Ljubljana related

11 Aug 2022, 06:38 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Pahor and Erdogan discuss cooperation, Ukraine, W Balkans

ANKARA, Turkey - President Borut Pahor met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan before wrapping up his two-day state visit to Ankara. The presidents confirmed the good and friendly relationship between their countries. They discussed the war in Ukraine and the Western Balkans, agreeing to meet again on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in late September to revisit the topics. Pahor and Economy Minister Matjaž Han also addressed a business event aimed at strengthened trade and investment. The countries also signed a bilateral agreement on education, science and sports.

Change at helm of Govt Communication Office

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob put forward TV Slovenija journalist Petra Bezjak Cirman for the new head of the government Communications Office (UKOM) after news broke that Dragan Barbutovski was quitting after only a little more than two months on the job. Like Barbutovski, Bezjak Cirman will be named acting director of UKOM. Barbutovski will in the future be working in the PM's office as foreign communications officer. The newspaper Dnevnik cited differences linked to the ruling party's expectations and work methods at the office as the reason for the replacement.

Chief labour inspector resigns

LJUBLJANA - Jadranko Grlić, the country's chief labour inspector, resigned in the wake of a TV report on another case of exploitation of foreign workers in recent months. The Labour Inspectorate said he had stepped down over differences of opinion with the Labour Ministry about the powers and manner of work of the inspectorate. Minister Luka Mesec indicated change at the helm of the Labour Inspectorate as he commented Tuesday on TV Slovenija report about exploitation of Indian workers at a Ljubljana car wash.

NBI oversight finds minor flaws in Covid procurement probe

LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Dnevnik reported that the oversight of the work of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) ordered by the new police commissioner found that the NBI leadership was not in hurry to wrap up the investigation targeting former Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek over emergency procurement in the early stages of the Covid-19 epidemic. The report obtained by the paper finds no major flaws and concludes that NBI investigators handled investigations comprehensively and that those were on principle run continuously and at the right pace.

Italy starting proceedings against Slovenia over balsamic vinegar

ROME, Italy - The Italian government is launching infringement proceedings against Slovenia to defend the authenticity of its geographically protected balsamic vinegar, according to reports by the Austrian and Italian press agencies APA and Ansa, and the British newspaper The Guardian. Italy first objected over a year ago to Slovenia's draft regulation on vinegar and dilute acetic acid quality, which sets down that any vinegar mixture with concentrated fruit juice or must could be labelled balsamic vinegar.

Gynaecologist Senčar 11th to announce presidential bid

LJUBLJANA - Gynaecologist Sabina Senčar joined ten hopefuls who have so far announced their bids for the 23 October presidential election. She intends to run with the support of Resni.ca, a non-parliamentary party founded amid the Covid epidemic to oppose restrictions. Senčar criticised the manner in which the authorities had managed the epidemic, saying the world had ground to a halt in the past two years and a half due to the disease while "we aren't any healthier today".

Covid cases remain on downward trajectory

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,714 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Tuesday, down 3% week-on-week. Six Covid patients died, the Health Ministry said. The number of people hospitalised for Covid-19 as their primary condition declined by eight in a day to 96, of whom twelve require intensive care, down by three. The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 people dropped by ten in a day to 983 and the 7-day case average is down by 33 to 1,408.

Socerb fire contained

KOPER - Some 150 firefighters, five Slovenian and two Italian helicopters and two Italian water bombers largely contained the fire under Socerb hill on the Slovenian-Italian border. The fire is no longer spreading, Koper fire brigade official Jan Brodar said in the afternoon, expressing optimism about the night ahead. A new team of roughly 120 firefighters will keep an eye on the fire during the night.

Key power company gets new supervisory board

LJUBLJANA - GEN Energija, the parent company of the state-owned power group that also includes the Krško nuclear power plant, has got a new supervisory board after the previous line-up was dismissed by Slovenian Sovereign Holding on Tuesday for what it described as a loss of trust over "appropriate corporate governance at GEN Group". GEN Energija CEO Blaž Košorok had served as a state secretary at the Infrastructure Ministry in the previous government until he was appointed to the post in late March.

Industrial output drops slightly in June

LJUBLJANA - The value of industrial production was down 0.2% in June compared to May, driven by declines in all relevant fields. It continued to increase year-on-year though, as it was 0.8% higher than in June 2021. The value in the first half of the year was also 2.9% higher on the annual level, the Statistics Office said. After three months of growth, the monthly drop in June is a result of declines in mining and quarrying, which recorded a 6.8% drop, in electricity, gas and steam production (-0.7%).

Court of Audit finds several flaws at SAZU

LJUBLJANA - The Court of Audit issued the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) an adverse opinion for its 2020 operations, establishing a number of flaws and irregularities regarding jobs, pay, purchase of services and oversight of funds, while also taking issue with the academy's legal status. The audit report also identifies a failure to establish adequate internal oversight in awarding funds to SAZU's Science and Research Centre (ZRC). SAZU said it would act on the court's recommendations.

Attempted murder convict gets 15-year prison sentence halved

LJUBLJANA - Media reported that the Supreme Court had almost halved the 15-year prison sentence against an elderly man for attempting to murder his neighbour in 2018, reclassifying the crime from attempted murder to attempted manslaughter. Jože Šercer took his shotgun, hid in the bushes waiting for the neighbour and shoot her as she was leaving her home to go to work. He hit her in the right arm and stomach, but the woman managed to escape and survived the attack.

10 Aug 2022, 06:43 AM

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Pahor discusses Ukraine war effects for W Balkans in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey - President Borut Pahor started a two-day state visit to Turkey by meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu and addressing the annual meeting of Turkish diplomats. The pair discussed the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the Western Balkans, with Pahor praising Turkey for its role as mediator between Russia and Ukraine, especially as regards grain exports. The war in Ukraine was also the main topic of Pahor's address to the Turkish diplomats, which he delivered upon a special invitation by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he is scheduled to meet tomorrow.

