28 Nov 2021, 20:08 PM

Ski Jumping: Lanišek Wins World Cup Event in Ruka (Video)

STA, 28 November 2021 - After fishing second at the men's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Ruka on Saturday, Slovenian ski jumper Anže Lanišek won on Sunday the second such event at Finland's ski resort this season in what is his first World Cup individual event victory.

Today was another brilliant day for Slovenian ski jumpers, as three of them made it to the top six, apart from Lanišek also brothers Cene and Peter Prevc, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

The 25-year-old Lanišek maintained his lead from the first series after scoring 311.9 points with a jump of 135 metres in the second series. Second place went to Germany's Karl Geiger (310.3 points), whereas his compatriot Markus Eisenbichler (305.2 points) finished third.

Slovenia's Timi Zajc meanwhile fell from eight place to 20th after the second series, having taken the brunt of poor conditions in the finals.

Lanišek now ranks second in the overall World Cup rankings, having bagged 252 points. Geiger, 305 points, is in the lead.

Next weekend, the Slovenian men's ski jumping team is looking at both the individual and team events in Poland's Wisla.

28 Nov 2021, 12:14 PM

Last Week in Slovenia: 19 - 25 November, 2021

What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.

If you’d like to keep up on the daily headlines then follow those here, or get all our stories in your feed on Facebook.

FRIDAY, 19 November
        LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed a bill on additional measures for curbing the consequences of epidemic, envisaging special one-off payments for the most vulnerable such as pensioners, old farmers without pension and people with disabilities, and fresh stimulus measures for business.
        LJUBLJANA - The government proposed a compensation scheme for those who have suffered serious health damage as a result of a Covid-19 vaccine, a step Health Minister Janez Poklukar said was key to maintaining confidence in the vaccines. Compensation of EUR 60,000 would be paid to those who suffer a serious and permanent reduction in their vital functions after vaccination.
        LJUBLJANA - The State Prosecution Council welcomed the government's decision to refer the council's pick of the pair of candidates for delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). Both the council and experts said such an act cannot be temporary. The European Commission said the appointment was a step in the right direction.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU's General Affairs Council endorsed conclusions highlighting the strategic importance of water, a move hailed by Slovenia as a landmark in water diplomacy and a major achievement of the Slovenian EU presidency.
        LJUBLJANA - The MPs representing the Italian and Hungarian minority tabled legislation that would raise the language requirement for teachers and other staff working in bilingual schools and kindergartens.

SATURDAY, 20 November
        LJUBLJANA - Simona Kustec stayed on as minister of education after a motion of no confidence in her was voted down following more than 14 hours of debate during which the opposition alleged that her management of the portfolio has been disastrous, especially when it comes to dealing with Covid-19 at school, and Kustec framing the vote as an attempt to silence women in politics.
        LJUBLJANA - Hit the Road, a family road trip movie by Iranian director Panah Panahi, won the Kingfisher Award, the main award handed out at the Ljubljana International Film Festival. Panahi's debut feature is a multi-layered portrait of an Iranian family and Iranian society at large set in a road trip through north-western Iran.

SUNDAY, 21 November
LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs rejected allegations about the police organisation changes being an attempt to politicise the force. Hojs sees the new law as the first step towards a more professional police that would reduce any political interference, whereas the opposition maintains the opposite.

MONDAY, 22 November
        LJUBLJANA - Marjan Dikaučič remained justice minister after 42 MPs voted in favour of a motion of no confidence, four short of the required majority. He was endorsed by 28 MPs as several deputy groups, including the junior coalition NSi, abstained.
        OTOČEC - A plaque commemorating the Slovenian-Croatian bilateral meetings and cooperation, celebrating the 30th anniversary of independence of both countries was unveiled with prime ministers Janez Janša and Andrej Plenković stressing the importance of cooperation and friendly relations.
        LJUBLJANA - The government decided to lend Croatia 40,950 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 in response to the neighbouring country's request for 40,000 doses.
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor congratulated Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on his re-election. The presidents also discussed the Covid-19 pandemic, efforts by both Slovenia and Bulgaria to raise vaccination rates, and potential further steps in the search for a compromise solution on Bulgaria's blockade of North Macedonia's EU accession talks.
        VIENNA, Austria - Foreign Minister Anže Logar said Belarus should remain high on the agenda of the EU and the international community as he condemned the Belarus regime and expressed support for democratisation of the country at a conference in Vienna.
        LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Local Court dismissed a case against author and comedian Andrej Rozman Roza over his involvement in a protest reading of the Constitution in front of Parliament House in June 2020. The court said that this was minor offence that did not endanger anyone.
        LJUBLJANA - Igor Samobor, the director of Ljubljana's SNG Drama theatre, resigned due to what he described as government foot-dragging over the badly needed renovation of the building of Slovenia's largest theatre. Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti denied culpability saying the government wanted the project to be transparent.
        LJUBLJANA - The retrial in the infamous sawn-off hand insurance fraud case saw Julija Adlešič - the woman whose hand was sawn off - her partner Sebastien Abramov, and his parents all pleading guilty and receiving prison sentences. Adlešič and Abramov will spend 19 and 29 months in prison, respectively. Both have already served most of their sentences in custody.

