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This summary is provided by the STA:
Cross-border workers added to exceptions for entry to Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The government added cross-border workers to the list of exceptions for quarantine-free entry to Slovenia if they do not have a Covid certificate. The exception will apply to workers who live up to ten kilometres from the national border. Cross-border workers are required to return within five days after they cross into another country. It is a temporary exception that is expected to be in force until 15 August, and not later than until 1 September.
Ministers debate future of textile, energy intensive industries
BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU ministers in charge of competitiveness debated the future of Europe's textile and energy-intensive industries at an informal meeting focusing on how these industries can transition to a circular economy. "Sustainable development is very important for industry, the preservation and improvement of long-term prosperity as well as the fight against climate change and efforts for a safe and inclusive society," Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said. The meeting also featured several successful companies from the textile and energy-intensive sectors.
New digital transformation office established
LJUBLJANA - The government established a new Digital Transformation Office, which will be headed by Mark Boris Andrijanič, who was recently appointed minister without portfolio for digital transformation. The new office will monitor and analyse digital transformation at the national and regional levels, draw up strategic documents, coordinate their implementation, and manage its own digital transformation projects. Both Andrijanič and Prime Minister Janez Janša have said that Slovenia is lagging behind in digitalisation and fast steps are needed to narrow the gap to the digital leaders.
Two non-executive directors appointed at bad bank
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed two non-executive directors at the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), lawyer Franci Matoz and Gregor Planteu, who was until recently the government's trustee on the board of retailer Mercator. The new appointees will replace Franc Dover, who stepped down earlier this week, and Marko Tišma, who started out as non-executive director in 2018 and was dismissed today. The appointment of Franci Matoz was proposed by the Finance Ministry, whereas the replacement of Tišma with Planteu was proposed by the Economy Ministry, the Government Communications Office said.
Lawyer Jamie Harpootlian nominated for US ambassador to Slovenia
WASHINGTON, US - US President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated prominent Columbia lawyer Jamie L. Harpootlian to be ambassador to Slovenia. She is the wife of South Carolina Senator, Democrat Dick Harpootlian. After being confirmed by the US Senate, the new ambassador will succeed Lynda Blanchard, who tendered her resignation in January after Donald Trump lost to Biden in last year's presidential election. Since then Susan K. Falatko has served as chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Ljubljana.
Event organisers will have to check Covid certificates
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to make verification of Covid certificate compliance mandatory at all public events and gatherings. Persons who do not have a Covid certificate - a paper of electronic document proving that they have been vaccinated, tested or recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months - must be prohibited from entering the venue, the government said. "It is about those attending events doing so safely and with the knowledge that they will not get sick," Mateja Logar, the head of the government's Covid advisory group, told the press.
Slovenia's first children's house formally established
LJUBLJANA - The government established the country's first Barnahus for children in the form of a public institute that will be dedicated to comprehensive treatment of children involved in criminal proceedings as victims, witnesses or perpetrators. The basis for the children's house is the law passed by the National Assembly at the end of March, which stipulates that comprehensive treatment of children is performed as a public service financed by the state. The law introduces the internationally established model that has also been recognised as good practice by the Council of Europe.
Slovenia donates fence, equipment to help Lithuania stem migrations
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will donate equipment to Lithuania to help it stem the flow of illegal migrations from Belarus. Under the government decision adopted, Lithuania will get ten kilometres of fence, plus power generators, blankets and ready-made meals. Lithuania has asked EU member states to help and Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite addressed a letter to Slovenian counterpart Aleš Hojs asking for assistance in the construction of physical barriers on the border with Belarus.
Court of Audit happy with PPE procurement remedial measures
LJUBLJANA - The Court of Audit established that remedial measures that were taken by the government and the Agency for Commodity Reserves on the basis of the court's audit of the efficiency of purchases of personal protective and medical equipment had been satisfactory. Nevertheless, the court's post-audit report reminds the government that changes are still needed to set out in more detail responsibilities of relevant stakeholders. The audit report, released on 18 March, found major faults with the PPE procurement scheme.
Industry chamber supports second unit at Krško N-plant
LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) backed the planned construction of the second unit at the Krško nuclear power station, noting that before the project is launched, its price tag should be set out in a transparent and precise way, all safety conditions should be made clear, and a broad social consensus should be reached. The GZS sees Unit 2 as a way to ensure a stable and autonomous electricity supply as one of the main prerequisites for a successful economy.
Daily coronavirus count drops to 69
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 69 new coronavirus infections for Wednesday, in what marks a week-on-week drop after two days that the daily count was up. One Covid-19 patient died. Official data show that 1,446 PCR tests were conducted yesterday, for a positivity rate of 4.8%. The estimated number of active cases remains at 838, while the 7-day case count average and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents both rose to 60 and 40, respectively.
Electoral commission rejects allegations of referendum irregularities
LJUBLJANA - The National Electoral Commission (DVK) dismissed allegations about voter suppression during the new waters act referendum campaign. The criticism saying that the commission is responsible for issues with informing care home residents, mail voting and early voting stems from false understanding of referendum rules, the DVK said.
Consumer confidence slightly deteriorates
LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence weakened in July by one percentage point compared with the month before but improved by 10 points year-on-year to three percentage points above the long-term average. The Statistics Office reported that the monthly decrease was mostly due to consumers being more pessimistic about the economic situation in the country (-8 points). Year-on-year improvements were recorded across all components of the indicator.
May pay up in nominal terms, down in real terms
LJUBLJANA - The average gross pay in Slovenia in May stood at EUR 2,008, up 0.7% nominally on April and down 0.2% in real terms. Totalling EUR 1,287, the average net pay was up 0.6% in nominal terms and down 0.3% in real terms, the Statistics Office said. Average gross pay increased by 5.1% in the public sector, whereas it decreased by 2.1% in the private sector. Education saw the most significant increase, at 12%.
Artnik improves own free diving world record
NASSAU, the Bahamas - Slovenian freediver Alenka Artnik further improved the constant weight world record she set three days ago by plunging as far as 122 metres deep at the Vertical Blue competition in the Bahamas. "The dive was absolutely magical, so controlled and relaxed," Artnik said in announcing her feat in a post on her Facebook profile. Artnik set a new world record in her discipline three days ago, diving 120 metres deep into Dean's Blue Hole on Long Island, the Bahamas.
Mura pull out a goalless draw against Ludogorets
MURSKA SOBOTA - Slovenian football champions Mura pulled out a goalless draw against Bulgaria's Ludogorets in the first leg of the second round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League at home on Wednesday, which means their potential promotion to the third round will be decided in the fixture in Bulgaria next Wednesday. Mura were on the defensive for most of the game, they came closest to actually scoring a goal as Žiga Kous hit the woodwork in the 84th minute.
