20 Aug 2020, 03:53 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 20 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

PM says Slovenia supports democratic demands of Belarusians

LJUBLJANA - The EU's primary concern is that the fundamental rights and freedoms of Belarusians, including the right to free and fair election and self-determination about their international connections, are respected, Prime Minister Janez Janša told a virtual EU summit. He said Russia should recognise these rights as well. "Slovenia knows about stolen elections from its own experience and it thus understands and supports the democratic demands by the Belarusians," he was quoted as saying. Only a new presidential election with a strong presence of OSCE observers can lead to stabilisation of the country and ensure peace.

Slovenia plans to red-list Croatia as of Friday

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenia plans to put Croatia on the red list of countries from which travellers must undergo a 14-day quarantine. Those already in Croatia have until the end of the week to avoid quarantine, those travelling there as of Friday will have to quarantine, government spokesman Jelko Kacin said. The decision to red-list Croatia will formally be made at Thursday's cabinet session and published in the Official Gazette the same day. "Fact is that the situation in Croatia is deteriorating dramatically. Data on infections show that the situation is really bad," Kacin said after the government meet epidemiologists to discuss the way forward.

Tuesday's tests confirm 37 new Sars-CoV-2 infections

LJUBLJANA - The number of new Sars-CoV-2 infections reached a new four-month high on Tuesday, as 37 out of 1,092 tests came back positive. There were no deaths, meaning the death toll remains at 129. Presently 17 patients need hospital treatment, with three receiving intensive care. There have so far been 2,493 confirmed Sars-CoV-2 infections in Slovenia with 285 of them active infections, according to the national tracker covid-19.sledilnik. The infections were again very much dispersed regionally, involving 22 municipalities, with by far the largest number of active cases, 70, being reported for Ljubljana.

Slovenia's new ambassador to Serbia presents his credentials

BELGRADE, Serbia - Slovenia's new Ambassador to Serbia Damjan Bergant presented his credentials to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Vučić expressed the wish that the new ambassador contribute to better relations between the two countries, the Serbian press agency Tanjug reported. Bergant forwarded to Vučić regards from Slovenia's President Borut Pahor and expressed hope that circumstances would soon allow in-person contacts at the highest level.

Perutnina Ptuj reports record sales revenue for 2019

PTUJ - Perutnina Ptuj, the poultry group that was taken over by Ukrainian Holding MHP early last year, recorded EUR 285 million in sales revenue in 2019, a new record and 5% increase on the year before. EBITDA were up 43% to EUR 41.7 million. The group moreover managed to reduce its net financial debt by EUR 33 million and increased investment by 18% to EUR 9.1 million. Employing 3,693 people at the end of 2019, half of which in Slovenia, Perutnina Ptuj preserved the leading market position in Slovenia, while increasing its market share in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. The company said the positive operations have continued this year despite the Covid-19 situation.

Almost 260 illegal migrants, seven smugglers caught last night

LJUBLJANA - Police last night caught 257 foreign citizens who entered Slovenia illegally and seven people smugglers, as part of enhanced border control in the areas policed by the Ljubljana and Novo Mesto police departments, in the south and south-east of the country. The purpose of enhanced control was to prevent and detect illegal crossings of the border in areas of the country most at risk of illegal migrations.

Celje over first hurdle in Champions League qualifiers

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Slovenia's football champions Celje defeated Ireland's Dundalk with a clean 3:0 in the first round of the first qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League and will face Norway's Molde in the second round. This was the first appearance for Celje in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

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19 Aug 2020, 04:16 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: 19 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Quarantine for travellers from Croatia may be introduced by week's end

LJUBLJANA - The government's Covid-19 spokesperson Jelko Kacin said a decision on imposing quarantine on persons returning from Croatia would be made at Thursday's government session. The measure is expected to kick in by the start of the next week, with enough time given to people to return home before its implementation, said Kacin. There are believed to be some 160,000 Slovenian citizens in Croatia at the moment and people holidaying there - in particular those attending parties, have been responsible for a number of imported cases of Covid-19.

All primary and secondary school students to return to classrooms on 1 Sept

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Education Minister Simona Kustec announced that all primary and secondary school children are to return to school as the new year begins in September. "But if the epidemiological situation worsens considerably in the next 14 days, we will have to take that into account," the minister said, adding that the situation should be clearer after Thursday's government session, at which Health Minister Tomaž Gantar will present the epidemiological situation. Kustec expects that based on that assessment of the situation, "the best possible solutions" will be adopted.

