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: 

Fourth Covid-19 wave escalating

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 509 coronavirus infections for Wednesday as the test positivity rate stood at 17.4%. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose from 187 to 199, meaning Slovenia is on the brink of entering the red phase. Hospitalisations topped 100 for the first time since mid-June, standing at 105 this morning. ICU cases totalled 18, show fresh official figures. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are currently 4,275 active cases in the country.

Logar in Denmark to discuss cooperation, Afghanistan situation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Foreign Minister Anže Logar paid a visit to Denmark to meet his counterpart Jeppe Kofod. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, reviewing the implementation of the priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency, and on topical international issues, including Afghanistan. Logar also met chair of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Martin Lidegaard, former Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen and executives of logistics company of A.P. Moller-Maersk.

Zorčič talks bilateral cooperation, EU with Serbian colleague

BELGRADE, Serbia - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič started a two-day official visit to Serbia by meeting his counterpart Ivica Dačić. The two said they were happy with the traditionally friendly relations between the countries that are connected both by a shared history and a joint European future. Zorčič also meet with the chairs and members of the committees for European integration and for foreign affairs of the Serbian National Assembly, and had a a meeting with representatives of Slovenian companies.

Government extracts regulation of gas supply from energy law

LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed a bill that extracts the field of gas supply from the umbrella energy law and regulates it independently, with the additional provisions dealing with emergency measures and implementation of the solidarity mechanism of aid to EU member states in the case of gas supply disruptions. The government noted this is because the energy law needed to be constantly amended and supplemented due to constant changes of EU law.

Use of PCT rule expanded to students, indoor sports

LJUBLJANA - The tested-vaccinated-recovered requirement, known in Slovenia by the acronym PCT, will be expanded to university students and those participating in indoor sports activities under a decision adopted by the government. The change means university students who are unvaccinated or do not have proof of having recovered from coronavirus will have to be tested once a week to enter their universities, where the PCT rule already applies to all staff.

Appeal to anti-graft watchdog to check PM's contacts with lobbyists

LJUBLJANA - The opposition-controlled Commission for Oversight of Public Finances asked the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption to check the records of Prime Minister Janez Janša's contacts with lobbyists after a media reported that he had played golf on several occasions with the owner of a medical devices supplier. The resolution was adopted at a session called at the request of five centre-left deputy groups, who alleged that Janša had had opaque contacts with suppliers of medical equipment that could potentially constitute corruption.

Social partners ready to restore dialogue

LJUBLJANA - All social partners attending a meeting hosted by President Borut Pahor are ready to restore dialogue on the Economic and Social Council (ESS), Pahor said after the talks. An agreement on restoring the dialogue will be prepared by a spacial negotiating group. According to the president, the task force, consisting of representatives of the government, employers and employees, will draw up the agreement, which will contain demands regarding future work on the ESS.

Acclaimed Slovenian writer Boris Pahor celebrates 108th birthday

LJUBLJANA - Boris Pahor, the internationally famous Slovenian writer from Trieste, celebrates his 108th birthday. Throughout his life, Pahor has warned against totalitarian regimes, also in his novel Necropolis, where he describes his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. He has also received numerous honours and awards. On the occasion of his birthday, 26 colleagues paid tribute to him with a publication entitled Boris Pahor - Scrittore senza frontiere. Studi, interviste e testimonianze (Boris Pahor - A Writer without Frontiers. Studies, Interviews and Testimonies).

Nights in Old Ljubljana Town music festival kicks off

LJUBLJANA - Nights in Old Ljubljana Town, a traditional end-of-summer festival organised by the Imago Sloveniae Foundation, will begin tonight in Ljubljana's historical centre despite Covid-19. It will open with the Marko Hatlak Band while featuring a total of 19 events at five venues and over 100 artists from six countries until Saturday. The 33rd edition of the festival will combine traditional and modern sounds, intertwining progressive world music and jazz.

