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 donates EUR 200,000 for aid to Lebanon

LJUBLJANA - The government allocated on Saturday EUR 200,000 for emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon, while the Defence Ministry has sent a humanitarian aid coordinator to the country as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The financial aid allocated to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Caritas Internationalis is indented for the people of Lebanon after a massive explosion shook the capital Beirut on Tuesday causing devastation.

Commissioner Lenarčič says Lebanon's recovery will be lengthy, reforms needed

LJUBLJANA - European Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarčič gave a statement about the European Commission's efforts to help Lebanon in the aftermath of a massive explosion that devastated half of the capital of Beirut on Tuesday. He said the EU had reacted almost immediately, providing humanitarian aid and sending experts to the country. After this first phase of offering humanitarian aid, efforts for the economic revival of the country are envisaged. But for the country to receive this aid, profound reforms will be needed, Lenarčič said.

Two new coronavirus infections, one death reported

LJUBLJANA - Two new coronavirus infections were confirmed in 304 tests in Slovenia on Saturday. One person diagnosed with Covid-19 died, show the latest official data. Slovenia now has 2,249 confirmed infections and 127 deaths. A total of 24 patients with Covid-19 currently require hospital treatment, three of them in intensive care. The number of active cases is estimated at 167, according to tracking website Covid-19.sledilnik.org.

Slovenia ranks 23rd in digital quality of life

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia ranks 23rd among 85 countries in digital quality of life, according to a global survey conducted by IT company Surfshark. The country's best result was 12th place for internet accessibility, and fared the worst in digitalisation of public administration, where it ranked 38th. Faring the best overall are Denmark, Sweden, and Canada.

Slovenian cyclist Roglič wins Tour de l'Ain

PARIS, France - Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič of the Dutch team Team Jumbo-Visma won the three-stage Tour de l'Ain race in what is seen as a dress rehearsal for Tour de France. Roglič finished second in the first stage of Tour de l'Ain on Friday, but then proved his supremacy on Saturday and today. Columbian Egana Bernal (Ineos) was second, and Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkea Samsic) third, 18 and 28 seconds behind Roglič, respectively.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

Friday's testing confirms 14 Sars-CoV-2 infections, one person dies

LJUBLJANA - In what preserves a flat line of daily Covid-19 cases at a level established at the end of June, 14 cases were confirmed in Slovenia in 829 tests on Friday. One person died, raising the death toll to 126. There are currently 22 Covid-19 patients in hospital, three of which in intensive care. One of the newly discovered cases involves an employee of the Novo Mesto care home, where the protection protocol has been activated as a result. There are presently 181 confirmed active cases in the country.

Chief Covid-19 advisor says multiple scenarios possible for schools in autumn

LJUBLJANA - Bojana Beović, the government's chief Covid-19 advisor, has told the STA that future developments are uncertain and that the government is preparing for various scenarios as regards the regime at schools in the the autumn. Beović said the epidemiological situation in Slovenia was presently fairly calm. A few new cases are recorded each day but in a scope that can be controlled. There is however concern that the virus could be spreading around the country unnoticed. She noted the winter-related epidemic trends presently seen in Australia were not inspiring optimism.

Pivec sees "putsch" developments in DeSUS, rejects misconduct allegations

MARIBOR - Agriculture Minister and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) head Aleksandra Pivec has again rejected in an interview for Večer conflict of interest and corruption allegations raised against her, while she also spoke of "putsch" developments within DeSUS and her belief the party's former president Karl Erjavec is indeed attempting a comeback. She categorically rejected the possibility of joining the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) if she gets replaced. "I never identified with right-wing politics. However, I'm very pragmatic when it comes to executing matters of content and a loyal partner on top of that," she said.

Hojs reportedly doubts NBI findings in central bank, stent and cardiology cases

LJUBLJANA - Further details have come to light about Interior Minister Aleš Hojs's alleged order to acting Police Commissioner Andrej Jurič to secure a revision of certain already closed cases handled by the National Bureau of Investigation. TV Slovenija reported unofficially that Hojs wants a revision of the investigations involving Banka Slovenije in connection to the state of the Slovenian banking system in 2012, into the public procurement of stents, and into the responsibility of public office holders for the situation in paediatric cardiology. "If everything was conducted properly, this will be confirmed, but looking into this is the right thing to do," Hojs has commented for POP TV. Reactions by experts meanwhile suggest the minister has overstepped his powers.