After voluntary contact tracing app, Slovenia mulling mandatory app as well

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has successfully deployed a voluntary contact tracing app to help curb the coronavirus epidemic, but in the event the situation deteriorates it might also develop an app whose use will be mandatory for some, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik indicated. The current Slovenian app is voluntary to use and has been downloaded almost 5,000 times less than a day after it was available in Google's Play Store. But the government has recently put in place a legislative provision that would allow it to make use of a mobile app mandatory for those with confirmed infections and persons who have been ordered to quarantine.

27 coronavirus infections confirmed on Monday in 1,143 tests

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,143 tests for the novel coronavirus were performed in Slovenia on Monday, resulting in 27 confirmed new cases. The number of persons hospitalised for Covid-19 was meanwhile down by three to 16, with three persons being in intensive care, the government said. There were no Covid-19 deaths yesterday, so the overall death toll remains at 129. The total number of cases in Slovenia reached 2,456 with 266 of them active infections, according to the national tracker covid-19.sledilnik.

Leaders of Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Serbia expected at BSF

LJUBLJANA - The prime ministers of Croatia, Czechia, Hungary and Poland, and the president of Serbia have been confirmed as speakers at this year's Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), which takes place on 31 August. Half a dozen foreign ministers and the EU's foreign policy chief will also be among the panellists, BSF secretary general Peter Grk told the STA. The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, International Monetary Fund (IMF) director Kristalina Georgieva and Bettina Cadenbach, NATO assistant secretary general for political affairs and security policy, will address participants via video link.

Pahor, Steinmeier stress importance of unity in facing issues

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a telephone conversation to stress the importance of European unity in facing the Covid-19 pandemic and in relation with other strategic challenges in the EU. The EU should also be united in tackling challenges in its immediate neighbourhood, with an emphasis on the situation in Belarus and the Western Balkans, as well as in the international community. Steinmeier said that he had been monitoring closely Pahor's recent meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Trieste, held on the 100th anniversary of the Fascist arson of a Slovenian building in the city, and noted the importance of such meetings for Europe.

Triglav group H1 net profit down 3% to EUR 33.5 million y/y

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's leading insurance group, Triglav, has reported EUR 33.5 million in net profit for the first half of 2020, a 3% decrease year-on-year. The group posted a total of EUR 673.4 million in consolidated gross written premium, up 7% compared to the same period in 2019, said insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav. The group's net revenue earned from insurance premiums increased by 7% to EUR 523.1 million. The group generated EUR 40.6 million in profit before tax, 3% down year-on-year. Net profit for the core company decreased by 4% to EUR 26.4 million. The results were released as Zavarovalnica Triglav supervisors appointed Andrej Andoljšek chief supervisor.

Gorenje hiring temps as orders surge

VELENJE - Slovenian home appliance manufacturer Gorenje, part of the Chinese group Hisense, is hiring some 600 temporary workers to cope with a record number of orders. Orders until the end of the year are by more than 30% higher for each month than last year, while a 15-20% increase is also expected for early 2021, the company told the STA. Since 10 August, Gorenje has already hired 240 workers on a fixed-term contract, and is looking for another 350, to be employed by 1 September. When the coronavirus pandemic hit this spring, Gorenje's new owners were planning massive layoffs. Orders for August to October then rose significantly and June was the first profitable month this year.

Teršek withdraws appeal seeking annulment of constitutional judge nominee vote

LJUBLJANA - Jurist Andraž Teršek, who failed to get elected a Constitutional Court judge by parliament in mid-June, has withdrawn his appeal to the Constitutional Court that asked it to annul the vote and order a new vote on his bid. He said there was not enough time for the court to decide on the appeal over invalid ballots before the deadline for new bids. He also said he would not like to complicate the procedure for the appointment of new candidates with his appeal.

Lunar stone on display at Noordung centre

VITANJE - A piece of a lunar rock, brought from the Moon in 1972, has been handed to the Herman Potočnik Noordung Centre of Space Technologies in Vitanje by the US Embassy in Slovenia and NASA. The stone was put on display until the end of 2020 and is to be joined by a replica of the space suit worn by Neil Armstrong in 1969. The US Embassy described the lunar stone, collected by astronaut and geologist Harrison "Jack" Schmitt during the Apollo 17 mission, as a symbol of a joint dedication to the exploration of outer space.

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18 Aug 2020, 03:55 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 18 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

13 new Covid-19 cases, quarantine considered for holidaymakers

LJUBLJANA - Thirteen new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in 393 tests in Slovenia on Sunday, show the data released by the government. Nineteen people were in hospital on Sunday with three requiring intensive care. No new deaths were reported. The total number of cases since the start of the epidemic has reached 2,429 with 248 of them active infections, according to national tracker covid-19.sledilnik. Health and government representatives were scheduled to meet this afternoon to discuss measures aimed at gaining control over an increasing number of cases among Slovenian holidaymakers returning from Croatia. Health Minister Tomaž Gantar said he was personally in favour of quarantine.

