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This summary is provided by the STA:
Freedom Movement, SocDems and Left sign coalition agreement
LJUBLJANA - The leaders of the Freedom Movement, Social Democrats and Left signed the coalition agreement, exactly a month since the general election, with Prime Minister-designate Robert Golob commenting that the "speed that many envy us in forming the coalition proves the decision was simple because the people's will was clear". This comes just a day before the National Assembly will take a vote to confirm Golob as the prime minister. The coalition parties have 53 seats in the 90-strong legislature. Golob said the election outcome made the decision who to form the coalition with simple.
First case of monkeypox confirmed in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The first case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Slovenia in a man who arrived from the Canary Islands. The patient, who developed the symptoms after arriving in Slovenia, is doing well and is not hospitalised, the country's chief epidemiologist Mario Fafangel said. He stressed the monkeypox virus is not new and that unlike in the case of Covid its spreading could be stopped and had been stopped in several African countries in the past. The risks for the broader society have been estimated as low by the WHO and the ECDC.
Higher Court upholds suspended sentence for Janša over insulting tweet
LJUBLJANA - The Celje Higher Court upheld a three-month suspended prison sentence with one year probation against outgoing Prime Minister Janez Janša for calling two journalists "washed up prostitutes" in a 2016 tweet. The verdict is final. The decision was reached one day before the case would have become statute barred and follows an appeals conundrum - Janša for instance filed the final appeal on the last possible date - and other administrative delays, including repeated attempts by the court to serve Janša.
President signs off on diplomatic appointments, recalls
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor has signed off on the recalls of five ambassadors and the appointment of three new ambassadors under a proposal made by the government right before the end of its term. The terms of the ambassadors to Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Australia and Japan will end, whereby Ambassador to Japan Ana Polak Petrič will take up the Berlin post. Bojan Pograjc, a state secretary at Prime Minister Janez Janša's office, is the new ambassador to Poland and Nataša Bergelj is headed to Sofia. The decrees were published in the Official Gazette.
To lower food prices, Slovenian farmers can count on EUR 5m
BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU member states will try to cushion food inflation by providing financial aid to farmers. Slovenia will have EUR 5.1 million at its disposal, of which EUR 1.7 million in EU funds, outgoing Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek said. For the funds to be paid out by the 30 September deadline, he will organise a meeting with stakeholders to draft a proposal which sectors could receive the funds. He will however let the new minister take the final decisions.
UNICEF: Slovenia has fairly safe environment for children, air pollution an issue
LJUBLJANA/NEW YORK, US - Slovenia ranks eight among OECD countries when it comes to the overall environmental conditions that affect children's well-being, according to the latest Places and Spaces report by UNICEF. The country however has issues with air pollution and it is not among the leaders in terms of children's satisfaction with life, either. UNICEF Slovenija has taken the opportunity to put forward recommendations to policy makers, which call for the implementation of child-friendly environmental policies and the development of a cross-sectoral and inclusive action plan.
Maribor mayor charged with causing slight injury
MARIBOR - Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič has been charged by police with inflicting slight bodily injury on a 13-year-old boy over alleged vandalism, an incident over which the mayor does not plan to resign. The police told Večer on Tuesday that they had completed the criminal investigation and had informed the prosecutor's office of their findings. Before deciding whether to take up the case, the prosecutor's office will most likely wait for an expert opinion on whether the bruising on the teenager's neck can be considered a slight bodily injury.
Kačič gets new term at helm of University of Maribor
MARIBOR - Zdravko Kačič has been re-elected rector of the University of Maribor for a second four-year term, having been the only candidate for the post. Less than a tenth of the almost 15,800 eligible voters cast their votes, whereby the vast majority are students, who rarely vote. Among faculty and other staff, turnout was over 50%. Kačič was formally nominated by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and was subsequently endorsed by the university's student council.