Apostolic nuncio to Iraq Leskovar receives episcopal consecration

LJUBLJANA - Mitja Leskovar, the titular archbishop of Beneventum and apostolic nuncio to Iraq, received his episcopal consecration at the Ljubljana Cathedral. Leskovar, a Slovenian priest who has been with the Vatican's diplomatic service for nearly two decades, was appointed the apostolic nuncio to Iraq two months ago. At the same time, Pope Francis raised Leskovar to the titular See of Beneventum, conferring upon him the dignity of archbishop. The consecration was administered by Cardinal Franc Rode, who said the Holy Father was entrusting Leskovar with a demanding mission - he is sending him to become his "representatives with a nation that is very dear to his heart".

Italian string trio opening early music festival in Brežice

BREŽICE - An internationally renowned festival of early music got under way at Brežice Castle in the east of the country with a concert by the Italian string trio Guerra Amorosa. The Seviqc Festival will feature a total of five concerts in Brežice, Dolenjske Toplice and Slovenska Bistrica until 22 August.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

Minister Hojs reportedly demands revision of some closed NBI cases

LJUBLJANA - The 24ur.com news portal reported that Interior Minister Aleš Hojs had unofficially tasked acting Police Commissioner Andrej Jurič with securing a revision of certain already closed cases handled by the National Bureau of Investigation. Hojs, a member of the ruling Democrats (SDS), allegedly wants the cases to be revised by what he labelled "uncontaminated" police officers so there be no doubt about their impartiality in the respective cases. The opposition accused the minister of abuse of power and political meddling in police work, urging him to actually step down this time after he went back on his "irrevocable" resignation earlier.

Ten new coronavirus infections confirmed

LJUBLJANA - Ten out of 753 coronavirus tests came back positive Thursday, with new infections confirmed in seven municipalities. One patient was discharged from hospital, leaving 24 Covid-19 patients hospitalised, four in intensive care, official data show. No coronavirus-related death was reported with the death toll unchanged at 125. There are currently 181 active cases in the country. Milan Krek, director of the National Institute of Public Health, said that over the past two weeks 16 young people tested positive after returning home from Zrče, the town on the Croatian island of Pag that is known for its night life. About 7,080 people in the country are currently under mandatory self-isolation.

Slovenia declares Belgium Covid-19 unsafe

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia added Belgium and several other countries to its red list of countries, which signals high risk in terms of coronavirus contagion. The Czech Republic, Malta, Switzerland and three Spanish administrative units were meanwhile removed from the green list of safe countries and demoted to yellow. Apart from Belgium, Saint Martin, Equatorial Guinea, the Faroe Islands and Namibia are now on the red list of 58 countries, meaning arrival from these countries entails a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Another 209 migrants apprehended in night to Friday

LJUBLJANA - The police apprehended a total of 209 illegal migrants across the country in the night between Thursday and Friday as part of a campaign of beefed-up surveillance of the route leading from Croatia to Italy through Slovenia. In Škofljica near Ljubljana a cargo vehicle was pulled up carrying 52 migrants. The Spanish driver was arrested and faces charges for people-smuggling. On Thursday, the Novo Mesto police apprehended 106 illegal migrants at 15 locations in the south-east.

Protests continue, in Izola ire over Pivec hotel bill

IZOLA/LJUBLJANA - Anti-government protests continued for the 16th straight Friday in Ljubljana, this time targeting the handling of coronavirus outbreaks at care homes. Meanwhile, dozens took to the streets in Izola following the reports that the coastal town had paid two hotel rooms for Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec. The protesters there also demanded the resignation of Mayor Danilo Markočič, a member of Pivec's DeSUS, who has also come under fire over contentious property deals.

Criminal complaint over PPE purchase filed against minister

LJUBLJANA - The commercial broadcaster POP TV reported that Ivan Gale, the whistleblower from the Commodity Reserves Agency who has exposed the alleged wrongdoing in the government's purchasing of PPE equipment for the Covid-19 epidemic, filed a complaint against Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and the agency's director over a multi-million deal for face masks with the company Hmezad TMT.
Gale alleges the pair had favoured the company as a result of which the state incurred millions of euro in damage.

