SUMMARY - Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 1 p.m.

Kosice, April 24 (TASR) - Firefighters are currently responding to a flat fire in a block of flats on Kalinovska Street in Kosice, which has caused heavy smoke in the communal areas, prompting the evacuation of all residents, the Regional Directorate of the Fire and Rescue Service in Kosice posted on social media on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21980205 Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - The Bratislava City Council honoured the memory of late Pope Francis by holding a minute of silence on Thursday. It did so at the proposal of Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo. https://etasr.sk/article/21980286 Vatican City/Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Two Slovak priests, Jan Dubina and Lubomir Welnitz, who have served for several years as papal masters of ceremonies, are involved in preparing Saturday's funeral of Pope Francis, according to the website of the Slovak Conference of Bishops (KBS). https://etasr.sk/article/21980344 Vatican City/Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Several Slovak bishops, led by Kosice Archbishop and Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) head Bernard Bober, will attend Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday (April 26), the KBS press department has informed TASR, adding that the bishops will form part of the delegation of President Peter Pellegrini. https://etasr.sk/article/21980533 Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - A peaceful and prosperous future for medium-sized countries without large armies or strong economies, such as Slovakia, fundamentally depends on upholding international law and preserving diplomacy as the main means of resolving disputes between states, said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) on the occasion of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on Thursday, TASR learnt from the ministry's communications department on the same day. https://etasr.sk/article/21980573 Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Bratislava City Council disagrees with the plan of the Slovnaft refinery to build a large-capacity incinerator for processing imported municipal and hazardous waste in the capital city, according to a declaration adopted by city councillors on Thursday. https://etasr.sk/article/21980577 Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party leader Michal Simecka has called on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) not to travel to Moscow in May, stressing that such a visit would be an arrogant insult to all the victims of Russia's horrific aggression. https://etasr.sk/article/21980629 Bratislava, April 24 (TASR) - Farm subsidies worth €511 million have been paid out from the 2024 programme to date, making up 86.69 percent of the total sum of €589.5 million, Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) told a news conference on Thursday with Agriculture Payment Agency (PPA) general director Marek Cepko and local government representatives in attendance. https://etasr.sk/article/21980728 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. ko