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This summary is provided by the STA:
Cap on petrol prices lifted as of 1 May
LJUBLJANA - The government decided not the extend the cap on the price of regular petrol and diesel introduced in March, saying that the petroleum products market had stabilised. This means the price, both retail and wholesale, will be freely formed on the market again as of 1 May. The Economy Ministry said that the goal of protecting consumers had been achieved and that the market had stabilised.
Annual inflation accelerates to 6.9% in April
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's annual inflation accelerated to 6.9% in April, up 1.5 percentage points from March and level with the rate in February. Data from the Statistics Office shows a surge in prices of petroleum products contributed 1.5 percentage points to the headline rate, as much as a 9.2% increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Contained by administrative measures, electricity prices dropped by 21.6% to reduce the annual inflation rate by 0.8 points.
Ministry defends Boxer specs after criticism about equipment
LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry said that the 45 Boxer armoured vehicles Slovenia is buying through OCCAR satisfy all technical demands as it responded Friday to a report alleging that equipment had been pared down to hit a low enough price point. Only "less important technical requirements" were dropped in negotiations for the purchase of the vehicles, it said.
Slovenia to send additional material aid to Ukraine
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will send Ukraine material assistance in the form of IP phones, computers, petrol generators, antennas and cables, the government decided. The estimated value of the aid, including transport, is nearly EUR 180,000. The project will be carried out through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Trade union urges quality and secure jobs for youth
LJUBLJANA - The youth trade union Mladi Plus expects the forthcoming government to adopt a regulatory framework for platform work, address precarious work arrangements among the young and step up the prosecution of labour rights violations. It also wants social dialogue and the inclusion of the young into policy making. Addressing reporters ahead of Labour Day, the union's representatives pointed to the growing proportion of the long-term unemployed among the young.
NIJZ head sees plans for his dismissal as political pressure
LJUBLJANA - The head of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Milan Krek, finds the announcement of his potential dismissal by the likeliest PM-designate Robert Golob as a form of unacceptable political interference. He told the STA he did not intend to offer his resignation after the new government is sworn in. Krek has been widely criticised for botching the response to the pandemic and pandering to the government while ignoring experts.
Hungarian foreign minister visits Lendava
LENDAVA - Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto paid a visit to Lendava, eastern Slovenia, for talks with the MP for the Hungarian minority and the mayor of the bilingual city. Ferenc Horvath was re-elected MP on Sunday and Szijjarto congratulated him saying Hungary was very satisfied with the work he was doing. He said Hungary would continue to work for the preservation of strong cross-border ties.
Terme Čatež rebounds after Covid slump
ČATEŽ OB SAVI - Terme Čatež, one of Slovenia's largest tourism companies, returned to black in 2021. Sales revenue rose by more than a third to EUR 25.2 million and net profit stood at EUR 5.5 million after a EUR 4 million loss the year before. The number of nights rose by over a quarter to almost 538,000, shows the company's annual report.
Survey unemployment rate continues to drop
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's ILO-compatible survey unemployment rate dropped to 4% in March, down by 0.1 percentage point on February and 1.1 percentage point lower year-on-year. The Statistics Office estimates there were some 41,000 unemployed people in Slovenia last month. Half the unemployed aged 15-74 in March were men with their unemployment rate at 3.7%, lower than 4.4% among women.
Minister Andrijanič makes WEF 2022 Class of Young Global Leaders
GENEVA, Switzerland - Digital Transformation Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič has made the 2022 Class of Young Global Leaders announced by the World Economic Forum (WEF), an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation. Joining 109 other leaders aged 30-40, he is listed in the category of promising public figures. "It is an honour to be the first Slovenian to join this inspiring community in more than 10 years," Andrijanič said on Twitter.
Podobnik to withdraw as SLS head
LJUBLJANA - The president of the non-parliamentary People's Party (SLS) Marjan Podobnik announced on Friday he would not stand for another them at the helm of the party at the autumn congress after its failed comeback attempt in Sunday's general election. He will however try to make the party "younger and fresher," he announced on Twitter.
New mystery thriller TV series to premiere on TV Slovenija
LJUBLJANA - A new Slovenian TV series tailor-made for fans of TV dramas imbued with a sense of mystery and thriller will premiere on TV Slovenija on Sunday evening. The 8-episode series Trigrad is set in a fictional remote village of the same name in the mountainous area in north-western Slovenia. Directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Sonja Prosenc, it stars Marko Mandić, one of Slovenia's most renowned actors, along with Katarina Stegnar and Suzana Krevh.
Some 1,250 new Covid cases on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 1,251 new coronavirus infections for Thursday as hospitalisations decreased. The 14-day notification rate per 100,000 of the population has declined by five to 635, but the 7-day average of new cases climbed by 15 to 870. The total of patients hospitalised for Covid-19 as their primary condition dropped to 88 and another four patients died, Health Ministry data shows.
