Good evening. Here is the Friday, June 13 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Slovakia celebrates its growing community of lifesaving blood donors
Blood donors on the first day of this year's Student Drop of Blood campaign. (source: TASR)
Slovakia has seen a steady rise in the number of blood donors for the fifth year in a row, thanks to improved public awareness, a user-friendly donor app and more engaging social media communication, according to the National Transfusion Service (NTS).
Between 2018 and 2023, the number of people willing to donate blood increased by more than 31,000 – roughly the population of a medium-sized district town.
The latest figures, released this week by the National Health Information Centre (NCZI), show that nearly 302,000 people gave blood in 2023, the most recent year for which full figures are available. That’s still below the 2017 peak of 324,000, but there has been a strong recovery in numbers following a sharp drop during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite this positive trend, demand for blood, especially with a negative Rh factor remains high. Only about 15 percent of Slovaks have Rh-negative blood, making it particularly valuable in medical emergencies, as these individuals can only receive Rh-negative blood.
Who donates most, and where?
Men continue to donate more frequently than women. First-time donors have also been on the rise, increasing from just over 18,000 in 2018 to nearly 23,000 in 2023.
Geographically, people in western Slovakia, and specifically Žilina and Bratislava Regions, recorded the highest donor activity.
Although many are driven by a sense of responsibility and altruism, squeamishness can still deter some people. “We meet donors who are uneasy around needles or blood,” said NTS spokesperson Martina Frigová. “Yet they return because they believe in helping others.” Medical staff help to ease donors' fears with friendly conversation and advice – a favourite tactic is to not look at the needle or the blood bag.
Can you donate?
Healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 are eligible to donate blood – regular donors can continue up to the age of 65. However, there are some restrictions:
You must not have been sick or have taken antibiotics in the two weeks preceding your donation
You should not have a blood clotting disorder, hepatitis, syphilis or HIV
Men can donate every 3 months, women every 4 months
Donating blood takes less than an hour and could save a life. If you’re healthy and eligible, it’s one of the simplest ways to make a meaningful impact in Slovakia.
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Business: Discover how major Slovak companies are tackling taboo topics, cyberbullying and screen addiction through powerful campaigns recognised by a new category in the Via Bona Slovakia awards.
Animal horrors: Slovak authorities have uncovered shocking scenes of animal cruelty – from starving horses left to die, to over 850 dogs found crammed into illegal breeding mills – in the country's largest raid to date.
Good news: Bratislava Zoo gets a makeover thanks to volunteers, hundreds of rose varieties are in full bloom at Zvolen's arboretum, and a new wooden rainbow is shining in Slovenský Raj: here is our latest batch of feel-good stories – plus the meme of the week – to brighten your day!
Dark tourism: Discover Slovakia’s hidden, and sometimes tragic, side through dark tourism – explore haunting sites of tragedy, history and memory that reveal a deeper story beyond the usual travel trails.
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FEATURE STORY
Nanotechnology in Slovakia breaks new barriers
Materials scientist Milan Sýkora (source: ESET/Linda Kisková Bohušová)
What do ancient stained-glass windows and cutting-edge cancer imaging have in common? Material chemist Milan Sýkora explains how nanotechnology – once used unwittingly by mediaeval artisans – is now being harnessed in Slovakia to develop next-generation medical and solar technology. After 26 years working in top US labs, Sýkora returned to Slovakia to build a team and file patents – but not without some challenges. Read his fascinating story here, along with those of other Slovak scientists.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
How about a weekend filled with the enchanting sound of orchestras and choirs?
Slovak Philharmonic Concert Hall (source: Tamara Zinchenko)
Experience the Bratislava Festival for Choirs and Orchestras, where ensembles from Estonia, Bulgaria, South Korea, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Slovakia come together to showcase their musical talents. Voices and instruments from around the world will fill some of Bratislava’s most beautiful venues. Read on for more tips about events for foreigners in the capital.