Fire under Socerb hill getting close to nearby villages

KOPER - A fire broke out last night under Socerb hill in a hard-to-access area near the border with Italy, south-east of Trieste, and has not yet been contained, as a strong bora wind helped it spread downhill towards the villages of Osp in Slovenia and Prebenico in Italy. The firefighters on both sides of the border were helped out by helicopters and water bombers until dusk, while they fear the bora, which is forecast to blow on Wednesday and Thursday. No evacuation was needed on the Slovenian side of the border so far. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Second coronavirus booster recommended for elderly, chronic patients

LJUBLJANA - The number of Covid-19 infections has not been increasing, but the number of those hospitalised with Covid is not decreasing either, so Bojana Beović, head of the advisory committee on immunisation at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), recommended those over 80 and those with chronic diseases to get a second booster immediately. Those over 60 are also advised to get a second booster shot. Immunologist Beović, who also heads the Medical Chamber, expects that vaccination for the entire population will probably be sensible in autumn, alongside flu jabs.

New school year to start with coronavirus self-testing

LJUBLJANA - The new school year is to start with home coronavirus testing for those showing symptoms and those who have been in contact with an infected person. If a new variant creating a high risk of severe illness starts spreading, weekly home testing for all students and teachers would be recommended, according to last week's decision of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) coronavirus advisory group. The decision was endorsed today by the sub-group for education. Its member Nives Počkar told the STA the goal was to avoid shutting down schools. NIJZ is to present the two-scenario plan on Wednesday.

Coronavirus infections keep receding

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 2,402 new cases of coronavirus for Monday, 9% fewer than the same day a week ago as cases kept falling week-on-week for the 12th day running. Six patients with Covid-19 died, fresh data from the Health Ministry shows. The number of patients needing hospital care for Covid-19 dropped by nine from Sunday to 104. Data from the National Institute of Public Health shows the 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 people falling by 28 in a day to 993.

New case of foreign worker abuse reported

LJUBLJANA - Public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported that 12 Indian workers had been forced to work 60-hour weeks at a Ljubljana car wash for less than the minimum wage after having their passports taken away. The group eventually ran away from the Avtostop car wash and two of them turned for help to an NGO specialising in the rights of migrant workers. The Financial Administration, the Labour Inspectorate and the police conducted separate oversight visits at the firm in July, but the procedures are still ongoing. Amonte, the company operating the car wash, denied the allegations. Its director Semir Hajdarpašić believes this is an attempt at blackmail.

Parts of anti-money laundering act in for constitutional review

LJUBLJANA - The information commissioner has asked for constitutional review of part of the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing act that is based on two inspection proceedings and related to processing of personal information. "There are serious and objective reasons to suspect that the legal regulation of personal information processing by the Office for Money Laundering Prevention is unconstitutional in a certain part," the newspaper Delo quoted the request to review nine articles of the act by Information Commissioner Mojca Prelesnik.

Region's largest fire lab soon to open in Slovenia

LOGATEC - The Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) will open a new fire laboratory in Logatec in September in what it says will be the only such facility in this part of Europe. The EUR 11 million investment is to allow further advances in the research of fire resistance and flammability of materials and structures. The laboratory, spanning a surface area of 3,500 square metres, will provide facilities to test fire resistance of products made in Slovenia and abroad. The new building will also headquarter ZAG's new Department for Research of Fire-Safe and Sustainable Built Environment.

Fraport Slovenija still in red in Q2 but on upward trajectory

BRNIK - Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana's international Jože Pučnik airport, reported a loss of roughly EUR 300,000 for the second quarter of 2022, but the result is a significant improvement on the EUR 2.1 million loss posted in the same period last year. The company more than doubled revenue year-on-year, from EUR 4.2 million to EUR 8.7 million. The net loss for the first six months stands at EUR 2.5 million, coming on EUR 14.7 million in revenue. Compared to the same period last year, revenue rose by 98.6% while the loss decreased by EUR 2 million.

Few owners opt to enter public rental housing scheme

LJUBLJANA - There seems to be little interest among housing owners in renting out their property through a public rental housing service that the national Housing Fund set up this year to increase the number of flats available at not-for-profit rents. As a result, the fund has sub-rented out only six units so far. Apart from owners finding the rent too low, the fund believes that to secure more flats - 200 is the target in the ongoing call, legislative changes would be needed because owners have problems obtaining the documents they need to enter the scheme.

Ljubljana residents promised to be kept warm in winter

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković promised the residents they will be kept warm this winter despite the energy crisis. Coal reserves are sufficient to provide district heating to nearly half of all homes and there will be enough natural gas, but the question is at what price gas will be available, he said at his weekly press conference. He is planning to meet Environment Minister Uroš Brežan later this month to discuss how the financial burden of emission coupons for the use of coal could be alleviated and to determine the energy sources for district heating.

Agriculture minister meets Carinthian Slovenian reps

KLAGENFURT, Austria - Agriculture Minister Irena Šinko met representatives of the Slovenian minority in the Austrian state of Carinthia to discuss the minority's work and development, with an emphasis on agriculture, the ministry said in a press release. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food noted that it had been cooperating well with the Slovenian agricultural organisations in Carinthia for many years.

Minister talks to reps of Slovenian communities in S America

LJUBLJANA - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon talked with representatives of Slovenian communities in Latin America via video link. They presented to him activities of their communities living in Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia and Bolivia, while the minister underlined the importance of preserving the Slovenian language, which, he believes, should be given special attention, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad said in a press release.

MyKoroška app guide to bilingual town names in Carinthia

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The Austrian province of Carinthia is home to a sizeable Slovenian ethnic community, something that has been reflected in the names of places for centuries. More than 900 such places can now be found by their Slovenian or German name in an app called MyKoroška. The app, which can be downloaded for free, is an upgraded version of an app developed some ten years ago, Martin Kuchling of the Klagenfurt-based Christian Cultural Association recently told the Slovenian desk of the Austrian public broadcaster ORF.

