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This summary is provided by the STA:
Janša discusses current issues with Merkel
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. The issues discussed included the situation in the EU's eastern neighbourhood and the Polish-Belarusian border, the EU's common position on migration pressure, and the build-up of Russian military on the border with Ukraine. "It is important that the EU is united, vigilant and active," Janša was quoted as saying.
Inquiry finds police use of force at 5 Oct riot lawful
LJUBLJANA - A police inquiry has found that officers acted lawfully when they used various types of force during a 5 October riot by opponents of vaccination and the Covid pass mandate in Ljubljana. The commission, appointed by Police Commissioner Anton Olaj, did however identify certain irregularities. "Officers used types of force with which they were able to carry out police tasks with the least damaging consequences," says the report, adding that use of force stopped once order was restored.
Coronavirus continues to retreat as ICU cases go up further
LJUBLJANA - Coronavirus keeps retreating in Slovenia with Thursday's 2,364 new cases pushing the 14-day incidence below 2,000. However, data released by the government also show the number of ICU rising to a new high as the disease claimed 17 more lives. The number of patients in intensive care increased by a further three from what was already a record figure yesterday to 289 this morning as the overall number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients declined slightly to 1,137.
Luka Koper group ups nine-month net profit by 3% to EUR 22.4m
KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper generated EUR 168.2 million in net sales revenue in the first nine months of the year, a 9% increase year-on-year, while net profit increased by 3% to EUR 22.4 million, shows an unaudited report. The report notes that the higher net sales revenue is attributed mostly to increased volume of container transshipment, which was up by 6% to 755,980 container units. Overall, the maritime throughput registered in the January-September period increased 6% year-on-year to 15.7 million tonnes.
Balkan Warrior verdict annulled, defendants released
LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court annulled the verdict in the Balkan Warrior drug trafficking case and ordered retrial, and the defendants, including the chief defendant Dragan Tošić, were released. The decision, first reported by commercial broadcaster POP TV, was confirmed for the STA by the Supreme Court, which said it had returned the case to the first instance court for retrial. A decision on the release of the defendants has been issued, while the verdict is yet to be written.
ASEM marked by calls for Asia-Europe cooperation
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) concluded with calls to enhance cooperation, especially in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and climate change and in free trade efforts. The summit, which was held virtually, was attended by Slovenian PM Janez Janša as the representative of the EU presiding country. Janša, speaking at the joint press conference at the end of the summit, said ASEM had proved to be a unique forum of encouraging dialogue and cooperation. He also pointed to solidarity as an important principle of the EU's workings, the prime minister's office said in a release.
Ministry advises Slovenians in South Africa to return home ASAP
LJUBLJANA - Due to a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry advised Slovenians who are currently in South Africa to return home as soon as possible and monitor the situation, as increasingly many countries are introducing restrictions for passengers arriving from the area. Passengers planning a trip to countries where the new B.1.1.529 variant of the virus has been detected are advised to postpone or cancel non-essential trips. The National Institute of Public Health said that the new variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation, had not been confirmed in Slovenia so far.
Belgrade to return 13 films to Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The government approved a draft agreement on the basis of which 13 Slovenian feature films currently kept at the Yugoslav Cinematheque in Belgrade, Serbia, will return to Slovenia. The classics, including the first Slovenian feature sound film On Our Own Land (1948), had been sent to Belgrade because Slovenia did not have an adequate storage facility for movies shot on a very flammable nitrate film. Under the agreement Slovenia will pay Serbia nearly EUR 44,000 for keeping the films.
Former police commander Glavič denies political interference
LJUBLJANA - Former head of the Ljubljana Police Administration Boštjan Glavič denied he had been under political pressure on the job as he was interviewed by the parliamentary commission investigating suspicion of political interference in police. Janez Rupnik, the current head of the Ljubljana Police Administration, told the commission that the police work at the 5 October protest, at which a water cannon and tear gas were used, was professional and lawful. Commission chair Rudi Medved (LMŠ MP) meanwhile said that politics had already achieved its goals in the police in terms of staffing in all key posts.
Unemployment rate remains below 5% in Q3
LJUBLJANA - The unemployment rate stood at 4.5% in the third quarter, which is 0.2 percentage points higher than in the previous quarter, but lower than a year ago, according to the National Statistics Office. The labour force participation rate also increased, and there was more student work. The unemployment rate was 4.8% for men and 4.2% for women. The office pointed out that the number of people aged 15-24 in employment increased more markedly compared to other age groups.
EU research ministers agree on new ERA management
BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers in charge of research adopted conclusions on new governance of the European Research Area (ERA) and a three-year action plan, which Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec hailed as an important milestone for European science and a major achievement of Slovenia's EU presidency. She also chaired a session of ministers in charge of space where long-term sustainable development and financing of "New Space" were discussed and the "Space for Everyone" conclusions adopted.