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: 

Logar discusses cooperation, situation in region with Palestinian FM

RAMALLAH, Palestine - Foreign Minister Anže Logar met his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki he visited Ramallah. Bilateral and EU-Palestine cooperation, the situation in Palestine, current developments in the region, and Slovenia's EU presidency topped the agenda. He also met Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeas. The meeting with Prime Minister Shtayyeas focussed on the role of the EU in the Middle East peace process, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said.

Commission says EU, countries have duty to take care of Afghans at risk

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU maintains that the Union and the countries which have taken part in the NATO mission in Afghanistan have a duty to take care of the Afghans at risk following the Taliban seizure of the country, the European Commission's spokesperson Eric Mamer said when asked to comment on PM Janez Janša's recent statement that there would be no humanitarian corridors to the EU for Afghans. He said this duty extended in particular to example journalists, human rights advocates, judges and lawyers, and women and young girls.

Migrations top agenda as Hojs hosts Lower Austria governor

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs held talks on with Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of the Austrian state of Lower Austria. Migrations and the Western Balkans topped the agenda along with the work of the Slovenian EU presidency. Cooperation with the Western Balkans has to be strengthened in the fight against child abuse, migrations and in procedures for the return of migrants to their countries of origin, Hojs said according to the Interior Ministry. He also emphasised the need to help Western Balkan countries join the EU and NATO.

Number of new coronavirus infections up to 477

LJUBLJANA - The number of daily reported new coronavirus infections in Slovenia is currently similar to the numbers recorded in mid-May, with 477 new cases confirmed in 2,489 PCR tests on Monday, according to data provided by the National Institute of Public Health. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose by 12 to 175, and the 7-day average of confirmed daily cases was up by 24 to 328.

Slovenia starts using monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 patients

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has started using monoclonal antibody treatment for some patients with Covid-19, having received a shipment of 1,000 doses of a drug as part of an EU contract. The combination of two antibody treatments, casirivimab and imdevimab, is used at the request of attending physicians under a temporary permit from the Slovenian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, the Health Ministry said.

Illegal migration down by 40% in first seven months y/y

LJUBLJANA - Police dealt with 4,495 illegal crossings of the border in the first seven months of 2021, some 40% fewer than in the same period last year, when there were 7,577. The most frequently processed illegal migrants were from Afghanistan (975), Pakistan (806) and Bangladesh (522).

Construction of Koroška section of expressway begins

SLOVENJ GRADEC - Construction work began near Slovenj Gradec on a vital expressway to link the Koroška region in the north with the national motorway network. This is a second section on the Third Development Axis, the largest road projects under way in Slovenia linking Koroška and Bela Krajina in the south, on which work has started. The section is valued at EUR 37.4 million and should be completed in 30 months.

Bad bank selling footwear maker Alpina

LJUBLJANA/ŽIRI - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) initiated procedures to sell its 100% share in the footwear producer Alpina and all of related liabilities worth EUR 28 million. The bad bank said on the time was right for the sale as it has done all it could to stabilise the Žiri-based company and now was the time for the company to get a private owner.

Conventa Week kicks off in hybrid form

LJUBLJANA - Conventa Week started in Ljubljana today, combining the Conventa Trade Show and the 2021 Conventa Crossover conference. The event will bring together 75 exhibitors from 13 countries and 126 guests from 24 countries and will simultaneously take place live and online until Friday.

Festival of poetry and wine celebrating 25th anniversary

PTUJ - The city of Ptuj is hosting the 25th Days of Poetry and Wine from 24 to 28 August. Czech and Portuguese poets Petr Borkovec and Ana Luisa Amaral will be the guests of honour and the Open Letter to Europe will be written and read by German poet Durs Grünbein.

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: 

Cyber security memorandum signed as Logar visits Israel

JERUSALEM, Israel - Foreign Minister Anže Logar pledged regular bilateral dialogue and cooperation as he met his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, Kneset Speaker Mickey Levy, and the chair of the parliamentary defence and foreign affairs committee Ram Ben Barakm. Logar and Lapid discussed bilateral relations and cooperation. Topical developments in the region were also on the agenda alongside EU-Israeli relations and the Slovenian EU presidency's priorities. As part of the visit, Uroš Svete, acting director of Slovenia's Government Information Security Office, and Yigal Unna, director general of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, signed a cyber security cooperation memorandum.

