MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Saturday, 1 November 2025 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Friday, 31 October): BRATISLAVA - The Government Office on Friday strongly rejected the 'pseudo-ranking' of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which included Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) among the so-called 'press freedom predators', Government Office's press and information department told TASR on Friday, adding that this ranking ignores facts and protects the perpetrators of aggression. "Such an assessment is all the more absurd given that the same organisation has long been silent on attacks by state officials on free media in 2020-2023 and didn't respond to specific cases of intimidation or discrediting of journalists with a different opinion," said the Government Office. According to the office, instead of impartially monitoring media freedom, RSF created a pseudo-ranking list, which "placed them among those who turn from guardians of democracy to political activists". The Government Office claims that RSF also overlooked the media's responsibility for spreading hatred and fomenting an atmosphere of social aggression that has led to physical attacks on politicians. Throughout his political career, Fico has always defended freedom of the press and speech, notes the office. He has never initiated or supported legislative steps aimed at restricting the work of journalists, but on the contrary, he has consistently called for media accountability and supported pluralism of opinion, including the existence of alternative media, which are a natural part of democratic debate. RSF publishes an annual 'Press Freedom Predators' list, which it says highlights those who ruthlessly suppress press freedom. It divides the 'predators' into five categories: political, security, economic, legal and social. The Slovak premier has been placed in the last category. RSF said that Fico doesn't like investigations into corruption and abuse of power by politicians, and has publicly referred to journalists in various expressive terms on several occasions. "His verbal attacks prompted threats against journalists and even led to the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak in 2018," Reporters Without Borders wrote in the assessment. SAMARKAND - Education is the heart of peace: it not only teaches knowledge, but also instils values ​​such as respect, tolerance and empathy. Without education there is no peace and without peace there is no progress, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said in a speech he delivered at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand on Friday. "Slovakia welcomes the new UNESCO Education for Peace programme. It returns to the original idea - to build peace in the minds of all people. As a former minister of education, I believe that education can change lives and societies. Education is not just politics, it is an investment in peace and in the human spirit," said Pellegrini. He noted that Bratislava, together with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), will host the Global Forum on Education and Artificial Intelligence in late November. "We view artificial intelligence as both a challenge and an opportunity. We support UNESCO's efforts to establish clear ethical rules for its use at schools and in society. We also believe that progress in the field of artificial intelligence requires investment, openness and trust. I often say that rules should protect people, not hinder progress," stressed Pellegrini. SAMARKAND - Educated youth is a good prerequisite for resolving conflicts by means of diplomacy, not violence, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini told the media during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference on Friday, which the head of state is participating in for the first time in the history of independent Slovakia. He also spoke about several bilateral talks he held on the sidelines of the conference. "I am very pleased that we can represent the Slovak Republic in this way and at such a high level today, and I am very glad that the education minister came here as well, since we are thereby declaring that the area of ​​education, which is also a key area for UNESCO, is truly a priority for us," said Pellegrini. He mentioned the reform of the education system in Slovakia. At the same time, he noted that the school system must adapt itself to brand new challenges that were unimaginable several years ago. Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) added that social networks have brought many challenges to children and young people in the area of ​​mental health. He views technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) as a great perspective, but also as a challenge. He pointed out that they can accelerate processes in all spheres of life. However, he finds it important to work with children in this regard so that the consequences of using technologies aren't worse than in the case of social networks. POZNAN – Coordination in introducing new F-16 fighter jets into the arsenal of Slovakia's armed forces was one of the main issues discussed by Chief-of-General-Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces General Daniel Zmeko, and Chief-of-General-Staff of the Polish Army General Wieslaw Kukula at the Land Forces Training Centre in Poznan on Thursday, the special TASR correspondent in Warsaw reported on Friday. According to the Polish General Staff, the two military leaders discussed support for putting the new aircraft into service, as well as strengthening cooperation in training and technical coordination. The talks also focused on developing cooperation between the Land Forces Training Centre in Poznan and the Lest Training Centre in Slovakia, as well as on supporting the Slovak army in building a new mechanised brigade and bringing it up to full operational capability. During his visit to the Biedrusko training area, General Zmeko familiarised himself with the training process for Polish tank crews and personally tried driving a K2 Black Panther tank. These South Korean–made tanks, modified into the Polish version K2PL, are expected to become the most widely used tanks of the Polish army in the coming years. The Polish Defence Ministry signed a framework agreement for 1,000 such tanks in 2022. BRATISLAVA - Bratislava I District Court ruled on Friday that the six people accused in a fraud case codenamed 'Gran Turismo' should be released from custody, spokesman for Bratislava courts Pavol Adamciak told TASR, adding that the prosecutor has filed a complaint against the decision. "According to a pre-trial judge of Bratislava I District Court, there are grounds for prosecution, but he didn't see any reasons for so-called preventive custody. The prosecutor has filed a complaint against the decision, which will be decided by Bratislava Regional Court at a public session on 11 November," said Adamciak. Following this week's 'Gran Turismo' operation, the police charged six individuals. They face charges of fraud and forgery and altering public documents, committed in an organised manner. Criminal proceedings were also initiated for unauthorised possession of narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as for illegal possession and trafficking of weapons. am