MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, December 24, 2023 - 10 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, December 23): BRATISLAVA - The whole of Czech Republic on Saturday has fallen silent to mourn the victims of Thursday's mass shooting in Prague and Slovakia is grieving over the lost lives along with its neighbour, President Zuzana Caputova has stated on Facebook. "The violent and senseless conduct of the assailant have marked the Christmas season of joy with indescribable pain. We stand with you, though your pain will hardly be eased. I very much hope that all those injured in hospital recover as quickly as possible, both mentally and physically, and are able to return to their families," the president remarked. The Czech Republic is holding a national day of mourning on Saturday to commemorate the victims of the shooting that took place on Thursday at Charles University in the capital. The tragic incident left 15 people dead, including the gunman, and 25 injured. ZILINA - Zilina police on Saturday detained a 64-year-old man who threatened on an emergency line to replicate the recent mass shooting in Prague. According to Zilina region police spokeswoman Zuzana Sefcikova, the investigator in the case has launched criminal proceedings over spreading false alarm. The police will provide more information when the investigation allows, the spokesperson added. BRATISLAVA - As many as 34 percent of Slovaks buy Christmas presents up to three months in advance and wait for bargains, a survey carried out by a company named KRUK Czech and Slovak Republic has shown. Approximately the same number of respondents, however, claimed that they leave Christmas gift shopping until the last minute and tend to buy products regardless of price. Women in particular buy Christmas gifts in advance in view of low prices. Up to 40 percent of the women surveyed buy their gifts three months in advance. This figure stood at 28 percent in the case of men. While women usually look at prices when shopping, men are more prone to shop regardless of the price tag. When shopping one to three months before Christmas, 14 percent of men and 12 percent of women do not look at price. As for last-minute purchases, price is not a factor for 15 percent of men and 9 percent of women. According to KRUK, 9 percent of Slovaks don't buy or receive any Christmas gifts for their family members and prefer to cherish the time they spend during the holidays with their close relatives instead. Meanwhile, 8 percent can't afford to buy gifts, most often older men. Approximately 3 percent present their loved ones with homemade gifts. BRATISLAVA - Some 56 percent of Slovaks think that the current situation is not favourable for changing jobs, according to survey carried out by Focus polling agency for Profesia jobs website. Meanwhile, a third of the respondents were of the opposite opinion. Compared to data from previous years, the mood of employees returned to the level seen before the coronavirus pandemic. "For the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, when job changes were influenced by specific circumstances, people's moods are similar to the pre-pandemic period," said Profesia PR manager Lubica Melcerova, expressing satisfaction with this trend. Bratislava region is the only one in which respondents viewed the situation for changing employers as favourable. Young people aged under 24 and high-income employees in particular are more optimistic about opportunities to change jobs. Meanwhile, respondents with lower incomes and people living alone perceive a change in employer negatively. ​ Among the respondents who have already changed jobs, 48 percent did so more than five years ago. The smallest share of respondents (3 percent) changed their employer less than six months ago. "There are several reasons behind people's decisions to change jobs, with a low salary being the most frequent. Four in ten respondents changed their last job due to low financial remuneration," said Melcerova. Other reasons included, for example, unsuitable working conditions and too much overtime. zel