23 Apr 2021, 12:38 PM

New Stimulus Package Coming for Tourism, Hospitality & Events Industries

STA, 22 April 2021 - The government will shortly unveil a new stimulus package tailored specifically to the tourism, hospitality and events industries. The legislation will involve an extension of some existing measures as well as new measures, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said on Thursday.

The furlough subsidies, compensation of fixed costs and income support will be extended until the end of the year and "corrected to benefit those who have been shut down", he told the management board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

New measures include compensation for loss of income for tourism operators that have been shut down longest, compensation for the annual holiday allowance, and waiver of fees for the use of thermal water.

Počivalšek also expressed the hope that the deferral of loan payments, a measure that has ended but which many business organisations have said should be extended, would be put in place again.

He said there were problems with the European Bank Agency, which is involved in talks on the scheme along with the Ministry of Finance and the central bank.

The minister is also optimistic that the coming easing of restrictions - outdoor hospitality will open on Saturday and accommodation next week - will help "revitalise the hospitality industry".

The statement comes amidst warnings by businesses that the tourism industry is on the verge of collapse after being shut down since autumn, with cash support from the state insufficient to keep it afloat.

GZS president Boštjan Gorjup said that the tourism industry was "on the edge of the precipice", which is why fast action is needed to prop up the sector.

23 Apr 2021, 12:32 PM

Over 50s Can Now Get Vaccinated in Slovenia, Johnson & Johnson Recommended for All Adults

STA, 23 April 2021 - All persons over 50 are now eligible for vaccination under a revised vaccination strategy that the government adopted last night. Additional priority groups have been designated as well.

Besides the over 50s, the priority groups now once again include teachers and staff working in critical infrastructure - energy, transport, food and water supply, healthcare, finance, environment protection, and information and communication networks.

Where can I get vaccinated for COVID in Slovenia?

Find your local health centre (zdravstveni dom – ZD) in the list here, then click through to the website. These have different styles, but you’re looking for something with COVID-19 ceplenje (COVID-19 vaccination). From there you should get more details and be able to register for a jab (Naročanje na COVID-19 cepljenje)

Additional priority groups include the pharmaceutical industry, staff essential to the functioning of the state, employees and volunteers offering assistance to chronic patients and other vulnerable groups.

SLED

The change of strategy - this is now the sixth version - comes after the majority of those over 70 who wanted to get a shot have already been vaccinated; the vaccination rates for those above 70 are in the 50-60% range.

In the 60-70 age group, which has been in the focus of the vaccination drive for the past three weeks, roughly 40% have so far received at least one shot of the vaccine.

Overall nearly 390,000 have so far received one shot of the vaccine, or almost 19% of the population, while almost 167,000 or 8% of the population have been fully vaccinated.

Johnson & Johnson jab recommended for all over 18s

STA, 22 April 2021 - The national advisory committee on immunisation has recommended the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine against Covid-19 for everyone over the age of 18, in line with the guidance issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Announcing the decision, the body's head Bojana Beović said the use of the vaccine is not being limited to an age group, but the age limit stated in the vaccine's registration will be followed.

According to EMA documentation, the person develops immunity 14 days after getting a Johnson & Johnson jab, said Beović. Only one dose is required.

EMA reviewed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following a small number of reports from the US of serious cases of unusual blood clots associated with low levels of blood platelets among people who had received the vaccine.

On Tuesday the regulator announced that blood clots should be listed as as very rare side effects of the vaccine and said the vaccine's benefits outweigh the risks.

EMA adopted the same view on the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Slovenian advisory committee followed suit by recommending the vaccine for over 18s.

Given the planned vaccine supplies, Slovenia expects to be able to inoculate at least 50% of its population or 63% of its adult population by the end of June.

The estimate was made by Milan Krek, the head of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), earlier today.

He said by the end of June Slovenia expected to be supplied about 1.6 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines as well as 263,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It is not clear yet how many AstraZeneca jabs the country will get, but Krek said the vaccination rates would be much higher if this vaccine was supplied as well.

NIJZ data show that 387,213 people have received their first dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 and 156,495 have received two, which means 7.5% of the population has been fully immunised.

