Slovakia

A golden takin calf — a species so rare that only a few dozen are kept in zoos worldwide — has been born for the first time at Bratislava Zoo

Two previously unknown minerals containing both silver and gold were identified in the hills of Nová Baňa, the historic mining town; named auropolybasite and auropearceite, they were discovered by an international team led by Slovak Academy of Sciences

Housing completions dropped in 2025 and new construction remained well below long-term levels according to latest official figures

189 employees are set to lose their jobs as production at a packaging manufacturer winds down in the next 18 months: another blow to Martin's region, once a stronghold of heavy engineering and paper production now seeing steady erosion of industrial jobs

Compulsory social insurance with a mandatory minimum levy of €131,34 per month has been introduced; it must be paid by self-employed workers, including authors and licensed professionals with very low or irregular income, regardless of actual earnings

Construction in Slovakia opens 2026 under pressure from inflation and investment decline; experts have outlined the impact of rising costs and uncertain automotive demand, underlining that diversification is essential for sustainable growth

GymBeam, Slovakia’s biggest fitness brand, built a regional e-commerce empire from Košice; now, after attracting investors for €110 million, is moving its headquarters to Austria

A Bratislava court has barred former Slovak National Theatre director Matej Drlička from making any public statements about Culture Minister Šimkovičová from 6 December, granting her request for an emergency injunction following a defamation complaint

A long-awaited 9,1 km section of the R2 between Kriváň and Mýtna opened to traffic, a symbolic victory for the government; it cuts about 8 minutes of travel on the stretch and comprises Slovakia’s longest and highest viaduct 4,3 km up to 41 metres high

Media freedom organisation Reporters without Borders latest list of press freedom “predators” lincludes prime minister Fico, citing social media attacks and partisan appointments to the public broadcaster and media regulatory body

Prime Minister Robert Fico has once again invoked his veto power to block a new round of European Union sanctions against Russia, setting the stage for a full-blown clash during next week's summit of leaders.

Bratislava is launching a major modernisation of its tram line in Ružinov, one of the city’s busiest districts, after its first tender collapsed; the 1970s-era route is to be rebuilt with €102 million EU fund following completion of Petržalka extension