SUMMARY - Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 1 p.m.

Velky Saris, March 20 (TASR) - The town of Velky Saris declared a state of emergency following a tragic overnight fire in which five people died, of which four were children, TASR learnt city mayor Mayor Viliam Kall on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21861011 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR-correspondent) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) left for Brussels on Thursday morning for European Union (EU) leaders' meeting, TASR learnt from its special correspondent on the same day. https://etasr.sk/article/21861059 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - The currently opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party had the opportunity to demonstrate its ability to manage public finances in the past during Ludovit Odor's government, however, it didn't help improve the condition of public finances at all, the Finance Ministry said in reaction to PS's call for postponement of the transaction tax. https://etasr.sk/article/21861091 Bratislava/Velky Saris, March 20 (TASR) - The Office of the Government Proxy for the Roma Communities (USVRK) is sending a team from the Regional Policy and Crisis Management Department to the fire site in Velky Saris (Presov region) to assist residents of the affected dwellings and those evacuated to municipal facilities, USVRK's media department head Miriam Ziakova stated on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21861179 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - Slovakia could veto more EU sanctions against Russia if it thought that they would undermine the peace process regarding the war in Ukraine, said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at a meeting of the parliamentary European affairs committee before leaving for the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21861349 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - MP Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD) told journalists on Thursday that he'll communicate his position on the House chair election within his party and the coalition and that he'll express his opinion in a secret ballot. https://etasr.sk/article/21861381 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - The death of anyone is a tragedy, but the heartbreaking loss of four young children is especially devastating, said President Peter Pellegrini on social media on Thursday in response to the tragic overnight fire in Velky Saris (Presov regoion), which claimed the lives of five people, of which four were children. https://etasr.sk/article/21861429 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - The capital city expects trams to be put into regular operation in Bratislava's borough of Petrzalka by the end of May, Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo has announced on a social network, adding that this will depend on the permit procedures and the issuing of a license to run the new tram line, however. https://etasr.sk/article/21861479 Galanta, March 20 (TASR) - This year, runners and fitness enthusiasts will gather in Galanta (Trnava region) for the 41st year of an event called 'The Galanta Liberation Run' on Saturday, April 12, in which children, adults, and pensioners can participate in various competition categories, TASR has learnt from Galanta city spokesperson Dominika Orbanova. https://etasr.sk/article/21861528 Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) has expressed his deep condolences to the families and relatives of the five victims of the fire in Velky Saris (Presov region), adding that Presov labour office staff are already at the scene, TASR learnt from ministry's communications department director Karolina Ducka on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21861662 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. lin