SUMMARY - Saturday, 18 October 2025 - 9 p.m.

Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - The Holy See has agreed to temporarily scrap the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on 15 September which will be suspended as a day of rest next year, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Saturday, adding that Vatican confirmed this in a diplomatic note through the Apostolic Nunciature in Slovakia. https://etasr.sk/article/22567799 Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - The Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) has accepted with understanding the decision of the Holy See relating to the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on 15 September which will be suspended as a day of rest next year, TASR was told by the KBS press office in response to the Vatican's decision. https://etasr.sk/article/22568129 Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - New Ordinary of the Slovak Armed Forces Pavol Sajgalik received episcopal ordination in Bratislava on Saturday, with his predecessor, Frantisek Rabek, being the main consecrator. https://etasr.sk/article/22568008 Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - New Ordinary of the Slovak Armed Forces Pavol Sajgalik has all the prerequisites to master his mission and continue the work started by his predecessor Frantisek Rabek, which is confirmed by his professional and moral qualities as well as his personal story, President Peter Pellegrini said in his speech at the episcopal consecration of the bishop in Bratislava on Saturday. https://etasr.sk/article/22568214 Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) and acting Police Corps president Jana Maskarova wished new Ordinary of the Slovak Armed Forces Pavol Sajgalik a lot of strength. https://etasr.sk/article/22568380 Rome, 18 October (TASR) - Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) and Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) signed a memorandum of understanding with Director General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Qu Dongyu in Rome, Italy, the Environment Ministry's communications department told TASR on Saturday, adding that it will help Slovakia to become a self-sufficient country and exploit its potential. https://etasr.sk/article/22568325 Brussels/Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - Nineteen European Union (EU) member states, including Slovakia, and Norway, have jointly called on the European Commission (EC) to take steps to allow the voluntary or forced return of Afghans who don't have a residence permit or face criminal prosecution in the EU, according to a letter to European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner published on Saturday, TASR reports based on news stories by Euractiv.com and Belga news agency. https://etasr.sk/article/22567958 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. am