SUMMARY - Monday, 18 August 2025 - 1 p.m.

Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - In the first half of 2025, as many as 4,549 people applied to join the Police Corps, compared to 2,350 in the same period last year, TASR has learnt from the Interior Ministry based on an information request. https://etasr.sk/article/22362506 Pribylina (TASR) - Mountain rescuers assisted a stranded 60- Dutch couple in the Western Tatras shortly before nightfall on Sunday, 17 August, the Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) reported on its website on the same day. https://etasr.sk/article/22362610 Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - Slovak firefighters will help to extinguish wildfires in Spain using a Black Hawk helicopter, TASR learnt from a Fire and Rescue Corps' (HaZZ) social media post on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/22362663 Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - The social partners (representatives of employers and employees) have failed to agree on the level of next year's minimum wage, so it will be determined by a Labour Ministry automaton, resulting in an increase of nearly €100 to a total of €915 per month, said Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) on Monday after a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (HSR). https://etasr.sk/article/22362684 Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - Of the total EU funds allocation amounting to €12.79 billion for the 2021-2027 period, Slovakia has managed to absorb €1.17 billion, which accounts for 9.14 percent, up 0.55 percentage points (p.p.) on the previous month, TASR reported on Monday based on the Finance Ministry's information on the drawing of EU funds, which is published on a monthly basis. https://etasr.sk/article/22362694 Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - New orders in Slovak industry dropped by 0.9 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) to €5.54 billion in June 2025, the third consecutive month seeing a decline, the Statistics Office reported on Monday, adding that the pace slowed down significantly from the 4.3 percent drop reported in May, however. https://etasr.sk/article/22362739 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