MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, April 19, 2021 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, April 18): NEW POSITIVE PCR TESTS: 638 Positive PCR tests in total: 375,974 NEW POSITIVE ANTIGEN TESTS: 1,909 Positive antigen tests in total: 368,869 DEATHS: 63 Deaths in total: 11,106 BRATISLAVA - Slovakia supports the diplomatic moves made by the Czech Republic as well as all measures to ensure the safety of Czech citizens in connection with the findings concerning the circumstances of the explosion in the Vrbetice ammunition depot, which probably involved Russian agents, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (a Freedom and Solidarity/SaS nominee) posted on Facebook on Sunday following his phone call with his Czech counterpart Jan Hamacek. The Czech Republic announced on Saturday the expulsion of 18 employees of the Russian embassy in Prague, who were identified as secret service officers. The reason was the suspicion of the involvement of the Russian military intelligence officers in the explosion of the ammunition depots in the village of Vrbetice in Zlin Region in October and December 2014. BRATISLAVA - Czech Premier Andrej Babis has my "full support" for the decision to expel 18 employees of the Russian Embassy in Prague in connection with the 2014 explosion in the Vrbetice ammunition depot, Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) tweeted on Sunday. "During my recent visit to Prague, I made it clear that the Czech Republic is our closest ally in the EU and NATO. Slovakia will always stand by the side of the Czech Republic - whenever necessary," stressed Heger. BRATISLAVA - Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has expressed her support to the Czech Government on Sunday in connection with the suspicions of a connection between the Russian intelligence services and the explosion in the Vrbetice ammunition depot, TASR learnt from spokesperson for the head of state Martin Strizinec on the same day. BRATISLAVA - It's time for clear and vigorous action against the Russian intelligence service network in the EU and NATO countries, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) stated on Sunday, adding that he understands the Czech Republic's decision. Nad said that the Russian intelligence services are present and active in Europe, noting that the activity of a foreign intelligence service on the Czech territory is proof that Russia doesn't have a sincere interest in bilateral cooperation with the Central European countries. BRATISLAVA - President Zuzana Caputova is still viewed as the most trusted senior state official, enjoying the confidence of 58 percent of the respondents questioned by Focus agency as opposed to 40 percent who distrust her. On the contrary, the least trusted politician is Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO), who is trusted by 15 percent of the respondents, and distrusted by 84 percent. According to the survey, which was carried out for private TV channel Markiza, the second most trusted politician is former prime minister Peter Pellegrini, now leader of the Voice-SD party, who received the confidence of 41 percent and who is seen as untrustworthy by 56 percent. Pellegrini was followed by Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO), who enjoys confidence from 29 percent and is distrusted by 66 percent, and Parliamentary Chair Boris Kollar (We Are Family) on 28 percent of those trusting him and on 70 of those distrusting him. zel