Contact tracing app available

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian contact tracing app #OstaniZdrav (#StayWell) has been green-lit by relevant authorities and is already available to be installed in GooglePlay free of charge, said Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik, announcing more details would be unveiled on Tuesday. The app was localised on the basis of the German Corona-Warn-App under the contract the government signed with developer RSteam. The app is voluntary, although it was initially planned that it would have to be installed by all persons with confirmed infections and those ordered to quarantine.

Greek ship with infected crew expected in Slovenia

KOPER - A Greek ship, carrying iron ore from South America, is to arrive in Slovenia in the night to Wednesday carrying at least two persons infected with the coronavirus, according to a report by public broadcaster TV Slovenija. The ship will be anchored in the middle of the bay, and a decision to allow it to sail into the port will be taken only after all 32 members of the crew - mostly Philippine and Greek citizens - have been tested. If only some test positive, the ship will be allowed to sail into the port and unload the cargo. Should a larger number prove infected, the ship will be unable to continue its journey. The National Institute of Public Health has already prepared a relevant protocol, while the ship is said not to pose a threat to public health in Slovenia.

DeSUS council postpones vote on party leader to next week

LJUBLJANA - The council of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) postponed to 25 August the vote on whether party leader Aleksandra Pivec should further enjoy the party's confidence, following the conflict of interest allegations. The session had been planned for this Thursday. Speaking for the STA, DeSUS council head Tomaž Gantar, the health minister, said the reason for the postponement was a government session scheduled for Thursday. He insists that the council can take a vote of no-confidence in the party president, whereas a legal opinion on the matter unofficially says the council cannot dismiss the party leader.

Poll shows drop in support for govt, Pivec

MARIBOR/LJUBLJANA - The latest survey commissioned by the papers Večer and Dnevnik showed that more than half of respondents believe Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) leader Aleksandra Pivec should resign in the wake of unclarity about who paid for her part-business, part-private trips. Support for DeSUS in the monthly survey by the pollster Ninamedia has been dropping for three consecutive months to hit 1.8%, a point less than in July and well below the 4% parliamentary threshold. The government's approval rating also dropped; for the first time since it was sworn in in March, more than half of those polled have been unhappy with its work.

Supreme Court criticises Janša's reaction to Radonjić suspension

LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court reacted to PM Janez Janša's criticism of the temporary suspension of Ljubljana District Court judge Zvjezdan Radonjić. It said the persistent encroachment of one branch of power upon the powers of another branch could undermine the principle of division of power and lead to "political supremacy over the rule of law". Radonjić, a vocal critic of the Slovenian judiciary, was recently suspended for what the court said were grave disciplinary violations. In a tweet, Janša questioned the independence of judges and said "the chicanery" against Radonjić called for an investigation. He also retweeted several tweets alleging the suspension was revenge for the acquittal of Milko Nović in a high-profile murder case.

Police says review of NBI cases to be ready by 15 October

LJUBLJANA - The General Police Department said that a report on the oversight of police work in certain already closed high-profile National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) cases, ordered by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs, would be sent to acting Police Commissioner Andrej Jurič by 15 October at the latest. The police wrote that the review needed to be conducted by 30 September and then a report sent to Jurič within 15 days. However, a first report, outlining the actions planned as part of the review, would be sent to the minister today.

Long-term care bill to be unveiled this week

LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Tomaž Gantar announced that a draft bill on long-term care would be sent into public consultation before the end of this week, but would not disclose any details about the bill that has been in the making for years. He said the goal was to make all basic services, including healthcare services, accessible to everybody without additional payments. However, he acknowledged the issue remained open of where to find funding for the accommodation side of long-term care, a cost estimated at EUR 360 million.

Prekmurje Reunification Day celebrated

MURSKA SOBOTA/LJUBLJANA - Slovenia celebrated Prekmurje Reunification Day, a national holiday marking the day when the country's eastern-most region was united with the rest of the nation after more than a millennium. The main ceremony was held on Sunday at the monument in Murska Sobota that was unveiled at last year's 100th anniversary of the reunification. Prekmurje was united with the rest of the nation in 1919, after WWI and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Ljubljana, a monument dedicated to the centenary of reunification was unveiled in Prekmurje Square.

Average pay up 5.5% in June

LJUBLJANA - The average monthly wage in Slovenia was EUR 1,813 gross in June, an increase of 5.5% on the year before. The average net wage rose at an even faster pace, up 6.1% to EUR 1,175, the Statistics Office said. The annual increase comes despite a marked drop compared to May, the final month of special bonuses for working through the epidemic.

