14 Sep 2021, 07:56 AM

Volleyball: Slovenia Beat Croatia, Enter Euro Quarter-Finals (Video)

STA, 13 September 2021 - The Slovenian men's volleyball team made it to the quarter-finals of the European Championships by beating Croatia in the round of 16 in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Monday.

Slovenia needed four sets to beat the neighbours, taking the first set convincingly and only slipping in the third set.

This served as motivation for the runners-up from the 2019 European Championship, who never let the Croatians come close in the fourth set, allowing them to score only 12 points to Slovenia's 25.

Klemen Čebulj was the top scorer for Slovenia with 13 points, and two players scored 11 points each as the country qualified for the top-eight at European Championships for the fourth time in a row.

Slovenia's Jan Kozamernik said that "today we played out a solid match. We had know that it would be difficult, also because this is a rivalry of neighbours and both teams were very motivated. We showed them that our quality was better."

Slovenia will play their quarter-finals match in Ostrava on Wednesday with the winner of the round of 16 encounter between the reining Olympic champions France and the Czech Republic.

"The quarter-final match will certainly be much more difficult, so we will need to raise our game to the next level and show that we deserve qualification in the semi-finals," Kozamernik added.

14 Sep 2021, 04:32 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 14 September 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:

Slovenia to donate EUR 300,000 to Afghanistan

GENEVA, Switzerland/LJUBLJANA - FM Anže Logar announced at the international donor conference for Afghanistan that Slovenia will donate EUR 300,000 in aid to help the country amid a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The funds will be used for food, medical care and aid for the displaced Afghans and for refugees in the neighbouring countries, the Foreign Ministry said in a release. Logar, who addressed the conference via video call, expressed concern about the increasing humanitarian crisis and the affected people in Afghanistan. More than US$1 billion in aid was raised, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Bavdaž Kuret named special adviser to UN General Assembly president

NEW YORK, US - Darja Bavdaž Kuret, a seasoned diplomat who served as Slovenia's former permanent representative to the UN, was appointed special adviser to Abdulla Shahid, the president of the 76th UN General Assembly, who will take over on Tuesday. Bavdaž Kuret's is the second highest post ever held by a Slovenian representative to the UN after Danilo Türk served as UN assistant secretary general for political affairs from 2000 to 2005.

Janša calls for preparedness for future crises at WHO Europe

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša addressed a session of the WHO Regional Office for Europe to stress the importance of preparedness and effective responsiveness to future health crises. He also discussed the importance of science and solidarity in battling the Covid-19 pandemic. The release from the prime minister's office quotes Janša in saying that healthcare systems, which had been under tremendous pressure, now needed significant investments and innovations to become stronger and more resilient. He welcomed the initiative of WHO Europe to establish a special pan-European commission for health and sustainable development.

Pahor honoured by University of Bologna

BOLOGNA, Italy - President Borut Pahor was awarded Sigillum Magnum, the highest recognition from the University of Bologna given to influential figures. Thanking for the honour at a special ceremony, Pahor said he understood it as recognition of his efforts for dialogue, reconciliation and better future. The university praised Pahor for his efforts for dialogue between nations and countries and his dedication to the fundamental European values. The president also met Romano Prodi, a former Italian prime minister and former president of the European Commission.

Covid pass mandate seen as way to keep society open

LJUBLJANA - Employees and users of services in nearly all sectors will have to comply with the vaccinated-recovered-tested rule from Wednesday, a decision that government officials say is designed to offer the best possible protection while keeping the economy and society open. For employees, the cost of testing will be covered by employers, who are allowed to sanction those who do not comply in accordance with regulations governing safety at work or employment relationships.

Covid-19 hospitalisations pass 300

LJUBLJANA - Another 282 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Sunday, an increase of 20% from the same day a week ago, as the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals passed 300 and one more patient died. Official data shows 312 patients were treated in hospitals this morning, including 74 in intensive care. The National Institute of Pubic Health estimates there are now 9,791 active coronavirus cases in the country. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 is at 462.

