SUMMARY - Wednesday, 8 April 2026 - 10.30 p.m.

Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - Current geopolitical events shouldn't overshadow the fact that Slovak territory was liberated at the end of World War II by the Red Army, along with the Romanian Army and the Czechoslovak Army Corps, stated President Peter Pellegrini at the Slavin memorial on Wednesday, marking the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava. https://etasr.sk/article/23163466 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - The cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to set up a Government Council for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence submitted by the Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry (MIRRI). https://etasr.sk/article/23163421 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - Slovakia is gradually building the capacity to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction and has set up its own fund, which will be managed by the Vice-premier's Office for the Recovery Plan and a Knowledge-based Economy, according to an annual report on the status of implementing the strategic framework for Slovakia's involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine, which the office submitted and the government took note of at its meeting on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23163534 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party welcomes the ceasefire between Iran and the USA, expressing hope that it will evolve into a permanent peace, PS MP Tomas Valasek told a press conference on Wednesday, noting that the war in the Middle East is a crisis that undermines the pillars of security and NATO. https://etasr.sk/article/23163640 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - Fiscal consolidation is significantly eroding the consumer sentiment of Slovak households, causing a decline in retail revenues, which are expected to drop for the second consecutive year in 2026, according to UniCredit Bank analyst Lubomir Korsnak's commentary on February retail revenues published by the Statistics Office on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23163768 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - Stefan Vyletel, the former deputy chairman of the board of directors at national lottery company Tipos, has been appointed general director and chairman of the board, replacing Michal Hutnik, who resigned for health reasons, the Tourism and Sport Ministry's communications and marketing department announced on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/23163955 Banska Bystrica, 8 April (TASR) - The questioning of MP Jan Ferencak (Independent), who has been expelled from the coalition Voice-SD party, lasted approximately six hours at the Office for Combating Organised Crime (UBOK) in Banska Bystrica on Wednesday, TASR has learnt from Ferencak and his lawyer Peter Kubina. https://etasr.sk/article/23164035 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - Michal Simecka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, has criticised Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) for his statements at the Slavin memorial in Bratislava on Wednesday, saying that Fico has cast doubt on Slovakia's clear anchoring in Europe, TASR has learnt from Alec Borovy from the PS media department. https://etasr.sk/article/23164165 Bratislava, 8 April (TASR) - An inter-ministerial group dedicated to children's mental health is drawing up legislation aimed at preventing the radicalisation of young people and protecting children in the online space, Health Minister Kamil Sasko, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok and Education Minister Tomas Drucker (all Voice-SD) announced following a round-table discussion held on Wednesday with experts and local government representatives. https://etasr.sk/article/23164531 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. jrg