Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

In February 2024, Ukraine marked the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. However, since the revolution in 2014, Ukraine has been fighting a Russia-backed insurgency in the Donbas region. At the start of the hostilities, the young, Slovak reporter Tomaš Forró was covering entirely different conflicts abroad. In 2018, Forró embarked on his first reporting trip to Ukraine. The experiences wer...

Celebrating 20 years since Slovakia joined the European Union with a new series presenting member countries and their relations with the Slovak Republic through human interest stories, music as well as interview with state authorities. Adding to the pilot part is a report including interviews with two former journalists recalling their memories of 1 May, 2024. And a bonus too.

Ben Pascoe talks with author and screenwriter Peter Balko about the recently awarded Slovak movie awards and the state of Slovak cinema today.

In this Monday's show we will talk about a very important day for elementary school students. April 29th marks the first day of entrance exams for secondary schools.

News overview. Government approves law that abolishes and replaces RTVS. Amnesty International criticises Slovak approach to Roma, LGBT people and women's rights. Government wants to cooperate with China. Public service media: Interview with EBU Director Noel Curran. Bari Hochwald, American actress and activist is teaching in Bratislava. Slovak Clowndoctors turn 20.

Martina takes Paťka for a walk in the ancient forest of Pečňa. While recording the report for the Earth Day, they meet volunteers cleaning the right bank of the river Danube. Ivana Mer's song The Earth and the song Mother Earth by N3O Akustika accompany the adventure.

Culture Minister comes with STVR instead of RTVS. Marking the male name Marek in Slovak calendar, we present Marek Madaric, Marek Ormandik, Marek Brezovsky and Marek Hamsik to foreigners. Culture news full of obituaries including one for the late Dusan Grun whose singing is featured in the pick for the music for this show.

This edition of the Slovakia Today programme introduces Gary Edwards, the founder of Cerveny nos Clowndoctors civic association that celebrated 20 years of service in Slovakia.

Ben Pascoe talks arts and community building with American actress, activist and creator of the Global Theatre Project Bari Hochwald

In this Monday show, Patka will talk about the life of infamous first Slovak actress Anicka Jurkovicova.

Headlines of the week. Slovaks have donated more than 1.5 million euros to a fundraiser to buy Ammunition for Ukraine. Coalition parties disagreed on who should become the new parliamentary chair. President Zuzana Čaputová awarded the highest state decoration in Poland. Bark beetle threatens Slovak forests. Slovak music scene. Traditional crafts on decline.

Ben and Martina, however, did not record the report as the weather was really awful. Instead, they sit in the greenery part of the Slovak Radio building talking not only about the newly renovated presidential garden. Chapters on Slovak music follow the theme of a garden too.

Interview with the American conceptual artist not only about her live transmission of life in Slovakia. Invitation to Slovak project at the Biennale Arte 2024, the 60th International Art Exhibition in Venice.

A state of emergency was recently declared for the Brezno district due a severe outbreak of the European bark beetle. To qualify as an emergency, over ten percent of the forest must be under threat. This declaration brings with it an emergency management regime that is meant to save as much of the forest as possible. To better understand the current and historical outbreaks of this native pest and...

Ben Pascoe talks with musicologist, musical journalist, musician and music lover Oliver Rehak to give you an intro to Slovak music today.

Vocational schools ale informing about lack of applicants for craft majors. Careers that were in the past spread throughout the entire state of Slovakia are today considered on a decline. In this show we will talk about the actual state of traditional Slovak crafts. Patrícia Polakovičová talks to Eva Ševčíková (General Manager of ÚĽUV), Juraj Janto (ethnologist from Comenius University) shoemaker...

Headlines of the week. Peter Pellegrini admits he violated the law during the campaign, Transparency International considers his campaign as least transparent in years. Political scientist Samuel Abrahám talks about the election results. Slovakia and Ukraine held a joint government session. RTVS held and international expert debate on public service media. EBU Director General Noel Curran consider...

Patka and Ben discuss the past week as well as Slovakia today, read some letters and play some music for you

EBU Director General Noel Curran talks about the effects the proposed New Act on RTVS might have. Discussing the difference between public and state media, appointment of members of supervisory bodies as well as diminishing political pressure on public media through European Media Freedom Act is RTVS editor Sona Otajovicova.

The 8th of April marks The International Romani Day. In the interviews with our guests – Romani craftsmen from all over Slovakia – we will explore the tradition of smithery and basket-weaving.

Ben Pascoe talks with former member of parliament Marek Maďarič and rector of Bisla liberal arts college Samuel Abrahám about the election results and what they mean for Slovakia today.

In this show, Patrícia Arpášová talks to psychologist Slavomíra Trebuňáková about stress, its symptoms and what can help stressed people. We will provide travelling news and tips for trips around Slovakia.

Sundays are about our listeners. Ben and Patka discuss the week, read some letters and play some music for you.

What was the week like in Slovakia? In the Saturday show, we look back at what was making the news headlines and we revisit the features, interviews and stories from the past week.

Sundays are about our listeners. Ben and Patka discuss Easter traditions in Slovakia, read some letters and play some music for you.