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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia supports stepping up of sanctions against Russia
BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU countries broadly agree that sanctions against Russia should be expanded because of the war in Ukraine, but opinions differ on the details, Foreign Minister Anže Logar said after Monday's talks in Brussels. Slovenia advocates stepping up of the sanctions, including by closing the ports to Russian vessels and banning imports of Russian energy.
UNICEF Slovenija sends EUR 400,000 in aid to Ukraine
LJUBLJANA - UNICEF Slovenija has sent emergency aid worth more than EUR 400,000 for children and families to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries in the past week. The organisation is also providing assistance at the refugee accommodation centre in Logatec, UNICEF said.
Govt for closing Russia's culture and science centre in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted an initiative to revoke an agreement with Russia on scientific and cultural centres, and submitted it to the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee for confirmation. The Government Communication Office said the decision was justified with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the release described as an unacceptable and grave violation of international law and treaties, including the founding Charter of the United Nations.
Government adopts rules on allied UAVs in Slovenian airspace
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decision that establishes conditions for allied unmanned military aircraft flying over Slovenia during the time of NATO's crisis response to the situation in Ukraine. It also adopted an amendment on the regulation dealing with sanctions against Russia. The government's decision "establishes conditions for high altitude, long autonomy overflights by allied military UAVs in Slovenian airspace," said the Government Communication Office.
SSH management board complete as third member appointed
LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) appointed economist Peter Drobež as the third member of the management board to complete the board of the state asset custodian after two board members resigned due to irregularities in January 2021. The SSH management board has been incomplete since January 2021 after board members Boštjan Koler and Boris Medica offered their resignations, which happened in mutual agreement with SSH.
Ljubljana mayor praises inclusion of Ukrainian primary school children
LJUBLJANA - After a report last week about the ongoing integration of around 140 children from Ukraine into schools in Slovenia, Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković announced that good headway was also being made at the Livada multicultural primary school in the capital. He meanwhile urged a special status for Ukrainian kindergarten children.
Daily Covid case count highest in more than a month
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 4,935 new coronavirus infections on Monday in what is the highest daily figure since mid-February. Covid cases keep climbing as the latest daily case count is up 17% week-on-week. The number of patients hospitalised due to Covid-19 increased to 145 this morning, of which 41 were in intensive care, down by five from yesterday. Another two people with Covid died.
Re-boost allowed for those who got J&J as initial jab
LJUBLJANA - Those who have received Johnson&Johnson's single-shot Janssen vaccine as their initial jab against Covid-19 will be able to get a second booster shot due to Austria's vaccination rules, the national advisory committee on immunization has decided. The committee's head Bojana Beović told reporters the reason to expand eligibility for the second booster shot was that Austria does not recognise the single dose Janssen jab as a full vaccination against Covid-19.
Trimo sold to Belgian group Recticel
TREBNJE - Innova Capital, a Polish private equity fund, has sold Trimo, a Slovenian-based maker of prefabricated building components, to Belgian company Recticel for EUR 164 million. The deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year, the company said. Trimo Group was taken over by Innova in early 2016 to significantly increase its market share in Europe becoming the second largest producer of mineral wool core panels.
E-care to help elderly live at home longer
LJUBLJANA - The government is launching an e-care project that will allow elderly and disabled people to live safely at home longer by providing them with around-the clock link to an assistance centre and health professionals. A total of 5,000 elderly, disabled and people with chronic conditions are to benefit from the service free of charge until 30 September 2023. The EUR 3 million project, funded from EU grants, has been won by Telekom Slovenije in cooperation with a pensioners' association.
Gorjup says business environment improving
NAZARJE - Home appliances maker BSH Hišni Aparati increased revenue by more than 20% to nearly EUR 500 million last year. This year, the Slovenian subsidiary of the Bosch group expects only moderate growth due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, its director Boštjan Gorjup told the STA in an interview. The results came on a robust demand on all of BSH markets, and the Nazarje-based company, which is part of German BSH Hausgeräte, generated almost EUR 200 million in the Adriatic East region.
Minister: Everything should be done for wheat to stay in Slovenia
LJUTOMER - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek said that everything should be done for Slovenian wheat to stay in Slovenia, as he spoke to the press after a session of the commission for purchase and sale of grains. The meeting also aimed at reaching agreement on models for calculating costs of wheat production.
KUL parties want to put gaming act changes to referendum
LJUBLJANA - The four opposition parties associated in the KUL coalition filed to parliament a proposal to consult voters in a referendum whether the National Assembly should pass changes to the gaming act that aim to partly liberalise the industry, effectively preventin parliament from discussing the changes at third reading on Wednesday. The parties argue that gaming industry liberalisation is dangerous as it opens the door to privatisation of the largest gaming company HIT.
Tourism industry wants govt to help it with 15 measures
LJUBLJANA - As the Slovenian tourism industry has not yet bounced back from the Covid pandemic while it expects to be also hit by the war in Ukraine, its representatives propose a set of 15 measures the government should immediately take to help the most severely affected companies. They argue the situation is "very serious".
RTV Slovenija collected nearly EUR 97m through licence fee in 2021
LJUBLJANA - Public broadcaster RTV Slovenija's revenue reached almost EUR 132 million last year, which is EUR 4.7 million less than its expenditure, the latest annual report shows. RTV Slovenija received nearly EUR 97 million from households' payments of its licence fee. Labour costs topped EUR 81 million. The report, which was discussed on Monday by the RTV Slovenija programming council, indicates that the licence fee represents the largest revenue inflow.
January wages down by around 7%
LJUBLJANA - The average gross pay in Slovenia in January stood at EUR 1,924, while the average net pay was EUR 1,236, down 6.8% and 7.5% in nominal terms, and 7.2% and 7.9% in real terms, respectively, compared to December, the Statistics Office said. The highest average gross earnings were recorded in financial and insurance activities (EUR 2,732).
Iconic police chopper retires after 42 years of service
BRNIK - Having saved countless lives in its 42 years of service, the Agusta Bell AB-212 police chopper officially retired after clocking 9,993 flight hours to become part of the collection of the Slovenian Police Museum. The helicopter, known as Bravo in police jargon, was given a retirement ceremony at the headquarters of the police air unit at Brnik that befits its significance in Slovenia's history. It will eventually be permanently exhibited at the Pivka Park of Military History.
Croatian legend Prosinečki named new Olimpija Ljubljana coach
LJUBLJANA - Legendary Croatian footballer and manager Robert Prosinečki has officially taken over as the new coach of Ljubljana's biggest football club Olimpija, as confirmed by the club. "After a series of unconvincing performances and results, Olimpija Ljubljana decided for a change on the bench. Now we can present the new coach to the public with utmost pride and satisfaction," the football club said. During his playing career, Prosinečki was member of some of the greatest clubs in world football.
