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:

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:

MPs adopt resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed a resolution on the situation in Ukraine that condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The resolution endorses sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and supports Ukraine's EU accession prospects. It was tabled by deputies of all parliamentary groups bar the opposition National Party (SNS), and endorsed by 67 of the 74 deputies present with none voting against.

Govt introduces temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decision introducing temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine that effectively grants them a temporary residence permit, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare. The temporary protection will last for one year and can be extended for a maximum of two times for six months.

Pahor to visit Turkey for conference, meeting with Erdogan

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will take part in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Friday to appear alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a panel themed Price of Peace or Cost of War. Pahor will discuss how diplomacy should help find a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine. He is also due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his office announced.

Most of education staff joined strike for better pay

LJUBLJANA - Roughly 40,000 of some 50,000 staff working in schools, kindergartens and higher education institutions staged a general strike that their trade union SVIZ says affected half a million people in the country in one way or another. The Education Ministry sent out an invitation to all unions representing staff in education for talks on open issues, saying the talks were planned for Tuesday. Meanwhile, the SVIZ strike committee will decide on further steps on Monday.

New NATO battlegroup expected to feature up to 100 Slovenian soldiers

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia/LJUBLJANA - The Slovakian government approved the establishment of a new NATO battlegroup in Slovakia that is expected to feature 2,100 soldiers, including up to 100 Slovenian soldiers. The proposal has to be approved by the Slovak parliament, the Slovak news agency TASR reported. No decision on this has yet been made by the Slovenian government. The Defence Ministry told the STA that the procedure was yet to be completed, and the final decision on the number of soldiers was not yet made.

Authorities say no hazard for Slovenia as Chernobyl loses power supply

LJUBLJANA - The Nuclear Safety Administration said it had been notified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of an extraordinary failure of the Kyiv-Chernobyl power line. It assessed that there would be no significant radioactive emissions and, consequently, no hazard for Slovenia even in the event of long-term loss of power supply for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Efforts to secure natural gas must be top priority, says Golob

LJUBLJANA - The main priority of Slovenia's energy and foreign policies under current circumstances must be efforts to secure natural gas supplies for the next winter, said Robert Golob, the head of the Freedom Movement party. Since energy supply has become a matter of national security, the focus should be on renewable energy sources, he noted. He also announced that he would stand as a candidate in the 24 April election in Ljubljana.

*Logar notes importance of addressing roots of instability in Sahel

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar participated via video link in the third ministerial of the international Coalition for the Sahel. He expressed concern over the escalation of violence and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, and stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of instability in the Sahel. The minister noted Slovenia's continuous cooperation in the EU training mission in Mali, reads a press release by the ministry.

Week-on-week climb in Covid-19 cases continues

LJUBLJANA - A total of 2,182 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Tuesday, an increase of 19% from the same day a week ago, but down by 30% from the previous day, official data shows. With the new cases up on the week before for the fifth consecutive day, the 7-day average is now at 1,791, up by 49 from the previous day. Overall hospitalisations due to Covid-19 fell by six from yesterday to 263 this morning but ICU cases were up by two to 76. Eight patients with Covid died.

Bust of Pučnik, key independence figure, unveiled

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Jože Pučnik, a leading dissident under the Communist regime in Slovenia who played a key role in the country's independence, was honoured with a bust at Brdo estate on the 90th anniversary of his birth. The bust carries the famous quote with which Pučnik welcomed the outcome of the 1990 independence referendum: "Yugoslavia is no more, now it is about Slovenia", the words that Prime Minister Janez Janša said should be kept repeated today.

Intereuropa group's net profit skyrockets by 88% in 2021

KOPER - The logistics group Intereuropa saw its sales revenue increase by 17% year-on-year to EUR 176.7 million in 2021. Its net profit rose by 88% to EUR 6.7 million in what is the highest figure since 2007, shows the group's unaudited report. Sales were above plans in all three business segments, the company said, noting that they had managed to achieve their highest turnover in nine years despite the epidemic and a difficult economic situation.

Cinkarna Celje net profit surges 75% to EUR 33 million in 2021

CELJE - Chemical company Cinkarna Celje posted a net profit of EUR 33.2 million for 2021, a year-on-year increase of 75%. Driven by exports, sales rose by 12% to EUR 192.5 million. The company says the increase in sales was driven by robust demand in all markets and the total value of exports reached EUR 175.1 million, up 11% year-on-year. While prices increased as a result, inputs also became more expensive.

Bad bank reportedly in exclusive talks with Alpina bidder

LJUBLJANA - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) has entered into exclusive talks to sell its outright stake in footwear maker Alpina to K&H, a Czech company that is part of the Franco de poisd'eau & CIE group. The bad bank would not reveal the details of the sale or reports that Elan, the Slovenian sports equipment maker, and global sporting group Head have also submitted bids, according to Delo.

Agreement signed to set up training centre for EPSO tests

LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik and dean of the Ljubljana Faculty of Administration Mirko Pečarič signed an agreement to establish a training centre for EPSO tests, which are a prerequisite in the selection procedure for recruitment of candidates to EU institutions and agencies, the ministry said. The move will help those interested in pursuing careers with the European Union.