Pahor expresses support for Ukraine's territorial integrity

KYIV, Ukraine - President Borut Pahor reaffirmed Slovenia's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity as he attended an international conference on Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimea in 2014. He backed the joint declaration of the newly formed Crimea Platform, and called for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, and the EU and Russia. In the face of growing instability in the region and beyond, Pahor said the conference was an important step in support of joint efforts to keep the illegal annexation of the Crimea high on the agenda of the international community.

Sassoli says not up to presidency to say what EU will do on Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Parliament President David Sassoli countered on Sunday PM Janez Janša's statement that the EU would not open any humanitarian or migration corridors to Afghanistan by saying it was "not for to the current presidency of the Council to say what the EU will do". "We invite Prime Minister Janša to discuss with the European institutions so we can decide what the next steps should be. All of our countries feel involved in the situation unfolding in Afghanistan and it's clear that we need to show solidarity."

Officials warn against glorification of totalitarian regimes

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša and parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič marked Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, warning against glorification of Nazi and other totalitarian regimes' symbols. Zorčič called for prosecution of such acts, which he deems extremely dangerous and inadmissible. Janša stressed that unless the society learned from history it would be condemned to repetition.

Half of adult Slovenians now fully vaccinated

LJUBLJANA - More than 50% of Slovenians aged over 18 have been fully vaccinated and 55% have received the first shot of a coronavirus vaccine, the latest official figures show. Figures from Cepimose.si, the official vaccination portal, show more than 868,000 fully vaccinated and almost 950,000 having received the first shot In the overall population, the percentages are 42% and 46%, respectively.

Highest Sunday case count since mid-May

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 116 coronavirus infections for Sunday in what is the highest Sunday case count since 10 May. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population continued to rise, by four to 163, show fresh official figures. The latest cases come from 754 PCR tests for a positivity rate of 15.4%, which is more than double the figure a week ago. Hospitalisations increased to 75 and the number of ICU cases stayed level at 18. One person with Covid died yesterday.

For majority, rapid tests no longer free

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has discontinued free mass testing for coronavirus effective today. Only staff working in sectors where testing is mandatory for the unvaccinated will still have access to free rapid antigen tests, all others will have to pay. Free testing will thus continue to be available to teachers across the educational, healthcare and social care systems, and workers in retail and event organisation.

Another two hospitals admitting Covid patients

CELJE/GOLNIK - The Golnik University Clinic and the Celje General Hospital joined the country's largest hospitals, UKC Ljubljana and UKC Maribor, in admitting Covid-19 patients. The Celje hospital has 15 beds ready for coronavirus patients and another five in intensive care in the first stage. The Golnik clinic, a leading Slovenian hospital in allergology, clinical immunology and pulmonology, has 21 beds, of which six in intensive care,

Govt support dips to a record low ahead of new wave of epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Just over a quarter of respondents in the latest public opinion poll conducted by Mediana for commercial broadcaster POP TV support the work of the Janez Janša government, which is the lowest support in this term. The senior coalition Democrats (SDS) continue to top party rankings, however the party has lost ground, with its support dropping by almost two percentage points to 16.1%. It is followed by the opposition Social Democrats (SD).

NIJZ outsourcing coronavirus contact tracing

LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has decided to outsource some of the contact tracing to a private company, City Connect. The six-month deal is worth almost EUR 2.3 million. The NIJZ did not say why City Connect had been chosen, what scope of services the call centre would provide, or what its references were. It only said the procedure had been carried out without publishing a public procurement tender "due to utmost urgency".

National plan for higher education announcing changes in financing

LJUBLJANA - The draft 2021-2030 National Programme for Higher Education, which will be up for public debate until 20 September, envisages changes to the granting of concessions and financing of higher education institutions. In line with the programme, the key strategic goals are to raise the level and quality of higher education in Slovenia, and increase the flexibility and appeal of the higher education system in relation to the needs of the economy and society at large.

