Good evening. Here is the Monday, February 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Ukrainian communities come together to thank Slovak people
Družba fountain in Bratislava. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Ukrainian communities initiated the #ĎakujemeSlovensko (#ThankYouSlovakia) campaign, expressing gratitude to Slovaks for their support since the Russian full scale invasion in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
They will gather in Košice and assist with city cleaning. The approximate meeting time is 11:00 wrote the community representative Inna Imas to the Telegram channel Support Ukraine Slovakia. In Bratislava, the volunteers will plant a gratitude tree near Lake Kuchajda. A Ukrainian artist will paint a mural at the secondary school in Galanta. The Ukrainian community is also participating in volunteer activities in Banská Bystrica, assisting a centre for children with autism, wrote the news agency TASR.
Imas noted that during their escape into the unknown and in the search for safety for their children, they felt immense support in Slovakia, starting from the moment they crossed the border.
"Ukrainian citizens, despite being in a foreign country fleeing from war, want to be active members of the society that welcomed and protected them. These activities reflect our gratitude for the extensive and diverse assistance we have received from Slovakia and Slovaks across the country, from Michalovce to Bratislava, from Nové Zámky to Žilina," said Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovakia, Myroslav Kastran.
More stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Education: After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, Slovak educators like Mária Smreková introduced new teaching methods at the first private grammar school to promote democratic values.
Health: A Colombian student in Žilina faced a health crisis, which prompted a wave of support from Slovaks and the Žilina University community.
Travel: Mysterious crosses in Lučenec signal the upcoming premiere of the Extreme Way of the Cross, a night pilgrimage that attracts both religious and non-religious participants.
Opinion: Slovakia faces controversy and protests as the government pushes for drastic changes to the justice system, including the elimination of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, with a final vote expected by the end of the month, Michaela Terenzani writes in her opinion.
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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY
Freedom has no boundaries, US singer proved it herself
Concert of the American singer Joan Baez in Bratislava, 2018. (source: Photo archive SME - Gabriel Kuchta )
On Friday in San Francisco, President Zuzana Čaputová gave a special award to Joan Baez, an American singer. Baez is also a well known activist. The president said Baez's life shows how art, music and speaking up can make a big difference.
EVENT FOR WEDNESDAY
Embroidery workshop at Bratislava library
Embroider as a professional. (source: Pixabay)
Have you ever wondered about the patterns depicted on Ukrainian embroidery (vyshyvanka) or even on Slovak national costumes (kroj)? The embroidery workshop organised by Staromestská Knižnica (Old Town Library) will teach you how to embroider patterns on special napkins (obrúsky).
Immerse yourself in the Slavic atmosphere and learn something new! Decorate your home with your own exclusive handmade piece.
When? February 7 at 16:00 in Staromestská Knižnica. Entrance is free!
In other news
President Zuzana Čaputová discussed content moderation on YouTube during a meeting with YouTube's Vice President Leslie Miller in San Francisco. Čaputová highlighted that Slovakia, despite being a smaller market, deserves the same attention and safety measures as larger countries. She inquired about YouTube's initiatives for mental health among young people in Slovakia, similar to those already operating in the United States. (TASR)
The European Parliament elections in Slovakia are scheduled for June 8, where voters will choose 15 MEPs for a five-year term. This represents an increase of one MEP compared to the 2019 elections, and a total of 720 MEPs will be elected across the EU. (TASR)
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of her program in Pittsburgh, including an event to posthumously award the state decoration "Order of the White Double Cross" to Andy Warhol. The ceremony will be rescheduled, and due to her health condition, President Čaputová has also cancelled her upcoming work schedule upon returning to Slovakia. (TASR)
A recent poll by the Focus agency indicates that the popularity of Slovakia's ruling coalition leader, Smer, and the leading opposition party, Progresívne Slovensko (PS), has remained largely stable since the September 2023 elections. Smer's support stands at 21.6 percent, with a marginal decrease of 1.3 percentage points, while PS has experienced a slight increase of 1.4 percentage points, reaching 19.4 percent. Notably, the coalition party Hlas, led by former PM Peter Pellegrini, has seen a rise in support by 3.2 percentage points, reaching 17.9 percent.
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY
Tomorrow, predominantly partly cloudy weather can be expected with occasional cloudiness. The highest daytime temperatures will range from 10°C to 15°C. No precipitation is expected during the day. The SHMÚ (Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute) has issued a level 3 warning for wind in the Liptovský Mikuláš district. Additionally, there is a level 1 warning for wind in western Slovakia.
FEBRUARY 6 NAME'S DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Dorota.
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