Piran on CNN's list of 15 prettiest small towns in Europe

WASHINGTON, US - The Slovenian coastal town of Piran has made it to a list of the 15 prettiest small towns across Europe by the US television network CNN, which described it as a "mini Venice". CNN's Julia Buckley says in her article that although Slovenia has a "sliver of coastline" sandwiched between Italy and Croatia, it is home to several beautiful towns, including Piran, which boasts "a stout belltower, frothy architecture, and fishing boats docked in the tiny harbor".

09 Aug 2022, 07:06 AM

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Triple murderer Drevenšek sentenced to 30 years in prison in retrial

PTUJ - A retrial in the case of a man who murdered his estranged spouse and her parents in front of his four-year-old son on Christmas Day 2020 ended with a sentence of 30 years behind bars, as Silvo Drevenšek was found guilty of all counts. He was handed 29 years each for the three murders and four more for the neglect and cruel treatment of a minor. However, the penal code allows for a maximum of 30 years bar a life sentence. In the original trial at the Ptuj District Court, quashed because six instead of just five judges ruled on the case, Drevenšek had been the first to be sentenced to life imprisonment since the sentence was reintroduced in 2008. Until 1998, the highest possible punishment in Slovenia was 20 years in prison.

Delo poll: Freedom Movement's rating stable, SDS's at 4-year high

LJUBLJANA - Voters are a bit less critical of the government, but despite this, more than half of them see its performance as negative, shows Delo newspaper's August public opinion poll. A total of 25.9% of those polled have rated the government's performance as positive or very positive (up 4.6 points from July) and 53.3% as negative or very negative (down 2.7 points). If an election was held tomorrow, 30.6% of the respondents would vote for the ruling Freedom Movement, which is practically on a par with July (30.2%) and June (31%). The largest opposition party, the Democrats (SDS), meanwhile polled best since September 2018.

Govt reintroduces energy efficiency contribution

LJUBLJANA - Petrol and diesel will be slightly more expensive as of 17 August, as the government decided on Monday to reintroduce energy efficiency contributions, which had been abolished temporarily to reduce energy prices. Diesel will thus be 0.8 cents more expensive per litre and petrol will be 0.736 cents dearer per litre. The government said after a correspondence session that the contribution had to be reintroduced because it provided funds for Eko Sklad, the country's sustainable energy development scheme fund. "These funds support investments that increase energy independence, efficiency and increase the share of renewables," the government said.

Pahor paying state visit to Turkey this week

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will start a two-day state visit to Turkey on Tuesday at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bilateral relations and the situation in Ukraine will top the agenda. The situation in the Western Balkans and the Middle East will also be discussed. In addition to Erdogan, Pahor will also meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu. He will kick off the visit by addressing the participants of an annual get-together of Turkish diplomats.

Novo Mesto Bishop Saje reportedly suspected of tax evasion

LJUBLJANA - Delo has reported that Bishop of Novo Mesto Andrej Saje is suspected of tax evasion and that a criminal complaint against Saje was sent to the Slovenian tax authorities and the prosecution service three months ago. It alleges he had received pay for helping out with mass on Sundays and holidays at two parishes in the Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt in Carinthia, Austria, between 2014 and the period when he was appointed bishop in June 2021. On the other hand, Saje has told the STA that he has no knowledge of the criminal complaint that is said to have been filed against him this year, and could not comment on it in detail.

No major drop in property prices expected yet

LJUBLJANA - Judging by the available statistical data, Slovenia's housing market is not showing signs of cooling just yet although real estate agents say prices have stopped going up mid-year. Still, pundits do not think any major drop in prices is likely over the next six months. After a record surge last year, prices of residential properties rose by a further 4.1% in this year's first quarter on the quarter before, going up by as much as 19.6% year-on-year, the latest data from the Statistics Office shows.

Summer film season starts at Museum Plaza

LJUBLJANA - Tonight's screening of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator will lift the curtain on a series of events organised by the Slovenian Cinematheque at the Museum Plaza on Metelkova Street. The events include the three-day festival Summer on the Silver Screen and between the Covers, mini festivals of short film and videos, and debates about the present and future of print media in a digital-first world.

08 Aug 2022, 04:21 AM

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Golob, Pahor send condolences after Polish bus crash

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob and President Borut Pahor have sent condolences to their Polish counterparts after the fatal crash of a Polish bus in Croatia. Golob wrote to Mateusz Morawiecki to express sincere condolences, extending his sympathy to the families of all those killed in the crash. Pahor expressed his condolences to President Andrzej Duda and wished a speedy recovery to all passengers injured in the accident.

President Pahor at Sinjska Alka as a guest of honour

SINJ, Croatia - President Borut Pahor was the guest of honour at the traditional Sinjska Alka equestrian competition in the at the invitation of his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović. He was the first foreign statesman in this capacity at the tournament. The traditional annual knightly competition is held on every first Sunday in August to commemorate the Croatian-Venetian victory in the Ottoman-Venetian war in 1715.

Weiler Abrasives profitable in 2021

MARIBOR - Weiler Abrasives, the US-owned maker of abrasives, brushes and diamond tools, saw sales revenue rise by 16% last year to EUR 77.5 million. After barely ending in the black in 2020, it posted a profit of just over EUR 4 million. Among the company's major challenges last year was securing an adequate number o employees amidst the health crisis, which it did not manage to entirely realise due to labour shortages in the country.

Silver for Osterman at Canoe Sprint World Championships

HALIFAX, Canada - Slovenia's Anja Osterman has won silver at the Canoe Sprint World Championships, finishing a second behind Lisa Carrington of New Zealand in the 200-metre event. This is the fourth medal at a World Championship for the 29-year-old but the first in an individual event.

06 Aug 2022, 08:07 AM

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Four cases of police overreach determined during 2021 anti-govt protests

LJUBLJANA - Police officers acted unprofessionally and used disproportionate force in four separate instances at anti-government protests held throughout 2021, shows an Interior Ministry report on complaints against police work. The Interior Ministry has notified the State Prosecution of its findings and the police force has already taken certain measures. At the same time, Minister Tatjana Bobnar issued new guidance for how police should act during public gatherings, revoking earlier guidance by her predecessor.