Creative sector discussed as generator of economic growth

LJUBLJANA - A panel held as part of the Future Unlocked online conference agreed the creative and culture sector plays an important role in generating economic growth. The main topics of the two-day online conference hosted by Slovenia as the EU presiding country is the role of the creative sector in the green transition, social innovation and economic growth, and in attaining sustainable goals. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said many companies were aware of the added value brought by creativity, while there was still a lot of room for improvement.

Conference discusses rights of small shareholders

BLED - The rights and obligations of small shareholders were in the focus of an international investors' conference in Bled, with panellists highlighting access to information, cross-border share holdings and sustainable corporate governance as some of the key issues. Corporate information must be comprehensive, comparable and standardised, said Carmine Di Noia, commissioner of the Italian Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange. He said greater uptake of electronic means could not be an excuse to make participation of shareholders more difficult. The conference, which also discussed saving for retirement, was organised by the Slovenian association of small shareholders VZMD and Better Finance, the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users.

Anti-money laundering agency gets full-fledged head

LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Damjan Žugelj a full-fledged director of the Office for Money Laundering Prevention, after he led it as acting head since 15 March. He will take over on 15 September for a five-year term, with the option of reappointment. Žugelj, who holds a PhD in law, previously served as director of the Securities Market Agency and director of the company publishing the Official Gazette.

SDS remains in the lead, govt rating improves in Delo poll

LJUBLJANA - The ruling Democrats (SDS) continue to top the party rankings at 18.3% in the latest monthly Mediana poll conducted for the newspaper Delo, with their support rising 1.2 percentage points compared to August. The SDS is followed by the opposition Social Democrats (SD), whose support dropped by 2.4 points to 10.3%. The voter approval rating for the government has also improved.

Slovenian minority in Hungary gets EUR 2.3m for economy promotion

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch signed a EUR 2.3 million programme for the promotion of the economy of the Slovenian ethnic minority in Hungary in the 2021-2024 period. "Slovenians are Slovenians, be it here or beyond the border. This programme is the right move for an additional boost and development of the economic basis of the area populated by the Slovenian ethnic minority," Počivalšek said. Jaklitsch said a "strong economy also means a more self-confident minority, which in turn means more care for the language and development of the potential in cultural life".

New concept of voluntary service ramps up interest in army

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces estimate the interest in voluntary service has increased by 40% to 50% this year as a new concept of voluntary service was introduced on 5 July. Presenting the experiences, Lieutenant-Colonel Jurij Raduha, the head of the SAF Training Centre, said that of the 172 candidates involved in the first of three phases of service, 159 successfully completed it and 140 entered the second phase. Last year, 106 candidates were deployed in voluntary service.

Postojna Cave to welcome 220,000 visitors this year

POSTOJNA - The Postojna Cave, one of Slovenia's main natural landmarks, which reopened for visitors in June after the longest closure in its history due to Covid-19 restrictions, expects the pre-pandemic figures to be reached in ten years. This year it expects around 220,000 visitors if no new lockdown is imposed, which is comparable to ten years ago, the company's director Marjan Batagelj told the press. Postojnska Jama revenue topped EUR 8.4 million at the end of 2020, which means a loss of almost EUR 2.6 million, while this year's revenue is expected to reach EUR 10 million.

Kolektor signs road deal contract in Croatia

NOVI VINODOLSKI, Croatia - Slovenian company Kolektor CPG, the leading partner in a consortium with Italy's ICM, signed a contract with the Croatian national motorway company Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) on the construction of a by-pass road in the coastal town of Novi Vinodolski. The project is estimated at EUR 77.8 million. Kolektor is also involved in several other projects in Croatia, including a EUR 75 million construction of a road connecting Škurinje and the port of Rijeka.

Slovenia just below EU average in adult education

LJUBLJANA - In 2020, 14.3% of Slovenians aged 15 or more participated in education and learning programmes, which is just below the EU average. Data from the Statistics Office shows that the percentage has been dropping, with the biggest fall seen in the pandemic year. The highest share was recorded in the 15-25 age group, at 76.6%, but the proportion drops with age. In the 25-49 group, 10.9% were involved in lifelong education and only 3% in the 50 plus group.