Ljubljana doc film fest returning to cinemas

LJUBLJANA - Following last year's on-line edition, the Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival will be organised in hybrid form this year to feature 22 feature-length documentaries and three shorts between 9 and 16 March. The documentaries will be screened at the Cankarjev Dom arts centre, while roughly half of them will also be available for on-demand streaming.

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:

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:

Almost 400 Ukrainian refugees seek asylum in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 381 Ukrainian citizens have stated their intention to ask for international protection in Slovenia, police data shows. Meeting Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said Slovenia was prepared for increased numbers of Ukrainian refugees and would provide capacities as needed. He reiterated Slovenia's support for Ukraine as the Ukrainian ambassador thanked Slovenia for its aid, a release from the ministry said.

Queues at petrol stations in expectation of fuel price hikes

LJUBLJANA - After media reports that fuel prices will go up significantly on Tuesday due to the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, queues formed at service stations around the country. Some stations temporarily ran out of diesel fuel. The newspaper Finance reported the price of diesel could reach a new record on Tuesday, at EUR 1.65 a litre. PM Janez Janša said there was no need to panic as Slovenia had sufficient supplies, announcing additional government measures in case of radical retail price hikes.

Poll shows Slovenians deeply pessimistic over Ukraine war

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian public see the war in Ukraine as a much bigger cause for concern than they did Covid-19 at any time of the pandemic. A poll conducted by Valicon in Slovenia and three other countries in the region puts the rate of people being personally concerned about the war and its impact at 85, which compares to the high of 72 during the Covid-19 pandemic. 71% of respondents in Slovenia blame Russia for the war, 37% the US and 22% NATO, 17% Ukraine and 11% the EU. Several answers were possible.

Facade of Russian-owned mill causes upset over Ukraine war

JESENICE - The facade of the steel maker SIJ Acroni's cold rolling mill in Koroška Bela has upset some employees and residents. They believe the building's yellow and blue facade with a red star and sickle on top is a provocation related to the war in Ukraine. The SIJ group, owned by the Russian Zubitsky family since 2017, rejected the allegation. It said the star had been placed on the building's roof as a workers' symbol a few decades ago, with the facade painted last year to match the auxiliary facility.

RTV Slovenija staff protest against increasing pressure

LJUBLJANA - RTV Slovenija journalists held a news conference to demand full editorial independence and protest against deteriorating working conditions, mobbing and political pressure. They pointed to unwarranted criticism from the Government Communication Office. TV Slovenija journalists also protested after Jadranka Rebernik was appointed editor-in-chief of TV news programmes instead of a candidate backed by the staff. The journalists' association DNS and trade union labelled the appointment unlawful.

Opposition boycotts session on diplomatic appointments

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee held a session to hear the remaining presentations by candidates for Slovenia's future ambassadors. After the first six candidates for ambassadorial positions, who are expected to be posted abroad in the summer, were presented to the committee in mid-February, today's closed-door session heard another five. The centre-left opposition staged a walk-out because they received the relevant documents only at the session itself.

SDS moves back to top spot in latest Mediana poll

LJUBLJANA - The ruling Democrats (SDS) gained 3.3 percentage points to 18.3% in the latest poll conducted by Mediana to return on top, leapfrogging the Freedom Movement, the party of Robert Golob. The latter lost 2.2 points to 18%. The Social Democrats (SD)are in third at 7.7%, up by 1.1 points. The government's rating improved compared to the previous month as President Borut Pahor continues to top the list of the most popular politicians, followed by Golob and National Council Speaker Alojz Kovšca.

SDS withdraws lawsuit against Šarec

LJUBLJANA - The Democrats (SDS) have withdrawn a lawsuit against Marjan Šarec, the leader of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), over comments he made in March 2020 concerning the party's methods and financing. Layer Franci Matoz did not provide the grounds for the withdrawal. The Mladina magazine, which first reported the news last week, said the party was certain to lose the suit given that a court had previously cleared sociologist Rudi Rizman, who was sued by the party over similar comments.

No more face masks at schools

LJUBLJANA - Kids and staff at schools no longer have to wear face masks from today. Masks remain obligatory in all other indoor public spaces. The relaxation, approved by the government last week, applies to kindergartens, schools and universities. Slovenia phased out a number of coronavirus restrictions on 21 February, including mandatory self-testing at schools and the Covid pass in most settings, with the latter remaining applicable at health organisations, care homes and prisons.

Cases up 16% week-on-week on Sunday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 746 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, a week-on-week increase of 16% that comes two weeks after a substantial relaxation of restrictions. This was the third day in a row that cases were up on the weekly basis. The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 continued to drop and stood at 1,140, whereas the seven-day average of new daily cases rose slightly to 1,656. Covid-19 hospitalisations dropped to 255, of which 74 in intensive care. Six patients died, shows official data.

Fewer cancer cases detected during epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Launching a five-day cancer awareness campaign, Sonja Tomšič, the coordinator of the Slovenian cancer management programme, said that 30% fewer cancer diagnoses than usually were set during the first wave of Covid-19 and about 10% fewer in the next waves. However, fewer diagnoses do not mean less cancer. Now that the epidemic is waning, the number of newly discovered cases is again as expected but "we still haven't made up for the delay in discovery" caused by the epidemic, she said.

