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This summary is provided by the STA:
Largest solar power plant in Slovenia opens near Hrastnik
HRASTNIK - The state-owned power utility HSE launched a 3.036-megawatt solar power plant in a rehabilitated and closed section of the Prapretno landfill near Hrastnik. The largest facility of the kind in the country, worth EUR 2.5 million, is expected to provide electricity for around 800 households. A total of 6,748 photovoltaic modules installed at the former brownfield site will produce more than 3 GWh of electricity a year, and the plan is to expand it to a total installed power of 14 megawatts.
Rail operator SŽ acquires 50% stake in Nomago group
LJUBLJANA - National rail company Slovenske Železnice (SŽ) and coach group Nomago signed a contract under which SŽ acquired 50% of Nomago, with an option to buy the entire stake until the end of 2024. SŽ will pay EUR 15.75 million as the fixed part of the purchase price, with the remaining part depending on Nomago's performance in the coming years. The deal still needs clearance from the competition regulator.
Border municipalities to get EUR 5m over migration pressure
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian border municipalities can count on receiving EUR 5 million from the national budget this year as compensation for enhanced border surveillance as the country fights illegal migrations, Interior Minster Aleš Hojs said. EUR 2 million will be distributed among all border municipalities, with the EUR 3 million to go to those along the southern border, that is the Schengen border with Croatia.
Parsifal poll shows Freedom Movement closing gap on SDS
LJUBLJANA - The latest public opinion poll by Parsifal sees the leading Democrats (SDS) slipping among decided voters, while the closest pursuer, the Freedom Movement, are improving are narrowing the gap. Almost 18% of the respondents are undecided. Among the decided respondents, the SDS would get 27.5% of the vote, which is 3.8 percentage points less compared to last week, while the Freedom Movement improved by 3.2 points to 25.4%.
Voting from Russia will not be possible
LJUBLJANA - The National Electoral Commission decided that there will be no organised polling station at the Slovenian Embassy in Moscow for the 24 April general election in Slovenia. Voting by mail from Russia will not be possible, either. This comes after the Foreign Ministry said that voting from the Embassy in Russia could not be guaranteed due to the security situation and logistical conditions for business in the country, and due to the suspension of postal traffic with the country.
Asylum seekers note double standards for refugees
LJUBLJANA - The way refugees from Ukraine have been taken in in Slovenia is more humane and sensible than procedures involving refugees from other countries, reads an open letter by a group of asylum seekers. from aliens centres Kotnikova and Vič in Ljubljana. Ukrainian refugees are dealing with much more relaxed conditions, they note, urging an end to these double standards, including the right to immediate access to work and welfare system, free movement, and decent living conditions.
Women, employment in focus of International Romani Day
LJUBLJANA - Roma integration and the position of Romany women in society are in the focus as Slovenia observes International Romani Day. Amanda Fetahi, the head of the Loli Luludi association, told the STA that Romany women were still largely confined to the role of housewives and upbringing their children. Most Roma women but also men in Slovenia face obstacles in education, employment, accommodation or access to social and health services. Few Roma women finish secondary school and even fewer higher education.
President highlights coexistence, inclusion in Romani Day address
MURSKA SOBOTA - President Borut Pahor emphasises common values, rights and obligations for all, but also the need to appreciate diversity, as he addressed a ceremony marking International Romani Day. "We live in a single country, our shared motherland, in which we must take care of each other, respect one another, and appreciate both the shared values and the diversity that enriches us as a multicultural society," he said.
Top court bans disclosure of personal data of tax defaulters
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court annulled the provision of the tax procedure act that allows disclosure of personal information about individuals who own legal entities that are tax defaulters if these entities had already had due tax liabilities before these individuals became their owners. The appellant found it disputable that public disclosure of personal information of an individual is required even if they had nothing to do with tax liabilities of the legal entities they own.
EUR 10m available for tourism and hospitality companies
LJUBLJANA - The SPIRIT public agency has published a call worth nearly EUR 10 million to help micro, small and medium-sized companies in tourism, hospitality, and arts and culture get up and running again after coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. Companies have until 22 April to apply for funds. The call is to contribute to preserving companies and jobs in these sectors. 500 companies are expected to benefit from the funds.
Lowest weekday Covid count since late February
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 1,860 coronavirus cases on Thursday, the lowest weekday figure since late February. Hospitalisations fell as well to 186 this morning, including 21 in intensive care, but four patients with Covid-19 died, Health Ministry data shows. The 7-day average of new cases fell below 2,000 to 1,964, and the 14-day notification rate per 100,000 of the population is at 1,501.
Awards given out as Week of Slovenian Drama closes
KRANJ - Solo, a theatre production directed by Nina Rajić Kranjac, won the Šelih Award for best production among eight competing productions at the 52nd Week of Slovenian Drama. The jury labelled Solo as "a very brave and theatrically inventive" piece, which is an attempt at improvisation focussing on "what it means to be on one's own". The audience of the festival chose as their favourite a production about Edvard Kocbek (1904-1981), a writer and politician who fell out of favour with the communist authorities soon after WWII.
Choreographer Clug reinvents Stravinsky's masterpieces
MARIBOR - Choreographer Edward Clug's take on Igor Stravinsky's ballets The Rite of Spring and The Wedding will be staged at the SNG Maribor opera and ballet house this evening. Clug's reinvention of the first ballet will return to the Slovenian stage after a decade. The Romanian-born dancer and choreographer, whose productions have sold out the Bolshoi Theatre and London Coliseum, finds the two ballets pieces of a bygone age that nevertheless have an avant-garde character.
Rog creative centre to open next year
LJUBLJANA - A new creative centre that is emerging from the defunct Ljubljana bicycle factory Rog will open its doors in the summer of 2023. Rog Centre will promote cultural and creative activities, especially product making, applied arts, architecture and design. The hub will feature seven production labs, 25 production facilities, five residential areas, a socialising and exhibition area, a library and cafes. There will also be two smaller shops where products manufactured at the labs will be sold.
