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 Vizjak no longer enjoys support from NSi
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced on Wednesday that Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak can no longer count on the support of his party New Slovenia (NSi) following the statements he made in a leaked conversation with a spa company boss 14 years ago. Appearing on new shows on the commercial POP TV station and the public broadcaster TV Slovenija, the NSi leader suggested it would be best if Vizjak resigned himself. Vizjak today insisted on his intention to "deny all the allegations against him in a detailed and argument-based response to the motion of no confidence".
Energy CEO claims decarbonisation plan reason for his ousting
LJUBLJANA - Robert Golob, the long-serving CEO of the indirectly state-owned electricity retailer Gen-I, said the reason he failed to get endorsed for another term was that the "politics" turned down a decarbonisation plan drawn up by Gen-I and other players. The plan is feasible. We can decarbonise the whole energy industry by 2035 and that's the scenario we have drawn up," but which he said was rejected by politics. He quoted former army brigadier Tone Krkovič, now an employee with GEN-I, who he said disclosed that Rok Snežić, a tax advisor with ties to the ruling SDS, had clearly indicated that Golob would soon be "removed".
Students who do not obey new Covid rules will study from home
LJUBLJANA - Students who refuse to wear masks or self-test will study from home under new rules that will enter into force on 15 November, Education Ministry State Secretary Damir Orehovec said after schools expressed concern over the lack of a legal basis for action against those who violate rules. Forthcoming stricter measures for primary and secondary schools under which all students need to be tested three times a week on school premises was met with concern from school leaderships over how schools should react in case of opposition from students or parents. A civil initiative has announced a school boycott for Monday.
Passengers over 12 will need Covid pass to cross into Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - All passengers over the age of 12 will have to produce proof of vaccination, reconvalescence or testing on entry to Slovenia as of 15 November, the government decided. The age limit has been 15 so far and the change brings it in line with the overall Covid pass mandate requirements in the country. The government decree also specifies that self-testing is not sufficient proof to enter Slovenia.
Slovenia adds 3,568 more cases to its coronavirus total
LJUBLJANA - The number of confirmed active coronavirus cases in Slovenia has increased to almost 40,000 after 3,568 more cases were confirmed on Wednesday. Data released by the government show 920 Covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals this morning, 31 more than yesterday, as ICU cases rose by 21 to 212 after ten more Covid patients lost their lives yesterday. The seven-day case count average dropped by 134 from the day before to 3,188, but the 14-day incidence per 100,000 rose by 45 to 1,894.
Pahor urges people to encourage each other to get vaccinated
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor called on Slovenians to encourage each other to get vaccinated so as to prevent lives from being put at risk due to Covid-19 at a time when there are safe and effective vaccines available. In a special video message, Pahor noted that it seemed that at the end of September people suddenly stopped to get vaccinated due to certain circumstances. "We must not stop now and give up. Now is the time to join forces," he said, adding that "our joint goal is immunisation".
Janša dismisses allegations of govt misconduct during pandemic
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša dismissed the opposition's allegations about government misconduct during the course of the coronavirus pandemic, telling a parliamentary inquiry that its decisions were based on opinions by experts. Opposition MPs quizzed Janša about multiple aspects of government actions, ranging from the decision to roll out mass rapid testing, to the purchase of vaccines and the rationale behind measures that some MPs said had been put in place overnight without giving people adequate time to prepare.
NLB bank nearly doubles Jan-Sep net profit
LJUBLJANA - NLB bank reported net profit almost doubling to EUR 205.5 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the year before. Net operating income rose by 30% to EUR 500 million on the back of a 32% growth in net interest income to EUR 224.5 million, largely due to the acquisition of Komercialna Banka in Serbia. CEO Blaž Brodnjak said the results enabled the bank to "to search for new growth opportunities" in the bank's home region in SE Europe, including potential mergers and acquisitions.
XLAB becomes Delo's business star
LJUBLJANA - XLAB, a company providing remote desktop access and solutions for IT-automation and digital transformation, has won the Delo Business Star award, which media publisher Delo has given out for the fifth year running. The jury praised it for its good reputation in the IT industry and its ability to market products on foreign markets. The company generates abroad almost 90% of revenue, which last year increased by 40% to EUR 10.5 million, while its net profit reached EUR 2.7 million.
Brussels upgrades Slovenia's GDP growth forecast to 6.4%
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commissions projected in its autumn economic forecast that Slovenia's GDP will expand by 6.4% in 2021, a 0.7-point upgrade from its July forecast. In 2022, the country's GDP is to grow at 4.2%, a downgrade of 0.8 points. The 6.4% figure for this year is considerably higher than the 5% average forecast for the EU and eurozone. The forecast for next year is meanwhile closer to the EU and eurozone average of 4.3%. For 2023, the Commission forecasts that Slovenia's GDP will expand at 3.5%, which is 1.1 points above the eurozone forecast. On the other hand, the Commission warns about inflation in Slovenia.
Slovenia avoids having to repay EU funds for Maribor airport
MARIBOR - Slovenia has avoided the risk of having to pay back over EUR 10 million in EU funds for the renovation of Maribor airport infrastructure, where a completely new passenger terminal was opened in 2012, as the airport has remained operational, albeit on a very low scale. The Infrastructure Ministry said that, despite the minimum scale of air traffic, the airport's operation has been preserved and the country has thus avoided having to return EUR 10.54 million in EU funds. However, no sign of a revival in business is yet in sight and the airport's future remains uncertain.
Offices for bilingualism to open in Pomurje and Primorska
LENDAVA/KOPER - Two offices for bilingualism, in Pomurje in north-east and Primorska in south-west, will soon be established at the initiative of organisations and MPs representing the Hungarian and Italian minorities. Funding will be provided by the government with the help of the Government Office for National Minorities. The offices are "yet another step towards implementation of an agreement reached between the government and the two minority MPs regarding the use of Hungarian and Italian languages in the bilingual areas," said minority MP Ferenc Horvath.
22nd Pixxelpoint focuses on phenomenon of forest
NOVA GORICA - The 22nd Pixxelpoint international festival of new media art is getting under way in Nova Goricay, offering a glimpse at projects at the crossroads of art, science and modern technologies. Running under the headline Deep Deep Forest until 18 November, the festival has invited eleven artists or artistic groups to explore the phenomenon of forest. The organiser, the Nova Gorica Culture Centre, has announced that the artists come mostly from Slovenia, but also from Russia, Ukraine and South Korea.
Triptych by three foreign choreographers to open in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - A ballet triptych in which Albanian, Italian and Serb choreographers offer their innovative takes on music for strings by Alban Berg, Bela Bartok and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky will open at Ljubljana National Opera and Ballet Company today. The Strings is a production choreographed by Eno Peci, Jacopo Godani and Leo Mujić at the invitation of Renato Zanella, the artistic director of ballet at the Ljubljana company. The choreographies are based on fresh and innovative approaches and are "a reflection of our time that instils confidence into the power of art," the ballet company said.
Priest defrocked over sexual abuse of girl
MARIBOR - A priest from the archdiocese of Maribor has been deprived of priesthood after a Vatican church court found him guilty of sexual abuse of an underage person, the archdiocese says on its website. Anton Kmet lost all rights stemming from priesthood in June, and the measure was confirmed by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith in October. The priest was then informed that the procedure was completed on 22 October, "on which day all rights stemming from being ordained priest ceased".