Violence against women on the rise during epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Experts taking part in an online debate on femicide organised by SOS Telephone, a helpline for victims of domestic violence, ahead of International Women's Da, said that five to seven murders of women within a family or partnership are recorded in Slovenia every year. They also warned of a rise in femicide during the Covid-19 epidemic. Mirjam Kline from the Supreme State Prosecutors' Office said in about half of the cases, victims decided not to file charges.

Exports up 20.5% y/y in January as imports surge 52%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia exported EUR 3.5 billion worth of goods in January, or 20.5% more than in the same month last year, while imports surged by 52.1% to EUR 3.9 billion, the Statistics Office said. A trade deficit of EUR 400 million was thus recorded for the exports-to-imports coverage of 89.2%. Exports to the EU member states were up by 28.8% year-on-year to EUR 2.4 billion, while imports from these countries increased by 38% to EUR 2.4 billion.

Bad bank again selling its 13% stake in Cinkarna Celje

LJUBLJANA - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) is soliciting binding bids for its 12.83% stake in the chemical company Cinkarna Celje. The deadline for submissions in what is a new attempt by the state-owned bad bank to sell the stake is 6 April, shows the announcement published in the business newspaper Finance. BAMC has been without its voting rights in the Celje-based company since January, as the statutory deadline for the bad bank to sell the assets it had acquired before 2016 is expiring.

Ljubljana refuge of Syrian writer Souzan Ali

LJUBLJANA - Syrian author Souzan Ali has been living in Ljubljana since last summer after she sought refuge in Slovenia's capital under the UNESCO City of Literature programme and the ICORN network of cities helping persecuted writers and other artists. Ali is on a writing residency at the Slovenian Pen Centre. Her work was presented on the eve of International Women's Day. Ljubljana has so far welcomed six refugees in cooperation with the ICORN network, which includes 75 cities, mostly in Europe.

Križnar wins Raw Air, Bogataj third

OSLO, Norway - Nika Križnar won the Raw Air ski jumping tour in Norway after placing fourth in the final event on Sunday. Olympic champion Urša Bogataj finished second in the final event for third place overall, behind Sara Takanashi of Japan. "I'm not too pleased with my jumping since I made quite a few mistakes. But winning the tour is something special, I'm really happy about that," said Križnar, the second ever winner of Raw Air after back-to-back wins by Maren Lundby.

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RTV Slovenia temporarily halts reporting from Russia

LJUBLJANA - Public broadcaster RTV Slovenija suspended on Saturday reporting from Moscow due to the entry into force of a new law against misinformation that has led many other international media to leave Russia. Its Moscow correspondent Vlasta Jeseničnik will therefore "not be reporting on the program until the possible consequences of the new legislation are carefully examined", said the broadcaster said, which will continue monitoring the developments in Ukraine through the remaining correspondent network and domestic foreign policy journalists.

Slovenian Caritas sends first shipment of aid to Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Caritas sent the first shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine on Saturday. 26 pallets of medicines, food, water and hygiene products are intended mostly for the most vulnerable groups in Kyiv, while some food was also distributed to refugees in Transcarpathia. Until yesterday, the Christian charity also raised EUR 203,000 in financial aid, with part of the funds already transferred to the Caritas Ukraine. The second shipment is due next week.

Almost 100 young Ukrainian musicians expected in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Youth Orchestra, which brings together musicians aged 12 to 22, responded to a call for help by the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine, and 95 young Ukrainian musicians fleeing war were expected to arrive in Slovenia today. The operation is supported by the city of Ljubljana, food company Perutnina Ptuj and the Foreign Ministry. The Slovenian orchestra plans to organise a camp and other activities for the refugees to practice and play with their Slovenian peers.

Govt seeking new accommodation facilities for Ukrainian refugees

LJUBLAJNA - The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants is seeking new facilities to accommodate a growing number of refugees from Ukraine, publishing a public call to legal persons to secure facilities with at least 20 beds. The call is open until Tuesday at 9am. First refugees from Ukraine arrived in Slovenia soon after Russia invaded its western neighbour. 85 are at an accommodation centre in Logatec, SW of Ljubljana, while some have been accommodated by their relatives or friends.

Russian writer says failure to address evil leads to catastrophe

LJUBLJANA - Russia's aggression against Ukraine is happening because Soviet atrocities have never been addressed and punished, believes Russian writer Sergei Lebedev, who spoke about his 2010 novel Oblivion via video link at the opening of the Fabula literary festival at Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana on Saturday evening. He said that Russian authorities have blood on their hands and that all public institutions, including the Orthodox Church, are a mere ornament to Putin's authoritarian leadership.

Number of Covid infections keeps dropping

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 939 coronavirus cases on Saturday, down from 901 a week a ago, while 10 patients infected with the novel coronavirus died. The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) estimates there are now 25,342 active cases in the country. The 7-day average of new cases is at 1,643 and the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people at 1,200. This morning, 271 patients were in hospital with Covid-19 as their main condition this morning, of whom 76 were in intensive care.

Hella Saturnus planning EUR 108m investment

LJUBLJANA - Hella Saturnus Slovenija, the subsidiary of German group Hella, is planning an investment worth EUR 107.7 million into a new logistics centre that is to create 50 new jobs and should prepare the company for new trends in the automotive industry. The new logistical centre will feature a laboratory to test new products and technologies, a production facility for new electronic components, and a warehouse. The government is expected to subsidise it with EUR 5.42 million in 2022-2025, according to working documents prepared for government sessions.