TUESDAY, 23 November
        MURSKA SOBOTA - The government toured the north-easternmost region of Pomurje, discussing various projects, including in agriculture, the leading industry in the area, as well as efforts to convince young people to stay in the region. Apart from visiting companies in the region, PM Janez Janša met representatives of the Hungarian minority in Pomurje and visited the Murska Sobota diocese of the Evangelical Church in Slovenia where he met Bishop Leon Novak.
        LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar and the head of the Medical Chamber Bojana Beović warned about the possibility of the fifth wave of Covid infections, with Poklukar saying he thought that another wave could emerge in February next year as a result of an insufficient vaccination rate. Beović said that the Covid pass mandate could be amended to make booster doses mandatory.
        LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs hosted a meeting of the ATLAS Commanders Forum, attended by representatives of the special police units from the EU member states. Hojs said that terrorism was placed high on the EU priority list and that the role of ATLAS network was important as well.
        STRASBOURG, France - Foreign Minister Anže Logar raised concern about the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina as he addressed the European Parliament on Tuesday evening. Logar, who took part in the debate on behalf of the Council of the EU, called on the country's political leaders to give up provocative and divisive rhetoric and actions
        LONDON, UK - Slovenian artist Jasmina Cibic won the 2021 Jarman Award handed out by Film London, worth EUR 10,000. The jury highlighted her projects NADA and The Gift, which was recently screened at the London Film Festival.

WEDNESDAY, 24 November
        LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The College of the European Public Prosecutor's Office appointed Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir as Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors for five-year terms, same as all the other delegated prosecutors. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry put forward amendments to the act on the public prosecution that would give the government greater say in the appointment of Slovenian prosecutors, which the opposition labelled as as yet another attempt by the government at undermining the rule of law and subordinating all social subsystems.
        LJUBLJANA - Hosting his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister Janez Janša pledged Slovenia's support for Poland in light of the migrant crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. He said the EU should fund all measures to protect the bloc's external borders, arguing that physical barriers at the borders have proved to be effective in preventing illegal migration and violence.
        STRASBOURG, France - The European Parliament conducted a debate on fundamental rights and the rule of law in Slovenia. MEPs acknowledged there have been positive steps made recently, but they also criticised the government for delays, in particular in the appointment of European delegated prosecutors.
        LJUBLJANA - The parliament passed an opposition amendment to the act on emergency measures in healthcare, introducing financial compensation for the self-employed, partners in companies and farmers in the event of a quarantine order due to Covid-19 or subsequent childcare obligations.
        LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša reiterated his call for vaccination against Covid-19 as he indicated in an interview with the Catholic Radio Ognjišče that a tightening of restrictions was not in the cards at present.
        LJUBLJANA - Police dealt with 8,144 instances of illegal crossing of the border in the first ten months of 2021, nearly 39% fewer than in the same period last year. The most frequently processed illegal migrants were from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who accounted for almost half of the total number.