Review ordered of construction of premises for interior ministry, police

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar has ordered a review of the construction of a new building for the Interior Ministry and the police, the Necenzurirano news portal reported. The portal says that the contractor, the state-owned real estate investment firm DSU, rushed with the drafting of the project dossier to get the project so far ahead that it could no longer be stopped. This is said to be due to fear that the project, like many other investments or projects of the previous government, would be halted or subjected to review.

Fresh data on healthcare waiting times expected in a month

LJUBLJANA - For the past two months the Health Ministry has been analysing health care services in 2020 and 2021. Long waiting times have been confirmed as the bane of Slovenia's healthcare with Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan warning about many errors in the IT system. They now aim to obtain up-to-date data in a month. Alenka Kolar, acting head of the healthcare digitalisation directorate, said there were many discrepancies and errors in the system, such as multiple referrals for individual patients. She announced they would first comb through the data and remedy any errors.

Far-right hopeful announces bid for president

LJUBLJANA - Aleš Ernecl, a far-right media personality and Holocaust denier, has announced his plan to join the race for the 23 October presidential election. Ernecl, who made the announcement on YouTube on Thursday evening, sees Slovenia's role in offering Slovenians privileges that they do not have anywhere else. He believes that Slovenians have no voice in the country, and expressed concerns about Euro-Atlantic organisations, which he believes are leading to the extinction of the Slovenian people.

British PM Johnson on holiday in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Outgoing British PM Boris Johnson is on a short private trip to Slovenia, the office of Slovenian Prime Minister Rober Golob said as it confirmed British media reports for the STA. Golob's office said that no meeting between the prime ministers was planned. While Downing Street declined to reveal where Johnson is holidaying this week, the British media have reported that he is believed to be in Slovenia with his wife Carrie for a belated honeymoon.

Govt supports gradual introduction of free period products

LJUBLJANA - The government is in favour of a gradual introduction of free period products for women in public institutions and will look into the possibility of dedicated funding, the Government Communications Office (UKOM) told the STA after a recent call for this by the Slovenian Secondary-School Student Organization and the Slovenian Student Union. The organisations said free period products could be funded either from the state budget or from the budgets of individual educational institutions.

Coronavirus case count at 1,450 on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,450 coronavirus cases were logged in Slovenia on Thursday, down 2% from a week ago, as hospitalisations remained stable with 97 patients in hospital due to coronavirus as their main condition and another 14 in intensive care, the latest official statistics show. The 7-day average of confirmed cases dropped to just over 1,470 and the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people was down to almost 1,050.

Small aircraft crash-lands on motorway, no injuries reported

BREZJE - A two-seat aircraft crash-landed on the A2 motorway near Brezje in north Slovenia. There were two passengers on board and both survived the emergency landing without injuries, Kranj police said. Preliminary information indicates the pilot had engine problems and decided to land the aircraft on the motorway instead of flying back to the nearby Lesce airfield. The pilot reported problems to air traffic control before making the emergency landing, Slovenia Control told the STA. The aircraft is registered in Austria and has the logo of Austrian Aviation Training, a Klagenfurt-based company, on its tail.

Dragić reuniting with national team to defend EuroBasket title

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian basketball star Goran Dragić has decided to rejoin the Slovenian men's team to defend the 2017 title at this year's EuroBasket in what is a change of heart after bidding his teammates farewell. Dragić, who recently signed a deal with NBA's Chicago Bulls, tweeted "I'm back" along with the hashtag EuroBasket and a photo of himself holding the 2017 cup. The Slovenian Basketball Association responded to his decision by tweeting "Happy day today".

Maribor start UEFA Europa League qualifiers with a loss

MARIBOR - Slovenian champions Maribor are in trouble after the first leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Europa League, as they lost at home on Thursday evening 0:2 to HJK Helsinki. After dropping out of the qualifying for the elite UEFA Champions League, Maribor got a second chance in the second-tier Europa League, but the things did not start well for them despite the support of some 7,000 fans in Ljudski Vrt Stadium. The return leg will be played on 11 August in Helsinki.

Artist Kostja Gatnik dies

LJUBLJANA - Kostja Gatnik, a versatile visual artist, has died at the age of 76, his family told the STA. He was best known as an illustrator and comic book author. He received a number of awards, including the Prešeren Prize for lifetime achievement, the country's top accolade in the arts world. Gatnik also won the Levstik and the Hinko Smrekar prizes for his children's literature and illustration work, respectively.

Lil Pump to headline Offline festival

PTUJ - Thousands of electronica fans are expected to flock to Ptuj for a two-day Offline festival of electronica and hip hip, which will be headlined by US rapper star Lil Pump and will feature more than 30 DJs on the outskirts of Slovenia's oldest city on Friday and Saturday. Lil Pump is currently the household name of the new (t)rap wave, filling stages, stadiums and other concert venues. Among the DJs performing will be Mike Williams and Morten, coming to Ptuj straight from Tomorrowland festival.

Early music festival kicks off in Radovljica

RADOVLJICA - The quaint town of Radovljica in the north-west of the country hosts the 40th iteration of its early music festival from 5 to 23 August, this year focusing on music from the 16th to the 20th century. A total of ten concerts will feature renowned names such as soprano Amanda Forsythe, violinist Bojan Čičić, tenor Aco Aleksander Bišćević, double-bassist David Sinclair, the string quartet Altemps, the renaissance flute consort Phaedrus and the ensemble Opera Prima.

Cross-border festival of contemporary art returns to Slovenia

GORNJA RADGONA - Hochsommer, a festival of contemporary art, starts in several towns on Slovenia's border with Austria and Hungary today. In the ten days of the festival, numerous admission-free art events will be held, from concerts, exhibitions, and readings, to plays and performances. Under the banner Overcoming The Void, the festival, which is taking place in Slovenia for the second time, will strive to address the different types of void - an empty space, feelings of emptiness and remoteness.

05 Aug 2022, 04:41 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Exports up 57.2% in June year-on-year, up 32.1% in H1

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's exports went up by 32.1% and imports by 47% in the first six months compared to the same period last year, while an external trade deficit of EUR 2.2 billion was recorded in trade balance. The export-import ratio was at 92%. In June, Slovenia exported a record EUR 5.3 billion of goods (up 57.2% year on year) and imported a record of EUR 4.8 billion (up 40%).