Average June pay lower than in May

LJUBLJANA - The average gross pay in Slovenia in June stood at EUR 1,952, down 2.8% nominally on May and down 3.4% in real terms. Totalling EUR 1,256, the average net pay in June was down 2.4% in nominal terms and down 3% in real terms, the Statistics Office said. The public sector saw an 8.9% monthly decrease in the average gross pay. Meanwhile, there was a 1,6% increase in the private sector.

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 says EU will not open humanitarian corridors to Afghanistan

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša said he EU would "not open any 'humanitarian' or migration corridors to Afghanistan". "We will not allow a repeat of the strategic mistake of 2015. We will only help individuals who have helped us in the course of the NATO mission and EU member states that protect our external border," he said on Twitter. In a different tweet, he said that it women are organising and fighting the Taliban in certain parts of Afghanistan, so should men.

Tally of new coronavirus cases reaches 244 on Saturday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 244 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, the highest Saturday figure since mid-May and an increase of 150% on the previous week. More than 17% of all cases came back positive. There were 66 patients with Covid in hospital this morning, the same as yesterday, with the number of ICU cases rising by three to 18. Two patients with Covid-19 died.

Diaspora writer Rebula honoured with bust

LOKA PRI ZIDANEM MOSTU - A bust of Alojz Rebula (1924-2018), a diaspora writer and translator, was unveiled in front of the Church of St Helen in Loka pri Zidanem Mostu, where he spent the last years of his life. The work of sculptor Zoran Poznič, the bust was presented at a ceremony featuring President Borut Pahor, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti and Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch. Mass was given by Cardinal Franc Rode.

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, Hojs heckled at mountain hut

KREDARICA - Prime Minister Janez Janša and Interior Minister Aleš Hojs were heckled by anti-government protesters at the Kredarica mountain hut below Mt Triglav on Friday evening. Video shared on social media show Janša and Hojs filmed being confronted by a group of protesters who usually stage bicycle rallies in Ljubljana returning from the peak fter marking the 70th week of protests there. Defence Minister Matej Tonin was there but he was not seen on video. The prime minister's office would not comment on the events beyond saying that Janša had gone to Triglav in his spare time.

Afghan interpreter safely evacuated to Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - An Afghan interpreter who worked for the Slovenian Armed Forces has been evacuated from Afghanistan and arrived in Slovenia on Friday evening together with his family. The government has already sorted out their legal status, according to the Defence Ministry.

Agra fair with some 1,100 exhibitors in-person again

GORNJA RADGONA - The Agra agriculture fair opened in an in-person format after a scaled-down version was held online and on-site last year, as the first large in-person fair in Slovenia since the epidemic was declared in March 2020. Some 1,100 exhibitors from 29 countries are featured. President Borut Pahor warned in his keynote that farmers would have to be helped by the state to cope with the impact of climate change.

Contemporary dance festival defies pandemic and Brexit

MURSKA SOBOTA - The contemporary dance festival Front@ stated under the slogan Despite Everything - in the Trenches of Pandemic and Brexit. Running until 27 August, it brings dance productions from Great Britain, France, Spain, South Korea and Slovenia, as well as exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and talks with the artists.

Tartini festival kicks off in Piran

PIRAN - The Tartini Festival began with a concert by the I Solisti Veneti at the Franciscan Minorite Monastery in Piran. The 20th edition of the festival will be marked by world-class musicians, including Europeo Barocco, the New Ferruccio Busoni Chamber Orchestra, the Frequenze Diverse Ensemble and the Il Terzo Suono ensemble, as well as young musicians in the Tartini Junior programme.