Cavers break over 1,000 metres deep

BOVEC - Cavers from the Ljubljana Cave Exploration Association have surpassed a depth of 1,000 metres in a cave under the highland glacial karst area on the Kanin mountains. The newly discovered cave is one of the 100 deepest caves in the world, said Matic Di Batista, president of the association. The newly discovered cave in a cave system called the Abyss of the Sleeping Dinosaur is also the tenth in Slovenia with a depth of more than 1,000 metres.

Portorož hosting WTA 250 tournament

PORTOROŽ - The Slovenian seaside resort of Portorož is hosting the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) circuit until Sunday for a tournament with a prize money of US$235,238. The first seed, Croatia's Petra Martić ranks 32nd in the WTA rankings. Second seed is Kazakh player Yulia Putintseva, 33rd in the world rankings, and the third seed, Alison Riske of the US ranks 35th. The tournament will feature eight Slovenian players, including Tamara Zidanšek as the 5th seed.

Volleyball: Slovenia beat Croatia to enter Euro quarter-finals

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - The Slovenian men's volleyball team made it to the quarter-finals of the European Championships by beating Croatia in the round of 16. The team needed four sets to beat the neighbours, taking the first set convincingly and only slipping in the third set. Slovenia will play their quarter-finals match in Ostrava on Wednesday with the winner of the round of 16 encounter between the reining Olympic champions France and the Czech Republic.

13 Sep 2021, 14:17 PM

Wednesday’s Strict COVID Pass Rule Seen as Way to Keep Economy, Society Open

STA, 13 September 2021 - Employees and users of services in nearly all sectors will have to comply with the vaccinated-recovered-tested rule from Wednesday, a decision that government officials say is designed to offer the best possible protection while keeping the economy and society open.

"The epidemic is a dynamic process that requires a lot of adaptation from everyone. I realise these changes are not pleasant for anybody, but unfortunately we have run out of other options," Health Ministry State Secretary Franc Vindišar told the press on Monday.

Under the new regulation adopted by the government on Saturday, all workers and even the self-employed will have to be vaccinated, have proof of recovery no more than 180 days old, or test at least once a week, whereby PCR tests, rapid tests and self-testing are allowed.

For employees, the cost of testing will be covered by employers, who are allowed to sanction those who do not comply in accordance with regulations governing safety at work or employment relationships.

The wide-reaching provision, which takes effect on Wednesday, has been met with resistance by business owners, who say it is unfair that employers should shoulder the cost.

"Employers do not consent to paying for testing, we think the cost should be borne by individuals. Everyone has the chance to get vaccinated, but if they have concern about that, they should pay for the testing themselves," Branko Meh, the president of the OZS chamber of small business, told the STA today.

Similar points were also raised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and the Chamber of Commerce (TZS).

The requirement applies to all users of services as well, only they will have to pay tests out of their pocket. Users of health services will have to show a Covid pass too, but Vindišar stressed that this does not apply to emergency services.

For service users, the weekly self-tests for job purposes will not suffice, so they will have to get a testing certificate from a licenced providers, according to Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc.

There are a handful of exemptions, including for children up to 12, persons who bring children up to grade three to school, those accompanying children up to 15 to the doctor's, and students on public transportation.

The only shops in which a Covid pass is not needed are grocery stores and chemist's, unless they are located in shopping malls, in which case the rule applies to them as well. Compliance will be checked by the businesses individual.

The Social Chamber of Slovenia urged the government to exempt from the rule persons who need care at home, or else at least 30% of them will end up without it. It argues that staff visiting these persons has no authority to check compliance as they enter a private rather rather a public space.

Business owners have long campaigned against having to check their customers' Covid passes, arguing that they have neither the staff nor the authority to do so.

And with the Covid pass mandate expanded to cover virtually all services, mall operators now complain that the new rules are discriminatory.

Toni Pugelj, the director of mall operator SES Slovenija, said the new rules were unacceptable. Business owners will organise and hire additional staff if necessary, but it would make more sense if the PCT rule was universal, which would cause less confusion.

"Or perhaps the government should institute a radical measure such as vaccination," he told the STA.

Zajc said the Covid pass checking should not be a problem: if consumers do not show a Covid pass, businesses may not serve them.

"This is the precondition to keeping the economy open. With a bit of effort this can be controlled. Our neighbours have proved that this is possible and we are no worse than them," he said.

Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik held a meeting with representatives of various inspection services today and told them that inspectors should focus on prevention and issuing warnings rather than fines.

"That way, there will be less non-compliance and it will be easier for everyone to accept and comply with the regulation," he was quoted as saying in a press release by the ministry.

Stern criticism of what they see as "rapidly changing government regulations to contain the spread of the coronavirus" was made by the centre-left opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB).

The LMŠ said such "measures are unrealistic and full of unclarities" and the SAB said the government was not aware of the damage it had caused.

13 Sep 2021, 12:16 PM

Portorož Hosts WTA 250 Tournament

STA, 13 September 2021 - The Slovenian seaside resort of Portorož is hosting the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) circuit this week for a WTA 250 tournament with a prize money of 235,238 US dollars.

The tournament will open with a ceremony later on Monday followed by an all-Croatian match between Donna Vekić and Ana Konjuh.

The first seed, Croatia's Petra Martić ranks 32nd in the WTA rankings. Second seed is Kazakh player Yulia Putintseva, 33nd in the world rankings, and the third seed, Alison Riske of the US ranks 35th.

The tournament will feature eight Slovenian players, including Tamara Zidanšek as the 5th seed, and Kaja Juvan, who will face the first seed in the first round.

The first seeded Slovenian pair, Zidanšek and Andreja Klepač, will take on Juvan and Russia's Natela Dzalamidze in the doubles tournament in the early afternoon today.

In the singles, Nika Radišič will take on Kristina Mladenovic of France.

Learn more on the website

13 Sep 2021, 12:09 PM

Cavers Go Over 1km Down “Abyss of the Sleeping Dinosaur” System in Kanin Mountains

STA, 13 September 2021 - Cavers from the Ljubljana Cave Exploration Association surpassed a depth of 1000 metres in a cave under the highland glacial karst area on the Kanin mountains. The newly discovered cave is one of the 100 deepest caves in the world, said Matic Di Batista, president of the association.

The newly discovered cave in a cave system called the "Abyss of the Sleeping Dinosaur" (Brezno spečega dinozavra )is also the tenth in Slovenia with a depth of more than 1000 metres.

Cavers started exploring the Abyss in 2007, but abandoned the exploration because they could not find a way forward at a depth of 300 metres.

They said that advanced lighting has now enabled them to go further. In the four expeditions undertaken earlier this year, the cavers have reached a depth of 730 metres.

Their exploration continued last weekend, as they discovered that the cave goes even deeper, eventually leading them to a chamber at a depth of 1040 metres.

"The cave is about two kilometres long. It is also interesting because from a depth of 350 metres onwards, we were accompanied by a rather large amount of water, which disappeared several times and then reappeared at a lower depth."

"During the latest operation, we explored and measured a total of 580 metres of new underground tunnels," the cavers said in their report.

13 Sep 2021, 04:22 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 13 September 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:

Almost 560 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Saturday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 2,720 PCR tests were performed in Slovenia on Saturday to result in 559 new coronavirus cases, for a positivity rate of 20.6% or 0.8 of a percentage point more than the day before, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) reported. Compared to the previous Saturday, the number of cases is up by 242, although only 1,710 PCR tests performed one week ago. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population is up by 14 to 455, and the seven-day average of new daily cases grew by 34 to 834, according to the NIJZ. A total of 292 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised this morning, up by 18 on the day before, including 70 in intensive care, up by eight, show data by the Covid tracker site covid-19.sledilnik.org.

Basovizza Heroes remembered with calls against hatred, exclusion

BASOVIZZA, Italy - A ceremony for four victims of Fascism executed in September 1930, known among Slovenians as the Basovizza Heroes, was held at the memorial site, with Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch saying that it was a reminder of how much misery and pain humans and authorities could cause if they let hatred and exclusion win. Jaklitsch was the keynote speaker at the ceremony remembered the four at the site where they were executed 91 years ago following a short trial before a Fascist court in Trieste. "This place witnesses that it pays to give everything we have, our lives for what we really love. This place teaches us forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as mutual acceptance and respect," she said.

