Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

RERUN: Discussing listener's feedback while remembering 9/11.

On the occasion of this national holiday, we explain its religious background. One of the most significant composers of sacral music, Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský, composed also secular pieces. Internationally acclaimed tenor Pavol Bršlík shares his love for Schneider-Trnavský's songs. As the holiday is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, learn about some outstanding Márias in the RSI series SLOVAK NAMEDAYS.

Since tomorrow, 15 September, is a national holiday in Slovakia, which observes Our Lady of Sorrows, the country’s patron saint, today’s show will be dedicated to last year’s visit of Pope Francis to Slovakia, which took place also on this special day for the Roman Catholic church. Besides that, you can look forward to visiting the region of Turiec within our competition series From the Tatras to the Danube.

In June of this year the US Supreme Court ruled, in a landmark decision, that the US Constitution does not include a woman’s right to have an abortion – effectively overturning a nearly 50-year old Supreme Court decision which ruled the opposite. Apart from its massive political impact within the US, the decision has also reignited the debate over abortion in many other Western countries, including Slovakia. Jonathan speaks with activists on both sides of the issue to learn more about what the current state of the debate is here in this country.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. She was also respected by the people of Slovakia. Her visit to Slovakia in 2008 was an important moment for many people. Leading Slovak officials are reacting to her death. How will Slovakia remember Queen Elizabeth II?

The local Secondary Sports School opened its new campus. Climate change increasing cost of production for sheep farmers. Environmentalists in the Prievidza region managed to protect wetlands created as a result of mining.

4th September 1972 was the day when Slovakia’s public radio broadcaster launched a station focused exclusively on art. We present the phenomenon of Radio Devin through the Slovak radio archives. 9th September marks Holocaust remembrance day in Slovakia – RSI pays tribute to the victims.

On the show we will revisit the tragic event that happened 50 years ago - the terrorist attack at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. We will speak to people, who were there, as well as those, who took an interest in its consequences, moreover, in connection to Czechoslovakia. School year has begun not only for pupils, but also for education staff. However, too many vacancies remain open.

Can we be in good health without a lifestyle that includes plenty of physical movement? Health experts say no, and point to the dangers of the kind of sedentary lifestyle that began with the Industrial Age and has increasingly predominated ever since. Jonathan speaks with bio-medical researcher Jozef Ukropec of the Slovak Academy of Sciences about this disturbing trend and what we can do about it. – Repeat: These days many Slovak parents are living outside of Slovakia and bemoan the fact that their children neither speak their mother-tongue nor understand their culture. Slovak parents in Great Britain, however, have come together to solve this problem by providing something extra for their children.

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, hides several places where famous American blockbusters have been filmed. The Slovak Radio building, the city centre, the Istropolis building or the shopping centre. Join this film journey.