding the provision of medical aids to patients with mobility issues. The walking aid was ultimately delivered to the elderly patient who had difficulty walking, though the administrative hurdles extended the timeline significantly beyond the initial prescription date.

Dennik N
|
Society

Slovak Court Criticizes Police After Teenage Driver Leads Chase Through Three Towns

A Slovak court has criticized police procedures following an incident in which a teenage driver without a license led officers on a chase through three municipalities, behaving like a "road pirate" according to authorities. The court's criticism suggests concerns about how law enforcement handled the pursuit, though specific details of the judicial rebuke were not immediately available. The case highlights ongoing issues with underage driving and police response protocols in traffic enforcement situations.

Korzár
|
Society

Denník N Publishes Guide on Dealing with Passive Aggressive Behavior

Denník N published an article offering advice on how to handle manipulative passive aggressive behavior in interpersonal relationships. The piece uses a dialogue example about vacation planning to illustrate common passive aggressive tactics, including ironic comments, ignoring requests, and unwillingness to address problems directly. The article appears to be part of the newspaper's lifestyle or self-help content, providing readers with strategies for recognizing and responding to passive aggressive communication patterns in personal and professional settings.

Dennik N
|
Society

Slovak Commentary Sparks Debate Over Celebrity Political Involvement

A commentary piece in Slovak media has reignited discussion about the role of entertainers in political discourse, referencing prominent figures including American actress Meryl Streep and Slovak personalities. The opinion piece, written by Beata Balogová, appears to argue that actors should focus on entertainment rather than engaging in political commentary. The discussion touches on both international and domestic figures, including Slovak actors and cultural minister Martina Šimkovičová, reflecting broader tensions about the intersection of entertainment and politics in Slovakia's current political climate.

SME
|
Society

Slovak court clears 15-year-old driver after police procedural violations

A Slovak court has acquitted a 15-year-old who was caught driving without a license after judges found that police violated legal procedures during the traffic stop. The officers failed to contact the minor's parents during the detention, among other legal breaches identified by the court. Under Slovak law, minors must have a legal guardian present during police proceedings, and the failure to follow proper protocols led to the dismissal of charges against the teenager.

Korzár
|
Society

Police in Eastern Slovakia Report Multiple Fraud Cases

Police in the Košice region of eastern Slovakia are investigating several fraud cases targeting residents. In one incident, a scammer obtained personal information from a victim and used the stolen data to open a bank account under the victim's name. The Košice region, Slovakia's second-largest administrative area covering the eastern part of the country, has seen an uptick in such fraudulent activities according to local law enforcement authorities.

TASR/Teraz
|
Society

Slovak Public Broadcaster Plans Mass Layoffs as Tensions Rise Among Staff

Sixty employees of Slovakia's public television and radio broadcaster (STVR) are awaiting official termination notices that management has announced but not yet delivered. The layoffs are expected to begin next Tuesday, according to sources, with management citing consolidation needs as justification. General Director Martina Flašíková previously stated the dismissals would primarily affect positions deemed "redundant," though the actual scope appears broader. The planned terminations have drawn criticism from journalists, historians, and former dissidents who support the affected staff members. Flašíková has attempted to calm employee concerns through internal emails as tensions mount within the organization. STVR serves as Slovakia's main public service broadcaster, providing television and radio programming across the country. The mass layoffs come amid broader debates over media independence and the role of public broadcasting in Slovakia.

Dennik N
|
Society

Research Project Examines Single-Parent Households in Slovakia

Researchers have presented findings on the number of single-parent households living in Slovakia as part of an ongoing academic study. The results were unveiled within the research project "Resilience, Agency and Well-being of Single-Parent Families in Slovakia," which is currently at the halfway point of its implementation. The project appears to be examining the living conditions and circumstances of single-parent families across the country, though specific numbers or detailed findings were not disclosed in the initial presentation.

TASR/Teraz
|
Society

Slovak Author Discusses Mental Health Stigma and Family Alcoholism

Slovak author Barbora Grič has spoken about the mental health stigma prevalent among older generations in Slovakia, describing how seeking psychiatric help is viewed as taboo. Grič shared personal experiences about her father's struggle with alcoholism, explaining that what began as social drinking escalated into a serious addiction that ultimately claimed his life. She emphasized how the older generation in Slovakia treats psychiatry as something that would effectively end one's life, reflecting broader societal attitudes toward mental health treatment. The author's candid discussion highlights ongoing challenges in addressing both addiction and mental health issues in Slovak society.

Aktuality
|
Society

Police warn of new fraud cases as victims lose money to scammers

Slovak police have reported additional cases of fraud where victims lost money after falling for various scams. The police are advising the public on how to identify fraudulent schemes and what steps to take if they become targets of such criminal activities. The warning comes as authorities continue to see new incidents of people being deceived by scammers using different methods to steal money from unsuspecting citizens.