Tonin says no stable government possible without NSi

ŽUŽEMBERK - The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) held its annual informal gathering, with its president Matej Tonin saying that the key achievements of the government were the key achievements of the NSi ministers. He noted that it was not possible to build a stable government without cooperation through the political centre and without the NSi. "The NSi did not enter this government out of love, but to be responsible and commit itself to realising our programme," said the defence minister. He added that a government headed by the NSi would focus not on ideology, but on a vision of a free, just and safe Slovenia.

Pahor stresses importance of dialogue at G20 Interfaith Forum

BOLOGNA, Italy - Slovenian President Borut Pahor addressed a meeting of the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20), saying that divisions, in particular political and ideological, were one of the societal wounds that need to be urgently healed. He also proposed a meeting of senior religious representatives in the Western Balkan region. On Saturday evening, Pahor attended a ceremony remembering victims killed during prayer in church of various confessions all around the world, held in Santo Stefano Basilica by Bologna Archbishop Matteo Zuppi.

Perutnina Ptuj posts record sales of EUR 294m last year

PTUJ - The poultry group Perutnina Ptuj said it posted EUR 294 million in sales revenue in 2020, a new record and 3% increase on the year before. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were up 7% to EUR 47.7 million. The group that was taken over by Ukrainian Holding MHP in early 2019 posted a net profit of EUR 31 million andincreased its workforce by 190 to almost 3,900. The core company based in Ptuj, which employs 1,900 people, saw its sales revenue stay flat last year at EUR 177 million, while EBITDA was record-high at EUR 27 million, or EUR 4.8 million higher than in 2019. Net profit stood at EUR 18.5 million. The group's investments increased by 88% compared to 2019 to EUR 21.6 million.

Savšek finishes second overall in Canoe Slalom World Cup

PAU, France - Slovenia's Benjamin Savšek finished second overall in the Canoe Slalom World Cup by taking second place in the last event of the season. Savšek finished 0.16 seconds behind the winner, Denis Gargaud Chanut of France, who was also crowned the winner of the World Cup. The 34-year-old was not the only Slovenian on the podium, as Luka Božič was third to achieve his best result of the season. Overall, Gargaud Chanut collected 243 points, and was followed by Savšek with 217, while Božič finished 6th in the standings with 182 points.

12 Sep 2021, 08:13 AM

74th Anniversary of Return of Primorska to Slovenia

STA, 11 September 2021 - The main ceremony remembering the return of the western Primorska region to the homeland was held in Idrija, west of Ljubljana, on Saturday. The event also marked 74 years since the implementation of the Paris Peace Treaty under which Primorska was reunited with Slovenia after being under Italian rule since the end of WWI.

The keynote speaker at the ceremony ahead of the 15 September holiday was a young scientist from Idrija who lives in the US, Nina Leskovec.

Idrija Mayor Tomaž Vencelj said it was important this year's ceremony was held in Idrija, which has been an important part of Primorska for half a century and made the region richer with its natural beauty, heritage and successful economy.

The cultural programme in Idrija's central square presented the life and work of Črtomir Šinkovec (1914-1983), a partisan, poet, journalist and editor from Vojsko pri Idriji, and concluded with Primorska Rising, the region's informal anthem.

President Borut Pahor told the press after the show that this song was what connected the region's people in rebellion, and connected them in standing up to occupying forces in WWII.

"Perhaps other people in Slovenia find it difficult to understand that almost all people of Primorska perceive the red star differently. At the time it was a symbol of resistance. After the war crimes did occur under it, but this symbol of resistance cannot be taken away from the people of Primorska," he said.

The president said it was necessary to live together in harmony and understand each other. "I think there is enough space for everyone to live together, but this era being what it is, we have to make an effort."

While all Slovenian people were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War One, the western region of Primorska became part of Italy after the war.

The Paris peace conference ended in 1919 with no solution to the border issue between Italy and the newly-emerged Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovens, Yugoslavia's predecessor.

Then, under the 1920 Rapallo Treaty, Italy got what is roughly referred to as Primorska, including the cities of Trieste and Gorizia, Vipava and Soča Valleys, Kras, Istria and parts of the Notranjska region.

The area remained under Italy, or under Nazi Germany after its 1943 capitulation, until the end of WWII, when Istria and Trieste were occupied by Yugoslav Partisans, while the western part of Primorska was taken by the allies.

