Cardinal Jozef Tomko, the Holy See's most influential Slovakian, has died at 98 in Rome; under Pope John Paul II he became prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and was the third most influential person in the Catholic Church

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare Celtic the Late Iron Age sacrificial pit during renovation works at Trenčín Castle, containing the skeletal remains of at least five people, including a child; third such pit found in Slovakia

A ban on all open fires, including the use of official firepits, the burning of bushes and trees, and smoking, is in effect in the forests of Bratislava this week and until further notice, due to high risk fires

Opposition parties have renewed scrutiny of agricultural subsidies, alleging that millions of euros in EU funds were granted to farms owned by entrepreneurs with long‑standing ties to the governing Smer party that made fortunes in IT and telecoms

Slovakia’s IT sector has slowed down with reduced numbers of job openings: professionals are experiencing layoffs and more competition for fewer vacancies, with young jobseekers in greater difficulties if without specific skills