All our stories on covid-19 and Slovenia

23 Apr 2021, 04:15 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 23 April 2021

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:

EU presidency priorities in focus as Janša visits Poland

WARSAW, Poland - Prime Minister Janez Janša met his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki during a visit to Warsaw, to discuss bilateral relations, the priorities of Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the EU and the future of Europe. In addressing reporters Janša highlighted boosting the bloc's resilience for health crises and cyber security as two key priorities of the presidency. He said Slovenia would like the conference on the future of Europe to involve "a discussion free from value monopolies". Janša invited Morawiecki to visit Slovenia.

EU issues, post-pandemic recovery to agenda as Greek president visits

LJUBLJANA - EU issues and the post-pandemic recovery dominated talks as Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou was received by Slovenian President Borut Pahor for the first official visit by a head of state since the start of the epidemic. Pahor said they both shared the conviction that the post-pandemic recovery needed to be leveraged to the maximum possible extent for a transition to sustainable development. The debate also revolved about Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency, with Sakellaropoulou praising the presidency priorities, in particular the tackling of the health crisis.

Commissioner Johansson, Minister Hojs discuss presidency tasks

LJUBLJANA - European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and Interior Minister Aleš Hojs discussed the priorities of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency. They highlighted the new Schengen strategy, migration pact and the Western Balkans as some of the key areas of interest. Johansson said the new Schengen strategy would be "an important task for the Slovenian presidency" since it is important that Schengen be re-established as an area of security, freedom and justice. Hojs said Slovenia supported the expansion of the Schengen zone, in particular to Croatia.

Johansson hopeful STA financing to be resolved ahead of Slovenian presidency

LJUBLJANA - EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Interior Minister Aleš Hojs broached the issue of media freedom in Slovenia and the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) as they met in Ljubljana. The commissioner said the freedom and pluralism of media was a cornerstone for democracy, and played important part in the annual rule of law report. Hojs said media freedom "is absolute in Slovenia", while he also announced the business documents handed over by the STA today in a bid to save a hundred jobs would be "the basis to sign a new contract". Johansson hopes "these issues can be resolved ahead of the Slovenian presidency".

Govt plans to buy transport aircraft, two helicopters by 2023

LJUBLJANA - The government amended on Wednesday the medium-term defence programme until 2023 to adjust it to the latest priorities in development of military capabilities. Procedures to buy a tactical transport aircraft and two medium-sized transport helicopters are expected to be completed by then. The government said the "deterioration of the global security situation, increased participation of the Slovenian army in crisis response operations and their increased geographical remoteness, there is a greater need for own air transport capabilities".

Government adopts resolution on climate neutrality by 2050

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a resolution on Slovenia's long-term climate strategy until 2050 on Thursday in what Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak sees as an important symbolic act marking Earth Day. Slovenia's goal will be zero emissions by 2050 or climate neutrality. Under the strategy, Slovenia is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-90% by 2050 compared to 2005 and boost the implementation of the policies of adjusting to climate change and providing for climate safety of the people. Vizjak expects parliament to pass the resolution before the summer recess.

Johnson & Johnson jab recommended for over 18s

LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunisation recommended the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine against Covid-19 for everyone over the age of 18, in line with the guidance issued by the European Medicines Agency. The same decision was taken for the AstraZeneca jab. Given the planned vaccine supplies, Slovenia expects to inoculate at least 50% of its population or 63% of its adult population by the end of June, said Milan Krek, the head of the National Institute of Public Health.

Chinese, Indian vaccines added to quarantine-free border pass

LJUBLJANA - The government decided on Wednesday to expand the exceptions for quarantine-free entry into Slovenia to people vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines produced in China and India. It also made several changes to border restrictions. Under the new rules, quarantine-free entry to Slovenia will be possible with a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours issued also in the UK or US, not only the EU or Schengen Area countries. The new decree will enter into force on Sunday.

Downward coronavirus trend continues

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases dropped to 745 in Slovenia on Wednesday, after 1,034 new cases were recorded a day before. Hospitalisations dropped from 631 to 620, while the number of patients in intensive care increased by one to 154. The rolling 7-day average dropped from 706 to 684. A total of 4,258 PCR test were conducted for a positivity rate of 17.5%. Eleven people died.

