SUMMARY - Monday, 12 October 2026 - 9.20 p.m.

Zilina, 12 October (TASR) - After almost two weeks, the exceptional train service arrangements at the Zilina railway hub - introduced following the infrastructure fire on 30 September - will come to an end on Tuesday, 13 October, state-run railway infrastructure operator ZSR posted on social media on Monday, adding that following successful load tests on the traction power supply, services will resume as normal at 8 a.m. https://etasr.sk/article/23813935 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) – Approval of the state budget in Parliament is not a matter of political prestige or competition, but one of Slovakia's security and stability, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared in his statement to the media on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23813989 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) - The Government Council for Mental Health on Monday unanimously adopted and approved a strategy for the development and support of mental-health care for children and young people in Slovakia, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) told a press conference following the council's meeting on the same day, noting that the document has thus been passed on to the next stage of the process. https://etasr.sk/article/23814061 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) - Around €900 million is set to be earmarked for hospital construction next year, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) stated at a press conference on Monday, describing hospital construction as a key priority in next year's health budget. https://etasr.sk/article/23814179 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) – Slovakia's 2027 draft state budget has pushed the country to the edge of a cliff, and the main problem is that the deficit is being translated into growing debt, opposition MP Marian Viskupic (SaS) warned during the parliamentary debate on next year's state budget on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23813990 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) - A total of 50,000 people took part in summer events organised by the opposition 'Slovakia' party in Slovak towns and cities; in ten of these cases, incidents occurred that required police intervention, the party said in response to a statement by House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) that the 'Slovakia' party involved young people in heated political confrontations at these events. https://etasr.sk/article/23814257 Kosice, 12 October (TASR) - Tibor Geci, the candidate for the Slavic Unity party, has withdrawn his candidacy for the post of Kosice region governor, TASR has learnt on Monday. https://etasr.sk/article/23814202 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) - The police have detected nearly 2,200 offences and nine crimes as part of a Europe-wide ROADPOL road-safety operation called 'Focus on the Road', Police Corps Presidium spokesperson Lea Vilhanova told TASR on Monday, adding that more than 1,720 police officers took part in the operation between 5-11 October, which focused primarily on the use of mobile phones and other factors that distract drivers. https://etasr.sk/article/23814111 Luxembourg, 12 October (TASR) - Just as it did last year, the Slovak Republic will prepare an aid package for Ukraine to help it cope with the harsh winter ahead, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marek Estok stated on Monday, following the first day of the European Union (EU) Council meeting in Luxembourg, emphasising that Slovakia isn't sending weapons or other lethal equipment to Ukraine, but is focusing on humanitarian aid. https://etasr.sk/article/23814283 Bratislava, 12 October (TASR) - The period of below-average rainfall in Slovakia has now lasted for almost ten and a half months, and several weather stations have recorded less than half the usual amount of rainfall since the start of the year, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) reported on its website on Monday, adding that the lack of rainfall, combined with high evaporation, has also resulted in significant soil drought. https://etasr.sk/article/23814191 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