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This summary is provided by the STA:
Over 2,600 coronavirus cases, ten deaths reported for Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - Another 2,631 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Wednesday, an increase of more than 40% from the week before, as hospitalisations increased rose further, to 547, and ten more Covid patients died. The test positivity rate remained high with 36% of the PCR tests returning positive. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 people rose by 74 to 1,125.
Janša meets Renyders for talks on EU presidency
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša held talks with European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, with the government not revealing details beyond that the discussion revolved around the key dossiers of Slovenia's EU presidency. A Commission official meanwhile said the discussion touched on Slovenia's failure to appoint its members of the European Public Prosecutors' Office (EPPO). "Reynders stated that ... solutions must be found quickly to ensure the full functioning of the EPPO," the source added.
Judicial branch protests after Janša accuses court of bias
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Association of Judges has expressed protest after Prime Minister Janez Janša accused the court that ordered him to pay damages in a defamation suit brought by the opposition Social Democrats (SD) of political bias. The association finds Janša's comment about the court "unacceptably scornful toward the court's judges and the court as the basic institution of the rule of law". The Supreme Court called for more decent communication between the branches of government.
Simoniti's response to Jourova: STA funding should be transparent
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Replying to EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova's letter about the STA situation, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said the fact that the state is required to finance the STA under the law was not controversial. The government agrees with this, but the funding must be transparent and public service done in accordance with the law. "But mainly it should be free of charge as defined by the law," he said.
Slovenia drops one spot to 12th in gender equality in EU
VILNIUS, Lithuania - Slovenia has ranked 12th in this year's EU gender equality index ranking released by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The country scored 67.6 points out of 100, practically level with the EU average, as it dropped by one spot compared to the 2020 ranking. "Since 2010, Slovenia's score has increased by 4.9 points but its ranking has dropped by three places. Since 2018, Slovenia's score has remained the same, but its ranking dropped by two places," the EIGE noted.
Govt nominates Petrovič for European Court of Auditors again
LJUBLJANA - Jorg Kristijan Petrovič, first deputy president of the Slovenian Court of Audit, has been put forward as Slovenia's candidate for European Court of Auditors once again, after the parliamentary EU Affairs Committee turned down his nomination without debate in mid-October. The government said yesterday it had to notify the National Assembly of the proposal but was "not bound by the opinion of the National Assembly's working body".
Speaker Zorčič says alternative is needed
LJUBLJANA - The parliament is operational for now, parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič said in an interview with the N1 news portal. However, he believes that the government is not doing its job well and that elections are needed. He also revealed he was involved in talks on potentially forming a new party, along with the other unaffiliated MPs. Zorčič defended his decision not to join the opposition's walkout during Tuesday's sitting of the parliament, saying that they had been notified the MPs about his intentions beforehand.
Report: Paint maker Jub taken over by Australian company Dulux
LJUBLJANA - Unofficial media reports said Slovenia's oldest paint manufacturer Jub is to be taken over by Dulux Australia in a deal worth around EUR 191 million. The deal is to be completed today, with the new owners pledging to keep Jub's headquarters and production in Slovenia, the newspaper Finance said. DuluxGroup, an Australian company owned by Japanese Nippon Paint which manufactures and sells paint of the Dulux brand, has reportedly offered EUR 5,500 per share to complete the takeover of Jub.
Two more villages in Austria get German-Slovenian town signs
FREISTRIZ IM ROSENTAL, Austria - The number of towns and villages in the Austrian province that have German-Slovenian town names has increased to 171 after Mače (Matschach) and Sveče (Suetschach) have been added to the list, according to a report on the Slovenian programme of ORF, the Austrian public broadcaster. Bilingual town signs in the two villages in the Bistrica ob Rožu (Feistriz im Rosental) municipality were erected on Wednesday in line with a decision taken by the municipal council in June.
United Group's sports TV channel concentration approved
LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency (AVK) approved United Group's acquisition of the Sport Klub TV channels. After long and painstaking procedures, it has now found the concentration compatible with the rules of competition, as the market situation changed significantly with the entry of Arena Sport as new competitor with a broad portfolio of rights to broadcast sporting events of interest to viewers.
Lonely Planet names Slovenia among top 10 countries for 2022
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia placed fifth on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries to visit in 2022 as the travel brand highlights the country's diverse gastronomy and numerous possibilities of active experiences. Slovenia is described as a green destination as its sustainable policy and natural riches are put front and centre. "Slovenia is a world leader in being literally and figuratively 'green' with responsible travel being part of the Slovenia way of life for decades," says Lonely Planet.
First part of Slovenian translation of entire Arabian Nights launched
LJUBLJANA - The first part of the Slovenian translation of the complete Arabian Nights or One Thousand and One Nights from Arabic has been released, and two more parts are to follow. The most extensive version of the canonical work has been so far translated only into a handful of languages. The publisher Maks Viktor unveiled the first part on Thursday with the second and third expected in 2022 and 2023. The translation of the first book took roughly two years.
Cherry trees planted as homage to Slovenian-Japanese relations
GROSUPLJE - A line of Japanese cherry trees was planted in memory of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo and to mark the upcoming 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Slovenia. The trees were planted by Grosuplje Mayor Peter Verlič, Japanese Ambassador Hiromichi Matsushima, Toyota Adria boss Kensuke Tsuchiya and legendary Slovenian Olympian Miroslav Cerar, with Slovenian Olympic Committee president Bogdan Gabrovec attending.