THURSDAY, 25 November
        LJUBLJANA - The daily number of new coronavirus cases had been dropping in Slovenia in the past week with the latest figures available showing 2,668 new daily coronavirus infections, about a thousand fewer than a week ago. However, the situation in hospitals remains critical with the number of ICU cases hitting a record 286.
        LJUBLJANA/PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Prime Minister Janez Janša called for stronger cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as he addressed the Asian-European Meeting (ASEM) by videolink. He said this was crucial for an effective response to crises.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers in charge of competitiveness clinched a political agreement on two key digital acts - on digital markets and services at a session chaired by Slovenian Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Digital Transformation Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič. Počivalšek lauded the agreement an important milestone on the path to create a more open and competitive digital market.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed the government's proposal to raise the cap on state budget expenditure for this year by EUR 670 million to nearly EUR 15 billion. The government said the rise was to allow the financing of Covid-19 response measures to continue undisrupted, but the centre-left opposition argued the government had lost a grip on public finances.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously passed an act prohibiting the sale of certain plastic products, including disposable products, with the aim of reducing the quantity of discarded packaging and, consequently, improving public health.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly backed a proposal for a ban on hydraulic fracturing in Slovenia, tabled by three centre-left opposition parties, on first reading in what is the fifth attempt to thwart British company Ascent Resources's fracking plans in the north-eastern Prekmurje region.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly failed to muster the majority needed to pass a declaration to support the European Parliament's 2009 resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism in what was the fifth attempt by the ruling Democratic Party (SDS) to endorse the resolution condemning all totalitarian regimes.
        LJUBLJANA - The government adopted amendments to the medical services act that facilitate licensing of doctors, transfer the jurisdiction of professional exams to the Medical Chamber and simplify hiring of foreign doctors with regard to Slovenian language skills.
        LJUBLJANA - Mercator, Slovenia's largest retailer, recovered from last year's deep loss as it posted a net profit of EUR 12.6 million for the first nine months of the year. Sales revenue was up by almost a percent to EUR 1.63 billion, shows the group's earnings report.

28 Nov 2021, 12:10 PM

Ski Jumping: Double Win for Slovenian Women in Russia, Lanišek 2nd in Finland (Video)

STA, 27 November 2021 - Slovenian women ski jumpers secured their first ever double victory in the individual World Cup event in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, on Saturday. Ema Klinec won the second event of the season after finishing as the runner-up at the same venue yesterday. Her compatriot Urša Bogataj placed second.

"I was calmer than yesterday. I was also better on the inrun and my jumps were pretty nice," Klinc told FIS TV after her first World Cup win. She is now in the lead in the overall World Cup rankings.

"I'm very happy for this first win. I try to keep the focus and enjoy jumps in every event," said the 23-year-old, for whom this is the 12 career World Cup podium.

With jumps of 92 and 97 metres Klinec scored 235.1 points. Bogataj scored 227 in second and Germany's Katharina Althaus won 225.9 points to finish third.

Lanišek second in Ruka

STA, 27 November 2021 - Anže Lanišek finished second in the men's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Ruka in Finland to round off a perfect day for Slovenian jumpers after his female counterparts chalked up a double win in the event in Nizhny Tagil, Russia.

Lanišek was in the lead after the first series, but was bested by Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi in the second. The latter clinched his 20th World Cup victory with jumps of 138.5 and 143 metres for 324.5 points as Lainšek scored 318.9 with 141 and 140 metres.

Another Slovenian jumper, Timi Zajc, finished 9th after placing third in the first series.

Lanišek's feat comes after Ema Klinec won her first World Cup event in Nizhny Tagil ahead of fellow teammate Urša Bogataj in second.

28 Nov 2021, 10:47 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 28 November 2021

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

Quarantine imposed on arrivals from areas with Omicron Covid variant

LJUBLJANA - Travellers arriving in Slovenia from areas with the new coronavirus variant that the WHO has declared to be of concern face mandatory quarantine on arriving in Slovenia under a decision taken by the government on Friday. Entry is banned to foreigners without a residence permit in Slovenia arriving from those areas. The list of areas and countries with the new variant B.1.1.529, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is being published by the National Institute of Public Health. Those are currently South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The new variant has not yet been detected in Slovenia.

Curbs placed on Christmas fairs

LJUBLJANA - The government made a few changes to Covid restrictions on Friday, including detailing rules for open-air Christmas fairs, which will have to be fenced off with separate entrances and exits. Open-air stalls serving food and drinks need to put up notices limiting customer numbers. Other provisions in that section of the regulation remain unchanged, which means that existing restrictions on the number of customers and their being required to have a Covid pass still apply. But the pass will no longer be required for customers accepting mail and package deliveries, except at post offices.

Slovenia's coronavirus curve keeps falling

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus count continued its downward trajectory as 2,224 new cases were reported for Friday, down both on the day and the week before. Hospitalisations remained stable, but another 23 Covid-19 patients died yesterday, government data shows. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 dropped by 17 to 1,120 this morning ad 284 still required intensive care, down by five. The 7-day average of new infections dropped to 2,478, 144 less than the day before, and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 fell by 67 to 1,901, according to the National Institute of Public Health.