Six teenage boys injured in run down pump track accident

RIBNICA - Six teenagers were injured in an accident on the run down pump track in Dolenji Lazi in the Ribnica area on Thursday evening. The boys, aged 13 to 16, were injured after falling seven metres deep after an old wooden bike ramp collapsed underneath them. The UKC hospital said three of the boys who sustained only mild injuries were being discharged today. Three will remain hospitalised, as two have spine and hand injuries, and a third one is still being examined but a spine injury has been ruled out.

Slovenia's exports down 5.6% in first six months, imports drop by 10.3%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's exports were down 4.2% year-on-year in June, amounting to EUR 2.68 billion, while imports decreased by 5.1% to EUR 2.56 billion. The export-import ratio was 104.7. The decreases for the first half of the year were 5.6% and 10.3% respectively, shows data released by the Statistics Office. The effect of the coronavirus pandemic was less pronounced in June than in April and May, when exports were for instance down 28.8% and 19.8% respectively in the year-on-year comparison.

Turnover in real estate down by about 40% in H1

LJUBLJANA - Preliminary data by the Surveying and Mapping Authority indicate about a 40% drop in both the number of property transactions in the first half of 2020. Prices of used flats meanwhile continued to grow, by 3% compared to the second half of 2019, taking the average square metre price in the country above EUR 1,900 for the first time. While final data will be released in October, the authority estimates the actual year-on-year decline in transactions will be between 35% and 40%, on what had been a record year.

Over 7 million litres of wine to be distilled to bridge market crisis

LJUBLJANA - At least 7.2 million litres of wine are to be distilled in Slovenia as part of government measures aimed at helping wine growers bridge the market crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Applications submitted by 5 August deadline moreover envisage 1.1 million litres for subsidised storage. The two measures, along with the green harvest that is already under way, are being organised by the Agency for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development, which received 62 applications for distillation and 19 for storage.

Museum project creating mosaic of life during pandemic

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana City Museum launched a project to gather insight into the life in the capital during the pandemic by collecting the minutiae of everyday life; photographs, recordings and impressions. Since life has not yet returned to normal, the project Corona Into Museum ASAP! continues with most recent contributions coming mainly from professional photographs sharing their takes on the situation.

Slovenian Alpine Museum celebrates 10th anniversary

MOJSTRANA - The Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana launched an exhibition themed Ten Anchors of Slovenian Alpine Climbing to mark its 10th anniversary, which coincides with the 125th anniversary of the erection of the Aljaž Tower, a shelter on top of Mt Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak. The main ceremony will be held on Monday. Since its opening, the museum's collection has expanded from 1,600 to 3,200 exhibits. It has also collected more than 3,300 books, as well as a multitude of photographs, post cards and other material.

Radovljica hosts more than 30 musicians from 12 countries

RADOVLJICA - The 38th Radovljica Festival, known for its focus on music on period instruments, started with a concert by Slovakian ensemble Solamente Naturali connecting Georg Philipp Telemann music with the folk music from the manuscripts of that period. The festival will see eight concerts by 33 artists from 12 countries until 23 August, offering a review of the music from the 11th century to Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt. Among the highlights will be Solamente Naturali and vocal quintet Cinquecento.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

Declaration on 5G security with US to be signed next week

LJUBLJANA - The US State Department and the Slovenian Foreign Ministry confirmed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Slovenia on 13 August to sign a Joint Declaration on 5G Security as part of a tour of four European countries. He will meet Foreign Minister Anže Logar, President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Janez Janša. The visit will be an opportunity to discuss enhancing cooperation between Slovenia and the US "in key areas of mutual concern, including nuclear energy and Western Balkan integration", the State Department said.

Criminal complaint in alleged border incident case thrown out

LJUBLJANA/KOPER - A criminal complaint against a member of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) who allegedly stopped an Italian-Slovenian near the countries' border at gunpoint in May has been thrown out by the Koper district prosecution office for lack of evidence that the soldier had committed the alleged criminal act. The prosecution said there was no evidence that the soldier had committed the reported criminal act.

Wednesday's tests confirm 15 new Covid-19 cases, one person dies

LJUBLJANA - In what is in line with figures that have been fairly stable since the end of June, 15 out of 771 tests for Sars-CoV-2 conducted on Wednesday came back positive. One person died, taking the death toll to 125. There have been 2,223 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Slovenia so far. Presently, 24 patients need hospital care, three of which are in intensive care.