Elektronček buying water bottling company Costella

LJUBLJANA/KOSTEL - The gaming company Elektronček Group, owned by entrepreneur Joc Pečečnik, announced the acquisition of the company Costella. Costella's owner, the Swiss company Agrokor, which is in liquidation, put the water bottling company, whose most valuable asset is a water extraction concession valid until 2035, up for sale at the end of last year. Elektronček announced the takeover on 29 July, says the website of the Agency for the Protection of Competition. According to unofficial information of the business newspaper Finance, Elektronček is to pay less than EUR 5 million for the company.

Minister says Ljubljana administrative unit in for restructuring

LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik said that her dismissing Bojan Babič as the director of the Ljubljana administrative unit was not a politically motivated decision as she announced broader restructuring of administrative units. Babič agreed with the assessment and will not appeal, as this would not suspend his dismissal, and a deputy head has already been appointed. He will be succeeded by Nataša Trček, who serves as secretary general at the Public Administration Ministry, as acting head. She will be dismissed from the current post on 31 August.

Pahor to be guest of honour at Sinjska Alka on Sunday

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will be the guest of honour at the traditional Sinjska Alka equestrian competition in the Croatian town of Sinj this Sunday upon invitation of his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović. Pahor will be the first foreign statesman in this capacity at the tournament, the president's office announced. The 307th iteration of the competition will be held under the sponsorship of Milanović, who arranged with the association's members in May to invite Pahor as the guest of honour. Pahor and Milanović last met on 15 June in Ohrid, North Macedonia, when they attended the Prespa Forum.

Report: Austrian postal operator uses unregistered name in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The Austrian national postal company, Österreichische Post, which entered the Slovenian postal market at the start of July, has been using the word Slovenia in the name of its subsidiary without permission of the Slovenian government, so the Economy Ministry reported this to the market inspectorate, the newspaper Delo reported. Moreover, the subsidiary has been registered as Express One SI, but has been using the name Express One Slovenia.

Covid cases down by nearly 20% week-on-week on Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 1,624 new Covid cases on Wednesday in what is an 18% drop week-on-week. As the epidemic continues to wane, hospitalisations remain stable, shows the latest data by the Health Ministry. The number of people with active infections in the country has decreased to some 22,340. Two people with Covid died yesterday.

Prosecution demands life imprisonment in Christmas triple murder retrial

PTUJ - A retrial for a man charged with murder of his former partner and her parents on Christmas 2020 is coming to an end at the Ptuj District Court. While the defendant changed his plea from guilty in the first trial to not guilty, the prosecution once again proposes life imprisonment. It demands three 30-year sentences and a 4-year sentence for neglecting a minor, or a cumulative sentence of life in prison. The verdict will be delivered on Monday.

Thousands od fish from farm near Lake Bled had to be euthanised due to poisoning

BLED - The peak of the tourist season at Lake Bled resulted in large quantities of malodorous waste being washed off into the only outlet from the lake, the local environmental organisation warned, adding that the Sava Bohinjka river is also full of algae. This led to all 25,000 fish kept by the local angling club at the confluence between the Sava Bohinjka and Sava Dolinka having to be euthanised due to poisoning. It is yet fish kill in Slovenia after a major die-ff in Mali Graben near Ljubljana.

Dutch national in court for alleged possession of explosive device components

KOPER - A 28-year old Dutch man appeared at Koper District Court after charges were pressed against him for allegedly possessing components to make an explosive device at a rented house near Ilirska Bistrica in the south-west. After the hearing, the judge ruled the suspect is to remain in custody after reasonable ground was established for illicit production and trafficking of weapons or explosives.

04 Aug 2022, 06:47 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Fajon attends Stockholm initiative's session in New York

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon took part in a session of the Stockholm initiative for nuclear disarmament, which Slovenia joined in early July, as she was in New York on Monday and Tuesday for the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). By joining the initiative and a separate document on reducing nuclear risks, Slovenia is stepping up its activities and contribution to global efforts to preserve international peace and security, the ministry said.

Warnings about anti-Romaism heard at Roma genocide commemoration

MURSKA SOBOTA - An event was held in Murska Sobota to mark Roma Holocaust Memorial Day in memory of the Nazi genocide against the Roma and Sinti during WWII, highlighting the need to constantly draw attention to such events and raise one's voice against hate speech, anti-Romism and genocide. Historian Danijel Vojak said at the event dubbed Genocide against the Roma, Dangers of Spreading Fascism and Anti-Romaism that killing all the Roma in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on 2 August 1944 was only the last genocide against the Roma after the pogroms against them had been taking place for centuries.

Report: Minister dismisses head of Ljubljana administrative unit

LJUBLJANA - Bojan Babič, the director of the Ljubljana administrative unit, has confirmed for Delo that he had been notified by Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik that he would be dismissed at the end of August. The newspaper notes that the unit in the country has been a target of much criticism since the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic. The ministry is expected to appoint the acting head of the administrative unit at the beginning of September.

Charges brought against five border police officers

MARIBOR - The Maribor Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against five former border police officers who were arrested in February 2020 over suspicion that they had stamped the passports of third-country nationals to allow them to unlawfully prolong their stay in the Schengen zone beyond the permitted 90-day period, Večer newspaper reported. The former police officers appealed the multiple charges, so they are not yet final.

Layman lawyer Poljanec announced presidential candidacy

LJUBLJANA - Ludvik Poljanec, who has successfully represented Slovenian citizens before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as layman, is to run in the 23 October presidential election. Announcing the bid in which he will seek support of voter signatures, he said he had decided to run due to his knowledge of law and social order in Slovenia and Europe.

Jobless total down 23.1% y/y in July to 54,341

LJUBLJANA - The number of registered jobless people was up slightly in July over the month before, by 0.9% to 54,341, while this represents a drop of 23.1% compared to the same period last year. A total of 5,008 people registered anew at the Employment Service in July, which is 26.8% more than in June and 8% less than in July 2021, the Employment Service reported. It noted that a 57.3% increase in the number of registered persons whose fixed-term contracts expired was typical for July, and that demand for workers had declined.

