Good evening. Here is the Monday, November 20 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
A Slovak's misleading clichés about her home
In his opinion, James Thomson writes about a Slovak-born US citizen by the name of Barbora Hurd. Recently she has taken a prominent role in her husband Jeff's Republican congressional campaign.
The campaign video portrays a bleak picture of former Czechoslovakia, emphasising communist hardships. The wife says that she fears America could turn into a country that she "personally knows way too well". The thing is that Barbora Hurd was a little girl when communism fell. Most of her life she grew up in an independent and democratic Slovakia.
But she happens to skip the happier moments of her life in Slovakia in the video.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Environment: Bratislava's KOLO reuse centre reopens after fire.
Good news: Read about thefirst light park in Bratislava and a priest who saved a small Slovak school.
Business: Slovak industry faces the decarbonisation challenge.
Language: The EF English Proficiency Index 2023 reveals the global locations with the highest proficiency in English, Slovakia ranking 18th overall.
Bratislava: Bratislava's Petržalka sees another street closure due to new tram track construction, affecting public transport.
Christmas: Žilina is the first Slovak city to ban live carp sales.
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FEATURE STORY FOR THIS WEEK
Survivor of Nazi and Communist persecution emerges as robotics legend
Ružena Bajcsy. (source: ESET Science Award/Linda Kisková Bohušová)
Ružena Bajcsy, a renowned computer scientist, faced adversity from the Holocaust to Communist rule but emerged as a pioneer in her field. Born in 1933 into a Jewish family in Bratislava, she survived the war, spent years in an orphanage, and moved to the U.S.
In the 1960s, she pursued a PhD in machine learning at Stanford, witnessing the Warsaw Pact invasion and choosing to stay in the U.S. Despite initial challenges, her groundbreaking work in active perception and the first 3D computer atlas of the human brain has left an enduring impact on robotics and neuroscience.
At 90, she continues to contribute to innovations in robotics and machine learning, emphasising the power of education in shaping young minds and addressing global challenges.
EVENT FOR THIS AND NEXT WEEK
Slovak Queer Film Festival
See the world through the eyes of those we label as 'different'. (source: FB Filmový festival inakosti)
The Slovak Queer Film Festival, organised by Iniciatíva Inakosť since 2007, promotes LGBT+ awareness and aims to eliminate societal prejudices.
The 14th edition will take place from November 22 to 28.
In other news
The White Crow Awards recognised Tomáš Bálint and Lukáš Hrošovský for their contributions to culture and youth work, facing repercussions for standing up against against extremism and for what is right. Doctor Peter Sabaka received recognition for his courageous efforts as an infectious disease specialist during the Covid-19 pandemic. He faced verbal attacks on social media and offline because he talked about vaccines and Covid-19 risks. Martin Bútora, a sociologist and former diplomat, was honoured for his longstanding contributions to civil society.
Prosecutor Michal Šúrek is seeking a cumulative sentence of 14 years in a low-security facility for former special prosecutor Dušan Kováčik in a second corruption case, where Kováčik is accused of accepting bribes along with fugitive Peter Košč. Košč, facing charges of bribery, is being tried in absentia, and the prosecutor is seeking a minimum 30-month sentence in a low-security facility for him.
A section of the Tatranská Magistrála trail near Hrebienok in the High Tatras is closed due to a recent landslide. Tourists are urged to take a detour marked in yellow, adding approximately 15 minutes to their hike, for safety reasons as rocks fell on the trail. Hikers are advised to respect the closure and not risk their lives, given the ongoing instability of the area. The detour is marked on-site by the Mountain Rescue Service to guide visitors safely around the affected section.
Recent personnel changes and unfulfilled pre-election promises by Smer and its coalition partner Hlas, including a shift in military aid to Ukraine and the 13th pension for retirees, have not significantly impacted their popularity among voters, according to a recent AKO agency poll for TV Joj.
Hlas party registered the domain pelle2024.sk, suggesting a potential campaign site for its leader, Peter Pellegrini, in the 2024 presidential elections. The domain was registered by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok during coalition negotiations with Smer. Pellegrini, denying any agreement on his potential presidential candidacy, later expressed openness to the idea, stating the need for public support before deciding.
Slovak football players celebrate after a 2-1 victory in the qualifying match of the final 10th round of Group J for Euro 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Slovakia in Zenica on Sunday, November 19, 2023. (source: TASR/Martin Baumann)
Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) warns of winter conditions in the mountains, urging visitors to adapt activities to daylight and carry light sources.
Actor Ivan Kozák was assaulted in Pezinok, with the attacker assuming he was gay. The incident occurred after Kozák joked with a friend who put on earrings, and he was shirtless. The assailant followed him outside and kicked him in the head.
Bratislava's Petržalka district has set up a crisis hotline to assist the homeless during winter, offering essentials like sleeping bags, warm clothing, and hot drinks. The hotline operates daily from 8:00 to 18:00. Additionally, a new service provides warm meals. The initiative aims to address the challenges faced by approximately 190 homeless individuals in Petržalka during the winter months.
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
Tuesday promises to be cloudy to overcast, with occasional morning and forenoon fog. Sporadic light rain or drizzle and snow at higher elevations. Daytime temperatures ranging from 6°C to 11°C. (SHMÚ)
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