Study confirms recent presence of endangered dolphin in Slovenian waters

PIRAN - A study has shown that an endangered subspecies of the common dolphin visited the Gulf of Trieste between 2009 and 2012, after a long period of absence due to systematic culling and lack of food. The marine mammal association Morigenos made the discovery based on direct observations and found carcasses. It says at least four specimens appeared in Slovenian territorial waters between 2009 and 2012.

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17 Aug 2020, 04:36 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 17 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

15 coronavirus infections confirmed on Saturday in 382 tests

LJUBLJANA - A total of 382 tests for the new coronavirus were performed in Slovenia on Saturday, with 15 new cases confirmed, while no person died of Covid-19, the government said. A total of 17 persons were hospitalised for Covid-19 yesterday, and four of them required intensive care. The death toll remains at 129. Radio Slovenija reported that government Covid-19 spokesman Jelko Kacin said that at least eight infections had been imported, while the sources of the other infections were being investigated. "In Slovenia, we will wait until Tuesday, when we will see the results of Monday's testing. If the regime in night clubs does not change, we will need to limit the intake from Croatia in one way or another," he added.

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16 Aug 2020, 04:34 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 16 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

32 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Friday, no deaths

LJUBLJANA - 32 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in 1,034 tests on Friday, according to the most recent data from the government. The number of new cases is lower by five compared to the four-month record seen on Thursday. As many new cases this week were holidaymakers returning from Croatia, Slovenia is thinking about mandatory quarantine. On Thursday, out of the 37 confirmed cases, 22 were from Croatia, of them 20 among youngsters who partied at a popular party beach on the island of Pag, Milan Krek, the head of the NIJZ told the STA.

Cardinal Rode praises reconciliation acts by President Pahor and PM Janša

BREZJE - Cardinal Franc Rode, who has often been vocal in his criticism of the Slovenian state in the past, praised President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Janez Janša for their efforts for national reconciliation, to overcome divisions stemming from World War II. "We waited a long time for a statesman with the courage and understanding" that the state leadership is the only player of reconciliation, being the successor of the leadership of the former Yugoslavia. Rode said this finally happened this June, when Pahor and Janša together laid wreaths at a Homeguard cemetery and then honoured the memory of Partisans killed by the Homeguard.

Slovenian Christians celebrating Assumption Day

BREZJE/LJUBLJANA - Special masses were held around the country to mark the Feast of the Assumption, one of the main Christian holidays and a national holiday in Slovenia since 1992. Marked by coronavirus measures, the ceremonies drew less people than usually, with the main mass attended by some 3,000 believers, 2,000 less than last year. The main celebration of the Assumption is traditionally held at the Brezje Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, one of Slovenia's holiest and most popular pilgrimage sites, where mass was given by Cardinal Franc Rode along with Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore.

Alpine destination Gorenjska doing well due to tourism vouchers

LJUBLJANA - The tourism vouchers have made for a good season in Gorenjska, one of Slovenia's prime tourism regions with its Alpine lakes of Bled and Bohinj and the mountain centre of Kranjska Gora. Tourism officials say domestic guests have almost fully offset the drop in foreign tourists, an exception being Bled where some hotels have remained closed. According to the director of the Kranjska Gora Tourist Board Blaž Veber, capacities in the Upper Sava Valley in the north-west of the country are almost fully booked. Some vacancies remain in camps and in mountain huts since the weather has been a bit capricious this year.

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15 Aug 2020, 04:24 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 15 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia confirms 37 new coronavirus infections, a four-month high

LJUBLJANA - The number of new infections reached a four-month high, as 37 out of Thursday's 937 tests came back positive, with most new cases coming from Croatia. According to the national tracker covid-19.sledilnik, there are currently 213 active cases in the country. Interior Minister Aleš Hojs tweeted a "stricter regime for entry to Slovenia, probably in the next week already", in relation with the infections coming from Croatia, adding the hashtag #quarantine.

Projection warns Covid-19 doubling time shortening, BRN exceeds one

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's top research institute, the Jožef Stefan Institute, projected that in the next short-term period, the daily number of new coronavirus infections will range from 15 to 50 and noted that the basic reproductive number (BRN) is considerably higher than one. The epidemic is spreading with the doubling period of around eight days, the projection says. However, it will only be clear in the coming days whether the high number of positive tests in recent days was a consequence of a single jump in the daily number of positive tests due to an increase in imported cases, or whether this is a harbinger of a worrying exponential growth which would require measures to be taken quickly.

Pompeo says 5G declaration important decision and step in right direction

BLED - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the STA that the signing of a joint 5G security declaration is an important decision and a step in the right direction for the entire Europe. As Slovenians and Europeans love their privacy and have their information protected, they have to have trusted networks, so it has been agreed that the nations joining the declaration would have trusted networks for information flow, he said. "This was an important decision ... so that we collectively can have a system, a network, telecommunications infrastructure that is protected from the national security apparatus in China that intends no good for the people in the region."

