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This summary is provided by the STA:
Telekom's H1 net profit up 35% on lower sales
LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije posted a net profit of EUR 19.6 million for the first half of the year, an increase of 35%, even as sales revenue declined 5% to EUR 340.6 million. Group profit before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 11% to EUR 112.3 million and pre-tax profit (EBIT) surged 41% to EUR 23.8 million. The company said sales revenue was down due to the sale of Blicnet, which was completed in the second half of the year, and lower revenue from fixed segment of the end-user market.
Počivalšek gets support from upper echelons to lead SMC
SEVNICA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek is tipped as the most plausible candidate to succeed Miro Cerar as the leader of the Modern Centre Party (SMC). He is yet to take a final decision on whether to bid for the post at the October congress, but he has already been endorsed by the party's top echelons. Visiting the town of Sevnica, Počivalšek said that he had been endorsed to bid by the party's ten MPs and executive committee. "I'm happy and honoured that they see me as a uniting figure," he said.
Jourova urges Slovenia to translate GDPR into law
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia, Greece and Portugal, the only EU countries that have not yet transposed EU-wide data protection rules, were urged to take action urgently by European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova. Just over a year after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) started being applied, the European Commission released a report today looking at the impact of the rules, and how implementation can be improved further. The report finds that most of the countries have done their job in transposing the rules, but that Greece, Portugal and Slovenia are still lagging behind.
Slovenia offers condolences over Croatian soldier's death
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and Defence Minister Karl Erjavec sent condolences to their Croatian counterparts after a Croatian soldier serving in Afghanistan was killed in a suicide attack by the Taliban. Pahor, who sent his condolences to Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and Erjavec, in a letter to Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, also wished speedy recovery to the two Croatian soldiers who were seriously injured in the attack on their convoy outside the Afghan capital of Kabul today.
US carrier reportedly eyeing Adria Airways
LJUBLJANA - US regional carrier Mesa Airlines is reportedly interested in acquiring struggling Slovenian airline Adria Airways. The company has been going through Adria's books for almost two weeks and is expected to reach a decision by the end of the summer, the news portal 24ur.com reported late on Tuesday, quoting "unofficial but reliable sources". Siol.net later reported that the US carrier had been checking Adria for a short period of time, but decided it was not interested in the transaction.
Stilles's development investment gets minister's support
SEVNICA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek promised the government's support for the Stilles furniture maker's investment plan as he visited the company based in Sevnica in eastern Slovenia. The manufacturer plans to invest EUR 4.5 million in producing semi-finished products out of new materials. Stilles would like to expand its production, which relies heavily on hotel interior design of higher quality, and reduce its dependence on a single type of clients, that is, hotels. During his visit, Počivalšek explained that the Economy Ministry could come up with strategies for supporting the investment based on the promotion of balanced regional development act.
Slovenia and Austria first in EU to exchange social security data
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and Austria are the first EU countries to start exchanging social security data as part of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) system, which provides European social security institutions with comprehensive electronic exchanges and speeds up procedures. Slovenia's ZZZS health insurance institute and the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions have been cooperating in setting up the electronic exchange since the beginning of 2018. The EESSI project aims to speed up and simplify administrative procedures, and enhance data protection.
Burgenland governor holds a series of meetings in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - Hans Peter Doskozil, the governor of the Austrian state of Burgenland, discussed the future of cross-border cooperation projects as he met Minister of Development and European Cohesion Policy Iztok Purič on the second day of his two-day visit to Slovenia. The governor also met Justice Minister Andreja Katič with the pair noting good and efficient cooperation in justice affairs between Slovenia and Austria. The governor also met state secretaries at the ministries of health and culture.
Businessman Racman reportedly main suspect in Nova Gorica prostitution case
LJUBLJANA - The Specialised State Prosecution has has filed an indictment against 18 persons in connection with a prostitution ring that was operating near Nova Gorica and was cracked by police in January. The prime suspect is said to be businessmen Sergej Racman, the former owner of the cinema chain operator Kolosej. The indictment comes after the National Bureau of Investigation completed a four-year investigation into prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse in the areas of Nova Gorica and Maribor.
Verdicts final in Balkan Warrior trial, sentences reduced slightly
LJUBLJANA - In what makes for a final verdict in the Balkan Warrior drug trafficking trial, the Ljubljana Higher Court has reportedly reduced the sentences of some of the defendants, including for chief defendant Dragan Tošić, who is looking at 15 instead on 16 years and a half behind bars. Deliberating on appeals filed by attorneys of what were 13 defendants found guilty after a retrial in March 2018, the Higher Court found 11 of the defendants guilty again, but only of drug trafficking and not also of racketeering, the newspaper Primorske Novice reported.
SNG Maribor Ballet sells out Clug's Peer Gynt at Bolshoi
MOSCOW, Russia - Slovenia's SNG Maribor Ballet is making headlines in Moscow, having sold out both of its Bolshoi Theatre performances of Peer Gynt, a contemporary ballet as conceived by the ensemble's star choreographer Edward Clug. "This is a major recognition for our culture and an exceptional achievement of Slovenian ballet," Clug commented on the SNG Maribor's successful show making it to the Bolshoi and selling out both guest appearances.
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