Pahor urges genuine cooperation as world marks 75th anniversary of Hiroshima

LJUBLJANA - Delivering a video message for the international community as part of the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, President Borut Pahor urged much more cooperation and shared, genuine efforts to strengthen trust. "Today's anniversary should warn and caution us about where an a world of conflict and hatred can lead," Pahor said.

Financial restructuring of hospitals declared completed

LJUBLJANA - The government declared the project of financial restructuring of hospitals over at a correspondence session on Thursday, determining that the bailout has failed with 13 out of the 15 hospitals that received funds from the state in 2017. The only hospital where the restructuring was concluded before today's government decision was the Jesenice hospital. The government adopted a decree to this effect last July.

Unicredit's first half profit plunges to EUR 1m

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian subsidiary of the Italian banking group Unicredit saw its consolidated profit plunge to EUR 1 million in the first half of 2020 compared to EUR 16 million in the same period last year. Pre-tax profit for Unicredit Banka Slovenija and its leasing arm Unicredit Leasing in the first half was meanwhile down by 94.8%, from EUR 20 million to EUR 1 million.

Chemistry Institute becomes partner to ILL in neutron research

LJUBLJANA - The national Chemistry Institute has signed an agreement with Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), a leading international research centre for neutron scattering, to become its Slovenian partner and a full-fledged scientific member for the next four years. The Chemistry Institute said that it would assume scientific and administrative duties and coordinate the Slovenian neutron research community.

Slovenia successful in securing EUREKA funds

LJUBLJANA - Fourteen Slovenian project secured EUR 4.3 million in EU funding as part of the latest open call of the 2014-2020 Eureka programme, a far greater number than any other participant country, the Economy Ministry said. Both cohesion regions in Slovenia, Western and Eastern Slovenia, will benefit.

Police seize cannabis plants worth EUR 2 million

MURSKA SOBOTA - Police have seized 2,650 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of around EUR 2 million on an island on the river Mura, in what is the biggest cannabis bust in Pomurje region in recent years. Three middle-aged men were arrested and face up to ten years in prison, Murska Sobota police said.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

18 new coronavirus infections, one more fatality

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily count of new coronavirus cases hit 18 for Tuesday as the combined death toll from Covid-19 rose by one to 124, according to fresh statistics from the government. The latest cases come from 974 tests, and bring the combined tally to 2,208, of which 202 are active cases. Twenty-two Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, three of them in intensive care. Three of Tuesday's cases were confirmed in Šmarje pri Jelšah, in the north-east, and two each in Ljubljana and Kranj with the rest scattered across the country.

Interior Ministry welcomes Italy's plans for stricter border control

LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry welcomed Italy's decision to send an additional contingent of soldiers to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region to help monitor the border with Slovenia due to an increase in illegal migrations. "Every additional measure on any side of the border is welcome, as this can reduce the appeal of a migration route." The ministry said this had been one of the topics discussed by the Slovenian and Italian interior ministers in relation to the surge in migration on the Western Balkan route.

Slovenian troops in Lebanon safe as officials express condolences

BEIRUT, Lebanon/LJUBLJANA - All four members of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) serving in the UNIFIL and UNTSO missions in Lebanon are safe and well following a series of massive explosions in Beirut that claimed at least 100 lives. Announcing their being well, Defence Minister Matej Tonin offered his "sincere condolences" to the victims' relatives. Likewise did the the Foreign Ministry, which tweeted: "Slovenia stands in solidarity with the people of Lebanon at this difficult time."

Covid-19 slashes combined H1 profit of banks

LJUBLJANA - The effects of a weakened economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have started to reflect with increasing intensity in Slovenia's banking sector, as the most recent data from the central bank show the combined half-year profit of banks was just a third of the figure in the same period last year. Interest and non-interest revenue has been dropping, while the cost of impairments and provisions has increased. In the first six months of the year, Slovenian banks reported a combined profit of EUR 132 million.

Jobless total flat on monthly level in July, but up 24.4% y/y

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's registered jobless total stood at 89,397 at the end of July, which is almost unchanged compared to June but due to unemployment growth in April and May the figure is 24.4% above that from July 2019, show data released by the Employment Service. The number of newly registered unemployed persons was 8,222 in July, up by 8.2% on June and by 32.4% in the year-on-year comparison. Of the 8,202 who were removed from the unemployment registry, 6,487 found new jobs.