Huawei surprised by US-Slovenia 5G declaration

LJUBLJANA - Chinese tech company Huawei said it was surprised by the joint declaration on security of 5G networks which Slovenia has signed with the US, stressing that any kind of discrimination and restrictions to the free market always have a negative impact. Huawei Slovenia representatives reiterated that the company respected all standards in cyber security and posed no threat to Slovenia. They denied any involvement of the Chinese government in the company, saying employees were the owners of the company and that there was no room for the government.

Infrastructure Ministry official says Slovenia will remain nuclear country

LJUBLJANA - Speaking about a potential second nuclear reactor in Krško, Infrastructure Ministry State Secretary Blaž Košorok told the STA that Slovenia is and will remain a nuclear country. While the government recently placed a new nuclear reactor in Krško on the list of strategic projects for post-coronacrisis recovery, Košorok said this did not mean a final decision on the project had been made. "We are talking about some kind of guidelines, but fact is that Slovenia is and will remain a nuclear country. We've been living with this for more than 40 years and will probably continue living with it," he said.

Construction down 5.6% in H1 y/y

LJUBLJANA - The value of construction work completed in the first six months of 2020 was 5.6% lower than in the same period last year, the Statistics Office said. In June it decreased by 7.1% on the monthly level and by 15.3% year-on-year. The June decrease was the fourth consecutive monthly decrease recorded over the previous month as well as in the year-on-year comparison - in April it decreased by 6.9% year-on-year and in May by 15.3%. The monthly decease in May was 2.7%

Passengers gradually returning to Ljubljana airport

BRNIK - Passengers are returning to Ljubljana airport after most of the coronavirus measures have been relaxed and air traffic ban lifted, as its operator recorded almost 21,000 passengers in July, over four times more than in June. The numbers are still much lower compared to the peak summer season last year, though. The Jože Pučnik Ljubljana Airport saw only 111 passengers in May and 4,991 in June, while the number was up to 20,992 in July, Fraport Slovenija told the STA. Airlines are also returning to the airport, with nine providers currently offering direct flights to ten destinations.

Procedural issues in centre of DeSUS power struggle

LJUBLJANA - After the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) executive committee called on the party's council to leave the dismissal of party president Aleksandra Pivec to the congress, council chair Tomaž Gantar told the STA it was well in the purview of the council to take a vote of no-confidence in the president. In early afternoon, the executive committee called on the council to call a congress as soon as possible, at which Pivec would ask for a vote of confidence. Gantar said he would get a legal opinion and would only not put the dismissal to vote on Thursday if the opinion did not support his position.

Environment ministry launches unprecedented procedure for Mokrice project

LJUBLJANA - The Environment Ministry has for the first time ever launched a procedure to allow other public interests to prevail over nature conservation. The unprecedented procedure was launched for the Mokrice hydro plant on the Sava river on 5 July and is soon to be launched for a series of hydro plants on the central Sava, the newspaper Dnevnik said. "This is the first such case in Slovenia ... It's a legal option that the European habitats directive allows for," the ministry said.

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14 Aug 2020, 04:27 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 14 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia and US sign 5G safety declaration

BLED - Slovenia and the US signed a joint declaration on safety of 5G networks as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a visit. Pompeo said the tide was turning against the Chinese Communist Party. The declaration excludes "untrusted vendors" from 5G networks, which will "benefit the people of this country and all of us who share information across complex network systems". PM Janez Janša thanked the US on behalf of the Slovenian people for coming to Europe's aid twice in the previous century. He said Pompeo's and US President Donald Trump's work was recognised in Slovenia as the "continuation of support for the values of freedom, the rule of law, human rights and dignity". Two opposition parties criticised the joint declaration and the Chinese mobile company Huawei said that it would not benefit cyber security and would delay the introduction of 5G in Slovenia. A strong reaction came also from the Chinese Embassy.

Janša calls for fresh election in Belarus

BLED - Prime Minister Janez Janša called for a new election in Belarus under the presence of international observers as the only solution to the situation in Belarus, an approach he said was also supported by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who visited Slovenia today. "The only peaceful solution to the current crisis in Belarus is to repeat elections under the strong presence of international observation missions," Janša told a joint press conference after talks with Pompeo. Pompeo said he was "very hopeful that we can collectively work in a way I think it's a better outcome for the people of Belarus."

NLB Group net profit down 22% to EUR 73.7m in H1

LJUBLJANA - The NLB Group generated EUR 73.7 million in net profit in the first half of the year, a decrease of EUR 20.7 million or 22% year-on-year. The group's operations were affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, but the supervisory board said that despite impairments and provisions the group's operations were stable and profitable. Net operating income in the first six months of the year remained flat at EUR 260 million and profit before impairments and provisions was almost unchanged as well, dropping by 1% compared to the same period last year to EUR 115.2 million.