Covid vaccine boosters recommended for all adults

LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunization recommends a booster shot of a vaccine against Covid-19 to all adults, that is everyone aged 18 or over. The body decided to expand the booster shot recommendation to all adults at its latest session after initially recommending boosters for several groups, including to over 50-year-olds, particularly vulnerable people with chronic conditions regardless of their age, care home residents, family members of immunocompromised persons and those particularly exposed at work. According to the National Institute of Public Health, more than 281,700 people in Slovenia have already received booster shots.

LMŠ sets out plan for country's normalisation, development breakthrough

LJUBLJANA - The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) of the previous prime minister endorsed its election manifesto and platform at a virtual congress setting out solutions which they say should restore a normality in Slovenia and pave the way for a development breakthrough. Marjan Šarec said the next government would have its work cut out fixing the consequences of the current rule. He promised staff replacements "where those in power at the moment have politically subjugated institutions that are supposed to be independent and vital to the state's functioning and survival". With the platform, the LMŠ refashions itself as a development-oriented liberal party.

NSi offers itself as solution to end bi-partisan antagonism

LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia (NSi) met for a virtual congress in preparation for next year's general election where their leader Matej Tonin said the Christian democratic party should get the mandate to form a government in order to avoid the "inefficiency" of the centre-left and the "sharpness" of the SDS, the NSi's partner in the current coalition. Tonin, the incumbent defence minister, said the NSi would not be breaking up the government in the few months ahead of the April election. The party's programme aims to boost the economy, secure accessible public healthcare through competition and an even development of the whole country.

President Pahor condemns Kosovo bus shooting attack

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor condemned Friday's shooting attack on a bus in western Kosovo in which three people were killed. In a post on his Twitter profile, Pahor also expressed his deepest condolences to the victims' families. Pahor is due to visit Kosovo on Monday for talks with his counterpart Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. He will also visit Slovenian troops participating in the NATO Kosovo Force. The Kosovo authorities said terrorism was likely the motive behind the attack.

Minister visiting Slovenian communities in Dalmatia and Montenegro

LJUBLJANA - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch is visiting Slovenian communities in Dalmatia and Montenegro this weekend. At meetings in Zadar and Split yesterday she learned about the communities' lively activities. She visited the Slovenian association Lipa (Linden tree) in Zadar and Triglav in Split as well as the Slovenian Consulate General in Split. Jaklitsch today visited Dubrovnik before travelling on to Montenegro for meetings with representatives of the Slovenian community in Podgorica.

Thirty years since the first internet connection in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The internet is thirty years old in Slovenia. The first internet connection was established on 27 November 1991 at the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), when researchers obtained permission to pass IP packets through CERN in Geneva and through Germany to a router at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics in Amsterdam. Preparations for establishing an internet connection in Slovenia started in the mid-1980s, and in May 1991, IJS researchers were finally granted permission to lease a direct line to connect to the international network infrastructure of the COSINE project, which was called IXI (International X.25 Infrastructure) at the time.

Public transport strongly affected by epidemic

LJUBLJANA - The latest Slovenian Energy Efficiency Survey shows that public transport is regularly used as a key mode of transport by around 10% of households, 53% use it very rarely, while 27% of households never use public transport. The survey results also show that the use of public transport has been strongly affected by the epidemic. The use of public transport is more common in larger cities like Ljubljana, where 23% of households used public transport regularly, and Maribor, where that share was 15%. The share of households that never use public transport stands highest in settlements with less than 2,000 inhabitants (37%).

Double win and a podium in prefect day for Slovenian ski jumpers

NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia/RUKA, Finland - Slovenian women ski jumpers secured their first ever double victory in the individual World Cup event in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. Ema Klinec won the second event of the season after finishing as the runner-up at the same venue yesterday. Her teammate Urša Bogataj placed second. Their male counterpart Anže Lanišek finished second in the World Cup event in Ruka in Finland to round off a perfect day for Slovenian jumpers.

27 Nov 2021, 10:28 AM

Booster Vaccines Recommended for All Adults in Slovenia

STA, 27 November 2021 - Slovenia's national advisory committee on immunization has decided to recommend a booster shot of a vaccine against Covid-19 to all adults, that is everyone aged 18 or over.

The body has decided to expand the booster shot recommendation to all adults at its latest session after initially recommending boosters in particular to over 50-year-olds, particularly vulnerable people with chronic conditions regardless of their age, care home residents, family members of immunocompromised persons or vulnerable chronic patients and those exposed to the virus at their work.

Booster shots had been earlier also recommended to those who had been fully vaccinated with viral vector vaccines at least two months after they have been fully jabbed.

