Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

On the occasion of RTVS anniversaries, we present to you one of the iconic voices loved by generations of Slovak radio listeners. RERUN: Shortly before the OSCAR 2021 night, we go back in time with the Slovak political thriller depicting the murder of a 21 year old student Daniel Tupy where alleged culprits were imprison but soon after released. The feature suggesting corruption in Police Corps and no culprits sentenced opened in Slovak cinemas exactly a year after the brutal murder of the investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova.

In the show we discuss the participation of foreigners living in Slovakia in the 2021 Population Census, especially in the cities they live in the most. For almost one year, pupils of secondary schools in Slovakia have not been to the classrooms. What are the perks of distance learning? Listen to the feature by Romana Grajcarová to learn more.

Although artificial intelligence is being used in many positive ways to help people, there are also worries about how it’s being used to manipulate us, chiefly through our engagement on the internet and in particular on social media. AI algorithms now have access to an enormous amount of information on the users of these sites, information that is being collected and used in sophisticated ways to influence our buying habits and political views, often with some form of targeted misinformation. But is everything labelled as ‘misinformation’ really false information, or is it sometimes simply a different opinion that could turn out to be true? Can AI actually identify misinformation, or are real people needed for that? Jonathan speaks with AI expert Mária Bieliková about these and other questions. Are you trying to learn Slovak or some other language? Lýdia Machová – a language teacher who speaks nine languages herself – has some tips for you, in particular how to recognise the crucial difference between expecting to be taught a language, and actively learning one.

News and Topical issue. The Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers finally has a head and should start work normally, what are her plans and how can it help fight corruption in Slovakia?

Fed up of Valentine’s Day? We tried to take a different perspective on love and looked at marriage. By the way, did you know that World Marriage Day is on February 9, only five days before Valentine’s Day?

Contributing to the celebrations of World Radio Day, RSI brings the interview with Jan Kondor, a devoted editor of one of the longest running regular programs of Slovak Radio. RERUN: Back in 2017, RSI brought the information about the February V-day event having been organised in support of women experiencing domestic violence.

After 10 years, Slovakia again counts its residents. For the first time in history, people can select more than one ethnicity. However, the question of double identity has been until the last moments veiled in controversy. On the program we will also rerun the 1st round of the new RSI competition cycle: "Once there was a castle...". Listen to the feature about the castle in Čachtice and enter the competition to win some prizes.

How long will our new vaccines be effective in warding off the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, given that viruses are always evolving into new variants or strains? And what kind of immunity will they give us in the meantime – the kind that prevents us from spreading the virus to others, or only the kind that prevents us from getting sick? Are some of us already immune to Covid-19 because of previous exposure to seasonal coronaviruses? What percentage of the population has to acquire immunity in order for the pandemic to finally end? These are some of the questions Jonathan asked molecular immunologist Vladimír Leksa, who has been studying the virus and our immune responses to it since the pandemic arrived in Europe nearly a year ago.

News and Topical issue. How challenging can it be for foreigners living in Slovakia and their partners to protect their right to private life and family?

News and Topical issue. Today we are going to visit one of the hidden treasures of nature that can be found only a few minutes by bus or train from Bratislava. I am talking about Šúr nature reserve. We will explore its beauty with Peter Lipovský from The regional association for nature conservation and sustainable development who will take us to one of its most beautiful parts called Panónsky háj or Pannonian grove where we will pass some time in the presence of grazing cattle. Later, in the second part of the show you will hear a rerun of an interview with a vegetation ecologist Monika Janišová who will discuss traditional farming and its impact on the landscape.