New stimulus package for tourism forthcoming

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced the government would shortly unveil a new stimulus package tailored specifically to the tourism, hospitality and events industries. The legislation will involve an extension of the furlough subsidies, compensation of fixed costs and income support until the end of the year, with new measures added, including compensation for loss of income for tourism operators that have been shut down longest, Počivalšek told the management board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

IMAD: Recovery measures should be combined with structural reforms

LJUBLJANA - Measures designed to help the economy recover should be combined with structural reforms to make the Slovenian economy and society more resilient to future shocks, the government's macroeconomic think-tank said in its 2021 Development Report, which the government reviewed yesterday. The Covid pandemic-induced crisis suspended the multi-year economic growth and favourable labour market trends, while government measures significantly cushioned the negative impact on the economy and households, the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (IMAD) added.

Constitutional Court looks back on busy 2020

LJUBLJANA- Constitutional Court Rajko Knez presented the court's report for 2020 which shows 26% more cases had been resolved than the year before, while the growing trend of new cases was reversed even if the court received around 180 initiatives to assess epidemic-related restrictions. The court received 1,319 cases, down 17.5% over 2019. The figure however does not include class actions, which there were 570, almost a third of all new cases.

Petrol shareholders to get dividend of EUR 22 per share

LJUBLJANA - The annual general meeting of energy company Petrol decided to pay out a dividend of EUR 22 gross per share, as proposed by the management board, which is on a par with last year. EUR 45.22 million will thus be paid out in dividends out of a total of EUR 45.36 million in last year's distributable profit. Chairman Nada Drobne Popović told the AGM a damages suit had been filed against the former management over the purchase and recapitalisation of mBills and several other smaller companies.

Slovenska Potica protected at EU level

BRUSSELS - Slovenska Potica, a rich traditional cake made of special dough and usually walnut filling, has been protected with the traditional specialities guaranteed label, meaning the cakes sold under the name will need to be certified for their shape and recipe, while not geographically limited to Slovenia. Slovenska Potica can have five different traditional fillings and must be baked in a round baking pan to produce a hole in the middle. All producers will have to get a certificate, while others can continue selling potica as "potica" or "walnut potica".

Pošta Slovenija with EUR 5m in net profit

MARIBOR - National postal company Pošta Slovenije finished 2020 with EUR 5.2 million in net profit at group level, of which EUR 4.5 million was generated by the parent company. The unaudited figures show the group generated almost EUR 411 million in net sales revenue, 6% more than planned in the revised business plans. Revenue from mail delivery remained its strongest segment, accounting for 40% of all operating revenue. It was down 2% over 2019 but 4% more than planned.

Adient workers to receive higher than legal severance

SLOVENJ GRADEC - The workers of the Slovenian subsidiary of the US multinational Adient, which is closing down at the end of the year, will receive higher severance pay than set down by the law. Trade unions were happy with the outcome, but would not disclose the figure. The deal should allow all 430 employees to "somehow weather the financial problems they will be faced with when seeking new employment", union representatives Bojan Rošer and Jaka Šilak said in a joint statement.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

22 Apr 2021, 15:39 PM

Slovenian Potica Protected with EU “Traditional Specialities Guaranteed” Label

STA, 22 April 2021 - Slovenska Potica, a rich traditional cake made of special dough and filling, has been protected with the traditional specialities guaranteed label (TSG), meaning the cakes sold as Slovenian Potica will need to be certified for their shape and recipe, while not geographically limited to Slovenia.

Slovenska Potica will have to meet standards of dough, fillings and shape. It can have five different traditional fillings (walnuts, walnuts and raisins, raisins, tarragon, or tarragon and cottage cheese), and must be baked in a round baking pan to produce a hole in the middle. The smallest allowed diameter is 14 cm.

All producers who want to make the protected Slovenska Potica will have to get a certificate, while others can continue selling potica as "potica" or "orehova potica/walnut potica" etc.

A decree on the protection status was published in the EU's Official Journal on Thursday.

Learn how to make potica and more with the Cook Eat Slovenia book

Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek said he was very proud that as Slovenia's ambassador and traditional cake, potica will help enhance Slovenia's profile abroad.

"Slovenian cuisine has very rich tradition. Slovenian food has its identity, which reflects in its EU-level protection. Potica is definitely a food which best symbolises a festive menu of Slovenians," he wrote in today's statement.

An application to protect potica was submitted to the ministry by several chambers of agriculture, food-processing industry, commerce and small business in 2017.

The ministry protected the cake at national level the same year and submitted an application for protection to the European Commission in early 2018.

Austria objected to Slovenia's plans, arguing it wanted to protect its producers that make cakes with similar names, such as Potize and Putize.

