INSIDER
Slovakia’s parliament backs a contentious plan to overhaul the country's public broadcasting
Read full article: Slovakia’s parliament backs a contentious plan to overhaul the country's public broadcastingSlovakia’s parliament has approved a government plan to overhaul the country’s public broadcaster.
Slovakia public broadcaster employees hold 3-hour walkout over government overhaul plans
Read full article: Slovakia public broadcaster employees hold 3-hour walkout over government overhaul plansEmployees of Slovakia’s public radio and television have staged a three-hour walkout to protest a contentious overhaul of their services.
Shaken by the Fico assassination attempt, the EU wonders if June elections can be free of violence
Read full article: Shaken by the Fico assassination attempt, the EU wonders if June elections can be free of violenceIn an increasingly vitriolic political climate, the last thing needed in the runup to the June European Union elections was an assassination attempt on one of the bloc’s most controversial figures.
Slovak authorities charge 'lone wolf' with assassination attempt on the prime minister
Read full article: Slovak authorities charge 'lone wolf' with assassination attempt on the prime ministerSlovak authorities charged a man with attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying he acted alone in a politically motivated attack that left the longtime leader in serious but stable condition.
A pro-Western career diplomat faces an ally of the populist premier in Slovakia's presidential vote
Read full article: A pro-Western career diplomat faces an ally of the populist premier in Slovakia's presidential voteA pro-Western career diplomat and a close ally of Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico are facing each other in a presidential runoff to determine who will be the country's next head of state.
People form a human chain around Slovakia's public broadcaster that government wants to take over
Read full article: People form a human chain around Slovakia's public broadcaster that government wants to take overProtesters in Slovakia have formed a human chain around the country’s public television and radio building in anger over a takeover plan by the government whose populist, pro-Russia prime minister recently labeled several private media outlets his enemies.
A pro-West diplomat and an ally of populist premier to meet in runoff for Slovakia's presidency
Read full article: A pro-West diplomat and an ally of populist premier to meet in runoff for Slovakia's presidencyA pro-western career diplomat has defeated a close ally of Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico in the first round of the presidential election to set up a runoff vote between the two.
Thousands rally across Slovakia to condemn changes to penal code proposed by populist prime minister
Read full article: Thousands rally across Slovakia to condemn changes to penal code proposed by populist prime ministerThousands of people have rallied across Slovakia as protests intensify against a plan by the new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the penal code.
Thousands rally in Slovakia to condemn the new government's plan to close top prosecutors' office
Read full article: Thousands rally in Slovakia to condemn the new government's plan to close top prosecutors' officeThousands have rallied in the capital and other major cities in Slovakia to denounce a plan by the new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the country’s penal code.
Slovakia's president asks a populist ex-premier to form government after winning early election
Read full article: Slovakia's president asks a populist ex-premier to form government after winning early electionSlovakia’s president has asked the leader of the winning party in the country’s parliamentary election to try to form a coalition government.
NATO eastern flank members want to boost support for Ukraine at alliance summit in July
Read full article: NATO eastern flank members want to boost support for Ukraine at alliance summit in JulyThe leaders of nine central and eastern European countries say NATO allies should aim at further boosting their support for Ukraine and for its aspiration to become a member of the alliance.
Slovakia gets technocratic caretaker government until September's early election
Read full article: Slovakia gets technocratic caretaker government until September's early electionSlovakia’s President Zuzana Caputova has sworn in a government of technocrats to lead the country to snap elections in September amid a political crisis.
Slovak vote on early election not binding due to low turnout
Read full article: Slovak vote on early election not binding due to low turnoutA nationwide referendum in Slovakia on amending the constitution to make possible an early election has failed to produce a legally binding result because the turnout was too low.
Suspect in killing of 2 in Slovakia's capital found dead
Read full article: Suspect in killing of 2 in Slovakia's capital found deadSlovakia’s police say they have found the body of a suspect who allegedly fatally shot two people the previous day in the capital in what some officials are suggesting was a hate crime.
Slovakia has new ministers after party leaves coalition
Read full article: Slovakia has new ministers after party leaves coalitionSlovakia’s president has sworn in new ministers who replaced their predecessors from a junior coalition partner that withdrew from the governing four-party coalition that left Prime Minister Eduard Heger without a parliamentary majority.
