MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Tuesday, 20 October 2026 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Monday, 19 October): BRATISLAVA - Slovakia sold government bonds totalling €530.4 million in its regular monthly auction in October, with maturity dates ranging from three to 25 years, at the average annual interest rates amounting to 3.622 - 4.694 percent, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) reported on Monday. Slovakia obtained the highest sum (€262 million) from a sale of bonds with a maturity date in 2037. The average accepted yield on maturity stood at 4.438 percent p.a. Auction of ten-year bonds brought in an additional €103 million, with the average accepted yield of 4.374 percent p.a. Another auction of bonds maturing in 2029 brought €92 million into state coffers, with the average accepted yield amounting to 3.622 percent p.a. ARDAL sold the smallest volume of bonds (€73.4 million) with the longest maturity (25 years) at the highest average accepted yield of 4.694 percent. Total demand from investors was more than double the amount sold, exceeding €1.2 billion. TREBISOV - A police investigator has charged a 14-year-old pupil from a school in the Trebisov district (Kosice region) with the crime of making dangerous threats, the Kosice regional police has posted on social media. On 13 October, the boy threatened to kill several minors in a classroom, describing various ways in which he would do so. To frighten them further, he said that he was thinking about it every day. "Following the necessary procedural steps, an investigator from the Criminal Police Department of the Trebisov District Police Directorate pressed charges against the 14-year-old student and submitted a motion to have him remanded in custody," said the police. BRATISLAVA - The V4 (Visegrad Four) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) would like to channel European funds towards supporting industry in light of high energy prices, to enable the financing of companies' operating costs when drawing up further financial programmes, and to place nuclear energy on an equal footing with renewable energy sources (RES) in policy frameworks, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) stated on Monday following a meeting in Bratislava of the V4 countries' ministers responsible for energy and European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen, at which they signed a joint declaration on priorities in this area for the European Union. to Sakova, EU funds from the Cohesion Policy could be used to help tackle high energy prices, or greater flexibility could be introduced within the Modernisation Fund. This would be a temporary exception. "No V4 country wants to place a long-term burden on its national budget, which is why we'd like to make use of European Commission resources to support industry where necessary," said the minister. Furthermore, the ministers wish to discuss with the European Commission (EC) the possibility that any support projects and programmes the EC develops to promote competitiveness shouldn't only include options for financing investment costs in industrial transformation, but should also take into account the industry's operating costs. The ministers also discussed energy security following the cut-off of gas imports from Russia. In their view, the European Union could support investments aimed at diversifying supply routes. MARTIN - Officers of the Police Corps Presidium's National Anti-Drugs Unit as part of an operation codenamed 'Finisher 2' arrested on Monday three people and charged two men, aged 34 and 25, with the particularly serious crime of the unauthorised production of and trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances, TASR was told by spokesperson for the Police Corps Headquarters Roman Hajek. The operation took place in the early hours of the morning in the town of Martin and the village of Bystricka (both Zilina region) and targeted individuals suspected of serious drug-related criminal activity. Hajek added that the operation was carried out under the supervision of a prosecutor from the Martin District Prosecutor's Office. "We carried out searches of homes and persons, as well as searches of other premises and land. During the operation, we seized cash, telecommunications equipment and substances, the exact chemical composition of which will be the subject of an expert analysis," he explained. An investigator from the National Anti-Drugs Unit has charged two men, aged 34 and 25, with the particularly serious crime of the unauthorised production of and trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances. "According to our findings so far, they are alleged to have been involved in the distribution of cocaine on an exceptionally large scale," said Hajek. MOCHOVCE - The fourth unit of the Mochovce nuclear power plant is supplying its first megawatt-hours of electricity after being connected to the grid on 15 October, thus making Slovakia self-sufficient in electricity generation, power utility Slovenske Elektrarne (SE) general director Branislav Strycek told a news conference in Mochovce (Nitra region) on Monday. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) noted that from 2027 onward, Slovakia will also be capable of exporting electricity in large volumes. "We can talk about 400 to 500 megawatts that Slovakia will be able to supply to international markets, turning it into an energy powerhouse. Despite being a country with a small population, we have two nuclear power plants and a huge hydroelectric power plant in Gabcikovo, which is under full state control. And we'll become even stronger if we manage to build a new nuclear facility in Jaslovske Bohunice as scheduled," stressed Fico. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) added that in addition to the new unit in Mochovce, Slovakia had a fully developed electricity transmission network and was interconnected with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine. BRATISLAVA - The National Commission for Water and Drought has approved the Implementation Atlas of Priorities for 2026–2030, the Government Office's press and information department stated on Monday, adding that the state is thus moving from planning to specific measures designed to help tackle drought, water scarcity and the protection of water resources. The atlas brings together the priorities of several ministries and specialist institutions into a coordinated approach. It will focus primarily on the restoration of irrigation systems, water retention in the landscape, the protection of drinking water sources and the modernisation of water management infrastructure. "Water is a strategic issue for the whole of Slovakia. Drought is no longer a problem of the future, but a reality that we must address systematically and proactively. We need specific measures, clear accountability and measurable results," said Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD). As of 1 November 2026, work will begin on drawing up specific projects. Each proposal will have to include a designated project manager, a timetable, estimated costs, a method of financing and expected outcomes. Priority will be given to measures that are ready for implementation and can deliver initial results as early as 2027. jrg