MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, November 4, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Sunday, November 3): LANGTANG - Following his successful ascent of Nepal's seven-thousander Langtang Lirung, Slovak mountaineer Ondrej Huserka died after falling into a crevasse, his fellow climber Marek Holecek posted on a social network on Saturday (November 2) evening. The Slovak Mountaineering Union 'James' confirmed the information on Sunday. BEIJING - The visit of China confirms the new quality of bilateral relations between Slovakia and China with emphasis on strategic partnership, higher quality of economic relations and mutual support of investments, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), who is currently on a working trip to China with other ministers, posted on a social network on Sunday. "I already consider the working visit so far to have been extremely successful. The door to cooperation on large projects and to mutually balanced cooperation is opening for Slovakia," Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) wrote on a social network. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) described China as an economic superpower. "And we can't close our eyes to this. Especially when it comes to issues that can bring economic benefits to Slovakia and its citizens," he pointed out. The Slovak delegation was received in Beijing by President Xi Jinping. Fico also held discussion with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, and ministers of both governments met at a common session. Subsequently, members of the Slovak government signed 13 documents establishing further plans for the countries' cooperation. The Slovak delegation was also received by Parliamentary Chair Zhao Leji. BRATISLAVA - The Interior Ministry is ready to help flood-hit Spain, if necessary, ministry's spokesman Matej Neumann told TASR on Sunday, however, it hasn't yet received a request from the country to send personnel, equipment or material assistance. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked on Saturday (November 2) the European Union for help in dealing with the aftermath of the deadly floods, which he described as the worst in Europe this century. He said that Spain is in communication with the European Commission and had started a procedure to request assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund as well as other EU resources. BRATISLAVA - According to preliminary data, Slovakia's food industry (food, beverages and tobacco production) recorded a profit before tax of €437.9 million in 2023, up from 222.1 million in 2022, TASR learnt from a so-called Green Report released by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry. Revenues in the Slovak food industry amounted to €6.733 billion last year. Expenditures stood at €6.295 billion. The most positive result was achieved by the other food products sector (€143.1 million), followed by the production of bread and flour products (€85.2 million), the beverage production sector (€76.9 million), and the meat and meat products processing and canning sector (€49.3 million). zel