Outspoken judge suspended, PM speaks of chicanery

LJUBLJANA - Supreme Court vice-president Miodrag Đorđević temporary suspended district court judge Zvjezdan Radonjić over several grave disciplinary breaches. Radonjić, who has accused other judges of accepting bribes and claimed pressure had been exerted on him in a high-profile case, has been a vocal critic of the Slovenian judiciary. He made headlines as the presiding judge in the case of the 2014 murder of Chemistry Institute boss Janko Jamnik. The suspension has already triggered strong reactions. PM Janez Janša said that "the chicanery against judge Radonjić is ripe for a comprehensive investigation."

29 new coronavirus cases confirmed in 856 tests on Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 29 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in 856 tests on Wednesday in Slovenia. No new deaths were reported. New cases were reported in 14 municipalities and the majority were in the 15-34 age group. Infections diseases specialist Mateja Logar of the Ljubljana UKC hospital told TV Slovenija yesterday that most of the latest cases were imported from Croatia. Based on the recommendation from experts, the government extended today the ban on night clubs, the only type of establishment in Slovenia that has not been able to reopen since mid-March, as well as the ban on gatherings of more than ten people or up to 50 when the organiser keeps a list of the participants.

Foreign direct investment in Slovenia up EUR 552m in H1

LJUBLJANA - Foreign direct investment in Slovenia increased by EUR 552 million in the first half of 2020, a significantly slower rate of increase than in the same period last year, when inbound investment rose by almost EUR 639 million. According to data released by Banka Slovenije, EUR 370.7 million of the increase in the first half of 2020 was accounted for by reinvested profit, EUR 116.7 million by an increase in debt instruments and EUR 64.5 million by equity. In the 12 months until the end of June, FDI was up EUR 725.7 million.

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13 Aug 2020, 04:06 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 13 August 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Logar urges EU's concerted response to Belarus situation

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar called for a strong and united EU response to the situation in Belarus in the wake of violence against protesters who refuse to recognise Alexander Lukashenko's re-election. Logar made the appeal in a letter to his German and Portuguese counterparts, Heiko Mass and Augusto Santos Silva, whose countries form the EU trio presidency with Slovenia. The Foreign Ministry condemned the violence, and said it was following developments in Belarus with concern.

Pompeo expected to talk G5 as well as nuclear reactor during short visit

LJUBLJANA - The government released the programme of Thursday's visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which is limited to the lake resort of Bled, where he is to meet PM Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor. Janša's office said the talks will focus on bilateral cooperation in politics as well as business, while the State Department has indicated they might also discuss a new nuclear generator for Slovenia in Krško. Pompeo0s tour, taking him to Czechia, Slovenia, Austria and Poland, focuses on building alliances against China's cyber power. Pompeo and Foreign Minister Anže Logar will sign a joint statement on safety of 5G networks.

Pensioners' Association head calls on DeSUS to stay in govt

LJUBLJANA - The head of the influential Pensioners' Association called on the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) to stay in the Janez Janša government, as the party seeks a way out of crisis after MPs rebelled against leader Aleksandra Pivec. Janez Sušnik said new elections halfway through the government's term and with the upcoming presidency of the EU were not a good option. Despite differences of opinion within the organisation, he believes DeSUS quitting government would be "very irresponsible to Slovenian pensioners".

Daily tally of new coronavirus cases hits one-month high of 31

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 31 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a one-month high, as 1,118 tests were performed. No new deaths were reported, show official government data. Slovenia's daily infections were fairly stable since mid-July, rarely exceeding 20. The latest increase comes amidst warnings that many young people are returning from holidays infected. The total case count since the start of the pandemic has thus increased to 2,303, with 188 active cases. The death toll remains at 129.

Senior police officer reassigned, police says not over Hojs criticism

LJUBLJANA - Slavko Koroš has been reassigned to another "appropriate" senior post in the police force after he served as the deputy director of the Criminal Police Department, which is led by Vojko Urbas. The police said "the planned reassignment is not related to the opinions Koroš has expressed as the head of the Association of Criminal Police Officers". Koroš recently criticised Interior Minister Aleš Hojs's instructions for a revision of some high-profile cases investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The PSS police trade union has meanwhile issued a strong rebuke of the police work instructions issued by Hojs.

