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This summary is provided by the STA:
Janša and Orban address Celje trade fair opening
CELJE - Prime Minister Janez Janša opened the 53rd International Trade Fair (MOS), saying the major challenges brought about by the Covid epidemic had been successfully weathered and that he was optimistic about the future. Welcoming Hungary as this year's partner country at the fair, Janša said bilateral economic cooperation was intensifying, noting that trade in goods reached EUR 1 billion in the first five months. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said that 2020 had been a black year for the global economy, and that 2021 was a kind of an economic milestone, as a new global economic era was emerging although not everyone was aware of it yet.
Slovenian and Hungarian ministers discuss security, migration
CELJE - The home affairs ministers of Slovenia and Hungary, Aleš Hojs and Sandor Pinter, met in Celje on Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting between the two prime ministers, Janez Janša and Viktor Orban, to discuss the security situation and migration. A press release from the Slovenian Ministry of Interior Affairs, said the two ministers had agreed about the urgent need to prevent mass migration flows in the EU and pressure on the bloc's external borders.
Slovenian, Hungarian governments expanding cooperation
CELJE - The governments of Slovenia and Hungary held a joint session with officials conducting an overview of existing cooperation and signed additional bilateral agreements. Government officials signed a letter of intent on a joint fund for Prekmurje and Porabje, the border regions populated by the Hungarian and Slovenian ethnic minorities, and a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation.
Entrepreneurs laud work of commercial diplomacy
CELJE - Business executives and entrepreneurs taking part in debate at the 10th Day of Commercial Diplomacy at the International Trade Fair in Celje praised the work of this branch of the diplomatic service, while they also offered their views on global challenges. The annual event was attended by Slovenian diplomats and representatives of institutions and companies with opening addresses delivered by Stanislav Raščan and Andrej Čuš, state secretaries at the ministries of foreign affairs and economy.
Six deaths and over 1,360 new Covid infections on Tuesday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,364 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday, up 25% from a week earlier, while six patients with Covid-19 died, according to the latest data. The positivity rate was just over 20%, down from almost 25% a day earlier. The 7-day average of new cases rose to 953 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 to 530, data from the National Institute of Public Health show. It estimates that there are now almost 11,240 active cases in the country. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals increased to 347 this morning, with 76 patients in intensive care.
Surge in vaccinations and protest as Covid pass mandate takes effect
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has seen a surge in vaccinations in the run-up to the Covid pass mandate that took effect today, but the first day has also brought report of tensions in shops and a large protest in front of Parliament House by groups of antivaxxers and anti-maskers, at which police used a water canon and tear gas to disperse the crowd. After the Covid pass mandate was announced on Saturday, vaccine uptake surged with the number of doses administered doubling week-on-week on Monday and Tuesday as long waiting lines were reported in front of vaccination centres.
Pahor upholds von der Leyen's main messages in Rome
ROME, Italy - President Borut Pahor upheld the key points from the State of the Union address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as addressed a meeting in Rome with the heads of state of 15 EU countries as part of the Arraiolos initiative discussing the path to strategic autonomy. He said they were a good compromise between different views and a good pointer for the steps that need to be taken, Pahor's office said.
Slovenian MEPs find von der Leyen's speech realistic, lacking specifics
LJUBLJANA - In assessing the annual address to the European Parliament by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Slovenian MEPs said on Wednesday her speech was realistic but lacked concrete proposals, including on social policy. Some welcomed the announced legislation on media freedom.
Slovenia to deploy more staff to NATO Iraq mission
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia plans to increase the number of personnel in NATO's mission in Iraq (NMI) to up to 15 soldiers and civilian experts under a decision adopted by the government in the summer that the parliamentary foreign policy and defence committees took note today. NATO defence ministers decided in February to expand the Iraq mission from 500 to 4,000 troops. Slovenia has participated in the Iraq mission since 2016 and two soldiers are currently deployed there.
Ombudsman reproves Education Ministry in presenting 2020 report
LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina expressed his disappointment at what he described as unresponsiveness on the part of the Education Ministry to his warnings related to remote schooling, as he presented the 2020 report to a parliamentary committee. Addressing the Committee on Education, Science, Sports and Youth, Svetina said the 2020 report was marked by the Covid-19 epidemic. "Almost throughout the year we were facing measures to protect lives and health which strongly affected our lives, our freedoms, curbing them immensely," he said.