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: 

Slovenia, Austria in favour of helping Afghan refugees in Afghan neighbourhood

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg said that Afghans fleeing the Taliban should be helped in Afghanistan's neighbourhood, as they warned against a rerun of the 2015 migration crisis. "With regard to the situation in Afghanistan, Minister Schallenberg and I agreed that Slovenia and Austria will advocate the position that the events of 2015 and 2016 may not be repeated," Logar said. "As the country presiding the EU, we will promote dialogue between member states in the search of a consensus." Schallenberg said it was necessary to ensure the Balkan migration route remained closed, with Austria willing to increase its participation in the protection of borders. The pair also discussed the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, the Slovenian minority in Austria, and ways of strengthening Slovenia's cooperation with the Austrian states of Carinthia and Styria.

Logar promises Austria full transparency about nuclear plans

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar assured his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg Slovenia would be completely transparent about its plans to build a second unit at the Krško nuclear power station, in particular when it comes to environmental impact assessment. Dialogue with Slovenia's neighbouring countries regarding this issue will be "inclusive to the maximum extent", Logar said at a joint press conference in Ljubljana. Schallenberg said that an open dialogue was very important and that Austria respected decisions by other countries on what kind of an energy mix they would have.

President Pahor to attend Crimea conference on Monday

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will be in Kyiv on Monday to attend a high-profile international conference dedicated to Russia's unlawful annexation of the Crimea in 2014, at which a joint declaration will be adopted and the Crimea Platform formed. He will present Slovenia's position, backing Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The president will also call for more eager and honest dialogue between Ukraine and Russia and between the EU and Russia, and try to encourage international efforts for lasting peace in eastern Ukraine on the basis of the Minsk agreements.

FM Logar to visit Israel on Monday

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar will pay a visit to Israel on Monday to meet his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, while he will continue his visit in the Palestinian territories on Tuesday to meet Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. Meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials will focus on reviewing bilateral cooperation, and discussing developments in the region, cooperation with the EU, and topics related to the Slovenian presidency of the EU.

Booster shots now available for immunocompromised patients

LJUBLJANA - Booster shots of coronavirus vaccines are available for persons with transplanted organs, patients awaiting transplantation and those with severely weakened immune systems, under the latest revision of the national vaccination strategy adopted by the government today. Those who are eligible will be allowed to choose their preferred vaccine and do not have to book an appointment at a vaccination centre. Immunocompromised patients are among the groups with the highest risk of severe Covid and many countries have started offering them booster shots.

Rapid testing remains free for certain sectors

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia was expected to phase out on 23 August free rapid testing for all but the most high-risk professions, but the government changed course today. Employees in healthcare, education, retail and the events industry will continue to have access to free tests and will get tested once a week. Students in the last three years of primary school and all secondary-school students will have to wear masks, including in classroom, whereas weekly self-testing for them will be voluntary and free of charge. Another decree adopted today stipulates that from 23 August, athletes may do organised sport provided they are tested once a week, unless they are vaccinated or have had Covid-19.

333 coronavirus infections confirmed on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 333 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, up almost 70% on the week before and the fourth day that infections exceeded the 300-mark. The PCR test positivity rate was 13.4%, better than in recent days but still comparatively high, show data by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The 14-day case notification rate rose by nine to 139. The number of active cases is now estimated at almost 3,000.

Transit passengers need to produce Covid certificate after 29 August

LJUBLJANA - Passengers transiting through Slovenia are not required to produce a Covid certificate only until 29 August, the government decided today. To enter Slovenia without having to quarantine for ten days, the recovered-vaccinated-tested rule continues to apply, while transit passengers, hauliers in international transport, children below 15 years of age, property owners on both sides of the border, and people who daily cross the border for work are exempted. To prove the exemption applies, a passenger has to produce documentation proving their status to police officers on the border, or else they are ordered to quarantine.

Public broadcaster TV Slovenija director Natalija Gorščak dismissed

LJUBLJANA - The director general of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija Andrej Grah Whatmough has dismissed Natalija Gorščak, the director of TV programmes, after accusing her of violating bylaws and allowing ratings to plummet. Gorščak, who is on sick leave, said she had received the notice of dismissal via courier. She announced to use legal means to proved that she had worked well and in line with the law. The decision, announced today, comes after the broadcaster's programming council was supposed to debate Grah Whatmough's motion last week. Since it was inquorate, Grah Whatmough had sole discretion to dismiss her from the post.