Ljubljana hotels report occupancy rate of 30%

LJUBLJANA - After Ljubljana tourism was booming before the coronavirus pandemic, the Slovenian capital saw a 76% drop in nights spent in its accommodation facilities in July compared with the same month last year. Hotels and hostels posted an occupancy rate of about 30% on average last month, which rose to 40% in August. The local tourism board said that the proportion of Slovenian visitors rose 40% year-on-year in July. They accounted for about 14% of all hotel nights in both July and August.

Young people missed their peers the most during lockdown

LJUBLJANA - A survey conducted by the Slovenian Youth Council among young people about their life during the lockdown shows that youths perceived distance learning as less effective than in-class education. More than a quarter were concerned about finishing the year. But the biggest problem for them was the lack of social contacts. Nevertheless, 85% see positive sides of the lockdown, including those related to their habits and lifestyles and those benefiting the environment.

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12 Aug 2020, 04:09 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 12 August 2020

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:

Infectologist sceptical about Russian vaccine for Covid-19

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian infectologist Mateja Logar said not much was known about the vaccine for Covid-19 whose registration in Russia was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin today. There is no sufficient data on its mechanism and safety, so it is too early for euphoria, she told the press. She also said that only 6% of vaccines which had been in the clinical testing phase actually entered the market. "If we currently have ten good candidates, this means that perhaps one or none will get to the phase when it can be effectively and safely used." Slovenia will be purchasing the medications or a vaccine for Covid-19 as part of the EU, but the government has not yet decided how many dosages it will purchase in the first phase.

Kangler: Slovenia supports Croatia's Schengen zone entry

ILIRSKA BISTRICA - Slovenia supports Croatia's accession to the Schengen zone because this will help prevent illegal migration at the EU's external border, Interior Ministry State Secretary Franc Kangler said after meeting his Croatian counterpart Terezija Gras in Ilirska Bistrica, south-west. "I'm glad that both Slovenia and Croatia agree that Croatia's joining the Schengen zone is the next step towards enhanced control of the external border," Gras said. The pair's meeting focussed on cooperation in efforts to prevent illegal crossings of the border.

Slovenia applies for SURE support for EUR 1.1bn in stimulus measures

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia formally submitted its application for financial support as part of the European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE). SURE will provide financial support in the form of low-interest loans to EU member states worth a total of EUR 100 billion. Slovenia would like to spent the money to provide support to furloughed workers, enable short-time work, basic income, state-covered social contributions for the self-employed and other groups.

17 new coronavirus cases, one death

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 17 new coronavirus infections from 1,058 tests on Monday and one more fatality, which brings the total case count to 2,272, including 171 active cases, and the overall death toll to 129, according to official data. Government spokesman Jelko Kacin said at least eight of the latest cases were imported, one from Bosnia-Herzegovina and seven from Croatia, where many Slovenians are on holiday. He described Slovenia's status with 7.99 infections per 100,000 people as very safe.

Fellow DeSUS minister backs MPs' call for Pivec's resignation

LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Tomaž Gantar, the head of the council of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), supported the deputy group's decision to seek the resignation of party leader Aleksandra Pivec, who is also agriculture minister. He will call a council session to take a vote of no-confidence in Pivec, which will be held not later than on 25 August. DeSUS deputy group head Franc Jurša informed PM Janez Janša of the latest developments on Monday evening, and Janša said today the party should solve its problems on its own. The opposition LMŠ and the Left meanwhile joined the calls for Pivec's resignation as the party head and minister. They also see a vote of no-confidence in her as an alternative. Political analysts meanwhile think Pivec will probably have to go, noting Desus is in a tough spot.

President and Austrian MP see plebiscite anniversary as opportunity for minority

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and Austrian MP Olga Voglauer, a member of the Slovenian ethnic minority in Austria, shared the view that the upcoming 100th anniversary of a vote that determined the course of the border between present-day Austria and Slovenia is an opportunity to improve the position of the minority. Voglauer was received by Pahor in Ljubljana ahead of the centenary of the plebiscite in Carinthia, which was held on 10 October 1920 in the wake of the disintegration of Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Start of new football season postponed 10 days due to Covid-19 infections

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Slovenian Football Association (NZS) decided to postpone the start of the new premier league season from 12 to 22 August as three more players tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 as part of obligatory testing on Monday. All three positive players come from Ljubljana's Olimpija, which became the third premiere league club with positive cases, after one each had been reported in previous weeks by Domžale and Aluminij. The NZS also decided that for now, all games under its auspices will be played without spectators.

Value of redeemed vouchers rises to EUR 50m

LJUBLJANA - Slovenians redeemed EUR 49,71 million worth of tourism vouchers between 19 June and 9 August, which is 14% of the amount made available under the government's stimulus scheme, in place until the end of the year. The coast, mountains and spas have been the primary beneficiaries, while cities are continuing to struggle. Data from the Financial Administration show the seaside municipality of Piran topping the list with EUR 9.9 million collected so far.