Slovenia part of new UNESCO five-country biosphere reserve
LJUBLJANA - UNESCO, the United Nations educational scientific and cultural organisation, has formally declared a biosphere reserve spanning the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers, the first five-country biosphere in the world. The area, spanning 900,000 hectares along the three rivers, has thus become the largest protected riparian reserve in Europe.
Ex-court stenographer charged with confidential info leak
CELJE - The Celje Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against Vojko Tadina, a former Celje District Court employee who is suspected of having leaked confidential information to the criminal underground in exchange for money, the newspaper Večer reported. Tadina, who started working at the court's criminal law department in 2018, is charged with disclosing confidential information. The investigation has shown that he leaked the confidential information for least two years, and that being a drug addict, he used the bulk of the money he received to pay his drug-related debts.
Pipistrel to produce Virus aircraft in Hungary
CELJE - Slovenian maker of ultralight aircraft Pipistrel signed an aircraft manufacturing agreement with Hungary's Genevation Aircraft on the manufacture, marketing and provision of after-sales support for select markets, a deal the company says is worth in excess of EUR 100 million over ten years. The agreement involves the final assembly of Pipistrel SW 121 family aircraft for select domestic and international markets, and cooperation in the development of opportunities and production of advanced composite structures, aircraft components, special mission programs and zero emission aircraft.
Spanish delivery company Glovo completes acquisition of Ehrana
LJUBLJANA - The acquisition of the food delivery platform Ehrana has been finalised and all activities have been transferred to Glovo, the Spanish acquirer said, after announcing in May that it would take over one of the largest home delivery providers in Slovenia. Glovo said all the content of the Ehrana app had now been transferred, which means that users of the app will be automatically redirected to Glovo via a personalised link. The same applies to the Ehrana website.
Ex-kindergarten head gets suspended sentence for maltreatment
LJUBLJANA - Branimira Vrečar, the former head of her private kindergarten in Ljubljana, received a two-year suspended prison sentence with a probation of four years for "neglect of minors and cruel treatment of children". Vrečar, 70, pleaded guilty last week but did not attend today's handing down of the sentence at the District Court in Ljubljana. She was also ordered to pay court fees.
Best of Slovenia's contemporary dance on show in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - The best of Slovenia's contemporary dance production over the past two years will be showcased at the 10th Gibanica biennial in Ljubljana, which opens tonight at the Old Power Station with the event entitled To Do Hugging, and until Saturday. Choreographer Marko Mlačnik will also be honoured for his lifetime achievement at the opening event. The competition programme will feature nine productions - eight picked from among a total of 55 productions and one that qualified directly by virtue of the producers winning an award at the previous festival.
Globetrotter Alma M. Karlin in focus of Vienna exhibition
VIENNA, Austria - An exhibition on Alma M. Karlin (1889-1950) will open today at the Weltmuseum Wien, shedding light on the life and work of the famed Slovenian author and globetrotter. Open until 18 January, the show's concept mirrors the 2020 monograph Endless Travels of Alma M. Karlin by Barbara Trnovec, a curator from the Celje Regional Museum who has studied Karlin's life for many years. She has co-curated the exhibition together with Reinhard Blumauer of the Weltmuseum.
Launch of demographic office postponed yet again
LJUBLJANA - The government decided at its correspondence session on Tuesday to postpone yet again the launch of the Government Office for Demographic Affairs, this time by a month. The new date for the office, which was to be fully up-and-running today, is now 15 October. The specialised institution designed to address demographic challenges was formally established with a government decree adopted in October 2020. It is still unclear who will lead the new office.
Slovenia defeat Czechia to enter Eurovolley semis
OSTRAVA, Czechia - Slovenia defeated hosts Czechia 3:0 at the Men's European Volleyball Championship to enter the semi-finals, where they will play Poland. The win marks a major boost for the Slovenians given that they lost to Czechia in the group stage, with the Czechs then proceeding to eliminate Olympic champions France.
