MORNING NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Sunday, November 3, 2024 - 9 a.m.

TASR brings a quick morning overview of the most important events seen in Slovakia on the previous day (Saturday, November 2): BEIJING - Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) attended a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Han Jun in Beijing, which led to the signing of two documents on cooperation, Slovak Agriculture Ministry told TASR on Saturday, adding that Jun confirmed his interest in the import of quality Slovak products, including wine. "We see cooperation with Slovakia as prospective also in research and development, in the exchange of valuable experience and knowledge between our research institutions. With a comprehensive approach, we can contribute to the development of agriculture in both countries," said the Chinese agriculture minister, highlighting the successful cooperation with the Slovak University of Agriculture and praising the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries. "Slovak agriculture is facing changes in the near future. We need to breed more livestock, grow more vegetables and fruit. In this context, it's undoubtedly important to focus also on vertical farming, where we see a significant scope for closer cooperation with Chinese partners," said Takac in connection with the expanding cooperation. BEIJING - The aim of the Cultural Cooperation Programme between the Slovak and Chinese Culture Ministries is to strengthen and expand cultural cooperation between the two countries, Slovak Culture Ministry's spokeswoman Petra Bacinska told TASR on Saturday, adding that the memorandum was signed by Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) for 2025-2029 in Beijing. According to Simkovicova, the signing of the memorandum took cultural cooperation between the countries to a new level. "China is an important partner. I look forward to the development of cooperation between Slovak and Chinese theatres, ballet, opera and music ensembles, as well as other cultural, artistic and educational institutions," said the minister, adding that in the text of the memorandum, both countries attach importance to the cultural heritage of civilisations and innovation. BRATISLAVA - Slovakia will need between 50,000 and 77,000 employees in the renewable energy sector (RES) by 2030, and the largest number of workers will be needed in the production and installation of heat pumps, according to a recent study by the Slovak Sustainable Energy Association (SAPI), which prepared it in cooperation with eclareon. "We've analysed the need for jobs in three segments, which are the most important ones. First, solar photovoltaics, then wind energy and finally heat pumps," said SAPI director Jan Karaba, adding that these three technologies, as in other countries, can be expected to develop the most and are also the most important for the decarbonisation of Slovak energy and other sectors. The SAPI chief added that the study focused on green jobs and meeting the need for these jobs in the context of RES development. Foreign respondents from industry or installation companies were among those approached. LANGTANG - Slovak mountaineer Ondrej Huserka is missing after falling into a crevasse in the Himalayas following his successful ascent of Nepal's seven-thousander Langtang Lirung, TASR learnt from the Slovak Mountaineering Union 'James' on Saturday. "We must, unfortunately, report the latest, very unfavourable news from under Langtang Lirung. On his return, Ondrej had an accident while abseiling and the consequence was that he fell into a crevasse. It was not in Marek Holecek's power to pull him out of the crevasse, moreover, Ondrej was in poor condition," the mountaineering union posted on a social network. Thirty-four-year-old Huserka and Czech top mountaineer Marek Holecek (49) climbed the extremely challenging 2,200-meter-high east face of the 7,227-meter-high Langtang Lirung for the first time. They reached the summit on Wednesday (October 30). Rescue operations, including helicopter rescues, haven't yet been successful, with another attempt reportedly due to take place on Sunday night (November 3) CET. "We believe that there's still a small hope that the rescue team, composed also of volunteers on the spot, will reach him and that a small big miracle will happen," wrote the Slovak Mountaineering Union. am