Over 23,000 coronavirus cases as rapid test results included in count
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 23,433 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday. While this is by far the largest figure since the start of the pandemic, it is to a large extent the result of a new rule where rapid tests are automatically added to the tally without being double-checked with the more precise PCR tests. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are now almost 187,000 active cases in the country, the equivalent of about 8% of the entire population. After 12 more Covid-19 patients died, 407 patients remain hospitalised with Covid-19 as their main condition at regular wards and another 113 at intensive care units.
Tonin and Wallace talk Ukraine, Western Balkans
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin and his British counterpart Ben Wallace met in Ljubljana to discuss mainly the developments in Ukraine and the situation in the Western Balkans. "A bad peace is better than a good war," said Tonin, commenting on the former, as Wallace again called on Russia to maintain dialogue and seek a way to de-escalate the situation. Highlighting the tense situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they agreed on the need to support the efforts of the EU and the US to find a solution there.
Ambassador Harpootlian visits Slovenian Embassy in Washington
WASHINGTON, US - Jamie Harpootlian, the incoming US ambassador to Slovenia, visited the Slovenian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday before she is due to arrive in Ljubljana, expectedly next weekend. She will formally take over on presenting her credentials to President Borut Pahor. The embassy said Harpootlian said she looked forward to assuming office in Ljubljana and was learning Slovenian. Slovenian Ambassador Tone Kajzer said the sides would work to boost bilateral trade and cooperation in areas of shared interest.
National Assembly passes controversial Swiss franc loan bill
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed an act that distributes the cost of the surge in the value of the Swiss franc in 2015 between banks and some 32,000 borrowers who saw the cost of their debt in euros increase as a result. The act has been opposed by the government and by banks, which have already announced a constitutional appeal.
Parliament ratifies agreement on Boxer APCs
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly ratified an agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) enabling the purchase of 45 Boxer armoured personnel vehicles (APCs) for the Slovenian Armed Forces. Despite criticism from the opposition, 44 of the 84 MPs present supported the ratification and 35 voted against.
MPs pass long-term resolution on development of armed forces
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed the resolution on the general long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) until 2035. The document was confirmed by the relevant committee last October, with the procedure being stalled by a request from the opposition Left for a consultative referendum.
Gaming act changes pass second reading in parliament
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly approved at second reading the amendments to the gaming act, which aim to liberalise the gaming market in Slovenia by scrapping most curbs on casino ownership and employee licensing and allow five instead of just two lottery organisers. The final vote on the changes will be held in March.
MPs reject bill on prevention of money laundering
LJUBLJANA - Parliament rejected the government's bill on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing. The government argued the law was to improve the current system, while a major part of the opposition said it infringed the protection of personal data and included overly broad powers in relevant investigating.
Parliament rejects report on Kangler
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly rejected a report compiled by a parliamentary inquiry into alleged abuse in the prosecution of former Maribor Mayor Franc Kangler, who now serves as a state secretary at the Interior Ministry. Dejan Kaloh from the ruling Democrats (SDS), who chaired the inquiry, said the prosecution of Kangler in 24 criminal cases had been found to be very likely politically motivated. The opposition said it had been clear since the very beginning that investigating concrete decisions and action by state prosecutors to determine their responsibility was not in line with the constitution.
Connecting Slovenia alliance formally established
LJUBLJANA - Five parties signed an agreement to jointly contest the 24 April election on the Connecting Slovenia ticket. The main points of their shared programme revolve around principles that promote the benefits for the economy, people and environment. The alliance comprises Concretely, the party of Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, and the non-parliamentary People's Party, Greens, New People's Party and New Social Democrats. Except for Concretely, the parties will form a joint list of candidates for the election.
New chairman of Elektro Ljubljana appointed
LJUBLJANA - Aleksander Zupančič, the chief-of-staff to Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak, has been appointed chairman of power grid operator Elektro Ljubljana. He will start his four-year term on 6 January. Zupančič is already a supervisor at the partially state-owned energy group Petrol. He replaces Andrej Ribič, who was dismissed in November, reportedly due to foot-dragging on the sale of Elektro Ljubljana's stake in Gen EL, owner of 50% of the electricity trader Gen-I.
State fund takes possession of EUR 15m in orphan assets
LJUBLJANA - The state-run Pension Fund Management has taken full possession of EUR 14.91 million worth of shares and accrued returns that their rightful owners have failed to move to payable trading accounts after free accounts were discontinued six years ago. The assets concerned are left behind after the Central Securities Clearing Corporation (KDD) discontinued free accounts on which citizens had kept shares they received in exchange for privatisation vouchers during denationalisation in the 1990s.
Počivalšek to strive to exercise pre-emptive right to Sava
LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said he would strive for the state to exercise the pre-emptive right to a 43% stake in the tourism company Sava, which the private equity fund York has agreed to sell to Prestige, a company backed by a Hungarian fund. The final decision will be made after talks with the buyer and the relevant state institutions.
Slovenia and Carinthia commit to closer cooperation in science
LJUBLJANA/KLAGENFURT, Austria - Education Minister Simona Kustec and Carinthia's Governor Peter Kaiser have signed a letter of intent on cooperation between the Slovenian government and the regional government of Carinthia in higher education, science and research, the Education Ministry said. Kustec said the letter signified additional commitment and would open up opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
Triglav glacier ice reaches final destination in Beijing
BEIJING, China - A sample of the Triglav glacier that was shipped to Beijing in an awareness-raising campaign has reached its final destination in the Olympic Village, where it will now gradually turn to glacier water to highlight the perilous state of glaciers worldwide. The melting of the glacier ice will be at the core of a special event at the Olympic Village in Zhangjiakou that the Slovenian Olympic Committee will organise on 4 February, the opening day of the Olympic Games.
Metka Krašovec's work showcased with Šalamun's poetry
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition featuring drawings and paintings by acclaimed Slovenian painter Metka Krašovec in combination with the poetry of Tomaž Šalamun, her lifelong companion, interpreted by actor Radko Polič - Rac, is being launched at the National Gallery. The exhibition will showcase the artist's less-known work and comes after Krašovec (1941-2018) donated 251 works from her extensive and diverse oeuvre to the museum in 2016. The exhibition is on display until 8 May.
Bust of Spanish poet Jose de Espronceda unveiled in Kranj
KRANJ - A bust of Spanish poet Jose de Espronceda was unveiled by Kranj Mayor Matjaž Rakovec in La Ciotat Park, as the city continues its international project of putting up busts of Slovenian poet France Prešeren's literary contemporaries at the park, named after the first town with which Kranj twinned in 1958. Rakovec said that Kranj thus continued the story of honouring Prešeren and the greatest wordsmiths who lived and created during his time. De Espronceda thus joins the busts of Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov and Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
Carnival festivities start, mostly confined to virtual realm
PTUJ - Kurenti, the traditional costumed figures, are putting on their bells for the first time this year on Candlemas to launch Kurentovanje, Slovenia's largest carnival. However, there will be no mass gathering of the Kurenti, and the entire festival will be held mostly in a virtual form for the second year in a row. The opening event, called Kurent's Jump, will see the Kurenti gather in small groups at their homes at midnight instead of gathering all together around a bonfire.
