Slovakia

A train passes by Republika Power Plant in town of Pernik, Bulgaria, April 21, 2022. The only nuclear power plant, generating over a third of Bulgaria’s electricity, runs on uranium from Russia.

EU proposes oil ban after bloc’s largest economy drops opposition

Germany has now been able to slash its dependence on Russian oil since the war in Ukraine started in February. But Hungary and Slovakia — still heavily reliant on Russian oil — still oppose the deal.

EU proposes oil ban after bloc’s largest economy drops opposition
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is shown on a TV hanging on the wall in the distance with several people wearing face masks stand in the nearground.

Blinken pushes back against lawmakers' criticism of Afghanistan withdrawal.

Blinken pushes back against lawmakers' criticism of Afghanistan withdrawal.
A man reacts with his hand raised amid a large crowd protesting restrictions due to COVID-19.

Roma persecution intensifies during the coronavirus pandemic in Europe

Roma persecution intensifies during the coronavirus pandemic in Europe
A Russian soldier stands in the foreground of citizens celebrating, waving flags

Autocracies that look like democracies are a threat across the globe

Autocracies that look like democracies are a threat across the globe
Three men in suits walking in front of flags

Poland to snub UN migration pact, Slovakia has reservations

Poland to snub UN migration pact, Slovakia has reservations
rally

In wake of journalist's murder, Slovak protesters say 'corruption, not courage,' should be punished

The killing of Jan Kuciak, 27, who investigated corruption among politically-connected business people, and his fiancée at their home in February increased widespread anger about persistent corruption allegations, leading to the largest near-weekly protests since the end of communism in 1989.

In wake of journalist's murder, Slovak protesters say 'corruption, not courage,' should be punished
People hold up a cartoon of the new Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini during a march in Slovakia

After the murder of an investigative journalist and a government shakeup, Slovakia ponders its tenuous future

Recent protests sparked by the killing of an investigative journalist have exposed deep-seated fault lines in the Central European country of Slovakia, where money and politics have created a toxic brew as the country now struggles to move past economic and political corruption.

After the murder of an investigative journalist and a government shakeup, Slovakia ponders its tenuous future
Election campaign posters for the leader billionaire politician Andrej Babis in Prague, Czech Republic, reading: "Stand up against corruption and stop babbling."

The populist tide has spread to one of Central Europe's last liberal democracies

Andrej Babis and his party are winning the Czech Republic’s parliamentary elections this weekend. Add him to the current president, and that would mean not one, but two Donald Trump admirers governing a liberal democracy in the EU.

The populist tide has spread to one of Central Europe's last liberal democracies
The leader of ANO party Andrej Babis signs books for a supporter during an election campaign rally in Prague, Czech Republic September 28, 2017.

The Czech Republic's Trump is in the lead for prime minister

He may be facing charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud, but billionaire businessman Andrej Babis still appears poised to win this weekend's Czech general election pushing his trademark anti-corruption and anti-euro ticket.

The Czech Republic's Trump is in the lead for prime minister
MIT professor Rainer Weiss dreamed up the idea behind an antennae so sensitive it could detect faint invisible ripples in space and time.

A physicist who proved Einstein right started by tinkering with the family record player

He's helping to uncover the origins of the universe with a massive antenna so sensitive it detected faint invisible ripples in space from 1.3 billion years ago.

A physicist who proved Einstein right started by tinkering with the family record player
Menstrual taboos

How is menstruation connected to cattle infertility? It isn't

Menstrual taboos have existed around the world for centuries. Here's a look at a few myths that menstrual health educators have had to combat over the years.

How is menstruation connected to cattle infertility? It isn't
The barbed wire fence surrounding the labor camp at Auschwitz I. Johann Breyer says that he worked here as a guard during World War II and not at the nearby gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

After years in obscurity, a Philadelphia man stands accused as a Holocaust collaborator

Johann Breyer admits that he was a guard at Auschwitz labor camp during the Holocaust, but he says he had nothing to do with the Auschwitz death camp. Federal authorities say he went further and helped bring victims to the gas chambers. Now he's under arrest at the age of 89.

After years in obscurity, a Philadelphia man stands accused as a Holocaust collaborator

The Church of England vows to get tough on climate change — really

Climate change is a big deal, and even those with a close relationship with a higher power look to be ready to take action as well. The Church of England is threatening to put their money where their mouth is. Plus, in Belgium, the government is considering allowing children to request euthanasia.

The Church of England vows to get tough on climate change — really
Young Roma girls hanging out in the Ostrovany settlement, outside of Šarišské Michaľany. It's home to 1,500 mostly-poor Roma.

You might think Europe's Roma are a unified group, but you'd be wrong

In a landmark ruling last year, a Slovakian court found a school district was discriminating against the city's Roma population by segregating Roma kids in separate classes. But not all Roma are excited by the prospect of integrating their children.

You might think Europe's Roma are a unified group, but you'd be wrong
A group of young Roma students goof off in the hallway of Šarišské Michaľany elementary school.

Roma kids are no longer separate and unequal, but integration doesn't exactly make them feel welcomed

The Roma minority face marginalization and exclusion across Europe, but activists say the situation for Slovakian Roma is among the worst. One school is taking on the task of integrating some of the once-segregated Roma children into classes.

Roma kids are no longer separate and unequal, but integration doesn't exactly make them feel welcomed