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This summary is provided by the STA:
Erjavec under fire over force commender dismissal
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec is facing a barrage of criticism following the allegation that he abused the army intelligence service (OVS) to dismiss Brigadier General Miha Škerbinc as the army's force commander. PM Marjan Šarec demanded a report from him to clear up the allegation, made last month by the parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Commission. Erjavec announced he would send the report to Šarec and President Borut Pahor as the supreme commander tomorrow or on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Trade Union of Soldiers urged MPs to file an ouster motion against Erjavec over Škerbinc's dismissal and his attitude to the army.
Pivec meet Italian official to discuss Rebula cross-border protection
BRDA - Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec and Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Italian region Friuli Venezia-Giulia, urged cooperation in efforts to jointly protect the Rebula wine grown in the cross-border area, as they met in the hilly Brda. The proposal for the protected designation of origin implies establishing an 800-hectare wine-growing area covering Slovenia's Brda plus Italy's wine-growing areas Collio and Colli Orientali. Pivec announced a cross-border task force would be set up by June featuring representatives of Rebula wine growers and politicians.
Equal opportunities ombudsman presents 2018 report
LJUBLJANA - Equal Opportunities Ombudsman Miha Lobnik presented his annual report to Speaker Dejan Židan, saying the anti-discrimination office had processed five cases of possible discrimination in 2018 but confirmed prejudicial treatment in only one case. However, he said the report's results did not reflect the actual situation, noting discrimination was more prevalent, but people were not inclined to report it for various reasons. Židan urged Lobnik to put forward a proposal to adopt legislation enabling his office to more efficiently help individuals encountering unjust treatment.
Some 140 migrants apprehended at the weekend
LJUBLJANA/KOPER/NOVO MESTO - The Novo Mesto, Koper and Ljubljana police departments registered more than 140 instances of migrants crossing the border illegally at the weekend. Two foreigners were hiding in the chassis of a train engine and a Pakistani citizen wanted to smuggle ten migrants into Slovenia in his car. The biggest number of illegal migrants, 64, were processed by the Koper Police Department since Friday. So far, 15 have applied for international protection, but most are to be returned to Croatia.
Slovenia hosting regional military exercises
CERKLJE OB KRKI/POSTOJNA - A series of regional military exercises got under way in Slovenia, involving the Slovenian Armed Forces and troops from 25 allied and partner countries. The goal is to make them better prepared to provide security and preserve peace in the region. Running until 22 June, the exercises started with the tactical exercise dubbed Immediate Response, held under the leadership of US Army Europe and Slovenian and Croatian armed forces. It features almost 3,000 troops.
MEP Vajgl to receive second highest decoration of Catalonia
LJUBLJANA - The government of Catalonia will decorate Slovenian MEP Ivo Vajgl (ALDE/DeSUS), the head of the EU-Catalonia Dialogue Platform group of MEPs, with St George's Cross, the second highest civil distinction awarded in Catalonia. The MEP's office has recently announced that Vajgl would receive Creu de Sant Jordi for his contribution in Catalonia's independence efforts, adding that the MEP had expressed his sincere gratitude for the acknowledgement.
Ex-ombudsman named advisor to President Pahor
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor named Vlasta Nussdorfer, the former human rights ombudsman, his advisor for human rights, charitable activities and social policies. As a non-paid official Nussdorfer is joining Pahor's other three advisers France Arhar, the first governor of Slovenia's central bank, Ernest Petrič, the former Constitutional Court president, and Boštjan Žekš, the former president of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts. They all perform their services for free.
Slovenian-born foreman of Watergate grand jury dies
WASHINGTON, US - The Slovenian-born foreman of Watergate grand jury, Vladimir Pregelj, died on Saturday, a day before turning 92. The long-serving Library of Congress researcher helped Slovenia immensely during independence efforts in the late 1980s. Foreign Minister Miro Cerar expressed his condolences to Pregelj's family, describing Pregelj as an "intellectual and a great Slovenian who helped Slovenian diplomats to open Congressmen's doors". He is expected to be buried at Žale cemetery in Ljubljana.
Fuel prices to rise to autumn 2018 levels
LJUBLJANA - The administrated prices of regular petrol and diesel will increase at midnight. Regular will be 0.6 cents more expensive at EUR 1,355 a litre, a record high since last October, while the price of diesel will go up by 1.3 cents to EUR 1,292, the highest since November, according to the Economy Ministry.
Slovenian researchers publish major paper on cell differentiation
LJUBLJANA - A team that also featured five Slovenian researches has published a groundbreaking cell differentiation paper that can potentially help revolutionise personalised regenerative medicine. Contributing to the paper, published in the Molecular Cell magazine, were London-based researchers Miha Modic and Jernej Ule, Gregor Rot of the University of Zurich, Tjaša Lepko from the Helmholtz Centre in Munich and Boris Roglej of the Jožef Stefan Institute. The researchers described the regulatory network explaining the starting events leading to an effective differentiation of stem cells and the development of an embryo.
Drama festival to showcase contemporary European theatre
LJUBLJANA - The 6th Drama festival will get under way at the SNG Drama Ljubljana theatre on 25 May, featuring some of the best contemporary European plays until 31 May. Seven productions, including those by Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin and Czech theatres, will be in the running for the audience's award for best production, named after the late actor Jernej Šugman. The festival will open with Michelangelo, based on the play by Croatian author Miroslav Krleža and directed by Slovenian Sebastijan Horvat.