Daily COVID-19 infections jump in Czech Republic, Slovakia
Read full article: Daily COVID-19 infections jump in Czech Republic, SlovakiaCoronavirus cases have soared to a new record high in Slovakia, with some hospitals having to move COVID-19 patients elsewhere in the country because they couldn’t take any more.
Slovak premier, government resign over Russian vaccine deal
Read full article: Slovak premier, government resign over Russian vaccine dealSlovakias prime minister and his government resigned to end the political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. (Pavel Neubauer/TASR via AP)BRATISLAVA – Slovakia's Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his government resigned on Tuesday to ease a political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. I hope that we will continue to work together for Slovakia.”Heger served as the finance minister and deputy prime minister in the outgoing government. AdThe crisis erupted when a secret deal came to light at the beginning of March involving Slovakia’s agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The populist prime minister orchestrated the deal despite disagreement among his coalition partners.
Slovak premier resigns to end crisis over Russian vaccine
Read full article: Slovak premier resigns to end crisis over Russian vaccineA party in Slovakias ruling coalition has completed its withdrawal from the government amid a political crisis triggered by a secret deal to buy Russias coronavirus vaccine. A crisis erupted when a secret deal came to light three weeks ago involving Slovakias agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. The political crisis erupted when a secret deal came to light three weeks ago involving Slovakia’s agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. AdMatovic has defended the Sputnik V purchase, saying it would speed up the vaccination program in one of the EU's hardest-hit countries. The pro-business Freedom and Solidarity party, which withdrew from the coalition until Matovic resigned, said it was ready to return to the government.
Slovak coalition party completes withdrawal from government
Read full article: Slovak coalition party completes withdrawal from governmentPrime Minister Igor Matovic, front, announces the resignation of Health Minister Marek Krajci, left, in Bratislava, Thursday March 11, 2021. Sulik resigned from his deputy prime minister post on Monday. Sulik said on Thursday his party is withdrawing from the coalition until Prime Minister Igor Matovic resigns. The populist prime minister orchestrated the deal despite disagreement among his coalition partners. Matovic indicated he was willing to step down on condition he would assume a deputy prime minister post instead.
Pope Francis to visit Hungary in September, cardinal says
Read full article: Pope Francis to visit Hungary in September, cardinal says(AP Photo/Yara Nardi, pool)BUDAPEST – Pope Francis will travel to Hungary's capital in September where he will participate in the closing Mass of a multiday, international Catholic gathering, according to the cardinal of Hungary's Roman Catholic Church. Francis will instead visit on the final day of the eight-day 52nd Congress in Budapest on Sept. 12, he said. Ad“Today we can perhaps learn the most from Pope Francis, and not only about faith and humanity. Traveling back to the Vatican from a trip to Iraq on Monday, the pope told Italian media that following his visit to Budapest he may visit Bratislava, the capital of neighboring Slovakia. While that visit isn't confirmed, Slovakia's president, Zuzana Caputova, said she had invited the pontiff to visit during a meeting in the Vatican in December.
Slovakia's political crisis, triggered by Sputnik V, deepens
Read full article: Slovakia's political crisis, triggered by Sputnik V, deepensSlovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic, right, and Health Minister Marek Krajci at Kosice Airport, Slovakia, Monday March 1, 2021, as Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrives. Hard-hit Slovakia signed a deal to acquire 2 million dozes of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. The country's prime minister says Slovakia will get one million shots in next two months while another million will arrive in May and June. The crisis was triggered by a secret deal to acquire Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine orchestrated by the country’s prime minister despite disagreement among his coalition partners. Remisova met Sulik and other leaders — including another critic of the Sputnik V deal, President Zuzana Caputova — over the crisis Wednesday.
Russian Sputnik V vaccine splits Slovakia ruling coalition
Read full article: Russian Sputnik V vaccine splits Slovakia ruling coalitionSlovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic, right, and Health Minister Marek Krajci at Kosice Airport, Slovakia, Monday March 1, 2021, as Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrives. Hard-hit Slovakia signed a deal to acquire 2 million dozes of Russias Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. The country's prime minister says Slovakia will get one million shots in next two months while another million will arrive in May and June. (Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)PRAGUE – Slovakia was thrown into a political crisis Tuesday over a secret deal to acquire Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine orchestrated by the country’s prime minister despite disagreement among his coalition partners. Its leader, deputy Prime Minister Veronika Remisova, repeatedly said that Sputnik V can't be used unless approved by the EU’s drug regulator.