Solkan hydro plant back in business

SOLKAN - After a week-long shutdown due to low water levels of the Soča river, the Solkan Hydropower Plant is again operational as of Tuesday afternoon, its operator Soške Elektrarne Nova Gorica (SENG) announced on their website. The plant is operating within the currently available flow of the river. It was shut down last Wednesday for the first time since 2003. SENG told the STA today that it was able to relaunch the Solkan power plant following rainfall in the Bovec area, upstream from the power plant.

Wood removal effort starts after massive fire in Kras

KOSTANJEVICA NA KRASU - A campaign has started in the part of the Kras region south of Nova Gorica to remove the wood biomass that has been left behind the devastating fire that raged in the area in the second half of July. Around 5,000 cubic metres of wood biomass that could serve as ignition and fuel for new fires needs to be removed by 20 August.

Covid cases continue to decline in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Covid cases continue to be on the downward slope in Slovenia as 1,770 new infections were confirmed on Tuesday, down by 10% week-on-week. Three Covid patients died, Health Ministry data shows. Hospitalisations are stable, and the 14-incidence rate per 100,000 of the population has remained the same, totalling 1,065, the National Institute of Public Health said.

ŠKUC association celebrating 50th birthday

LJUBLJANA - For half a century the ŠKUC association has been a trailblazer in Slovenia's culture and society at large. It has evolved from a student hub into one of the most prominent cultural NGOs in the country. ŠKUC has played a major role in Slovenia's LGBTQ movement and helped launch careers of many artists who have become household names, the association's coordinator, Jasmina Kožar, told the STA.

Celje Airport hosting vintage gliders rally

ŽALEC - The Levec Airport in Celje is hosting the 49th Vintage Glider Club International Rally from 1 to 12 August with over 81 pilots and 41 gliders from 15 countries. The largest such event in the world, the rally is organized by a different country each year - all members of the umbrella organization, the Vintage Glider Club, headquartered in England, Igor Eržen, president of the Slovenian Aviation Association told the STA. The oldest vintage glider in attendance was made in 1937. All of the gliders are privately owned.

03 Aug 2022, 04:32 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Fajon talks Slovenia's bid for UN Security Council in New York

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon discussed Slovenia's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2024-2025 at the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York. "This is not a project of the previous government, this is Slovenia's project," she said. She discussed the bid with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other officials during Monday's bilateral meetings. "I've received a lot of advice from different people on how to approach vote canvassing," she said, announcing visits to Latin America, Asia and Africa before she returns to New York in September to attend the session of the UN General Assembly.

Health Ministry to speed up drawing of EU funds

LJUBLJANA - The share of EU funds Slovenia has drawn for health projects is rather low, Health Minister Daniel Bešič Loredan told the press. He said the ministry would not be looking for the culprits, but rather focus on phasing as much money as possible within the set deadlines. He mentioned redistribution of funds as a solution, meaning that funds from projects that are behind schedule would be transferred to projects that can be completed before the end of this financial perspective. He said talks on this were under way with hospital managements.

Preliminary estimates indicate significant drought damage

LJUBLJANA - First estimates show the damage the severe drought has caused to crops will be extensive. Maize and grasses have been hit the worst so far, with the fallout expected to be at 50%, according to data the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry forwarded to the Agriculture Ministry. The ministry's estimate is that the damage is near the 0.03% of budget revenue, which warrants state aid, but damages will not be paid out before next year. Slovenia had six droughts that affected agriculture to the point they were declared natural disasters in the 2001-2021 period. The 2003 drought hit the hardest, causing over EUR 121 million in damage and the state helping out with EUR 35 million.

Czech group Solitea takes over Slovenian Vasco

BRNO, Czechia/ŠENČUR - Solitea, a Czech group offering ICT solutions, has acquired another Slovenian company, Vasco, after buying SAOP in 2016. Solitea did not disclose the price of the deal, which is still subject to regulatory approval, but business newspaper Finance unofficially reported Vasco cost Solitea some EUR 30 million. Vasco is a Šenčur-based company with some 30 employees specialising in development and sale of software solutions for companies. It was established in 1991 by the couple Tomaž and Mojca Čebašek, while Finance placed it fourth on its 2021 list of 167 ICT companies. Once the takeover is completed, it will become part of the SAOP group.

Renovation of Slovenia's main hospital under scrutiny

LJUBLJANA - Renovation works on the main building of UKC Ljubljana worth over EUR 70 million are planned to start shortly. But according to media reports, the open call to select the contractor for the energy renovation segment was flawed, not containing a detailed description of the works, the quantity and price of materials. Although the hospital has dismissed the allegations, the Health Ministry said that if the allegations transpired to be true, the drawing of EU funds would be halted. The upgrade of UKC Ljubljana also includes the renovation of the interior of the building, with both projects to be carried out by constructor GH Holding.

Govt launching regular dialogue with umbrella NGO for disabled

LJUBLJANA - PM Robert Golob met with representatives of the National Council of Disability Organisations (NSIOS) to establish regular and direct dialogue with the representative organisation of the disable to address challenges of some 100,000 people with disabilities in Slovenia. He announced that an operative body will be set up bringing together representatives of the government and NSIOS to find solutions. NSIOS head Mateja Toman said they hoped for fiscal solutions to improve the social situation of the disabled, who face a number of expenses that ordinary people don't.

Covid count down slightly in a week

LJUBLJANA - 2,625 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Slovenia on Monday, more than 300 fewer compared to a week ago, as the downward trend continues. According to the Health Ministry, two patients died. In total, 271 patients were in hospitals with Covid on Monday, including those with other conditions, which is 13 more than on Sunday. 17 patients needed intensive care, one more than on Sunday. The National Institute of Public Health puts the 7-day average of new daily cases to 1,558, down by 48 over the day before, while the 14-incidence rate per 100,000 dropped by seven to 1,065.