Slovenia and Austria then reached a deal allowing Austrian producers to continue using these names, as the goal of Slovenia's bid was to protect the name Slovenska Potica", not potica or any other derivates.

The ministry said today that potica had a special place in Slovenian cuisine and that as Slovenian speciality it is almost a national symbol.

It is made in all Slovenian regions, while varying in name, filling, type of dough and shape. More than 100 various types have been recorded.

Try a recipe for tarragon potica, or our more rustic easy potica

22 Apr 2021, 12:29 PM

Chinese, Indian Vaccines Enable Quarantine-Free Entry to Slovenia, Some Changes to Red List

STA, 22 April 2021 - The government has decided to expand the exceptions for quarantine-free entry into Slovenia to people vaccinated with the Chinese and Indian produced Covid-19 vaccines. It has also made several changes to border restrictions. The new decree will enter into force on Sunday, while some new rules will start to apply on Monday.

Under the new rules, quarantine-free entry to Slovenia will be possible with a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours issued also in the UK or US, not only the EU or Schengen Area countries.

Those who recovered from Covid-19 must present a positive result of a PCR test that must be at least 10 days old and not older than six months unless the person's doctor says otherwise. A doctor's notice that a person recovered from Covid-19 also suffices if no more than six months has passed since the start of the symptoms.

Acceptable are documents issued in the EU, Schengen Area, the UK and US.

The list of vaccines that enable quarantine-free entry to the country has been expanded from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Russian Sputnik V to also include Indian Serum Institute/AstraZeneca and Chinese Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm.

People returning from business trips abroad who have a negative PCR test that is not older than three days will no longer be required to be tested again. This will apply to members of the police force, other state bodies and accredited journalists and will take effect on Monday.

Those crossing the border to help other persons or do maintenance work on their real estate will now have three days to return to the country. This too will enter into force on Monday.

Quarantine-free entry into Slovenia with a negative test taken within the last three days is also being allowed to citizens of EU or Schengen Area countries who have been to one of those countries for up to 72 hours to provide care or assistance to family members or persons in need of care, or to do maintenance work at a private property they own, lease or use.

The red list of EU and Schengen zone countries was amended for Finland [ed. with Uusimaa, Southern Finland and Western Finland on the list], and Malta was removed from the list. Barbados is off the list of red third countries, while Malaysia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were added to it, the Government Communication Office said on Wednesday.

If you’re travelling within the EU, check out the official “Open EU” webpage to see what’s possible

22 Apr 2021, 12:14 PM

Handball: Slovenia Beats Iceland, Qualifies for World Championship (Video)

STA, 22 April 2021 - The Slovenian women's handball team has qualified for the world championship, to be held in Spain in December, by defeating Iceland in the two-match playoffs. This will be the seventh appearance for the women's team at the highest global stage.

After last Saturday's 24:14 win in Ljubljana, yesterday's match in Iceland's Hafnarfjordur was a mere formality, with Slovenia managing to eke out a 21:21 draw to easily qualify for the tournament that will be played on 2-19 December.

This will be the seventh appearance at the world championships for the team led by Montenegrin coach Dragan Adžić, with the most recent appearance being in Japan in 2019. The best result, the 8th place, came in Croatia in 2003.

22 Apr 2021, 12:08 PM

National Institute of Biology Launches Gene Therapy Spin-Off

STA, 21 April 2021 - The National Institute of Biology (Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo - NIB) has licenced its gene therapy know-how and technology to a spin-off called Niba Labs, which will develop and commercialise technologies for the characterisation and quantification of therapeutic viruses used in gene therapy.

"The path leading to this moment has been long, for we have conducted a lot of basic research that has helped us to build up top-level know-how in virology and develop methods that will now be applied," NIB director Maja Ravnikar said on Wednesday.

Ravnikar said the new company, the NIB's second spin-off, would operate on the global market and collaborate with all Slovenian biotech firms in this segment.

The revenue from the licensing of the technology will be reinvested into research. The NIB and Niba Labs will continue collaborating on the research and commercialisation of the technologies.

According to Niba Labs' head of R&D, David Dobnik, the technology involves deploying viruses to act as delivery vehicles for replacement genes in the treatment of genetic conditions.

22 Apr 2021, 04:25 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 22 April 2021

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:

Slovenia, Italy, Croatia sign joint statement on cooperation in Adriatic

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Italian and Croatian counterparts, Luigi di Maio and Gordan Grlić Radman, signed a joint statement on trilateral cooperation in the northern Adriatic. "We set up the foundation for strengthening cooperation in all areas that are key for all the three countries," Logar said about the statement. He said special emphasis had been placed by Slovenia on exercising its rights in the areas of exclusive economic zones in the Adriatic in line with international maritime law.

