Slovakia

While Slovak president condemned Russian strike on Sumy and urged to make pressure for peace, the parliament refused to sign the international document condemning Russia for those deadly attacks

Via Ferrata – Sokolie Skaly, an outdoor climbing centre, officially opened near the town of Zvolen; the area offers a wide range of routes, from simple bridges and scenic viewpoints to technically demanding sections for seasoned via ferrata enthusiasts

The extraordinary emergency measures ordered by Chief Veterinary Surgeon Martin Chudy in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have come into force and will be valid until further notice

The Council of the Education Trade Union considers a possible increase in tariff salaries for all education employees as an acceptable compromise, but has criticised the proposal for non-tariff salaries

The country will provide temporary shelter for people from Ukraine until 4 March 2026, and any further extension will be automatic and in line with the decisions of the Council of the European Union

Jana Maškarová was presented as the new president of the Slovak police; seven years ago, Maškarová was appointed the first female police vice-president

Slovak malt has become an important export product in recent years: at present, Slovakia is one of the 10 largest exporters in the world, while in the European Union it ranks fifth after France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

President Peter Pellegrini conferred State honours on 18 personalities from social, cultural and sporting life, nine of them posthumously

The return rate of beverage containers in Slovakia remains consistently above 90% according to the administrator of the deposit return system

The Regional Public Health Office reported an increase in the number of hepatitis A cases in the Bratislava region, with 24 cases reported in December

The Slovak parliament has passed a law introducing charges for access to public information, a proposal initially criticised by the Let's Stop Corruption Foundation as a threat to transparency

ZSSK, the state-owned railway operator, in cooperation with its catering partner Wagon Slovakia Košice, introduced a new seasonal menu in the dining cars, featuring traditional Slovakian Christmas dishes

Nitra, the first town to adopt an integration strategy, is now an example for municipalities to effectively integrate into society the increasing number of foreigners who have chosen to live in Slovakia, so that they can contribute to its development