Ski jumper Lanišek second in Oslo

OSLO, Norway - Slovenia's ski jumper Anže Lanišek placed second with 267.1 points in Sunday's World Cup event in Oslo, Norway, being outperformed only by Norwegian Daniel Andre Tande (271.2 points). This is the fifth podium result for Lanišek this winter and the eleventh World Cup podium result in his career. As the best Slovenian ski jumper this season, he is currently seventh in the World Cup standings.

Dallas fans get a dose of Slovenia

DALLAS, US - Although Slovenian basketball star Luka Dončić skipped Saturday's fixture against the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, Dallas Mavericks fans still got a Slovenian night in the form of a special campaign termed I Feel Slovenia Night promoting Slovenia as a tourist destination. The Slovenian Tourist Board said Slovenia was becoming an increasingly popular destination for US tourists, to a certain extent due to Dončić's popularity.

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FM says Slovenia supports further sanctions against Russia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's Anže Logar attended an emergency session of the EU foreign ministers on Friday to note that Slovenia supported further sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions that have already been adopted should be reviewed to close possible gaps - dual citizenships or Russian aircraft registered in Europe flying freely. With this goal in mind, Logar proposed that a special group is established to deal with sanctions, and coordinate and find solutions to close the gaps that arise, he said in a virtual address to Slovenian correspondents.

Number of coronavirus cases increases slightly week-on-week

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,836 cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in Slovenia on Friday what is a 3% increase week-on-week, show figures by the National Institute of Public Health, which estimates that there are currently 26,692 active cases in the country, or 1,900 fewer on a daily basis. While the 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population continued to drop, decreasing by 91 to 1,264, the seven-day daily average of new cases was up by five to 1,639. This morning, 273 patients were in hospital because of Covid-19, down 15 from yesterday. Another ten patients with Covid-19 died.

Left addressing "crisis of democracy" with election platform

MARIBOR - The opposition Left held a congress in Maribor on Saturday to discuss the platform and present the list of candidates for the 24 April general election. The platform addresses the "crisis of capitalism, crisis of climate and crisis of democracy", and presents measures in social affairs, climate, culture, media and foreign policy. The congress featuring some 300 members of the party presented the platform that advocates economy tailored to humans, adoption of a national development strategy and measures strengthening state control of the banking sector. Left coordinator Luka Mesec said the party was betting on the scenario under which Slovenia's next government featured the Left.

NSi determined to promote a business-oriented Slovenia

CELJE - The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) held a conference to confirm its election platform and present candidates for the 24 April general election. The party said it continued to promote an economically powerful and business-oriented Slovenia under the slogan Resolutely Forward. NSi president and Defence Minister Matej Tonin said that the party would be a surprise of the election. "We must do everything to make the NSi part of the government coalition also in the future," he said.

Žižek says West knew Putin will try to restore Russian Empire

MARIBOR - Philosopher Slavoj Žižek assessed that both the Western countries and Russia are responsible for the crisis in Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had been preparing the invasion for years and the West had been aware of it. Addressing a congress of the Left, Žižek recalled the period of the Russian Empire, in which the Ukrainian national identity was prohibited. It is said that only in the first decade of the Soviet Union that had Ukrainians fully developed their national identity and got their own literature. According to Žižek, Putin's policy means a return to the Russian Empire.

Recycling rate above EU average, circular material use rate down

LJUBLJANA - Circular economy indicators published by the Statistics Offices this week show Slovenia kept its recycling rates for packaging and municipal waste well above EU average in 2019 and 2020. It however continued to lag behind in terms of the circular material use rate. In 2019, the recycling rate of overall packaging in Slovenia was 67.1%, which compares to the EU average of 64.8%. Minor decreases were recorded both in Slovenia and at the EU level in 2020.

Ski jumper Križnar 2nd in women's World Cup event in Oslo

OSLO - Slovenian Nika Križnar finished second in the women's Ski Jumping World Cup event as part of the Raw Air tournament, finishing behind Silje Opseth of Norway and ahead of Sara Takanashi of Japan. Opseth had jumps of 129 and 131.5 metres to earn 249.7 points, only 2.4 points ahead of Križnar, while Takanashi was more than nine points behind the Slovenian. "I did a great job and deservedly finished in this place," Križnar said, congratulating Opseth on her first World Cup win.

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Army readiness report shows visible though still insufficient progress in 2021

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces made visible progress in 2021 in terms of readiness on the back of higher defence spending and staffing improvements, but there are still shortcomings and the force is not yet sufficiently prepared to comprehensively operate in wartime, shows an annual report on the army's readiness. Funding has increased and equipment has improved, but "the disparity in this field was such that it could not be eliminated in a single step", President Borut Pahor said.

Committee endorses resolution on Ukraine situation

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee endorsed a draft resolution on the current situation in Ukraine that was tabled by MPs from all but one deputy group. The document condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine, expresses solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, supports humanitarian efforts and calls for efforts to establish peace. The draft resolution, spearheaded by Speaker Igor Zorčič, will be voted on at a plenary session on Wednesday.