Slovakia sees virus deaths soar, blames variant found in UK
Read full article: Slovakia sees virus deaths soar, blames variant found in UK(Frantisek Ivan/TASR via AP)PRAGUE – Slovakia has become the nation with most COVID-19 deaths by size of population in the world amid a surge of cases from a highly contagious coronavirus variant. AdEarlier this month, the Slovakian government announced the fast-spreading coronavirus variant first found in southern England had become dominant in the Central European country. Researchers have also found that the variant dominant in the U.K. is also more deadly than the original virus. AdAnother 111 people died in Slovakia of COVID-19 on Monday for a total of 6,063 in the nation of 5.4 million. Majdan said mathematical models suggest that between 9,000 and 11,000 might die of COVID-19 in Slovakia by June, if the current trend continues.
World reaction to the storming of the US Capitol
Read full article: World reaction to the storming of the US CapitolFrom left, French President Emmanuel Macron, Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. World leaders including Macron, Merkel, Solberg and Stoltenberg, are condemning the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)Reaction from around the world to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump:___“A fundamental rule of democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers. ——“The rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act and it must be vigorously condemned.” — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democracy presupposes peaceful protest, but violence and death threats —from Left or Right— are ALWAYS wrong.” — Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
The Latest: Japan's PM seeks to enforce virus measures
Read full article: The Latest: Japan's PM seeks to enforce virus measuresThey arrived a day before South Korea halted air travel from Britain until Dec. 31 to guard against the new version of the virus. South Korea on Monday registered 808 new coronavirus cases, raising its national caseload to 57,680 with 819 deaths. ___BALTIMORE — The U.S. has now topped 19 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows. ___ZAGREB, Croatia — A 81-year-old care home resident on Sunday became the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia. ___SEOUL, South Korea __ South Korea has decided not to immediately enforce its toughest distancing rules in the greater Seoul area despite a surge in fresh infections.
'Believe in science': EU kicks off COVID-19 vaccine campaign
Read full article: 'Believe in science': EU kicks off COVID-19 vaccine campaignBut it was also a public chance for them to urge Europe's 450 million people to get the shots amid continued vaccine and virus skepticism. The Los Olmos home suffered two confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 11 deaths among residents with symptoms who were never tested. After he got his shot, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared Sunday “a great day for science and the European Union." Germany’s BioNTech has said it’s confident that its vaccine works against the new U.K. variant, but added that further studies are needed. The European Medicines Agency on Jan. 6 will consider approving another vaccine made by Moderna, which is already being used in the United States.
The Latest: Japan sharply tightens ban on foreign visitors
Read full article: The Latest: Japan sharply tightens ban on foreign visitors___SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has topped 80 million. ___ATHENS, Greece — Greek health authorities announced 262 new infections from the coronavirus over the 24 hours ending Saturday afternoon. ___MOSCOW — Russia’s Health Ministry has allowed a domestically designed coronavirus vaccine to be given to people older than 60. All four of the infected people are in good health, authorities said. Japan had 3,823 new cases Friday for a national total of 213,547, with 3,155 deaths, the health ministry said.
Businessman acquitted in murders of Slovak reporter, fiancee
Read full article: Businessman acquitted in murders of Slovak reporter, fiancee(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)PEZINOK A panel of judges in Slovakia on Thursday acquitted a businessman accused of masterminding the 2018 slayings of an investigative journalist who had written about him and the journalist's fiancee. The judges cleared the businessman, Marian Kocner, and one co-defendant of murder in the killings of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, both 27. Judge Ruzena Sabova at the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok said there was not enough evidence for the convictions. The parents of Kuciak and Kusnirova left the courtroom before the reading of the sentence was completed. Former soldier Miroslav Marcek pleaded guilty to shooting Kuciak and Kusnirova and was sentenced to 23 years in prison in April.