Korzár
|
Society

Analysis of 22,000 Disinformation Texts Reveals Authors Behind Lucrative Online Operations

A comprehensive analysis of 22,000 texts from Slovakia's disinformation ecosystem has identified the authors generating hundreds of thousands of euros in revenue from spreading false information online. The investigation examined the structure and financial operations of disinformation networks that have proliferated in Slovak media spaces. The research reveals these operations lack transparency in their funding sources and organizational structures, making it difficult to trace accountability for misleading content. The analysis provides insight into how disinformation has become a profitable business model, with certain authors and networks generating substantial income through advertising revenue and other monetization methods tied to false or misleading content distribution.

SME
|
Society

24 Experts Resign from Professional Commissions at Slovak Public Health Authority

Twenty-four specialists have resigned from professional commissions at Slovakia's Public Health Authority (FPU), citing what they describe as destructive interference in their work. The departing experts issued a joint statement explaining their decision to leave the health authority's advisory bodies. The Public Health Authority serves as the country's main institution for monitoring public health, disease prevention, and providing expert guidance on health policy matters. The mass resignation of nearly two dozen specialists raises questions about the current management and direction of the health authority's professional advisory structure.

SME
|
Society

Health Insurer Sponsors Menstrual Products for Over 4,700 Slovak Girls

Union zdravotná poisťovňa, one of Slovakia's health insurance companies, is providing menstrual products to more than 4,700 girls across the country. The initiative addresses period poverty, a significant issue in Slovakia where menstruation represents not just a natural part of growing up but also a financial burden for thousands of girls and their families. The program highlights the economic challenges many Slovak families face in affording basic hygiene products, potentially affecting girls' school attendance and overall well-being during their menstrual cycles.

Aktuality
|
Society

Prešov Region Restores Signage on Hundreds of Kilometers of Cycling Routes

Authorities in the Prešov Region have completed the restoration of signage along hundreds of kilometers of cycling routes as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements. The project aims to enhance the region's cycling network by providing clearer navigation for cyclists using the established trail system. The Prešov Region, located in eastern Slovakia, has been working to develop its cycling infrastructure to promote tourism and recreational activities in the area.

Korzár
|
Society

Education Ministry Error Leaves Thousands of Students Missing Two Questions During Testing

Slovakia's Ministry of Education, led by Minister Tomáš Drucker, made an error during student testing that affected thousands of pupils who were missing two questions from their examinations. The mistake was discovered during the testing process, highlighting problems in the ministry's administration of standardized assessments. The Education Ministry oversees Slovakia's public school system and is responsible for conducting nationwide student evaluations and examinations.

Korzár
|
Society

Slovak Artist Lived in Abandoned Polish Villa, Used Cemetery Water for Washing

A Slovak artist named Peter has returned to live with his mother in Senica after an unconventional period residing in a destroyed villa in Poland. During his stay in the abandoned Polish property, he converted part of the building into an art studio and was forced to use water from a nearby cemetery for washing due to the lack of running water. The artist, who previously traveled the world by hitchhiking, has now settled back in his hometown of Senica in western Slovakia.

SME
|
Society

Education Expert Criticizes Fairness of Bratislava Gymnasium Entrance Procedures

An education commentator has criticized the entrance examination system for gymnasiums in Bratislava, arguing that the admission interviews are not conducted fairly. The critique comes during an election year, when educational policy discussions often gain heightened political attention. Gymnasiums in Slovakia serve as specialized secondary schools that prepare students for university entrance, making admission to these institutions highly competitive, particularly in the capital city where demand typically exceeds available places.

Dennik N
|
Society

Bulgarian Filmmaker Documents Harsh Working Conditions in EU Textile Factories

Award-winning Bulgarian director Stefan Komandarev has created a documentary film titled "Made in EU" that exposes inhumane working conditions in Bulgarian textile factories, which he says are worse than those in Bangladesh. The film follows seamstress Iva Doneva, who works in a textile factory in a small Bulgarian town and endures 36-hour work shifts. When Doneva watched the completed film, she told the director it seemed like "a weak version of reality" compared to what workers actually experience. The documentary highlights the exploitation of workers in Bulgaria's textile industry, which produces clothing for international brands while operating under conditions that contradict European Union labor standards. Komandarev admitted he could not have imagined the extent of the harsh working conditions, including the marathon shifts that women are forced to work in these facilities.

Dennik N
|
Society

Former STVR Executive Claims 'Normalization' Underway at Slovak Public Broadcaster

Lucia Štasselová, a former executive at Slovak Television and Radio (STVR), has accused the public broadcaster of undergoing a process of "normalization" under its current leadership. Štasselová characterized the silence of STVR employees as "alarming" amid what she described as ongoing changes at the institution. The broadcaster is currently headed by Martina Flašíková, who operates under the oversight of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. The term "normalization" carries particular historical weight in Slovakia, referring to the Soviet-era suppression of dissent and media freedom following the 1968 Prague Spring invasion.

Aktuality
|
Society

Slovak State Hospitals Face Debt Crisis of Over One Billion Euros

Slovak state-owned hospitals are carrying debt exceeding one billion euros, creating a significant financial crisis in the country's healthcare system. The mounting debt burden threatens the operational capacity of public medical facilities across Slovakia. The government is now facing pressure to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the financial crisis affecting state hospitals, which form the backbone of Slovakia's public healthcare system. This debt crisis comes at a time when the healthcare sector is already strained by ongoing challenges in funding and infrastructure maintenance.

SME
|