SUMMARY - Monday, 31 August 2026 - 9.15 p.m.

Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - The new education reform that will be rolled out across all schools this academic year will bring a new standard of quality to the teaching process, President Peter Pellegrini stated in his address marking the start of the new school year, adding that the reform is a comprehensive project with a clearly defined aim: to ensure that teaching methods are fit for the 21st century. https://etasr.sk/article/23661012 Bled, 31 August (TASR-correspondent) - Central European countries should make their voices heard more clearly within the European Union, President Peter Pellegrini stated at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, where he took part in a moderated discussion with Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent. https://etasr.sk/article/23661115 Bled, 31 August (TASR-correspondent) - I intend to discuss, among other things, the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the arms industry at the September session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President Peter Pellegrini told reporters on Monday at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, adding that he supports the view that AI should be regulated, but not excessively. https://etasr.sk/article/23661351 Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has expressed his ambition to elevate relations with Japan to the level of a strategic partnership, describing the country as one of Slovakia's most important and most reliable partners in Asia, the Government Office's press department told TASR on Monday after Fico received Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. https://etasr.sk/article/23660942 Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - The next parliamentary session is scheduled to begin on 15 September, in line with the approved timetable, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) stated on Monday, adding that government bills will be the priority and that no problems are expected within the coalition regarding their approval. https://etasr.sk/article/23661239 Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - The opposition 'Slovakia' party has criticised plans to build new administrative headquarters for the Interior Ministry at a cost of over €85 million, comparing the project to the refurbishment of the former Hviezda (Star) dormitory building, which is set to become the new headquarters of the Defence Ministry, MPs Roman Mikulec and Gabor Grendel (both 'Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) told a press conference on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23660820 Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - The Interior Ministry has rejected the opposition's claims regarding the planned project to build a new administrative headquarters for the ministry and to renovate the building currently in use, describing them as misleading, TASR has learnt from ministry's spokesperson Matej Neumann on Monday, who responded to a press conference held earlier in the day by the opposition 'Slovakia' party, which had criticised the project. https://etasr.sk/article/23661280 Bratislava, 31 August (TASR) - Since the new section of the Krivan-Mytna expressway in Banska Bystrica region opened last November, 2.5 million vehicles have passed through it, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) said in a video posted on social media on Monday, adding that this amounts to almost 10,000 vehicles a day, with one in five being a lorry. https://etasr.sk/article/23660713 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