Slovenia condemns attack on Ukrainian N-plant

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned on Twitter "Russia's attack on the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, which poses a threat to health and security in entire Europe". At the same time, it urged an end to attacks on Ukraine. The Ukrainian agency for nuclear safety said today the Russian forces had seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. A fire broke out before the capture and following the Russian attack, but it has been already extinguished.

Tonin suggests pushing forward defence spending target by five years

LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin indicated that Slovenia might have to push forward its target to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP to 2030, five years sooner than currently planned. "Given the current situation, given the decisions by the entire alliance, and in particular our European allies, it seems we will have to correct our decision slightly and shift the date of the achievement of 2% defence spending from 2035 to 2030," he said.

Janša tells Ukrainians they are fighting for a just cause

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed the Ukrainian nation in a video broadcast by the Ukrainian TV channel 24 Kanal stressing that Ukrainians were "on the right side of history, fighting for a just cause". "By defending your country, you defend your fundamental values, that are our common European and also universal fundamental values," he said.

Pahor rejects idea of no-fly zone over Ukraine, Logar says it would protect civilians

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor rejected initiatives that NATO should establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine in order to help the Ukrainian forces fight Russian aircraft, which has been floated also by PM Janez Janša. He said this would mean a "large-scale war" and a completely "unpredictable development of events". Foreign Minister Anže Logar meanwhile said that such a zone would be the most effective way of preventing bombardment of civilian buildings. Logar attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on the Ukraine situation, after which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO members were against a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Ukraine war enhances risks for Slovenian economy, central bank says

LJUBLJANA - The war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia have so far had only a limited impact on Slovenia's economy and inflation, but risks are increasing, says Banka Slovenije, the country's central bank. The central bank would upgrade the country's GDP forecast for this year based on the robust growth and new fiscal measures, but future economic trends are unpredictable due to the situation in Ukraine. Annual growth will probably exceed the central bank's 4% forecast from December, which could be upgraded to over 5%, yet the situation is rather unpredictable.

Zorčič attends informal meeting of EU speakers

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič took part in an informal meeting of EU speakers hosted by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, which was also attended by Ukrainian Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk. "The battle for Ukraine is a battle for our values as well," said Zorčič. He said the Slovenian National Assembly was abolishing a group of friendship with Russia to show solidarity with Ukraine, while a resolution on the situation in Ukraine is also in the parliamentary procedure.

TV Slovenija news programme gets new editor-in-chief

LJUBLJANA - Jadranka Rebernik was appointed the full-fledged editor-in-chief of TV Slovenija's news programme for four years after serving as acting editor for a few months in the wake of Manica Janežič Ambrožič's resignation in mid-October. RTV Slovenija director general Andrej Grah Whatmough appointed Rebernik even if the staff endorsed her rival with 82% vote. The staff intend to challenge the appointment as part of established internal procedures.

Sava insurance group net profit up by 35% in 2021

LJUBLJANA - The Sava insurance group generated a record net profit of EUR 76.2 million in 2021, up 35.1% on the year before and 43.8% above plans. Revenue rose by 7.6% to EUR 732.7 million, show unaudited business results. Gross premiums were up by 7.4% to EUR 729.9 million, mainly due to the Slovenian life insurance segment, which saw a 40% growth due to the acquisition of insurer Vita. Other segments grew at slightly lower rates.

NLB sees Srberbank takeover as "win-win" situation

LJUBLJANA - After Slovenia's bank NLB acquired the Slovenian subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank, NLB chairman Blaž Brodnjak said that this was a "win-win" situation for both banks. He announced that Sberbank would be renamed N Banka and its visual identity changed. The full incorporation is expected to take up to a year and a half. Brodnjak said Sberbank was a good fit strategically and described the takeover as an opportunity for continued consolidation of the market.

SKB Group net profit up by third last year

LJUBLJANA - SKB Group, which has been part of the Hungarian banking group OTP since the end of 2019, posted a net profit of EUR 46 million last year, up 32% compared to the year before. The bank attributes the rise to the general economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Net revenue was level at EUR 122 million. Operating profit was down by 8% to EUR 55.6 million due to higher operating costs.

1,862 coronavirus cases confirmed in slight week-on-week drop

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,862 cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday in what is a slight decrease week-on-week, show figures by the National Institute of Public Health. The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population continued to drop, decreasing by almost 100 to 1,355, as did hospital numbers. Six patients with Covid-19 died.

Slovenian ski jumpers win team event in Norway

HOLMKOLLEN, Norway - Slovenia's mixed team won a World Cup event in Norway's Holmenkollen with more than 75 points ahead of Austria in what is the third consecutive mixed team victory for Slovenia. They also won the previous World Cup event in Willingen, Germany and the one at the Beijing Olympic Games. Bronze went to Norway.

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Healthcare preparing for potential cyber attacks, power outage

LJUBLJANA - The healthcare system has activated preparations for a possible crisis due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, including for emergencies that may occur due to cyber attacks or electricity shortages. Minister Janez Poklukar also announced that the system was ready to provide medical care to refugees from Ukraine. The government decided the refugees were eligible for emergency medical care and urgent healthcare services.

