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This summary is provided by the STA:
Košorok named chairman of Gen Energija
KRŠKO - Blaž Košorok, until a few days ago a state secretary at the Infrastructure Ministry, was appointed chairman of GEN Energija, a state-owned power company that manages Slovenia's half of the Krško nuclear power station, several media reported citing unofficial information. He was picked among six applicants with TV Slovenija reporting that the long-serving CEO of GEN Energija, Martin Novšak, who was dismissed just over a month ago, was among the candidates.
Prosecution looking into Telekom's financing of Nova24TV
LJUBLJANA - The news portals 24ur and Necenzurirano reported that the state prosecution was looking into the licence fee that Telekom Slovenije, the state-owned telecoms operator, is paying to carry Nova24TV on suspicion that the fee was disproportionately high and constituted unlawful financing of the broadcaster. Telekom Slovenija is reportedly paying EUR 112,000 per month to include the TV founded and still part-owned by senior members of the ruling Democrats (SDS) in its cable package.
MPs upset as Janša fails to appear before inquiry
LJUBLJANA - None of the witnesses invited to testify before the parliamentary inquiry into allegedly unlawful financing of the ruling Democrats (SDS) appeared in parliament. This has upset some opposition MPs, as some of the witnesses have excused themselves for several times now. They would also like PM Janez Janša to be brought to parliament by police to be questioned.
NGO collecting signatures to repeal several laws
LJUBLJANA - The 8 March Institute, one of the NGOs that had initiated a referendum on changes to the waters act, started collecting signatures in support of its bill aimed at reducing inequalities and annulling the government's "harmful" legislative changes. A number of NGOs joined the campaign. The initiative garnered support from centre-left opposition, whereas coalition officials denounced the bill as a "folly" that had to be resisted arguing the government had done a great deal of good.
Details reported of draft agreement on fishing in Bay of Piran
ZAGREB, Croatia - The Croatian newspaper Večernji List reported that Slovenia and Croatia had drawn up a pilot plan in an attempt to solve the issue of fishing in the border Bay of Piran. The agreement reportedly envisages a joint fishing area and annulment of all fines that have thus far been imposed on fishers from both countries. The paper says the temporary solution will not prejudge the final agreement on the border at sea.
Slovenian diplomat killed in car accident in Banja Luka
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina/LJUBLJANA - Marjan Ristić, the head of Slovenia's consular office in Banja Luka, was killed in a car accident in the city in the north west of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday evening, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry confirmed a report by the Bosnian newspaper Nezavisne Novine. The ministry will fly a black flag on Wednesday to mourn the diplomat.
Covid epidemic continues to wane
LJUBLJANA - A total of 3,012 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday, 10% less than the same day a week ago as the downward trend continued for the sixth day running. Hospitalisations are up slightly, and two Covid-19 patients died yesterday, fresh official data shows.
Illegal migration doubles in first two months year-on-year
LJUBLJANA - In the first two months of the year, the Slovenian police handled 1,128 instances of illegal crossing of the border, almost double the figure in the same period last year. More than a third of the cases involved citizens of Afghanistan, which the police say is expected given the situation in their country.
Economy Ministry to help tourism in three ways
LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced the ministry would help tourism in three areas this year as he argued the industry would need to adapt to the new reality of Ukraine war while still grappling with the fallout from the pandemic. EUR 140 million will be available for investment in public infrastructure, accommodation and tourism offerings to increase added value. The second area will be securing a stable and predictable business environment and the third area is adapting tourism promotion.
Parties talk ways to help businesses at AmCham event
LJUBLJANA - AmCham Slovenija, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Managers' Association hosted nine parties which polls suggest have the best chance of making it to parliament to set out how they will help create conditions conducive to business. The debate showed all the parties agreed on the need to step up digitalisation and tackle red tape but they disagreed as to whether taxes should be cut.
Triglav management proposes EUR 3.70 dividend
LJUBLJANA - The management of insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav proposed a dividend payment of EUR 3.70 per share for the 24 May annual general meeting, equalling a dividend yield of 9%. The payout would total EUR 84.1 million, almost three quarters of the distributable profit for last year, which is in line with established dividend policy, the company said.
Novo Mesto research hub to be founded in next month
NOVO MESTO - A public research institution will be founded in Novo Mesto in April under the name Rudolfovo Institute to bring together the scientific, technological and development potential of south-eastern Slovenia. It will be headed by Borut Rončević, the head of the RTV Slovenija supervisory board who served as an Education Ministry's official during the second Janez Janša government.
Mik Celje to invest EUR 8.5m in R&D and production facility
VOJNIK - Window maker Mik Celje has launched the construction of an EUR 8.5 million production and R&D facility at its location in Vojnik in eastern Slovenia that is to create 200 to 230 new jobs. Visiting the company on the occasion, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek promised a financial incentive in support of the investment. The investment is to be inaugurated at the end of May 2023 to coincide with the company's 33rd anniversary.
Fire in Gorenjska region brought under control
PREDDVOR - More than 260 firefighters assisted by four army helicopters managed to bring under control a major wildfire that broke out on Monday near the town Preddvor in the region of Gorenjska (NW). The firefighters are now focussing on individual hotspots. A major breakthrough in containing the fire, which engulfed a 700-hectare area, was made yesterday as three Slovenian army helicopters and a Croatian water bomber jumped in to help.
Domain name .si marks 30 anniversary
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's domain name .si was formally registered with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) root name server on 1 April 1992, and will thus celebrate its 30th anniversary on Friday. The latest data shows that there are 147,935 sites registered under the .si domain name.
Prague joins Plečnik celebration with photo exhibition
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Prague, one of the three capitals strongly marked by works by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), is joining the celebration of Plečnik's 150th anniversary of birth by hosting an exhibition of photos depicting the interior of the Plečnik-designed National and University Library (NUK) in Ljubljana.
Writer Vlady Kociancich dies
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Slovenian media reported that Vlady Kociancich, an award-winning Argentinian writer of Slovenian descent, died in Buenos Aires last Friday aged 80. She wrote seven novels, including Los bajos de temor, which has been released in Slovenian as Plitvine Strahu (Shallows of Fear). Kociancich is considered one of the greatest contemporary Latin American writers. She always said it was her Slovenia father's stories of his homeland that introduced her to the world of literature.