Mountain huts see drop in guests, albeit more Slovenians visiting this year

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus pandemic has caused the number of visitors in mountain huts plummet by 25%, while some huts high in the mountains have seen their visitor numbers drop by as much as 50%, as significantly fewer foreigners are hiking in Slovenia this year. However, the number of Slovenians staying at the huts has increased. The Slovenian Alpine Association said huts accessible by car had actually seen their visitor numbers go up, as many Slovenians decided to redeem their tourism vouchers there.

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11 Aug 2020, 03:53 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 11 August 2020

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:

DeSUS deputy group urges party leader Pivec to resign

LJUBLJANA - The deputy group of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) urged party leader Aleksandra Pivec to resign after she failed to provide adequate explanations about a series of media revelations that suggested she mixed official business with private affairs. If she does not step down, they will formally propose that the party's governing council hold a vote of no-confidence, MP Franc Jurša said. Pivec said it was too early to make a decision. She is convinced she has done nothing unlawful and says she enjoys the support of the prime minister. A meeting of the party's leadership and the deputy group is to be convened this week.

Six new coronavirus cases on Sunday, one more fatality

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw six more coronavirus cases from 332 tests performed on Sunday, as another Covid-19 patient die. So far, Slovenia has seen a total of 2,255 confirmed cases of coronavirus, of which 168 remain active, while at least 128 patients with Covid-19 have died. The authorities in Hrastnik reported four more fatalities from the local care home since Friday, but not all of them have been included in the national death toll yet. The home has reported eight Covid-19 related fatalities, while 38 residents remain actively infected.

PM Janša backs Hojs over NBI case review

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša backed Interior Minister Aleš Hojs's decision to order a review of certain closed cases of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), tweeting it was his legal duty "to order a review of procedures in what were obvious cases where major crime was swept under the rug". The ministry suggested the prosecution's decision not to take up certain of those high-profile cases "may have been the result of poorly performed police work and not only of the innocence of the suspects". The ministry listed investigations into the central bank, commercial broadcaster Pro Plus and alleged Iranian money laundering scheme at NLB bank, among others.

Diplomat sees Pompeo visit as normalisation of Slovenia-US relations

LJUBLJANA - Ex-Ambassador to the US Božo Cerar believes the forthcoming visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brings normalisation in Slovenia-US relations after they have been neglected for a decade. He hopes Slovenia will know how to use the visit so it contributes to the implementation of Slovenian and European interests. He believes relations with the US must be nurtured regardless of who is in the White House, a Democrat or a Republican, and argued the US policy on China and Russia was unlikely to change fundamentally regardless of who is in the White House.

DeSUS against media reform in its current form

LJUBLJANA - The coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) expressed opposition to the planned changes to media legislation, especially if the Culture Ministry does not provide sound arguments for its solutions based on expert analysis, said party leader Aleksandra Pivec. The most problematic is the change to the media law which tasks RTV Slovenija to transfer a share of licence fee funds to other media outlets, said Pivec. "Curtailing a quality public media service is totally unacceptable for DeSUS."

Positive signs in industrial output

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output grew for the second straight month in June, expanding by 4.3% from May. However, it was still 12.1% lower year-on-year, data from the Statistics Office show. The index for the first half of the year was 10.1% down year-on-year. The month-on-month growth was driven by a 4.7% increase in manufacturing output. Industrial sales revenue also rose 8.3% in June from May.

Railways operator announces EUR 35m net profit for 2019

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian railways operator generated a net profit of EUR 35 million on EUR 601 million in revenue for 2019, with EBITDA at EUR 87 million and EBIT at EUR 42 million, according to a revised business report for 2019 discussed by the supervisors on Friday. This year the company expects to post EUR 5.5 million in operating profit as it is to pay out EUR 30 million in severance pay. The supervisors of Slovenske Železnice appointed Aleksander Mervar new supervisory board chairman.

Laško Union ups 2019 profit by 20%

LJUBLJANA - Pivovarna Laško Union, Slovenia's largest brewery, owned by Heineken, reported EUR 156.5 million in net sales revenue for 2019, an increase of 2.2% from 2018 on the back of higher sales on the domestic market. Net profit rose by 20% to EUR 24.4 million. In the annual report director general Zooullis Mina says the coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted the company's operations due to closure of bars, restaurants and hotels, while there has been no significant drop in sales to shops.

Celje draw Irish champions Dundalk

NYON, Switzerland - Slovenian football champions Celje will face Irish champions Dundalk in the first round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, determined Sunday's draw in Nyon. Due to coronavirus restrictions - Slovenia is not not among green-listed countries in Ireland - the encounter will be decided in a single game on neutral turf in Hungary on 19 August.

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