Adria Mobil braving new circumstances with optimism

NOVO MESTO - Caravan maker Adria Mobil plans to partly make up for the coronavirus fallout by the end of the year. Speaking to the STA in an interview, director general Sonja Gole said the company was not planning any cutbacks on its 1,100-strong workforce as long as the epidemiological status remained favourable. She was pleased to report a recovery in consumer demand since late May. The company's market share in Europe currently stands at 6.6% or above 8% in terms of holiday caravans, the highest in 20 years, said Gole.

Questions raised in the wake of boy drowning

SOLKAN/LJUBLJANA - The drowning of a ten-year-old at a popular bathing spot in the Soča river last week has raised a series of questions, even more so after the parents accused the social services and the police of making the family tragedy even more unbearable. The accident happened on 28 July, when the boy, holidaying with his grandparents and two siblings, was swimming at a bathing spot in the Soča near Solkan, when he was swept downriver by a sudden surge in the water level. The spot is situated just over a kilometre downstream from a hydro power station, which regulates the flow. There had been drownings at this spot before.

Rapid coronavirus tests only for critically-ill patients

LJUBLJANA - While coronavirus tests usually yield results in a few hours, rapid tests for determining SARS-CoV-2 infections in an hour are used in Slovenia only for urgent testing of patients with life-threatening diseases. Such tests are harder to access and costlier so their widespread use is not on the cards for now, according to the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, where the swabs are analysed.

Retrial ordered in Cimos EU funds fraud

KOPER - The newspaper Primorske Novice reported that the Celje Higher Court had ordered a retrial in the case that sent former managers of car parts maker Cimos to prison for EU funds fraud. Former CEO France Krašovec was sentenced to five years by the Koper District Court in 2018, with long prison sentences for three other management members. A retrial was ordered because the ruling was based in part on the guilty pleas of Cimos subsidiary executives, which the Higher Court said may create doubts about impartiality of the trial.

More tick-borne diseases so far in 2020 than in entire 2019

LJUBLJANA - Ticks in Slovenian forests seem to be particularly active this year. The National Public Health Institute has received almost 4,500 reports of infections with Lyme disease and some 110 reports of infections with tick-borne encephalitis so far, more cases than in the entire 2019. Last year, 3,938 cases of Lyme disease and 112 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were recorded.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

Nine new coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday, one fatality

LJUBLJANA - Nine new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections were confirmed in Slovenia in 890 tests on Monday, while one person died, according to the most recent data provided by the government. This brings the total number of confirmed infections so far to 2,190 and deaths to 123. According to the data from the Hrastnik municipality, a hotspot of Covid-19 at the moment, the diseased was a resident of the local care home. Moreover, three of the new confirmed infections are residents of the home.

Geneplanet ventilators supplied to thirteen hospitals, one private clinic

LJUBLJANA - Thirteen public health institutions and a private concessionaire have received the much discussed Siriusmed R30 ventilators ordered through Geneplanet. Although the Health Ministry decided in May that they could be kept only if additional equipment is supplied to make them suitable for Covid-19 patients only two hospitals received this equipment.

Huawei seeks to discuss 5G security with govt

LJUBLJANA - In the wake of Slovenia's announcement to sign a Joint Declaration on 5G Security with the US, China's Huawei said it is willing to discuss 5G technology security issues with the Slovenian government as well as sign a non-spy agreement with the country. "Signing the Slovenia-US joint declaration on introducing 5G in Slovenia will not contribute to greater cyber security," said Radoslaw Kedzia, Huawei Technologies vice-president of central Europe and Nordic states. The Chinese tech giant believes that labelling certain 5G providers as highly risky without any proof is another in line of baffling decisions by the US.

Youth drinking in Slovenia down but still above intl average

LJUBLJANA - Alcohol consumption among young people in Slovenia declined in 2017/2018 but it remains high by international standards, the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) said, as it presented the results of international survey Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) for Slovenia. The survey, conducted in Slovenia every four years, showed that 71% of 15-year-olds and 86% of 17-year-olds have tried alcohol, while 27% of 15-year-olds and 52% of 17-year-olds have been drunk at least twice in their life.

