Slovakia Spectator
Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:02:00 +0100Coronavirus in Slovakia: 4,913 new cases confirmed (graphs)
The total number of PCR-confirmed cases has exceeded 774,800.
Sun, 12 Dec 2021 09:15:00 +0100Covered in fir bark, a chapel in central Slovakia is a rare thing
Holy Mass is held in the 1910 chapel once a year.
Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:06:32 +0100First Omicron cases confirmed in Slovakia
All three infected people came from risky countries.
Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:20:00 +0100Fly above the Malá Fatra region sitting on your sofa
Krivánska Malá Fatra is one of the most popular hiking areas in Slovakia.
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:06:16 +0100News digest: Slovaks will pay more for Christmas than last year
Making your own beeswax candles, Jasná and Štrbské Pleso open for the winter season, and the vaccination of children will start later in December.
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:55:02 +0100Bratislava wants to revive the city’s vineyards
Those interested can enrol in a competition for the long-term lease of the city’s abandoned vineyards.
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:43:50 +0100Slovaks will pay more for Christmas; they do not plan to save up
Food, computers and bikes are more expensive while the prices of mobile phones and sports equipment are lower than last year.
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:46:28 +0100Slovakia betting on hydrogen
The government has adopted a national strategy and is designing its action plan to cover many walks of life.
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:28:29 +0100Weekend: Bethlehem light coming to Slovakia
If you are not into cross-country skiing, make beeswax candles or listen to poetry.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:29:37 +0100Christmas shopping and church services on for the vaccinated and recovered (Q&A)
The Slovak Spectator addressed some practical questions about the measures coming into force before Christmas, mostly concerning those vaccinated and recently recovered from Covid.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 17:52:40 +0100News digest: Ban on family visits during Christmas holidays to be reconsidered
Vaccinated seniors will be entitled to a financial bonus. The Slovak president does not plan to attend the Olympics in Beijing.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 17:36:52 +0100Train schedule changes on December 12. Košice should be better connected to Budapest
There will be no more direct trains on the Bratislava – Zvolen – Košice route.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 17:23:22 +0100Parliament approves financial reward for vaccinated seniors. Are you entitled?
Seniors who were vaccinated in the first half of 2021 and do not plan to get a booster are out of the scheme.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:51:12 +0100Making your own beeswax candles is easier than you think
Beeswax candles not only perfume the household but also purify the air.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:37:20 +0100Elegant metalhead from Iran: People forget freedom when they moan about life in Slovakia
As a teenager, Rana Hashemi was arrested for going to a concert. While sitting in a cell, she decided to leave Iran.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 11:46:48 +0100Strečno Castle is closed, but conservators have their hands full
Parts of the castle near Žilina under restoration.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 11:43:42 +0100State quarantine interferes with personal freedom, the court decided
The Constitutional Court did not accept the complaints of the ombudswoman concerning the bill for state quarantine.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 11:36:03 +0100Postal service operator changes its delivery system due to national emergency
The changes concern the delivery of registered mail and the number of customers at post offices.
Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:39:28 +0100She did not speak a word of English when she moved to New York. Now she teaches German to Americans
Eva Malíková left behind a successful business in Slovakia and started a new life in the US.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 18:17:53 +0100News digest: Slovak government eases measures but closes schools
First wave of easing the measures starts on Friday. President Čaputová listed among 100 most powerful women. Districts in western and central Slovakia should prepare for heavy snowfall.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:16:00 +0100Christmas with curfew, family visits will not be an exception
Stricter measures will come back if hospitalisations reach a critical level.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:05:12 +0100The largest disinformation website issued a printed magazine and sent it to schools
Many of them threw it away or sent it back.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0100Feast on the best roasted goose in all of Slovakia
Slovenský Grob’s goose-roasting tradition is a result of the natural fertility of the land.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:56:03 +0100Eat, dance and drink. Slovakia's intangible heritage has expanded
Six new things were inscribed in the intangible cultural heritage list in early December.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:52:05 +0100Košice plans to build a new city centre. A similar plan took half a century in Scotland
New centre should be located near railway station.
Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:39:11 +0100Pandemic dominated Google searches in Slovakia in 2021
In the category of foreign personalities, Slovaks searched Lady Gaga the most.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:36:21 +0100News digest: Coalition bargains on closed schools for open shops
Antibodies testing is not an indicator to decide whether to vaccinate against Covid. More than 3,500 Covid patients in hospitals.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:26:24 +0100Slovakia faces infringement for a directive on the use of energy from renewable sources
The law will change in response, setting a minimum greenhouse gas savings threshold for biofuels.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 17:21:31 +0100Coalition agrees on 300-euro bonuses as vax motivation
Last attempt for positive motivation, says Matovič. Health Ministry will look into vaccine mandate possibility.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:02:22 +0100Anti-Covid measures for Christmas announced in Slovakia
Lockdown continues in another form, shops will open, schools will close earlier than expected.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:00:07 +0100Booster or bust: Foreigners still face vaccine barriers in Slovakia
How to have your Covid vaccine doses received abroad recognised in Slovakia.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:58:43 +0100Bratislava lights up its Christmas trees, other big cities follow suit
Where can you find the tallest Christmas tree?
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:47:44 +0100Pandemic strengthened far right in Europe, extremists most active on Facebook in Slovakia too
ĽSNS linked the pandemic to anti-migration sentiments.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:35:22 +0100Slovakia lacks the compensation mechanism for side effects of Covid vaccines
The Health Ministry has one proposal ready but wants to discuss it.
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 09:43:55 +0100Is Slovakia’s reputation a reflection of our own individual behaviour?
Just like in every other country, an average Slovak citizen does not have the means or power to change the dysfunctionality of the system.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 18:38:26 +0100News digest: Ministry comes up with a plan to ease measures
Coalition to discuss longer lockdown. Slovakia lags behind in administering booster shots. Nearly half of Slovaks perceive the tax and levy reform negatively.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:42:35 +0100Bratislava will have two new direct flights starting next summer
The routes to Sofia and Zagreb will be operated by Ryanair.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:38:48 +0100Ministry proposes to start reopening Slovakia for the vaccinated and recovered shortly before Christmas
The Health Ministry came up with three phases, one of which involves a longer lockdown.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:38:00 +0100PM’s calls for “respect” are ignored by his own colleagues
Finance minister proposes massive handout without consulting PM.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:22:01 +0100This Slovak wears her folk costume even in New York City
Katarína Nováková Grubb made a career in the US. She remembers 2020 fondly despite the pandemic.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:39:47 +0100The Christmas tram has arrived to Bratislava along with the Sleigh Bus
Festive people are used to the tram, but the bus is a novelty.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:35:07 +0100PM insists that compulsory vaccination for 60+ is the way out of the pandemic
Minister negotiating within the coalition, lack of agreement on this topic.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:29:52 +0100Vaccination of children could be available in Slovakia earlier than originally thought
The country still awaits the first children's vaccines.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:25:55 +0100Citizenship amendment postponed due to new Hungarian law
The amendment will be discussed in the second reading in parliament in February 2022 at the soonest.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:21:16 +0100Fastest InterCity trains return to the tracks
The fastest train connects Bratislava and Košice in four hours and 43 minutes.
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:02:06 +0100Automotive industry faces the biggest transformation in its history
Slovakia remains the world’s biggest car manufacturer per 1000 inhabitants.
Sun, 05 Dec 2021 12:03:05 +0100Experts advising the health minister propose another week of lockdown and one new measure
The coronavirus situation in Slovakia has not improved.