Logar urges determined response to aggression in Ukraine

GENEVA, Switzerland - Foreign Minister Anže Logar called on the international community to respond with resolve and unity to Russia's increasingly brutal aggression on Ukraine as he addressed an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council on the state of human rights in Ukraine. He announced Slovenia's support for the resolution to condemn Russian aggression on Ukraine and to put in place a mechanism to investigate human rights violations in Ukraine.

Hojs happy with compromise over protection of Ukrainian refugees

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU interior ministers, including Slovenia's Aleš Hojs, agreed in Brussels to trigger for the first time ever the legislation providing Ukrainian refugees with immediate temporary protection. Hojs noted that a compromise solution had been adopted that allowed each member state to take care of the refugees their own way. He was also happy that the compromise detailed more clearly than the Commission's proposal who would be eligible for the rights under temporary protection status.

Pahor and new US ambassador discuss Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and US Ambassador to Slovenia Jamie L. Harpootlian met to exchange views on topical developments in Ukraine. They stressed the role of the international community's great unity on, and unambiguous response to, Russia's military attack on Ukraine. Pahor presented more in detail his view on the situation in the Western Balkans upon the ambassador's wish, Pahor's office said. Harpootlian discussed the Ukraine situation with Prime Minister Janez Janša in the previous days.

Electoral commission for expelling Russia and Belarus from ACEEEO

LJUBLJANA - The National Electoral Commission decided to vote to expel the central electoral commissions of Russia and Belarus from the Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO) because of their invasion of Ukraine, which it says runs against the association's principles. If the proposal for the expulsion is not carried, the Slovenian body will quit the association itself. It believes just freezing the two countries' status in the ACEEEO would be insufficient.

Ex-diplomat says Ukraine war marks end of Putin rule

LJUBLJANA - A debate on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict hosted by MEP Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD) heard participants such as Slovenia's former President Danilo Türk and former Defence Minister Ljubica Jelušič strongly condemn Russia's aggression as former diplomat Denis Mancevič said the invasion marked the end of Vladimir Putin's rule. "It's Putin's huge geostrategic mistake, because now he has lost his relatively stable support of the public," Mancevič said.

Janša denies SDS influencing NovaTV24 channel and portal

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša appeared before the parliamentary inquiry looking into allegations of unlawful financing of his SDS party ahead of the 2018 election. He told the MPs that the SDS had not influenced in any way in the past the operation of NTV24, as it was a limited liability company, or the operations of Nova Hiša, which runs the web portal. He dismissed the inquiry as having been established because the transition left feared that its media monopoly could be jeopardised.

Mask mandate in schools lifted

LJUBLJANA - Face masks will no longer be obligatory in schools and other educational institutions from Monday under the latest relaxation confirmed by the government. This applies to both teachers and students. Other restrictions remain in place for now, including the mask mandate for indoor public spaces. Slovenian health authorities will start issuing Covid certificates for those who had a positive rapid antigen test whose results were not confirmed with a PCR test.

Youths aged 12-18 can get booster shot

LJUBLJANA - Teenagers aged 12 to 18 can now get a coronavirus booster shot after it had been recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunisation. They will get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine booster. The booster is recommended for the teenagers who suffer from conditions that could worsen their Covid-19 should they fall ill with it. "However, healthy youth can also get vaccinated with a booster shot," the committee's head Bojana Beović told the STA.

Daily case count down by nearly a quarter to 1,823

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1,823 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, a decrease of nearly a quarter over the week before. The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population dropped by almost 130 to 1,447. This morning, 307 patients were in hospital because of Covid, down 23 from yesterday, including 78 in intensive care, down eight from the day before. Ten patients with Covid died.

Regulator urges companies to report impact of war in Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Securities Market Agency called on public companies in a letter to appropriately communicate to the investment public the impact of the state of emergency in Ukraine on their operations and the price of securities listed on the regulated market. The call comes after some of listed companies, such as pharma company Krka, saw their shares plummet in the wake of the Russian invasion. Krka gained 2.45% to EUR 92 today, which is still below the EUR 110 it had been before the invasion.

EU approves Slovenia's air connectivity scheme

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission cleared an EUR 7 million scheme to encourage Slovenia's air connectivity that was badly affected by the Covid pandemic. The Commission found the scheme was in line with the EU's state aid temporary framework. The scheme introduces subsidies similar to those approved in November 2020 which ran out at the end of 2021. Aid will be available to all airlines flying to and from Slovenia, but the amount they receive depends on the number their flights and passengers.

Petrovič appointed to European Court of Auditors

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The Council of the EU appointed Jorg Kristijan Petrovič as Slovenia's new member of the European Court of Auditors. His term will run from 7 May 2022 to 6 May 2028. Petrovič, who has served as first deputy president of the Slovenian Court of Audit, will succeed Samo Jereb, whose term ends on 6 May. Petrovič was endorsed by the European Parliament on 20 January by 487 votes in favour and 196 against with 11 abstentions.

Committee okays environment protection bill

LJUBLJANA - The Environment Committee endorsed on Wednesday evening an environment protection bill to which the coalition had tabled more than 120 pages of amendments just before the session. The opposition does not oppose the bill as such but proposed postponing the sitting to debate the additional amendments. Minister Andrej Vizjak argued there was no need for that.