Slovenia to get monkeypox vaccine from EU Commission

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to accept a donation of 1,400 doses of a monkeypox vaccine from the European Commission. The Jynneos vaccine, also known as Imvanex, is produced by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic, and has been assessed by the European Medicines Agency as the most appropriate vaccine against monkeypox. The WHO recommended in June that healthcare workers be vaccinated against monkeypox.

Ceremony held in memory of Nazi genocide against the Roma

MARIBOR - A ceremony was held in Maribor on Roma Holocaust Memorial Day in memory of the Nazi genocide against the Roma and Sinti. As part of the event, entitled The Night When Violins Went Silent, French documentary The Forgotten Genocide was screened. Addressing the event at the Maribor Synagogue, Deputy Mayor Alenka Iskra said such memorial events were important to keep the memory of various wrongs alive. This is particularly important in a time when the rhetoric of some is dangerously reminiscent of what happened eight decades ago, she said. Another ceremony will be held in Murska Sobota on Wednesday.

Slovenian appointed head of international speleology union

POSTOJNA - Slovenian speleologist Nadja Zupan Hajna was elected president of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) at the organisations' congress last week. She is the first woman and the first Slovenian to be appointed UIS president. Zupan Hajna is a researcher at the Karst Research Institute in Postojna. Being a member of the Permanent Bureau of the UIS since 2009, she was the treasurer of the union in the past term. Founded in 1965, the UIS currently has 57 member states, each of which appoints a delegate for a four-year term to represent the country's cavers and speleologists.

Cement milk likely cause of Glinščica fish kill

LJUBLJANA - Monday's fish kill in the stream Glinščica in Ljubljana most likely resulted from cement milk pollution, as the tests have shown that the cause was not too low a pH or a lack of oxygen in the water, the local angling club's head Marijan Kerč told the STA after he visited the site together with an inspector for agriculture, forestry, hunting and fisheries. Half a dozen fish kills have occurred in Slovenia since early June, all attributed to pollution rather than low water levels amid a serious drought. The severest took place in Mali Graben, a canal of the Gradaščica in Ljubljana, where some 1.5 tonnes of fish died at the end of July.

Kranj park gets another bust of France Prešeren's contemporary

KRANJ - A bust of Alphonse de Lamartine, a 19th-century French author, poet and statesman, was unveiled in Kranj to join another four busts in the city's park honouring Slovenian poet France Prešeren (1800-1849) and his contemporaries. The bust was unveiled in La Ciotat Park in collaboration with France's La Ciotat - the first town with which Kranj twinned in 64 years ago. The first busts were unveiled last October, while there is enough space in the park for another ten.

Slovenians drink some 26 litres of beer a year

LJUBLJANA - Annual at-home consumption of beer in Slovenia is around 26.4 litres per capita, shows data the Statistics Office released ahead of International Beer Day. Beer prices increased in 2021, by 3.2% year-on-year, as retail price for lager stood at EUR 1.83 per litre, while half a litre of ale in bars sold at an average EUR 2.89. The total value of beer imports last year was EUR 26.7 million, with Austria making the most profit at a 38% share. The value of exports reached EUR 55.9 million, with most beer (25%) being exported to Croatia.

02 Aug 2022, 06:39 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Fajon urges Russia to withdraw from Ukraine at NPT conference

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon addressed the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York, saying the war in Ukraine had caused the worst deterioration of security in Europe and urging Russia to cease the hostilities and withdraw from Ukraine. She stressed Slovenia will continue supporting Ukraine and its right to self-defence, and welcomed the departure from Odessa of the first ship carrying wheat, which she believes is a sign that dialogue is possible. Fajon was also scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Govt to annul parts of income tax reform next year

LJUBLJANA - Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič announced the government will partly annul as of 2023 the latest income tax reform introduced by the previous government in the spring because it significantly affects budget revenue. The centrepiece of the plan is to annul both the increase in the general tax relief and the cut in the tax rate for top earners from 50% to 45%. This means the general tax relief, at EUR 3,500 before the reform, will only raise to EUR 5,000 by 1 January, but no further as planned to EUR 7,500 by 2025. Boštjančič said this was because of inflation and the rising costs of living. The changes to the general tax relief should raise revenue by EUR 180 million in 2024 and EUR 170 million in 2025.

Drought's impact on crops calls for emergency legislation

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) is still collecting data on the damage caused by drought, but it is already clear that it will exceed the limit set for eligibility for state aid following natural disasters (0.03% of the budget revenue) and thus require emergency legislation. According to KGZS head Roman Žveglič, the situation is worse than in 2017 when damage was estimated at EUR 65 million. Virtually all crops are affected, especially vegetables, orchards, permanent cropland, and field crops. Grain and hay production was down 20-23% each. Žveglič also called for cutting red tape to allow for more irrigation.

Petrol and diesel a few cents cheaper from Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Regular petrol and diesel sold at service stations outside the motorway network in Slovenia will be cheaper from Tuesday, by 8.6 cents and 2.3 cents, respectively. A litre of petrol will cost EUR 1.534 and diesel EUR 1.676, the Economy Ministry announced. The new prices will be in place for a day more than usually, for 15 days, including on Tuesday, 16 August, because Monday, 15 August, is a bank holiday. They will include an environmental duty on CO2 emissions as the government changed today a relevant regulation to reintroduce the obligation to pay this duty on petrol, diesel, natural gas and heating oil after temporarily lifting it to cushion the rising retail fuel prices on 21 June when it introduced the new pricing model. Along the motorways, fuel prices are fully liberalised.

Internal audit finds major irregularities in motorway police

LJUBLJANA - An internal police audit has revealed major irregularities in contracts concluded by the Motorway Police Administration, which was established under the previous government. This also applies to the contract with national motorway operator DARS, which was referred to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the Budget Supervision Office and the State Attorney's Office over suspicion of criminal acts. The Interior Ministry said the contract intertwined the activities of the police and DARS to create suspicion about independence and quality of police jurisdiction in relation to DARS. Also today, all staff from three out of the four existing motorways police units were assigned to ordinary road traffic police stations due to lack of staff, which the media interpreted as their de facto abolishment.

