Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary is provided by the STA:
Janša and Netanyahu call for strengthening of innovation cooperation
JERUSALEM, Israel - Prime Minister Janez Janša met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for official talks. They discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, particularly in innovation. Netanyahu said the visit was an opportunity for a new beginning in relations. He thanked Janša for declaring the Hezbollah Shia Islamist movement a terrorist organisation and for expressing support for Israel in international forums. Janša said Slovenia attempted to see the Middle East situation as it was and not as it was often depicted. Janša started a two-day official visit to Israel on Monday by meeting the representatives of Israel's innovation sector.
Logar launches strategic dialogue with US, to be continued with next administration
WASHINGTON, US - The foreign ministers of Slovenia and the US, Anže Logar and Mike Pompeo, launched on Monday a new, upgraded form of structured bilateral dialogue. Logar stressed the importance of this strategic dialogue and said it would continue with the next US administration. The Foreign Ministry said Logar and Pompeo had praised the current relations between Slovenia and the US, as the governments had strengthened cooperation in many fields. Logar and Pompeo exchanged views of the global and regional challenges, including the Western Balkans, relations with Russia and China and the situation in the Middle East. Logar also held talks with two members of the US Congress of Slovenian stock, Representative from Arizona Paul Gosar and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Slovenia and US sign memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation
WASHINGTON, DC, US - Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec signed a memorandum of understanding concerning strategic civil nuclear cooperation with the US at the State Department. Nuclear cooperation memoranda of understanding are diplomatic mechanisms that strengthen and expand strategic ties between the US and a partner country, the State Department said. Minister Vrtovec said the memorandum did not mean Westinghouse would be given preferential treatment in Slovenia's plans to build a second reactor in Krško. He said the talks were also about the development of small modular nuclear reactors, whose rollout is planned for 2026.
A record 66 Covid-19 patients die
LJUBLJANA - A record 66 Covid-19 patients died in Slovenia on Monday as 1,627 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in 6,158 tests. The positivity rate was 26.4%, one percentage point down compared to Sunday. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals was up by three to 1,304, of whom 193 required intensive care, three fewer than on Sunday. A total of 86 patients were discharged from hospital.
Ministers at odds about reopening of economy
LJUBLJANA - With the epidemic plateauing for several weeks, Health Minister Tomaž Gantar proposed a temporary full lockdown of all non-essential activity in the country. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, on the other hand, proposes a gradual reopening of businesses with stricter measures. Gantar's call was backed by chief Covid-19 adviser Bojana Beović, while Počivalšek's view is in line with demands by business associations, many of which issued a joint call for the reopening of all shops, and services such as hairdressers, massages, physiotherapy, and technical services.
Soldiers to bring defamation suits against singer, director
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Soldiers' Trade Union urged members to authorise a law firm to bring damages suits against a singer and a director who they say insulted Slovenian Armed Force members and the guard of honour, as well as against the public broadcaster for airing the contentious statements. The union said the lawsuits would have a preventive effect. The NGO Inštitut 8. Marec called the move an attempt to intimidate those who express opinions opposing or critical of those in power.
Opposition petitions Constitutional Court over defence spending referendum
LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left coalition parties turned to the Constitutional Court after the National Assembly last week declared a referendum on EUR 780 million in planned defence investments inadmissible. The Left, Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD) and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) want the court to abrogate both the parliament's decision on the inadmissibility of the referendum and the relevant act itself.
Repatriation of ethnic Slovenians from Venezuela continues
LJUBLJANA - The repatriation of ethnic-Slovenian residents of Venezuela was suspended in March following the outbreak of coronavirus, but it was re-launched in autumn, when 13 persons arrived in Slovenia, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad announced. A total of 36 persons have been repatriated so far. The recent arrivals first had to quarantine for ten days. They all tested negative for coronavirus.
STA supervisory board finds no legal basis for financing suspension
LJUBLJANA - The STA supervisory board called on the government to take necessary steps to resume regular financing of the STA for the public service it performs after concluding, based on a legal opinion commissioned by the STA management, that the Government Communication Office has no legal basis to arbitrarily suspend financing. The supervisors established that the STA leadership had not acted in contravention of the valid law in its communication with UKOM. UKOM insists the STA director must hand over the requested documents.
Tourism getting ready for multi-year recovery
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian tourism is preparing for long-term recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The recovery plan will span until the end of 2023, with tourism resilience being strengthened for years to come, participants of the virtual Days of Slovenian Tourism said. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek thinks that the sector will return to record-breaking results. He vowed additional aid for the hospitality and tourism sectors and the meeting industry in the emerging seventh stimulus package.
Minister supports value-based digital transformation
LJUBLJANA - Participating in a meeting of EU ministers in charge of public administration digitalisation, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik endorsed a concept of a digital transformation based on democratic and ethical values and inclusion. Investments not only in technology but also in people and their skills are key for a successful digital transformation, the minister noted.
Tour winner Pogačar honoured for tourism promotion
LJUBLJANA - Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar was honoured by the Slovenian tourism community as the person who contributed the most to Slovenia's promotion around the world. At the annual Days of Slovenian Tourism, Pogačar won the Crystal Triglav, becoming the second cyclist to be honoured after Primož Roglič, who finished second in this year's Tour, received the accolade last year.
Looking for a gift this Christmas that says “Slovenia” and will keep you and your loved ones happy and well fed for years to come? Then check out the beautifully produced book Cook Eat Slovenia, with 100 easy to follow recipes for all seasons. The book has won three awards at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2020, for best translated, best self-published, and best food tourism cookbook for Slovenia, and for the second best in the world for food tourism, and third best for self-published. Our review is here, and you can order a copy from anywhere in the world here.
If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here