The allies made the Partisans retreat in June 1945, dividing the area into two zones, one under the allied command and the other under the Yugoslav military administration.

The 1947 Paris Peace Treaty brought a compromise, giving Yugoslavia a large part of the areas it wanted to have under its administration, including around Gorizia and Trieste.

As a result, the majority of Primorska people were brought under Yugoslavia after suffering under Fascism for more than 20 years and then briefly under Nazi Germany.

Nevertheless, an estimated 140,000 Slovenians remained outside Yugoslavia's borders, as the peace treaty gave Italy Gorizia, Resia, Benečija and Val Canale.

Day of Return of Primorska to the Motherland, evoking the implementation of the Paris Peace Treaty, has been celebrated since 2005, being introduced under the Janez Janša government, although not as a work-free day.

12 Sep 2021, 07:00 AM

Slovenia Tightens COVID Pass Restrictions

STA, 11 September 2021 - Nearly all employees and users of services will have to comply with the vaccinated-recovered-tested rule, known in Slovenia by its PCT acronym, under a new regulation which the government adopted on Saturday and which becomes effective on 15 September.

The new rules determine that all workers will have to be vaccinated, have proof of recovery no more than 180 days old, or test at least once a week, whereby PCR tests, rapid tests and self-testing are allowed.

The cost of testing will be covered by the state. Employers are allowed to sanction those who do not comply in accordance with regulations governing safety at work or employment relationships.

The requirement applies to all users of services as well, only they will have to pay for testing out of their pocket.

There are a handful of exemptions, including for children up to 12, persons who bring children up to grade three to school, those accompanying children up to 15 to the doctor's, and students on public transportation.

The only industries in which the requirement is waived are grocery stores and pharmacies, unless they are located in shopping malls, in which case the rule applies to them as well.

Compliance will be checked by employers.

The mask mandate has been expanded as well.

Masks have long been mandatory in indoor public spaces and outdoor when it is impossible to have a distance of at least 1.5 metres. Now they are mandatory in cars if the riders come from multiple households.

Children up to age six are exempted everywhere as are persons with special needs who cannot wear masks.

In educational settings, masks are not mandatory for children up to grade five, during sports or music class, for kindergarten teachers, and university teachers when they speak from behind a glass panel.

Public speakers do not need to wear masks if a distance of up to 1.5 metres can be secured, and performers at cultural events do not need them either.

For indoor hospitality, masks are not required as long as patrons are seated.

With the vaccination rate persistently low albeit rising in the recent days, Slovenia has been relying on the PCT rules to stem the surge in infections while keeping businesses open.

12 Sep 2021, 05:14 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 12 September 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:

Restrictions tightened under near-universal Covid pass mandate

LJUBLJANA - Nearly all employees and users of services will have to comply with the vaccinated-recovered-tested rule under a new regulation becomes effective on 15 September. The cost of testing will be covered by the state. The requirement applies to all users of services as well, only they will have to pay for testing out of their pocket. The only businesses exempted are grocery stores and pharmacies, the government decided.

Finance ministers in favour of continuation of investment cycle

BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU finance ministers spoke in favour of a continuation of the bloc's current investment cycle. Slovenia's Andrej Šircelj said everyone showed a great desire for Europe to continue with this investment cycle and to become stronger after the pandemic. European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis highlighted robust growth figures, but he said stimulus measures cannot be indefinite. "When the time comes, we will have to gradually start reducing deficit and debt."

Tribute paid to victims of 9/11

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar paid tribute to the victims of the 11 September terrorist attacks on Saturday alongside Susan Falatko, the charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Ljubljana. The minister said Slovenia remained deeply committed to the prevention and terrorism and radicalisation, placing special emphasis on the fight against terrorism in Western Balkans, noting that Slovenia would continue to work closely with the US and other allies in the protection of collective values and collective security. Falatko, who also hosted a separate ceremony at the embassy, said the US was grateful to Slovenian colleagues and friends "for standing by us at our most difficult moment 20 years ago."