Plan confirmed for major new water source in Istria

LJUBLJANA - Earlier this week, the government confirmed a plan for a major new water source for the water-starved Istria region on the coast, a decision that was welcomed today by municipalities in the region as a major step towards improving the reliability of supply, but decried by local environmentalists as damaging to the environment. The EUR 134 million project involves building a reservoir on the Suhorca stream, and a smaller reservoir on the Padež, a larger stream of which the Suhorca is a tributary.

NGOs urge authorities to resolve water source issue in Anhovo immediately

LJUBLJANA - Environmental NGOs appealed to the authorities to immediately make sure that the region around Anhovo, western Slovenia, gets its water supply from a new source as the risk of pollution has still not been eliminated after last year's contamination incident. They also urged the local mayor to resign over corruption allegations involving the Kanal municipality and Salonit Anhovo company.

Consumer confidence worsens further in August

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence in Slovenia deteriorated for the second month in a row in August as the relevant indicator was down by two percentage points compared to July. It was still higher than the long-term average though, by one point. The figure rose by two points year-on-year, the Statistics Office said. Consumers' expectations dropped the most month-on-month in three areas: expectations related to major purchases (down seven points), expectations about the financial situation in households (two points) and the current such situation (two points).

British Airways to link Ljubljana and London

LJUBLJANA - British Airways relaunched flights between Ljubljana and London's largest airport Heathrow today, the operation of the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport said. Passengers will be at first able to fly to Heathrow on Fridays and Sunday, with another two weekly flights added at the end of August, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Janez Krašnja, head of airline management at Fraport Slovenija, is happy that "one of the most popular routes among Slovenian air passengers is returning to Ljubljana".

Friday protesters mark 70 weeks of protests on Mt Triglav

MOJSTRANA - To mark the 70th Friday of anti-government protests, a group of protesters headed today for Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain, where they unfolded their flag and a slogan Power to the People, Election Now. Protesters are continuing opposing the government because they cannot wait for a general election while the government is acting in a controversial manner, the organisers said in a press release.

Mladi Levi ambitious despite epidemic, founder's death

LJUBLJANA - Several venues in Ljubljana host from today until 29 August the 24th Mladi Levi (Young Lions) international festival, which the organisers have billed as ambitious despite the epidemic and the recent death of its founder Nevenka Koprivšek. Three shows took place on the first day apart from socialising and a concert by Serbian-Croatian-Slovenian group Maika this evening.

Mura lose first leg in Europa League last qualifying round

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian football champions Mura lost 1:3 (1:1) at home to Austrian Sturm Graz in the first leg of the play-off round of Europa League qualification on Thursday evening. The only goal for Mura was scored by Žiga Škoflek in the third minute. The return leg will be played in Graz next Thursday. Even if Mura drop out of the UEFA Europa League, they have a guaranteed spot in the third-tier UEFA Europa Conference League.

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: 

Positivity rate remains high as 381 new cases of coronavirus confirmed

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 381 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, down slightly from the almost three-month high registered on Tuesday. The positivity rate remained high, at 17%. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population jumped by 12 to 130. The situation in hospitals remains broadly stable with 56 patients in hospital, of whom 10 are in intensive care. Two persons with Covid died, government data showed.

Sale of most single-use plastics banned

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted on Wednesday a regulation banning the sale of single-use plastic products bar a few exceptions. Products to be banned include plastic cutlery, plates and straws as well as ear swabs, except for those used as medical equipment. Also banned are plastic stir sticks and balloon sticks with the exception of those intended for industrial use and not for customers. The regulation, which will enter into force 15 days after it is published in the Official Gazette, also prescribes the labelling of certain permitted single-use plastic items to raise awareness about recycling.