Media: Olaj's former assistant suspected of data tampering

LJUBLJANA - The police has initiated a dismissal and disciplinary procedure against an employee on suspicion of a work-related crime. According to media reports, the person in question is Tomislav Habulin, a former assistant to previous Police Commissioner Anton Olaj. According to tabloid Slovenske Novice, Habulin is a former commander of the Murska Sobota police station and reportedly suspected of data tampering during his work as a senior official in the office of the police commissioner. The Specialised State Prosecutor's Office will be notified of the matter.

Illegal migration up 80% in first seven months year-on-year

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian police processed in the first seven months just over 8,200 foreigners who illegally entered the country, up 80% compared to the same period last year. However, Tomaž Pavček of the Border Police Division told the press that this is less than a 10% rise compared to the same periods in 2019 and 2020. Nationality-wise, the majority of illegal migrants were citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The police also apprehended 130 people suspected of helping migrants cross the border illegally, who came from 30 different countries, most of them from Serbia.

Presidential candidate raises dust with "media buying" comment

LJUBLJANA - Lawyer Nataša Pirc Musar, who is expected to run in the 23 October presidential election, has raised dust with a statement for the Siol.net news portal about "media being paid to attack those who think differently". The former information commissioner said in the recent interview this was "something that is practised by Požareport, Nova24TV and now also Reporter and Necenzurirano. Is that journalism? The answer is no." The media outlets have reproached her for encroaching on their reputation, and demanded an apology. Some have even announced lawsuits.

Extended weekend Covid case count down 10% weekly, ten deaths

LJUBLJANA - A total of 2,835 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia from Friday to Sunday in what is a 10% decrease compared to the same period a week ago, fresh data released by the Health Ministry shows. Hospitalisations remained flat compared to last Thursday, and ten patients with Covid-19 died between Friday and Sunday. There are now an estimated 22,694 people actively infected in the country, and the 14-incidence rate per 100,000 people is at 1,072.

Slovenia to get 750,000 vaccine shots in case of flu pandemic

LJUBLJANA - In line with an agreement that the European Commission signed with pharmaceutical company GSK on behalf of a dozen EU countries, including Slovenia, last week, Slovenia will receive 750,000 shots of pandemic influenza vaccine Adjupanrix if a flu pandemic is declared, the Health Ministry told the STA. In line with the agreement on a joint order, the EU countries will be able to buy up to 85 million doses of the vaccine if necessary, but the vaccine will only be supplied if the WHO declares a flu pandemic.

July hottest month on record in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - This July has been the hottest month on record in Ljubljana in terms of the mean monthly temperature, which stood at 24.4 degrees Celsius, the Environment Agency (ARSO) announced. Record temperatures for July were also recorded in many other locations in Slovenia. The past month was 2-3 degrees warmer than the 1981-2010 average in most of the country, and was also quite dry, with some stations receiving only a third to half of the expected rainfall, said Veronika Hladnik Zakotnik from ARSO.

Demand surges for pellets, heat pumps

ŠKOFJA LOKA/MARIBOR - Amid the energy crisis, the prices of wood pellets and heat pumps in Slovenia have surged. As demand for pellets rose by about 35%, the price almost doubled, and the supply has become a problem. The Škofja Loka-based wood pellets producer Energija Narave told the STA the price of pellets went up by as much as 95% due to the rise in the price of raw material and costlier production. Energy company Elektro Maribor Energija Plus told the STA the demand for heat pumps had also been on the rise due to fear of price hikes and disruptions in the supply of heating oil and gas.

New 5-star hotel opens in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's capital has a new five-star hotel as Grand Plaza has just opened across the road from InterContinental Ljubljana to make the city's largest hotel yet. Situated in the Bavarski Dvor area, the 22-storey hotel features 354 rooms, more than double the number in its counterpart across the street, which opened in August 2017 as Ljubljana's first five-star hotel. Grand Plaza Hotel & Congress Center, as it is officially named according to a Facebook post, is an investment of Slovenian jeweller Zlatarna Celje.

Slovenia's EXPO 2020 pavilion to remain in Dubai

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's EXPO 2020 pavilion will remain at the EXPO site in Dubai, the government decided in a correspondence session. The pavilion will remain at its original location, becoming a part of the District 2020 Dubai, to continue promoting Slovenia's economy and tourism for another five years. The Economy Ministry hopes the move will help Slovenia seize the potential of Middle Eastern markets.

Slovenia tops FIBA's ranking forecast ahead of EuroBasket

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia tops the first power ranking forecast by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) ahead of the European Basketball Championship coming up in September. The defending champions are placed before France and Greece. FIBA says that "Luka Dončić is elite and the 'supporting cast' more than proved their value last summer in the Olympics journey". It says the "big question is whether FIBA EuroBasket 2017 MVP Goran Dragić" jonns the national team this time round, as he is expected to announce his decision this week. Slovenia are currently in training camp and will be playing preparation games with the Netherlands and Montenegro this week.

01 Aug 2022, 04:18 AM

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Justice minister vows to monitor restrictive measures adoption

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan has vowed to keep a close eye on the government's work if new restrictive measures will need to be imposed due to a surge in coronavirus cases. Talking to the STA, she also said she advocated the suspension of unconstitutional proceedings launched against individuals under the previous government.

Low-profile memorial event to be held at Russian Chapel

KRANJSKA GORA - A low-profile memorial event was held at the Russian Chapel below the Vršič mountain pass honouring the memory of Russian POWs who perished while building the pass during the First World War. Because of the war in Ukraine, only members and friends of the Slovenia-Russia Association gathered for this year's event, whereas in the past the annual memorial had been a high-level event, with Vladimir Putin attending in 2016.

Development of eGovernment in Slovenia close to European average

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia placed well within the European average at 19th out of 35 countries as the European Commission published the latest results of its regular eGovernment Benchmark comparative analysis of eGovernment services development in the EU and another eight countries for 2022. Slovenia is below average in terms of the digitalization rate, but above average regarding the use of internet in society.

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