Ministers adopt Ljubljana Agreement on EU Urban Agenda
LJUBLJANA - Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak chaired an informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for urban development, who endorsed the further implementation of the EU Urban Agenda by adopting the Ljubljana Agreement. Slovenia's initiative to include small and medium-sized cities in policy-making processes was also successful. Vizjak stressed at the online informal meeting that Slovenia will support the implementation of the Ljubljana Agreement and the EU Urban Agenda, and will strive to actively integrate Slovenian cities into multi-level cooperation.
Trade union collects 24,000 signatures against changes in education
LJUBLJANA - The SVIZ trade union of teachers has collected over 24,000 signatures among employees in education against amendments to the organisation and financing of education act, which would change the composition of school and kindergarten councils to increase the influence of the founder - the government. Speaker Igor Zorčič backed the initiative, as he received SVIZ representatives. "In light of what we are seeing today in our country, ... a staffing tsunami, these provisions cannot be understood in any other way than politics trying to influence staffing in education as well ..." he said.
Literary historian Boris Paternu dies
TRIESTE, Italy - Slovenian literary historian and academician Boris Paternu died in the Italian city of Trieste at the age of 95, the Primorski Dnevnik newspaper reported. His expertise was Slovenian literature of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, while he also extensively studied the poetry of Slovenia's greatest poet France Prešeren. Paternu's studies were published in many European countries as well as in Russia, the US and Australia, while he lectured at more than a dozen European universities.
Cetis to produce new residence permits for foreigners
CELJE - Cetis, a printing group specialising in secure documents, will produce new temporary and permanent residence permit cards and residence registration certificates for foreigners in Slovenia. The contract, signed on Thursday by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and Cetis director Roman Žnidarič, is worth almost EUR 16 million. Cetis is to produce one million cards over the next ten years. In early November, Cetis also signed a framework deal for the production of biometric identity cards for Slovenian citizens. The first ones are expected to be issued at the end of March 2022.
World Olive Day marked with event in Paris
LJUBLJANA/KOPER/PARIS, France - Marking World Olive Day, the Agriculture Ministry co-organised the Masterclass event in Paris as part of Slovenia's EU presidency, where Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek met his French counterpart, Julien Denormandie. The pair underlined excellent relations and cooperation between the two countries. The event largely placed focus on Slovenian olive oil, the ministry said. An online round table discussion on the recommended price for extra virgin olive oil was meanwhile organised by the Koper Scientific Research Centre - ZRS Koper to mark the occasion.
Cinkarna Celje almost doubles Jan-Sep profit
CELJE - Cinkarna Celje, the Celje-based chemical company, saw its sales revenue rise by 12% year-on-year in the first nine months to EUR 145.9 million. Net profit, which amounted to EUR 13.7 million in the first nine months of last year, rose 90% to EUR 26.2 million in the same period in 2021. Releasing the nine-month results in a regulatory filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, the company said the demand was favourable across the geographical regions owing to a general uplift in buyers' confidence.
Unior stays in the black
ZREČE - Unior, a Zreče-based group specialising in forged metals and tools, continues to post positive business results, having generated EUR 8.1 million in profit in the first nine months of the year after posting a loss of EUR 4.9 million in the same period last year. Net sales revenue until the end of September reached EUR 180.4 million, which is EUR 30 million or 20% more than in the same period last year. In the first ten months sales revenue was up 27% year-on-year to EUR 141.5 million.
Revenue service seizes 11 tones of tobacco in record bust
LJUBLJANA - Financial Administration (FURS) officers have discovered 11 tones of loose tobacco hidden inside 75 foil wrapped cardboard boxes in a lorry with Slovenian license plates in what is a record such bust. They hit upon the illegal cargo on Tuesday as its staff inspected a lorry operated by two foreign nationals who were without an employment contract. FURS said the damage to the national budget should the cargo be sold on the black market would be at least EUR 1.8 million.
Festive season gets under way despite Covid
LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR/KOPER - Holiday season is starting in Slovenian towns as hundreds of thousands of lights are being lit and Christmas fairs launched in major towns. However, due to the epidemiological situation no mass events will be held on the occasion. Ljubljana and Maribor will be the first to switch on Christmas lights today. Like last year the exact time has not be announced to avoid crowd. In the capital, the decorations celebrate the importance of community and harmony.
Ski jumper Ema Klinec makes podium in Nizhny Tagil
NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia - Slovenia's Ema Klinec was second in the women's Ski Jumping Word Cup meet in Russia's Nizhny Tagil, finishing in between the first-placed Marita Kramer of Austria and her compatriot Daniela Iraschko-Stolz. The Slovenian women's ski jumping team had a good showing at the first World Cup event this season with three Slovenian ski jumpers making it to the top ten. Urša Bogataj placed fourth and Nika Križnar, the winner of the last World Cup season, finished eight.