Fierce storms hit western Slovenia on Monday

KOPER - Fierce storms with winds exceeding 120 km/h hit western Slovenia Monday afternoon. The coastal region seems to be hit hardest, with locals clearing debris, fallen trees and pumping water out of buildings late into the night. Storms raged over Primorska, Notranjska, central Slovenia and as far east as the Drava valley, Environment Agency data show. Most of the calls for help to the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief hotline were made due to fallen trees, damaged roofs and flooded basements, while two lightning strikes were also reported. The heavy rainfall triggered two landslides and flooded roads.

NSi established 20 years ago

LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (NSi) celebrated its 20th anniversary, but a major ceremony, to be attended by the head of the European People's Party, Donald Tusk, is scheduled for 4 September. NSi head Matej Tonin said the party should grow stronger to fortify the healthy and rational political centrum in Slovenia. The NSi has evolved into a modern centrist western European Christian Democratic party, Tonin said. The NSi received congratulations from European People's Party (EPP) president Donald Tusk and EPP group leader Manfred Weber.

Lake Bled promenade displays iconic images

BLED - Paintings of the National Gallery capturing the beauty of lakeside resort Bled have been put on display along the Bled waterfront. The area has been a source of inspiration for numerous painters and is one of the most famous images of Slovenia. Running between 1 and 23 August, the exhibition, titled Images of Paradise, displays depictions of the lake, Bled Island, the castle towering above the lake and surrounding mountains. It features captions in the Slovenian and English languages.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

One new coronavirus infection confirmed on Sunday, two persons die

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed one new coronavirus infection on Sunday after conducting 272 tests, show fresh official data. Two Covid-19 related fatalities were recorded, raising the national death toll to 122. A total of 22 persons were hospitalised with Covid-19, including two in intensive care, with both figures staying level on Saturday. There were 228 active cases in Slovenia yesterday, six fewer than the day before.

Social institutions pull out of Covid-19 task force

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Social Institutions left the government task force for Covid-19 after their demands regarding the treatment of infected residents of care homes off-site have not been met. The association has long been warning that most care homes do not have the capacity to set up three separate zones in case of confirmed Covid-19 as envisaged by the current protocols. It hopes the decision is only temporary and is prepared to take part in informal meetings.

Jančar receives major Austrian literature prize

SALZBURG, Austria - Drago Jančar, arguably Slovenia's leading contemporary writer, formally received the Austrian State Prize for European Literature 2020. The life-time achievement award is awarded to writers with a strong international presence. "Taking an individual to penetratingly render understandable the delusions of our history: this is one of the big strengths of his literature," the jury wrote about the 72-year-old. The ward ceremony also featured Nobel laureate Peter Handke, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Austrian Culture Ministry State Secretary Andrea Mayer.

Treasury extends three-year bond issue by EUR 50m

LJUBLJANA - The treasury has extended an existing three-year bond by EUR 50 million following demand by an investor. The yield to maturity was -0.492%, the lowest on record and just 27 basis points over a comparable German bond. The issue was completed at the end of June and is an indication of investor trust in the government's policies in the fight against Covid-19, the Finance Ministry said.

DeSUS MPs request explanation from Pivec over corruption allegations

LJUBLJANA - The pressure is building for Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec to give her side of the story about allegations of integrity breach or conflict of interest made against her. The MPs of her Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) said they expected to hear her explanations on Friday, however Pivec plans to do that next week.

Roma Holocaust Memorial Day marked

MURSKA SOBOTA - The European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day was marked, with keynote speaker Boštjan Žekš, an advisor to President Borut Pahor, saying he felt ashamed over the suffering of the Roma being almost forgotten. He also said that the Roma did not have it easy in modern-day Slovenia. What is more, it took a long time before the world started paying respect to the victims killed on the night of 2 August 1944 in Auschwitz-Birkenau when all the Roma prisoners had been killed, he said.

Italian, Danish pairs win beach volley World Tour in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The Italian men's pair Andrea Abbiati and Tiziano Andreatta and the Danish women's pair Clara Windeleff and Line Trans Hansen are the winners of the fourth FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament held in Ljubljana's Congress Square over the weekend. This was the first international beach volleyball competition after the four-month break imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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 records nine new coronavirus infections, one death

LJUBLJANA - Nine of the 374 coronavirus tests performed in Slovenia on Saturday have come back positive, the latest government data show. One Covid-19 fatality was reported for a death toll of 120. There were 22 persons in hospital, the same as the day before, while only two required intensive care, down from five. The number of active cases rose slightly, to 234 from 231 the day before, according to data collected by Covid-19.sledilnik.org, a tracking website.

