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SLOVAKIA

17th May, 2024

SLOVAKIA

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.ndtvprofit.com/amp/world/slovak-prime-minister-in-very-serious-condition-after-shooting

Context: The recent assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 15, 2024, shocked the nation, and drew widespread condemnation from world leaders.

Details

  • The attack took place outside a cultural centre in Handlová, Slovakia, approximately 140 km northeast of the capital, Bratislava.
  • Prime Minister Robert Fico was critically injured, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He underwent a five-hour surgery and is currently in a serious but stable condition.
  • A 71-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting. Initial reports suggest the suspect acted alone and was motivated by political reasons, though he is not affiliated with any political groups.

About Slovakia

  • Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordering Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
  • The population is over 5.4 million, with Bratislava as the capital and Košice as the second-largest city.
  • It is a developed nation with a high-income economy.
  • It is a member of numerous international organisations like the European Union, NATO, and the UN.
  • It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • It is dominated by the Carpathian Mountains, stretching across the north.
  • The Danubian Lowland in the southwest and the Eastern Slovak Lowland in the southeast offer a contrasting flat landscape.
  • The Váh is the longest river, while the Danube, the largest, graces the southern border.
  • Slovakia experiences a climate between temperate and continental zones.
  • Summers are warm, with occasional highs exceeding 30°C, while winters are cold, cloudy, and humid.
  • Forests cover a significant portion of the land, dominated by broadleaf and coniferous trees.

Source:

Hindustan Times

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following countries:

1. Poland

2. Ukraine

3. Hungary

4. Austria

5. Czech Republic

Slovakia shares a border with how many of these countries?

A) Only two

B) Only three

C) Only four

D) All five

Answer: D