Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

A look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI.

Celebrating the women’s fight for equality and liberation, we speak with acclaimed director Yvonne Vavrová about her experience as a female filmmaker starting out in the 1980s and about the challenges her students face today in the 2020s. Slovak film producer Matej Sotník explains why he joined the co-production of If Pigeons Turned to Gold, which has just won the Best Documentary Award at Berlina...

Slovakia is considering a potential ban on social media use for children under the age of 15, citing concerns about mental health and online safety. The proposal has sparked debate about whether stricter regulation can truly protect young people in the digital age or whether education and smarter platform rules would be more effective than prohibition. In this programme, we explore the risks child...

On February 15th, Trenčín concluded its three-day European Capital of Culture opening ceremony — a milestone moment that transformed this historic Slovak city into a vibrant stage for contemporary and folk art, performance, and community celebration. Against the dramatic backdrop of Trenčín Castle, centuries of history met bold artistic vision, as public squares filled with light installations, mu...

Ben Pascoe reports from the 30th Tatra Banka Foundation Art Awards. Interviews with organizers, winners and jury members about the state of culture in Slovakia today.

The Banskobystrická latka is one of Slovakia’s true sporting highlights — a prestigious indoor high jump meeting with Silver status on the World Athletics Indoor Tour, the highest ranking available for events of its kind anywhere in the world. Last week, its 32nd edition filled the Štiavničky indoor arena beneath the iconic Urpín hill to capacity, once again delivering world-class performances and...

In 2026, Slovakia’s public broadcaster commemorates two major milestones: 100 years since the launch of radio broadcasting and 70 years since the start of television broadcasting in the territory of today’s Slovak Republic. To mark these anniversaries, RSI presents the special series 100 Years on the Air. The first episode, dedicated to the early days of radio broadcasting in Slovakia, was prepare...

We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

Ambassadors of European countries gathered at Lumiere Cinema in Bratislava to pay tribute to the victims of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The event, co-hosted by Her Excellency the Swedish Ambassador, Ms Annika Ben David, and His Excellency the Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia, Mr Myroslav Kastran, featured a screening of the documentary Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukraini...

In honor of the International Human Solidarity Day, which was declared by the UN in 2005, it falls annually on December 20. Thursday's program will also be held in this spirit, during which Patrícia Polakovičová will talk to the organizations Človek v ohrozeníi, SlovakAid, Vagus and Depaul and to sociologist Zuzana Kusá from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, who is an expert on solidarity and cohesi...

In this episode, we focus on two unique natural sites and the efforts to protect and restore them. First, we visit the Šúr nature reserve, located near Bratislava. Despite its international ecological value, it remains little-known to the public. Conservationists are now working to revive this rare wetland forest—using traditional methods like grazing cattle. Then, we turn our attention to the Dan...

Ben Pascoe takes a look back at the Winter Olympics to see how the Slovak team fared. He talks with journlalists Palo Tehlar, Martin Kaigl, Stefan Bugan and Stanislav Ščepán abouts the successes and disappointments from Milan 2026.

Why do people give? What does generosity really mean, and what shapes charitable behavior in Slovakia compared to other countries? To explore these questions, we speak with experimental and behavioral economist Matej Lorko. We discuss what behavioral economics reveals about human decision-making, how economists study altruism in laboratory settings, and whether charitable giving is driven more by...

In the new episode of Window to the World, we visit Klátova Nová Ves and the French town of Vignoles. We also share greetings from our dear listeners and round things off with a lively selection of Slovak tunes by bands that don’t take themselves too seriously — a reminder that a touch of humour and an upbeat rhythm can brighten any day.

We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

As part of the RADIOO:100 years of radio broadcasting in Slovakia, we present once again a programme originally aired on RSI at the beginning of March 2018. Our former colleague, Anca Monica Dragu, dedicated the entire show to the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, and the aftermath of their deaths. They were killed in their home on 21 February 2018.

Slovakia consistently ranks among countries with high levels of belief in conspiracy theories. But what drives this phenomenon? In this episode, we look beyond misinformation and focus on feelings. Based on new research conducted by a team of researchers from the Institute of Experimental Psychology of the Center for Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences published in...

In this episode, we explore what drives ordinary people to step forward in extraordinary times. Social psychologist Barbara Lášticová from the Slovak Academy of Science joins us to discuss new research into the motivations of volunteers who helped refugees following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Drawing on a large study conducted across Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland, the conversation looks a...

Ben Pascoe talks with pianist and composer Peter Breiner about the state of Slovakia today. They discuss what is going right here, the challenges facing Slovakia today and what needs to be done to improve Slovakia today.

What does it really mean to shape European policy? From 5–8 February 2026, students in Košice experienced it firsthand. Model European Union brought together 60 high school students from across Slovakia for an immersive, English-language simulation of EU decision-making. Stepping into the roles of Members of the European Parliament, EU Commissioners, and national representatives, they debated pres...

Sundays on RSI, music, greetings and good feelings.

RSI takes a look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI

UNESCO has declared 13 February World Radio Day. In 2026, the focus is on the challenge artificial intelligence poses to radio. Contributing to this year’s UNESCO-themed World Radio Day on behalf of Radio Slovakia International is our colleague Jozef Bohunický.

On behalf of the Singles Awareness Day that falls anually on February 15, we are going to talk about the phenomenon of loneliness in Slovakia. Project Disconnect, implemented at the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University aims to comprehensively explore loneliness and social isolation in Slovakia in an interdisciplinary manner. In this show, Patrícia Polakovičová talked to Jakub Januška, a research...

Today, we venture beyond Earth and into the future of food as we explore space agriculture—growing crops in space to support long-term human missions. Joining us to unpack this topic are Professor Nigel Mason and Dr. Veronika Medvecká. In the second half of the program, we shift focus back to Earth. We sit down with Lucia Kocáková from Knižnica pre mládež mesta Košice to talk about the evolving ro...