Bojan Kontič, prominent SocDem politician, dead at 59

VELENJE - Social democratic politician Bojan Kontič, who spent nearly a decade as mayor of Velenje and served as member both of the lower and upper chamber of parliament, died on Sunday aged 59. Kontič served three stints as MP between 1996 and 2008, during which time he was also deputy mayor of Velenje. Since 2010 he served as the mayor.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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:

15 new coronavirus cases from 892 tests on Friday

LJUBLJANA - Out of 892 coronavirus tests conducted in Slovenia on Friday, 15 came back positive, fresh official data show. No Covid-19 related fatalities were recorded, with the death toll remaining unchanged at 119. A total of 22 persons were hospitalised with Covid-19, down by two on the day before as two persons were discharged from hospital. Five patients remain in intensive care. The latest cases are dispersed across Slovenia, with as much as 12 municipalities confirming infections. One case of infection was also detected in a foreign citizen.

Anti-govt protesters say Janša creating divisions

LJUBLJANA - Anti-government protests resumed for the 15th Friday running in Ljubljana and some other Slovenian towns, with some 2,000 protesters mostly targeting Prime Minister Janez Janša this time. Also a target of criticism was Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec. Protesters called on Janša to step down, saying he was creating divisions among citizens. There was also a smaller open mic protest in Republic Square, with anti-government rallies held in other Slovenian towns as well.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

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 changes Covid-19 status of several countries

LJUBLJANA - Bulgaria, Romania, the Bahamas, India and five Spanish administrative units have been added to Slovenia's red list of countries from which arrival entails a mandatory two-week quarantine due to coronavirus. Spain, Belgium, Australia, Morocco, Andorra and Canada have been removed from the green list of safe countries, and downgraded to yellow. The changes were made by the government last night and are effective from today. The red-listed parts of Spain are Valencia, the Basque Country, Catalonia, Navarre and Aragon. Sweden and Portugal were upgraded to yellow.

Daily tally of coronavirus infections down, but one fatality

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's death toll from Covid-19 increased to 119 after one more patient died on Thursday as 17 new infections were confirmed from 917 tests, down from 24 the day before, fresh government statistics show. The number of hospitalisations increased by two to 24 after three more patients were admitted and one died. Five patients remain in intensive care. The latest infections take the total case count to 2,156, out of which 240 remain active cases.

Member of PM's staff tests positive for coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - A staffer at the office of Prime Minister Janez Janša has tested positive for coronavirus. He has been on leave for a week and has not been in direct contact with the prime minister. All the staff at who had been in contact with the infected person have been tested and the results of all the tests were negative. Prime Minister Janša, who has been tested as a matter of precaution several times before, has not been tested this time, his office said. He is currently on holiday.

Czech media: Pompeo to visit Slovenia in mid-August

LJUBLJANA - The Czech news web portal Lidovky.cz reported on Thursday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to visit Prague, Vienna, Ljubljana and Poland in mid-August. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry would not comment on the report, and the US Embassy in Ljubljana responded by saying "we do not have anything to announce at this time", however neither denied the news. According to Lidovky.cz, Pompeo is to start his European tour in Prague on 11 August with one of the topics of his talks with the European allies being the new digital infrastructure and the deployment of 5G technology.

TV report alleges seaside town hosted Pivec on semi-private trip

LJUBLJANA - The public broadcaster reported on Thursday that the Izola municipality paid for the hotel accommodation for Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec during her official trip to the seaside town in June with a hotel invoice suggesting she was there with her sons, a charge the minister denied. The minister's office told the STA that Pivec visited Izola between 12 and 14 June at the invitation of the municipality, which also paid for hotel accommodation for ministry officials. The allegations, as well as those concerning her late June trip to Kras, will be examined by the anti-graft watchdog. So has her Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) urged Pivec to provide explanations.

Mladina says questionable asylum policy enforced, ministry denies claim

LJUBLJANA - Mladina reported a new asylum regime had been implemented since June at some police stations on the border with Croatia, which it said had no basis in legislation. The regime restricts the movement of asylum seekers and places them in the centre for aliens in Postojna, where they live in inhumane conditions. NGOs, including Amnesty International Slovenia, expressed concern about the developments. The Interior Ministry and the police rejected the accusations and said asylum applicants were treated in line with the law. The ministry released figures showing a marked increase in the number of asylum seekers sent to the Postojna centre, but said all decisions were made on a case-by-case basis.