Govt adopts watered-down amendments to VAT act

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted on Wednesday a watered-down version of amendments to the act on value added tax (VAT) after its first proposal was defeated in parliament in July. The new version preserves some of the key solutions but is narrower. For example, zero-emission vehicles for business purposes will be eligible for full VAT deduction, hardcopy receipts will be printed out by merchants only at the request of customers, and foreign businesses selling goods and services in Slovenia will not have to register in the country if they only sell to other businesses that are registered for VAT purposes.

Hojs announces police assistance to Lithuania in facing migration

PORTOROŽ - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs met his Slovak counterpart Roman Mikulec to talk, among other things, about the issue of illegal migration from Belarus. Hojs said that Slovenia had already donated 10 kilometres of "technical obstacles" to Lithuania, and that two Slovenian police officers would be deployed there soon. The Interior Ministry added in the press release that Slovenian police officers would thus help their Lithuanian colleagues control the border with Belarus.

Two board members, two supervisors of national postal company quit

MARIBOR - Andrej Rihter and Vinko Filipič quit the three-member management board of national postal operator Pošta Slovenije, and so did supervisors Franci Mihelič and Aleš Buležan, with the former to coming to an agreement with the supervisory board to leave the management and terminate their employment contracts on Wednesday. The pair are on the board together with Tomaž Kokot, who took over as interim director general on 1 April after long-serving Boris Novak resigned on 30 March by mutual agreement with the new supervisory board.

Insurer Sava Re posts 35% profit growth in first six months

LJUBLJANA - Insurer Sava Re generated a net profit of EUR 43.5 million in the first six months of 2021, an increase of 35.3% compared to the same period last year. The group collected gross premiums of EUR 414.5 million, a growth of 10.9%, show unaudited interim results. This 10.9% year-on-year premium growth was predominantly driven by the Slovenian life business (96.8% growth) as a result of the acquisition of Vita, which contributed EUR 54.7 million in gross premiums written.

Equality ombudsman says PCT does not discriminate unvaccinated

LJUBLJANA - Answering an appeal from the Trade Union of Hospitality and Tourism Workers, Slovenia's equal opportunities ombudsman assessed that the requirement for people to meet the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) rule to access services, goods or venues is not discriminatory against the unvaccinated who could get vaccinated but have not. Miha Lobnik noted that discrimination meant treating somebody unequally for their personal circumstances which they cannot choose.

State forest company's revenue, profit down last year

KOČEVJE - The state-owned forestry company SiDG, which has been managing state forests since July 2016, reported revenue of EUR 56 million and a net profit of EUR 7.5 million for 2020, a drop of 15% and 34%, respectively, compared to the previous year. The volume of logging decreased as SiDG cut 1.14 million cubic metres of timber last year, compared to 1.29 million cubic metres in 2019, according to documents prepared for the company's annual general meeting.

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: 

EU ministers agree on additional aid to countries bordering Belarus

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU home affair ministers agreed at an emergency session to send additional help in the form of experts and technical support to EU members bordering on Belarus, which have been facing a wave of illegal migrants. They also urged the EU to provide additional financial aid, calling for stepped up control on the bloc's external border. "We agreed that the aid should be stepped up given their needs," said Interior Minister Aleš Hojs, the current chair of the EU Council of Home Affairs Ministers. "Due to the rapidly changing circumstances on the ground Lithuania needs additional help, and Latvia and Poland also need our help," Hojs said.

Slovenia ready to accept additional Afghan aides

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is ready to accept up to five members of the Afghan staff that worked with the EU, to show solidarity with other EU member states, Foreign Minister Anže Logar said, adding that, for the time being, Slovenia will not offer to take in additional refugees from Afghanistan. The statement comes after a meeting of the EU foreign ministers on the situation in Afghanistan, where it was agreed that the member states should do their utmost to assist Afghans who have worked with the European Common Foreign Service over the past 20 years.