Ceremony remembers return of Primorska to the homeland

IDRIJA - The main ceremony remembering the return of the western Primorska region to the homeland was held in Idrija. Mayor Tomaž Vencelj said it was important the event was held in Idrija, which has been an important part of Primorska for half a century and made the region richer with its natural beauty, heritage and successful economy. The event also marked 74 years since the implementation of the Paris Peace Treaty under which Primorska was reunited with Slovenia after being under Italian rule since the end of WWI.

Over 1,000 daily cases reported again as hospital figures remain stable

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1,085 new cases of coronavirus on Friday on a positivity rate of nearly 20%, the third day this week that the 1,000-mark has been exceeded. Hospitalisations did not increase much. There were 274 patients in hospital this morning, down four from yesterday, whereas the number of intensive care cases rose by one to 62. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population is now 441.

Pandemic pushes Štore Steel into the red

ŠTORE - Štore Steel slipped into the red in 2020 as a result of the pandemic after operating with a profit for eight years. Its loss reached EUR 2.5 million, which compares to a profit of EUR 2.8 million in 2019. Revenue dropped by 24% to EUR 85.7 million. The loss resulted from lower activity of the global automotive industry due to the pandemic, the company's director Jani Jurkošek told the STA.

11 Sep 2021, 11:00 AM

What Mladina & Demokracija Are Saying This Week: Childish Govt vs Media Coverage of BSF

The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 10 September 2021. All our stories about coronavirus and Slovenia are here

Mladina: Govt acting childishly on epidemic

STA, 10 September 2021 - The government's decision to give up on efforts to systemically stem the spread of the epidemic and instead shift the responsibility for this onto individuals and let the virus run its course is infantile and constitutes a dereliction of duty, says the weekly Mladina in its latest editorial.

"The authorities' decision to call it a day is a decision that will lead to excess deaths and excess cases of long Covid. But this is not something that should be accepted. No authority has the right to say: We have given you the vaccine, you refused to get vaccinated, so we give up."

If you are in a position of authority, you cannot fail to do your duty because you are offended, you must act to the benefit of the people, including those who do not heed your warnings.

The weekly wonders why those who have been vaccinated, those who must not get a jab out of health reasons or have compromised immune systems, and children are now being punished by a lack of restrictions.

Of course, there are some individuals who are doing their best, including the health minister, but this is not enough, says the editorial You Know That They Left Us to the Virus, Right?.

"To give up when one has the power to act means dereliction of duty. Amid a lack of a serious policy on the fight against the epidemic Slovenia has become some kind of a virus minefield. In only three weeks it has climbed to the top of the EU ranking according to the number of infections."

The paper concludes on a more positive note, hopeful that the authorities will realise how irresponsible and dangerous this is and start taking measures, following in the footsteps of more developed European countries.

Demokracija: Media coverage of BSF not surprising

STA, 9 September 2021 - The weekly Demokracija says in its latest editorial entitled Event on the Island (of the Stupid) that the lack of media coverage of the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) is shocking but not surprising.

Minimizing and trivialising an event whose attendance exceeded all expectations and showed that a number of leaders very much care about Europe, has been brought to extreme in the "hair-splitting search for criticism and pathological hatred towards Janez Janša".

An incident in which "a few leftist lunatics" unfolded a flag on the staircase under the church on Bled island to protest "against alleged Fascism in Slovenia" was presented almost as a highlight of the forum by mainstream media, the weekly says.

"Many important and ground-breaking things happened. But the mainstream media either deliberately overlooked them or highlighted the people who cried over the fact that Europe does not want to accept thousands of Afghans, who are leaving their wives and children at home and fleeing instead of fighting against the dictatorship of the Taliban."

As expected, also popular was the "'eternal' topic of the leftists" - the rule of law in Slovenia. Reports were also "spiced up" with the "alleged avalanche of European criticism" targeting Interior Minister Aleš Hojs, who reiterated in Brussels that the EU will not open humanitarian corridors and will not be granting asylums to all Afghans.

This was reaffirmed in a joint statement by interior ministers of EU countries, but the highlight of mainstream media reporting was debates of the leftists in the European Parliament, with MEP of the Swedish Left Party Malin Björk becoming a star for wearing a T-shirt with a sign ZLOvenijo ČUTIM.

"That was a disgrace without compare, a gesture unbecoming of an MEP, which in these parts leftists presented as a concern over Slovenia," reads the commentary.

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