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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia issues first sustainability bond
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia issued its first sustainability bond to finance exclusively sustainable projects. Demand for the EUR 1 billion bond with a 10-year maturity date outstripped supply by far, the Slovenian Finance Ministry said. Slovenia issued the green bond as the first Central or East European country and as the second EU member state, so the ministry labelled the transaction a milestone.
European Council head Michel to address state ceremony on Friday
LJUBLJANA - As the main ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence and the start of Slovenia's EU presidency is held on Friday, President of the European Council Charles Michel will address the part of the event dedicated to the presidency alongside PM Janez Janša. The keynote speaker at the ceremony will meanwhile be President Borut Pahor. The prime ministers of Slovenia's neighbouring countries will also take the stage.
STA decorated for irreplaceable role in media space
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor decorated the STA with the Order of Merit in recognition of its "irreplaceable mission" in the media space for the past 30 years and its vital role in the period when Slovenia was gaining its independence. In the explanation, the president's office noted that the agency was created when the country was born and it thus became its "official witness". At a ceremony in the Presidential Palace, the decoration was accepted by editor-in-chief Barbara Štrukelj and director Bojan Veselinovič, who described autonomous and institutionally and financially independent agencies as a golden standard of media freedom, democracy and respect for the right to be informed.
Coronavirus keeps receding
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 50 new coronavirus cases for Tuesday as the 7-day average fell by a further ten to 59, while one patient with Covid-19 died, government figures show. Only 2.5% of the 2,038 PCR tests performed yesterday came back positive, as a total of 17,715 people were screened with rapid antigen tests. The cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents dropped by ten from the day before to 56, show data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ).
Vaccination moving to mobile units
LJUBLJANA - Mass vaccination in mobile units started in Ljubljana in an effort to raise the country's vaccination. The turnout today was not very inspiring, which medical officials attributed to high temperatures and a poor promotional campaign. As of tomorrow, mobile units will also be set up in Kamnik and then in Šenčur, Brda and around the country if there is enough interest, officials said.
Koritnik discusses EU presidency priorities with Portuguese counterpart
LISBON, Portugal - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik met Portuguese Minister for Modernization of the State and Public Administration Alexandra Leitäo in Lisbon to discuss the EU Leadership Exchange Programme and Slovenia's priorities for the upcoming EU presidency. The bilateral meeting was part of the ministerial meeting of the Informal Network of Public Administrations of the EU Member States taking place in Lisbon.
Slovenia to cooperate with Italian space agency
ROME, Italy - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek signed a letter of intent on cooperation in spacial activities for peaceful purposes with the Italian Space Agency as part of a two-day visit to Italy. He also met Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti with the pair calling for boosting economic cooperation. Počivalšek signed the deal with president of the Italian Space Agency, Giorgio Saccoccia.
Slovenia on CIVICUS watchlist for restricting fundamental rights
LJUBLJANA - The CIVICUS international alliance of NGOs placed Slovenia on its list of countries to be monitored for a decline in fundamental civil liberties, which draws attention to countries where there is a serious and rapid decline in respect for civic space. Under the Janez Janša government, civil society organisations have been undermined by funding cuts and journalists and the national press agency have been targeted, CIVICUS said. It added that the government had used the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to pass several measures that affect basic human rights, the rule of law and the right to participation.
Changes to audiovisual media services act backed at committee
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee unanimously endorsed at second reading a set of changes to the audiovisual media services act transposing an EU directive which regulates on-demand services and introduces a new fund to finance European audiovisual production. A debate pointed to risks of abuse of the fund, to which all providers of audiovisual media services will have to contribute.
US Chargé d'Affaires Falatko says STA important source of info
LJUBLJANA - Susan K. Falatko, the chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Slovenia, has told the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) that the embassy is closely monitoring the debate about the financing of the STA, whose importance should not be underestimated, as it is a major source of information about events in Slovenia for the US. The interview with the STA was conducted a few days ahead of the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's declaration of independence and a day after the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first news article by the STA. Falatko stressed that the STA "brings a diversity of voices from across the country, it brings stories from people around the country that might not be heard."
Major investment inaugurated at Koper port
KOPER - A 100-metre extension to Quay I of the container terminal at the Koper port was inaugurated in what the port operator's CEO Dimitrij Zadel said was a key strategic project that would allow Slovenia's sole maritime port to preserve its leadership in container transshipment in the North Adriatic. The first 150 metres of the shore of Quay I were built as early as 1979, with the latest being the fourth extension.
Insurance industry sees profit dip in 2020 in higher premium
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's insurance industry saw a decline in combined profit last year, despite an increase in gross written premium. Business was affected by low interest rates and the financial crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The low interest-rate environment and the financial crisis impacted on lower return on investment on the one hand and on higher provisions on the other, Gorazd Čibej, director of the Agency for Insurance Supervision (AZN), told reporters.
TI Slovenia advocates protection on World Whistleblowers' Day
LJUBLJANA - On the occasion of World Whistleblowers Day, Transparency International Slovenia reiterated the need to protect those who act in the public interest by reporting irregularities. TI Slovenia president Alma Sedlar also stressed the importance of protecting whistleblowers as many face risk of reprisals. It wrote in a press release that whistleblowers saved lives and money that was not spent transparently by pointing to irregularities. However, individuals were often threatened with reprisals, with a survey showing that two-thirds of Slovenians believe whistleblowers may face retaliation.
Ceremony marking Slovenia's 30 years held in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Belgium - A short ceremony was held in Brussels to mark the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence. Among the attendees were MEPs from Slovenia and both Slovenian ambassadors in Brussels. Officials pointed to the path Slovenia has walked in the 30 years and the challenges ahead, especially the EU presidency in the second half of the year.
Teenager drowns at dangerous section of river Soča
SOLKAN - A 13-year-old boy drowned in the river Soča near the town of Solkan in the afternoon, media reported. The Nova Gorica Fire Brigade told the STA that the accident had happened on the kayak route in Solkan. This is the second teenage death in this area in less than a year.
New youth housing complex opens in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - A new housing complex with almost 110 apartments for people aged 18-29 was inaugurated in Ljubljana in a bid to assist youths in gaining independence, starting family and securing financial freedom. Monthly rent will be some 150 EUR per person. The first of its kind in Slovenia, the youth complex in Gerbičeva Street, a student dorm district in the south-western part of the capital, features 109 apartments with either single- or twin-bedrooms. The facility also includes an intergenerational centre with a multi-purpose room, a common room, a kitchen and cafeteria, an office and an atrium.
Exhibition sheds light on independence as seen from abroad
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition entitled Impressions 30 opened at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum (SEM), presenting personal memories of Slovenians around the world from 30 years ago, when Slovenia became independent, along with additional material published by Slovenians abroad. More than 60 reflections were gathered from a short questionnaire sent to various contacts from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia, as well as returnees.