According to the National Institute of Public Health, more than 281,700 people in Slovenia have already received booster shots.

27 Nov 2021, 10:04 AM

Slovenia’s Christmas Markets Open, Under COVID Restrictions

STA, 27 November 2021 - The government has made a few changes to Covid restrictions, including detailing rules for open-air Christmas fairs, which will have to be fenced off with separate entrances and exits.

The changed regulation, adopted by the government late on Friday, also provides that food and drinks at open-air stalls can be served provided that the largest number of customers allowed on the premises on the same time is clearly marked at the entrance.

Other provisions in that section of the regulation remain unchanged, which means that existing restrictions on the number of customers as well as on their being required to meet the reconvalescent-vaccinated-tested (PCT) rule still apply.

The changes come after Christmas fairs in some cities, including Ljubljana and Maribor, have already opened. While the area around the fair in Maribor is already fenced, Ljubljana will need to follow suit as well as the new measure applies from today.

Meanwhile, the PCT rule will no longer be required for customers accepting mail and package deliveries, except at post offices. The couriers and postal carriers will still need to meet the PCT requirement.

Other changes pertain to self-testing of school children and students, including one saying that the test counts as meeting the PCT rule in collective exercise of religious freedom.

Music school has been added to extra-curricular activities.

Self-testing at home has also been imposed for children who are placed in educational institutions because on the unsuitable conditions in their home environment.

The right to free screening with rapid-antigen tests is being limited to persons with temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia, those employed with employers based in Slovenia and diplomatic representatives to the country.

27 Nov 2021, 09:27 AM

Quarantine for Arrivals from Areas with New COVID Variant, Entry Banned If No Residence Permit

STA, 27 November 2021 - Travellers arriving in Slovenia from areas with the new coronavirus variant that the WHO has declared to be of concern face mandatory quarantine on arriving in Slovenia starting from Saturday under a decision taken by the government last night. Entry is banned to foreigners without a residence permit in Slovenia arriving from those areas.

The list of areas and countries with the new variant B.1.1.529, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is being published by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). Those are currently South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Under the new government regulation, a 10-day quarantine will be imposed on arrivals residing in those countries or areas or visiting those countries or areas in the past 14 days before entering Slovenia.

The quarantine cannot be ended early and on the 11th day the quarantined persons need to take a PCR test. If the test is positive the same protocol applies as to all other persons who have tested positive.

Those who had been to the areas identified with high risk for the new variant in the 14 days before the new regulation came into force need to report by dialling the number 113. They will then be ordered to quarantine at home for 10 days.

According to the NIJZ, the new variant, first detected in South Africa and thought to be more infectious than those so far known, has not yet been detected in Slovenia.

27 Nov 2021, 04:34 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 27 November 2021

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

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.

26 Nov 2021, 16:10 PM

Slovenians in South Africa Urged to Fly Home ASAP

STA, 26 November 2021- Due to a new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry advises 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 Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU called a meeting of the EU crisis response mechanism for this afternoon to agree on a joint response of members states to the new virus strain, the ministry said.

The situation with the new variant is being monitored, it added.

Some EU countries have already cancelled flights from the south of Africa because of the new strain and introduced additional measures for passengers entering the EU. Some have already banned entry to their country from the area for non-EU citizens and introduced an obligatory PCR test and a quarantine for their citizens.

26 Nov 2021, 14:20 PM

Tax Office Seizes Record Amount of Tobacco

STA, 26 November - Financial Administration officers have discovered 11 tonnes of lose tobacco hidden inside 75 foil wrapped cardboard boxes in a lorry with Slovenian license plates in what is a record such bust.

The Financial Administration (FURS) 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.

Nekomu se je ponesrečilo #Blackfriday 'nakupovanje'.?
Zasegli smo 11 ton pretihotapljenega tobaka ?, zaradi katerega bi bil proračun oškodovan za kar 1,8 mio€ ?.

Več pa v novički: https://t.co/HsJE6A0IqT
P.S. Za vse tiste, ki sprašujete za prijatelje - dražbe ne bo.❤️ pic.twitter.com/ouHaRRB5z3
— Finančna uprava RS (@FinancnaUPR) November 26, 2021

In a jocular post on its Twitter profile FURS said someone had a mishap with their Black Friday 'shopping'. They also said that there would be no auction as the confiscated goods would be destroyed.

On inspecting the lorry carrying the undeclared goods, FURS officers established as many as ten violations of various legal provisions.

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