Ruling indicates eviction of NGOs from Metelkova may fall through
LJUBLJANA - It may prove harder than initially thought to evict the NGOs renting out the offices from the Culture Ministry in Metelkova Street in Ljubljana, according to a recent Higher Court ruling that annulled the eviction order for the Centre for Slovenian Literature. The other NGOs in the same building expect the court to pass similar rulings on their appeals against their eviction orders. The ministry, which wants to renovate the building and give it to the Museum of Natural Sciences, plans to lodge an appeal.
Meta includes Slovenian outfit in its fact-checking programme
LJUBLJANA - Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, announced the launch of its fact-checking programme in Slovenia. Initially, the centre for investigative journalism Oštro, which is certified through the International Fact-Checking Network, will be included in the programme. "Facebook is a key channel for spreading misinformation in Slovenia. It is important that it is aware of this and that through partnerships such as ours it contributes to a healthier information diet of Slovenian users," said Anuška Delić, the founder and editor-in-chief of Oštro.
Insurer Triglav's AGM clears EUR 3.7 gross dividend per share
LJUBLJANA - The shareholders of Zavarovalnica Triglav, Slovenia's largest insurance company, approved the management's proposal to pay EUR 3.7 in gross dividend per share at the AGM, meaning 74% of the group's net profit will be earmarked for the dividend payout in what will be a much higher sum than last year. This year's dividend payout will be covered by EUR 84.1 million of the group's distributable profit for 2021 with the dividend yield being 9%. Chairman Andrej Slapar said that this year's dividend was exceptionally higher because it also took into account the aspects and circumstances of the past two Covid years.
575 new cases Covid-19, no deaths recorded on Monday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 575 cases of coronavirus on Monday, 20% fewer than a week ago, and no deaths, according to data from the Health Ministry. A total of 43 patients are being treated in hospitals for Covid-19 as their main condition, including five in intensive care. The figures are down by ten and two, respectively, from the same day a week ago. The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 of the population is at 289, down from 433 a week ago. The 7-day average of new cases is at 365.
British Airways returning to Ljubljana airport
BRNIK - British Airways, the UK's flag carrier, is resuming flights from Ljubljana Airport to London Heathrow today, with the flights having an earlier start compared to last season and being more frequent. British Airways will operate five flights a week to London Heathrow, one of the world's biggest airline hubs, with afternoon departures every Tuesday and Wednesday and evening flights on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. "We're delighted that British Airways is resuming flights so early in the summer season," said Babett Stapel, managing director of Fraport Slovenija.
Letizia Battaglia's Sicilian life photos on show at Jakopič Gallery
LJUBLJANA - Photographs by the prominent Italian photojournalist Letizia Battaglia (1935-2022) are being put on show at the Ljubljana Jakopič Gallery tonight in the first exhibition following her death in April. Running until 2 October, the exhibition Photography as a Life Choice brings a selection of nearly 300 black and white photographs, many of which have never been exhibited before. Battaglia, famous for her shots of Sicilian life, especially the Mafia wars, had been involved curating the show.
Rodrigo Cuevas opening Druga Godba festival
LJUBLJANA - The 38th iteration of the Druga Godba festival of world music opened in Cankarjev Dom tonight with a concert by Spanish musician Rodrigo Cuavas. Back in its usual week-long slot in late May after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival will feature musicians from 13 countries until 30 May. The festival is headlined by Sons of Kemet, the UK ensemble considered one of the most influential danceable jazz bands in the world. They will appear in Kino Šiška on the last day.
Pussy Riot coming to lesbian festival in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - Russian activist group Pussy Riot will perform at the Lesbian Quarter festival in Ljubljana on Thursday, in what the organiser ŠKUC Association dubbed as one of the highlights. The 8th Lesbian Quarter will focus on lesbian future, which in a heteronormative and patriarchal society must be understood as "a radically impossible utopia". The festival is opening today with an evening of post-2008 short films at the Slovenian Cinematheque. It will run until 29 May.
