EU Enlargement Debate: A fresh push for EU enlargement is framed as a geopolitical necessity after the Ukraine war, with Europe weighing expansion against long-standing Brussels delays. Sports Spotlight (Košice): Jordan Scott rewrote the JBL Jump Fest long-jump record in Slovakia, adding another gold to his Continental Tour success. Pay Inequality Across Europe: New OECD/Euronews figures show how a €100,000 salary can mean very different take-home pay depending on where you live. Concert Security: Austria sentenced a man for plotting a jihadist attack on Taylor Swift’s Vienna shows, renewing fears about extremist targeting of major pop events. Slovakia–Serbia Ties: PM Robert Fico met Serbia’s defence minister in Bratislava to discuss security cooperation, illegal migration, and hybrid threats. Culture & Books (Bratislava): BRaK, the Bratislava Book Festival, opens with a “We Need to Talk…” theme and free events across the city. Festival Uncertainty (Trenčín): The mayor warns about unclear decisions around Pohoda festival contracts, calling it risky for culture and local business. Higher Education: Slovak universities and representatives head to NAFSA in Orlando to deepen US links in education, AI, aerospace, and research. Online Hate Speech: A report says platforms remove only a small share of reported hate content, with Slovakia among the top countries challenging decisions. Public Memory: Michalovce reopened the refurbished Red Army Central Military Cemetery, with Slovak officials calling memorials part of everyday public life. Same-Sex Marriage Rules: Fico says Slovakia should adopt implementing regulations to prevent recognition of same-sex marriages performed abroad.