IN OTHER NEWS
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Slovak courts had valid reasons to extend the pre-trial detention of a Dutch citizen accused of drug trafficking in Slovakia. The court found that the detention was not excessively long, considering the suspect’s lack of permanent residence in Slovakia or the Netherlands, his international contacts, and the organised nature of the drug smuggling operation through Slovakia to other countries. Concerns over judicial impartiality and presumption of innocence were dismissed, with the court accepting Slovakia’s arguments that no bias was evident. The detainee was held in Slovak custody for over two years following his extradition from the Netherlands in October 2020. (Sme, TASR)
The Slovak Information Service (SIS), the country's main intelligence agency, is intensifying cooperation with domestic security agencies and foreign partners amid Israel’s renewed military strikes on Iran. SIS spokeswoman Zuzana Morávková said measures include increased monitoring and protection of vulnerable communities and institutions in Slovakia, as well as heightened cybersecurity defences to safeguard critical infrastructure. The SIS is urging Slovak citizens to exercise caution when travelling to the Middle East, to avoid large gatherings and conflict zones, and to follow local security advice if already in the region. (TASR)
The recent Testovanie 9 results confirm that social background significantly impacts students’ performance, said Education Minister Tomáš Drucker. Over 49,000 ninth graders took part, scoring an average of 57.4 percent in maths and 60 percent in Slovak language. Students from Bratislava and Košice performed best, while those in Medzilaborce, Gelnica, Rimavská Sobota, Trebišov and Kežmarok scored lowest – reflecting those areas' higher shares of socially disadvantaged pupils. At secondary schools, average success was higher: 74 percent in maths and 74.4 percent in Slovak, with grammar schools performing best. The testing involved 1,653 schools and included students with special educational needs. Most schools taught in Slovak, with some also offering tuition in Hungarian, Ukrainian and other languages. (TASR)
Clients of three Slovak banks should expect service outages this weekend due to technical maintenance. Slovenská Sporiteľňa systems will be down on Saturday, June 14, from 04:00 to 21:30, affecting mobile withdrawals, deposit machines, account openings, mToken, payment notifications, and George internet banking. Most online and mobile services will be unavailable until noon. ČSOB will limit services including Moja ČSOB and SmartBanking from midnight tonight until 11:30 on Saturday. mBank will have a technical outage on Sunday, June 15, from 02:30 to 11:00, affecting internet banking, mobile app, SEPA payments, instant payments, SMS, and customer support. Users may need to refresh their browser after the outage. (TVnoviny.sk)
In April, the accommodation sector topped wage growth rankings, with nominal wages rising by 10.2 percent and real wages by 6.3 percent. This growth was prompted by a reduction on VAT applied to accommodation, and a shortage of quality labour. Unemployment has reached a historical low, but wage growth may be affected by fiscal consolidation measures and a potential rise in unemployment in the coming months. The average nominal wage growth for this year is expected to reach 5.5 percent. (Hospodárske Noviny)
Slovakia's AI efforts are being supported by a new initiative, InnovAIte Slovakia, that has been running since April 2025 and will continue to September 2027, funded by Slovakia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Led by Gratex International, it brings together top universities and tech companies from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. The project aims to develop AI solutions to improve building energy efficiency, traffic safety, software automation and insurance processes. It will deliver working prototypes for real-world use. Besides tech innovation, it focuses on AI education, talent development, startup support and ethical, sustainable AI practices. With a total budget of €17.86 million, InnovAIte Slovakia is intended to strengthen Slovakia’s position in digital transformation and international cooperation. (TASR)
Volunteers are pictured in Trebišov on June 13, 2025, taking part in the 25th annual “Blue Butterfly” nationwide public fundraiser, which highlights the needs of people with muscle diseases. (source: TASR/Roman Hanc)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: It will be clear to partly cloudy, with some areas seeing increased cloud cover later on Saturday. Daytime highs will range from 24°C to 29°C. Sunday will be even warmer, with temperatures reaching up to 32°C. Don’t forget sun protection if you’re spending time outdoors! (SHMÚ)
WEEKEND PARTY TIME: This weekend Vasil, Vít, and — last but not least — Blanka and Bianka are celebrating their name days. Don’t forget to send your best wishes: to Vasil on Saturday (June 14), Vít on Sunday (June 15), and Blanka along with Bianka on Monday (June 16).
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