Public debt estimated at 74.9% of GDP at end of 2021

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's public debt as percentage of GDP dropped by 4.9 percentage points last year to 74.9%, the first estimate by the Finance Ministry shows. It follows after the Statistics Office estimated Slovenia's GDP to have expanded by 8.1% last year. The office calculated GDP at current prices at EUR 52.02 billion, which means public debt as of the last day of 2021 stood at EUR 39 billion.

Registered unemployed total down by 4.5% in February

LJUBLJANA - After two months of seasonal growth, the number of the registered unemployed in Slovenia was down in February, with the Employment Service reporting 64,783 jobless persons for the previous month, which is 4.5% less than in January and 26.4% less than in February 2021. The drop is mostly attributed to a smaller influx of newly-registered unemployed.

Slovenia announces participation in Expo 2025 in Osaka

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia intends to take part in the Expo 2025 that will be hosted from 13 April and 13 October 2025 by Japan's Osaka. If the country is to present itself with an independent pavilion, the cost of the project has been estimated at EUR 15 million. The government today authorised Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek to sign a statement of intent for Slovenia's participation at the world exposition three years from now.

Bosio expanding production facilities

CELJE - A ground-breaking ceremony was held in Bukovžlak near Celje for a new EUR 7 million plant of Bosio, which is part of the Austrian Aichelin Group. The company, which develops and manufactures industrial furnaces, plans to increase hire 30 more staff aside from the 115 it already employs. The construction is expected to start on 1 September. The main investor is Aichelin Group, which is investing into the expansion of production to move capabilities from Austria to Slovenia.

SAB proposes changes to election law

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) proposes changes to the general election act under which persons convicted of a crime prosecuted ex officio and those sentenced to more than six months in prison would not be allowed to stand in elections. The party believes this would help restore people's trust in politics and the rule of law, improve turnout in elections, and raise the political and legal culture.

Pirate Party to campaign on freedom and anti-graft combat

LJUBLJANA - The non-parliamentary Pirate Party set out its manifesto for the 24 April general election which centres on measures to preserve democracy and freedom, and combat corruption. They want to strengthen direct democracy, introduce referendum days, limit terms of public officials and make it possible to recall MPs and mayors. They plan to repair the damage caused by Covid-19 and the government's "misguided" actions, and address the challenges of digitalisation and automation.

Slovenia jumpers retain lead in Raw Air

LILLEHAMMER, Norway - Slovenian ski jumpers Nika Križnar and Urša Bogataj placed second and third, respectively, in a World Cup event in Norway's Lillenhammer. The winner was Austrian Marita Kramer. The pair also retained the top two position in the Raw Air rankings. Young Slovenian female ski jumpers were also successful today, as the younger sister of the Prevc brothers, Nika Prevc, won the World Youth Championship in Zakopane, Poland, and another Slovenian, Taja Bodlaj, was second.

Cross-country skier Lampič 3rd in Drammen

DRAMMEN, Norway - Cross-country skier Anamarija Lampič finished third in the women's classic sprint at a World Cup meet in Drammen, Norway. She finished 1.97 seconds behind the winner, Maiken Caspersen Falla from Norway, and Swedish Jonna Sundling was second. After finishing 12th at the Beijing Olympics, Lampič thus secured her fourth bronze medal this season and the first one this year.

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:

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:

NLB buys Slovenian Sberbank

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's largest bank, NLB, acquired the Slovenian subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank in a move that the central bank said would preserve financial stability after Russian-owned banks suffered a loss of trust due to sanctions against Russia. The sale means that Sberbank branches will reopen tomorrow after two days of closure and limited transactions for clients. "All Sberbank clients will conduct banking services without disturbances from tomorrow," the central bank said.

Russia can no longer win this war, says Janša

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the West's response to it in a televised interview late on Monday, assessing that President Vladimir Putin "can no longer win this war". "Europe is different today in terms of its views on energy, realistic situation, various utopian ideas that have been flooding us over recent decades. We have woken up to a real world," Janša told TV Slovenija.

Slovenia expresses firm support to Ukraine in UN

NEW YORK, US - Slovenian Ambassador to the UN Boštjan Malovrh expressed Slovenia's staunch support for Ukraine's people and government in their fight against the Russian invasion as he took part in an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Monday. Slovenia joined the statement made by the EU and Malovrh also urged all UN members to support the resolution condemning Russia's aggression. He said Slovenia stood by Ukraine and its people.

Centre for Ukrainian refugees to open in Logatec

LJUBLJANA - The government decided at last night's correspondence session that a centre for refugees from Ukraine will be set up in the Logatec facilities of the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. Persons staying at the Logatec centre will have the right to accommodation, food, clothes, footwear and hygienic products, the Government Communication Office said.

Building housing Slovenian consulate in Kharkiv destroyed

KHARKIV, Ukraine - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said that the building housing the Slovenian consulate in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv had been destroyed in an attack by the Russian army, condemning the act as well as Russia's aggression on Ukraine as such. "We condemn this outrageous act of the Russian Federation and the aggression against Ukraine," the ministry said, adding that staff at the consulate, headed by Consul General Anatoliy Bondarenko, were not injured in the attack. The attack was also condemned by Prime Minister Janez Janša, Defence Minister Matej Tonin and SocDems president and MEP Tanja Fajon.