Afghan interpreter who helped Slovenian army arrives at Kabul airport

LJUBLJANA - An interpreter who had helped the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) on its mission in Afghanistan has made it to Kabul airport along with his family. They are now waiting for the first available flight out of the country, Defence Minister Matej Tonin told the broadcaster Kanal A. The interpreter and his six-member family travelled four days to get from Herat to Kabul. It took them another two days to get to the airport, the N1 portal reported. According to N1, the interpreter and his family be granted asylum status.

Slovenia with highest daily count in new infections since 25 May

LJUBLJANA - From a total of 2,228 PCR tests analysed on Tuesday, 385 came back positive for coronavirus, with the positivity rate increasing to 17.3%, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) said. This is the highest daily tally of new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Slovenia since 25 May. The 7-day average of new cases rose by 20 to 218 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents by 11 to 118. There are currently 57 hospitalised patients, eight more than yesterday, while the number of patients in intensive care dropped by two to nine. Three Covid-19 patients died.

Ministry proposes self-testing for teachers in new school year

LJUBLJANA - Education officials would like to see in-person learning in the new academic year, said the Education Ministry after a meeting with head teachers, as it urged the government to green-light self-testing for teachers. This comes after the ministry proposed voluntary self-testing for secondary school students and pupils in the last three grades of primary school. It was decided today that the former would need to get tested once a week or more often if the epidemiological situation deteriorates. The decision on these requirements will be up to the government and its Covid-19 advisory group, which met this afternoon.
        
Slovenia's largest hospital preparing for surge in cases

LJUBLJANA - UKC Ljubljana, the country's largest hospital system, is getting ready to handle an anticipated surge in Covid-19 cases even as it performs all other health services to the maximum extent. The hospital is "ready for the challenge," said Matjaž Trontelj, the head of the hospital's governing board. The hospital currently has more than 250 beds ready for Covid-19 patients, according to Tatjana Lejko Zupanc, the head of the infectious diseases department. At the peak of the second wave of the epidemic, it handled 350 Covid-19 patients at the same time (at Covid and regular wards) plus 70 in intensive care units.

LMŠ announces no-confidence motions against environment, justice ministers

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) has drafted motions of no-confidence in the environment and justice ministers, Andrej Vizjak and Marjan Dikaučič. Vizjak is alleged to have broken the law, ignored the fundamental environment principles and excluded experts when drafting the waters bill, said LMŠ deputy group leader Brane Golubović. As for the motion against Dikaučič, Golubović highlighted his action regarding the non-appointment of European delegated prosecutors and "keeping silent when the unconstitutional bill on infectious diseases was being adopted". The announcement comes a day after the SocDems (SD) announced a vote of no confidence in the education minister.

Defence Minister Tonin meets Turkey and Kosovo counterparts

ISTANBUL - Defence Minister Matej Tonin attended the opening of the IDEF International Defence Industry Fair on Tuesday, where he also met his counterparts from Turkey and Kosovo. According to a statement from the ministry, the main topics discussed were the situation in Afghanistan and the wildfires in Turkey. Tonin expressed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar for the deaths caused by the wildfires in Turkey. He was also briefed by Akar on current developments in Afghanistan, in particular the situation in the wider Kabul airport area.

SD proposes turning Covid aid into interest-free loans

LJUBLJANA - As the government has helped companies during the pandemic with financial aid which companies must now return if their results are better than anticipated, the opposition Social Democrats (SD) have proposed the government transform the aid into interest-free loans to preserve jobs. The party argues the situation has not yet calmed down with the fourth wave of the epidemic looming, so returning the aid prematurely will drain companies and jeopardise jobs. "We need jobs, these companies must be preserved," said Milan Cvikl, the head of the SD's finance council.

Survey shows majority supports PCT rule for healthcare workers

LJUBLJANA - The idea of introducing the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) rule for entering public places is supported by 48% of respondents and opposed by 52%, according to the survey by the pollster Valicon. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of the respondents supported introducing the rule for healthcare employees. The latest #Newnormal survey also shows that the intention to get vaccinated is again significantly lower compared to the last measurement. In the first weekend of August, 62% of respondents reported intention to be vaccinated, down six percentage points from the end of July.