SUMMARY - Wednesday, 22 July 2026 - 9 p.m.

Nitra, 22 July (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party at a press conference on Wednesday criticised Nitra self-governing region (NSK) and its governor Branislav Becik (Voice-SD) for what it considers to be an extensive PR campaign financed from public funds. https://etasr.sk/article/23531178 Banska Bystrica, 22 July (TASR) - The main trial in the 'Purgatory' case continued at the Banska Bystrica branch of the Specialised Criminal Court on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23531268 Bratislava, 22 July (TASR) - The Health-care Supervisory Office (UDZS) hasn't yet received a request related to the merger of private health-insurers Union and Dovera, Erika Kovacikova from UDZS told TASR on Wednesday in response to a call by the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) urging UDZS not to decide on an ownership change before the European Commission (EC) becomes familiar with the submission. https://etasr.sk/article/23531448 Kosice, 22 July (TASR) - Lawyer, economist and activist Alexander Riabov will run as an independent candidate for the post of Kosice mayor, he told journalists on Wednesday, adding that he has already started collecting the required number of signatures from voters. https://etasr.sk/article/23531560 Bratislava, 22 July (TASR) - Three years ago, Slovakia was the country with the largest areas of monoculture farmland in the EU, whereas today more than 7,000 kilometres of biodiversity strips run through the fields, dividing large agricultural plots, helping to retain water, protecting soil from erosion and contributing to the return of birds, pollinators and small game, TASR learnt from SOS/BirdLife's Jozef Ridzon on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23531585 Bratislava, 22 July (TASR) - The Culture Ministry is putting the protection and restoration of cultural heritage sites in peril not only through budget cuts within grant programmes and poor management of calls for applications, but also through decisions that have raised concerns over the fairness of financial support allocation, ex-culture minister Natalia Milanova ('Slovakia') said on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23531616 Bratislava, 22 July (TASR) - Another heatwave in Slovakia is likely to begin at the turn of July and August, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) has stated, adding that warm air will once again begin to flow into the country from the south-west and west right at the very end of July. https://etasr.sk/article/23531200 NOTICE: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. jrg