Rally held in Ljubljana in support of Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - A large group of people gathered in the centre of Ljubljana for a rally in support of Ukraine organised by over thirty civil society organisations. Speakers called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of talks for a diplomatic solution, and a joint statement read by the organisers condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine, designating the invasion as an unlawful and outrageous intervention in another country's territory. The protesters also denounced the increasing militarisation.

Golob advocates increasing defence budget

LJUBLJANA - Robert Golob called for changes to Slovenia's energy, defence and foreign policies in view of the current geopolitical situation as he addressed the public to announce the election convention of his Freedom Movement for 19 March, saying he favoured increasing defence budget and removing fence from the border. The Freedom Movement leads the field in several polls. It will present at the convention all its candidates for the 24 April election and its full programme.

Slovenia to provide EUR 1.1 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - FM Anže Logar announced that Slovenia will provide EUR 1.1 million in humanitarian aid to residents of Ukraine through the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Caritas Internationalis, and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković meanwhile said that a truckload of medical supplies would be sent for Kyiv by the local authorities.

No Russian invasion-related cyberactivity detected in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Computer Emergency Response Team (SI-CERT) has not detected any cyberactivity directly related to attacks on networks and systems in Ukraine, but it has drawn up a list of advice for safe work on the internet. European cybersecurity response centres have been detecting attacks on networks and systems in Ukraine for weeks such as disabling attacks, malicious code attacks, the spread of fake new and creation of fake websites of Ukrainian state bodies, said SI-CERT.

Speaker's LIDE party pulls out of election race

LJUBLJANA - The Liberal Democrats (LIDE), a party formed in January by Speaker Igor Zorčič, decided against contesting the 24 April general election after failing to agree a joint ticket with the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS). Zorčič said he would not stand for a seat in parliament, but would not answer directly when asked whether he would run in the presidential election in the autumn. The DeSUS executive council meanwhile decided today that the party will contest the general election independently.

Home affairs cooperation in focus as Hojs meets UAE minister

DUBAI, UAE - Bilateral cooperation on home affairs topped the agenda as Interior Minister Aleš Hojs held talks with Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the interior minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hojs highlighted good and friendly relations between the two countries, noting that cooperation in home affairs was constructive and conducted mainly via Interpol, the Interior Ministry said. He described the UAE as an important actor preserving peace and stability in the region and worldwide.

Slovenia, Croatia, Italian region to cooperate on "hydrogen valley"

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia, Croatia and the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia are planning to sign a letter of intent to strengthen cooperation in building a cross-border hydrogen valley in the North Adriatic as part of energy transition to a carbon-neutral society by 2050. The three sides had been harmonising the letter of intent for several months to define their cooperation "as thoroughly as possible", the last time last week in Croatia.

Court appoints interim board of managers at GEN-I

LJUBLJANA - The District Court in Krško has appointed an interim four-member management board of energy trader GEN-I with Igor Koprivnikar, now in charge of sales, as chairman. The company has been led by plenipotentiaries since 17 November, when long-serving Robert Golob failed to win another term in what some described as political staffing.

Monday's Covid case count up on the week before

LJUBLJANA - After weeks of steady decline, Slovenia's coronavirus case count increased by over 10% on the same day a week ago on Monday as 2,525 infections were reported by the National Institute of Public Health. The situation in hospitals keeps improving with government data as of this morning showing 352 patients treated for Covid as their main condition in hospitals, including 89 in intensive care.

Ex-police chief Jurič fined for obstructing parliamentary inquiry

LJUBLJANA - Andrej Jurič, a former acting police commissioner, will have to pay EUR 245 for declining to answer some questions as he appeared before the parliamentary commission investigating political interference in the work of the police and police staffing in November. The fine has been proposed by the commission and confirmed by a court in what the first time that any Slovenian parliamentary inquiry commission had fined its witness, said the commission's chair Rudi Medved from the LMŠ.

State-of-the-art laboratory opens in UKC Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - UKC Ljubljana, Slovenia's largest medical centre, opened new state-of-the-art laboratory facilities that come with the most cutting edge technology in the country, with Health Minister Janez Poklukar saying this would make patient care more efficient. The new premises will provide 3,700 square metres of additional space for more than 240 laboratory experts. Poklukar said the project brought together four laboratories on the first floor of the UKC Ljubljana diagnostic and therapeutic service.

Hypo bank case headed for retrial as guilty ruling quashed

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Higher Court has quashed a 2020 ruling in which four former top executives of the Slovenian subsidiary of the since defunct Hypo bank were sentenced to prison, and ordered a retrial, the newspaper Delo reports. According to the newspaper, the Higher Court established major violations of the penal procedure in the trial.

Survey unemployment rate at 4.2%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's survey unemployment rate reached 4.2% in January, down 0.2 of a percentage point from December and 1.3% from a year ago, shows data released by the Statistics Office on Tuesday. Around 43,000 people aged 15 to 74 were estimated to be jobless, of whom 52% women and 48% men, which puts the joblessness rate among women at 4.8% and at 3.7% among men.

Cycling ace Pogačar promoting Slovenia at Expo

DUBAI, UAE - Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar, who rides for UAE Team Emirates, has visited the Slovenian pavilion at Expo Dubai to promote his country's achievements. He is currently the strongest link between the United Arab Emirates and Slovenia, said Rok Capl, acting director of the investment promotion agency Spirit Slovenija.