Slovenian in Croatian parliament vows to promote minority rights

ZAGREB, Croatia - Barbara Antolić Vupora, the first ethnic Slovenian to be elected to the Croatian parliament, has pledged to strive to ensure implementation of the rights of the Slovenian minority in Croatia. The Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) has her back, Antolić Vupora told the STA in an interview. She said she thought she could do more for the Slovenian minority as a party MP than she would if she were a minority MP. In the Sabor, she will be in charge of safeguarding minority rights and promoting elderly care.

Suffering of Roma and Sinti in WWII remembered in Maribor

MARIBOR - The Nazi genocide against the Roma and Sinti during the Second World War was rememberedby the local centre for Jewish cultural heritage, with the ceremony including a lecture connecting the genocide with modern populisms. Entitled The Night Violins Went Silent, the event hosted by Sinagoga Maribor was addressed by Vita Zalar of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, who spoke about the Roma genocide in WWII in the light of populism of today.

Budget records EUR 1.9 billion deficit in H1

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian state budget recorded a EUR 1.92 billion deficit in the first six months of the year, mostly on the account of a considerable drop in revenue related to a lower tax yield as the government introduced restrictive anti-epidemic measures, figures from the Finance Ministry show. The EUR 1.92 billion deficit in the January-June period compares to the EUR 219.7 million surplus in the same period last year. Budget expenditure increased by 27.7%, while revenue contracted by 15.5%.

Slovenia's inflation running at 0.3%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's annual inflation rate ran at 0.3% in July despite a 0.1% dip of consumer prices in a month-on-month comparison due to clearance sales at clothes and footwear shops, data from the Statistics Office show. Measured with the harmonised index of consumer prices, an EU-wide gauge, Slovenia posted an annual deflation rate of 0.3% in July and prices fell by 0.2% in a month. Inflation was mostly driven by costlier food as fruit prices surged by 16.2% and meat prices rose by 6.3% y/y.

Easyjet back in Slovenia

BRNIK - British low-cost carrier Easyjet has returned to Ljubljana airport after more than a four-month break due to the pandemic. Easyjet is the eighth airline to resume its services at Slovenia's central airport in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday, its Ljubljana-Berlin route was renewed, while the first flight from London Gatwick was due today. Airport operator Fraport Slovenija anticipates the return of at least six more carriers, including those flying to Warsaw and Brussels.

Slovenia's population expands by 0.6% with foreign residents

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's population increased to 2,097,195 on 1 April, 0.6% more than on the same date last year, the Statistics Office reported. In the first quarter of the year, the number of Slovenian citizens decreased by 1,900 or 0.1%, whereas the number of foreign citizens residing in Slovenia increased by 3,200 or 2.1% to 159,582, which represented 7.6% of Slovenia's total population. There were 51.2% women among Slovenian citizens and only 33.4% among foreign residents.

Muslim Eid al-Adha celebration adjusted to coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - The Muslim community in Slovenia celebrated its first Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim holiday, at the new Muslim Cultural Centre in Ljubljana. However, under strict anti-epidemic measures believers were let in in groups of 50 in four separate ceremonies. Also called Eid Qurban or Bakra-Eid, the Feast of the Sacrifice is considered the holier of the two major Muslim holidays. It is linked with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, but this year Slovenian Muslims have not travelled there due the pandemic.

Dance project intertwines Ljubljana and Tenerife

LJUBLJANA/SANTA CRUZ, Spain - A dance production entitled Dance, No Goal by choreographer Carlota Mantecón will premiere at the Ljubljana Dance Theatre as well as in Tenerife tonight. The international dance project explores societal relations towards ageing and movement. All the performers are aged above 65 and non-professional dancers. The joint premiere is a result of the pandemic. If it was not for Covid-19, the show would have first opened with the entire ensemble in Tenerife and then in Ljubljana.

Extreme summer temperatures not easing up

LJUBLJANA - This year's July saw similar temperatures compared to the same period in recent years, but more rainfall. One of the warmest days this month is in store for today; extremely high temperatures were recorded already in the morning. Cities and the coast are in for a scorchingly hot weekend. By 9am today temperatures had climbed to 22 degrees Celsius in the northern Gorenjska region and up to 28 degrees in the Primorska region in the west, show data from the Environment Agency.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here