Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

Marek Adamov is taking a cyling tour around Slovakia to map the situation of independent culture hubs at the time of pandemic. Tesla Talizman 308 is the most famous radio receiver produced in 1950's Czechoslovakia.

On the Wednesday show we will return to the anniversary of the end of WW2. Irish documentarist Éamon Little sat down with Slovak-Irish personality Joseph Joe Veselský, who recalled the hardship of the war years in Slovakia. Then we will discuss the future of Slovak star skier Petra Vlhová with her new coach Mauro Pini.

So-called 'filter bubbles' have become a major source of concern in cyberspace, particularly on social networking platforms which are incentivised to show you content that you will like or agree with, thus keeping you engaged and increasing their advertising revenues – while at the same time, however, preventing you from seeing content that might challenge your current views. With Artificial Intelligence algorithms playing a major role in this, Jonathan caught up with AI expert Robert Moro of the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies, who researches filter bubbles, to get a better understanding of these new technologies and what impact they're having on society. The existence of species of bacteria on earth that are nearly impossible to kill have suggested to scientists that there may be similar forms of life present in the extremely harsh environments of nearby planets like Mars. Jonathan speaks with astrobiologist Tomáš Paulech of the Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra.

News and Topical issue. The future of work in the era of automation and pandemic.

A look at the opening of the season at Orava Castle, one of Slovakia’s biggest attractions, after the pandemic lockdown. With the opening of a new trail, the city of Košice calls itself a hub of Slovak mountain biking. A very important water reservoir in the Žitný ostrov are obtained special protection.

Cyclo-cul-tour- Marek Adamov mapping the situation of Slovak independent Culture centres accross the country on his bike. The question of the "renaissance" / rebirth of theatre in the time of pandemic discussed with Miriam Kičiňová, the director of Slovak National Theatre (SND) drama ensemble, and Matej Drlička, the SND general director. Invitation to European Theatre Convention's project "Renaissance" in which European theatres take turn in performing online (including SND) as of May 9.

Following the daily news bulletin, the English language magazine will concentrate on the Slovak-British connections – those from the times of the Second World War, as well those most recent ones.

Assuming the diplomatic office amidst the pandemic is not the easiest task, especially since foreign diplomacy is heavily based on face-to-face relations. For Robert Ondrejcsak, the new Slovak Ambassador to the UK, however, this was the case. On the show, we will speak to the Slovak ambassador also about the concerns of the Slovak community in the post-Brexit era.

Since the 8th May or the VE Day is approaching, the programme will also be dedicated to the stories from 1945, when on one side Europe celebrated the end of the Second World War, on the other side, however, new challenges awaited.

Will Artificial Intelligence be a great gift to society that will bring untold benefit to people’s lives? Or will it be a tool of the surveillance state and a predatory marketing device used to subvert human freedom and well-being? Potentially both, says Mária Bieliková, AI expert and founder of the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies in Bratislava. Which aim it is used for depends not only on who gains control of such technology in the future, but also very much on how its development is being approached right now, and what sort of ethical principles are guiding this. Jonathan caught up with her recently to learn more. Plus: Romana Grajcarová brings you the 4th round of our RSI competition.

News and Topical issue.

News and Topical Issue. In the first part of today’s programming, we are going to discuss the concept of “degrowth” with environmental economist Tadeáš Ždárský and then we are going to look at the limits of electric cars recycling with Milan Lauko from ZSNP recycling.