Slovenia expects unity in EU on implementation of agreements with UK

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia again raised the issue of UK work visa discrimination at a meeting of ministers for EU affairs on Tuesday, expressing expectation that EU countries will be united on the implementation of agreements with the UK. Complications in the ratification of the Brexit agreement do not contribute to this, said State Secretary Gašper Dovžan. Asked whether the agreement could be ratified by the end of the month, he said they were hoping for ratification.

Johansson to broach issue of media freedom on visit to Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson is due in Slovenia on Thursday for a two-day visit that she says is primarily aimed at backing Slovenia's preparations for its EU presidency in the second half of 202. She also intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism. Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to this, Johansson told the STA ahead of the visit.

Hotels allowed to reopen from Monday

LJUBLJANA - With the improvement of the coronavirus situation and the government moving to orange tier, the government decided to lift movement between regions from Friday and ease restrictions for hospitality establishments. Hotels will be allowed to reopen on Monday and bars and restaurants in three regions in the yellow tier will be able to serve guests indoors. In nine regions in the orange tier of restrictions hospitality establishments will be allowed to serve guests outdoors while hotels and other accommodation will be open for guests with a negative coronavirus test. Events for up to ten people will be allowed and higher education will open for in-class lectures.

Week-on-week decrease in Covid cases continues

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,034 coronavirus tests performed in Slovenia on Tuesday returned positive in what is a continuation of a downward trend in weekly comparison, show fresh official data. Hospitalisations decreased by 18 to 631 after 62 patients were discharged home yesterday. The number of intensive care cases was down by one to 155, while another four Covid-19 patients died.

Convalescents to receive only one shot of vaccine

LJUBLJANA - Those in Slovenia who have had a confirmed coronavirus infection will receive only one shot of a coronavirus vaccine six months after they had the disease, according to new guidelines issued by the national advisory committee on immunisation. The guidance was issued to vaccination centres recently after seven other European countries decided to do that, the head of the advisory body, Bojana Beović, told the press.

Recovery plan meets green targets, government official says

LJUBLJANA - Infrastructure Ministry State Secretary Blaž Košorok provided assurances to MPs that the national recovery and resilience plan hits green targets as the document was discussed by the Infrastructure Committee. EU guidelines mandate that 37% of funds allocated under the plan - Slovenia is entitled to EUR 5.2 billion - be spent on projects that contribute towards the realisation of climate objectives. He said the commitment would be honoured.

Performance of courts declined in 2020

LJUBLJANA - The number of cases Slovenian courts processed declined by 12% in 2020 and the number of pending cases rose by 5% as only urgent matters were attended to for a significant part of the year. Overall, the courts are still able to process new cases on an ongoing basis, shows annual court statistics released by the Supreme Court. The report stressed that it is difficult to compare the annual figures given how extraordinary 2020 was.

Gregor Majdič elected new chancellor of Ljubljana University

LJUBLJANA - Gregor Majdič, a researcher behavioural neuroendocrinology and professor at the Ljubljana Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Maribor Faculty of Medicine, was elected new chancellor of the University of Ljubljana, defeating the incumbent Igor Papič, in a run-off. Majdič, who will start the four-year term with the new academic year on 1 October, sees the strong support for him was a vote for change toward a university that would be more active in society, including in climate policy.

National Institute of Biology creates gene therapy spin-off

LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Biology (NIB) has licenced its gene therapy know-how and technology to a spin-off called Niba Labs, which will develop and commercialise technologies for the characterisation and quantification of therapeutic viruses used in gene therapy. NIB director Maja Ravnikar said the new company, the NIB's second spin-off, would operate in the global market and collaborate with all Slovenian biotech firms in this segment. The revenue from the licensing of the technology will be reinvested into research.

Adria Airways HQ on sale at asking price of EUR 4.1m

LJUBLJANA - Adria Airways official receiver Janez Pustatičnik is collecting binding bids for the office building of the bankrupt Slovenian air carrier and the surrounding plots. The asking price is EUR 4.1 million without VAT and bidders have until 30 June to submit bids. Built in 2009, the four-floor Adria building comprises almost 4,400 square metres, and includes offices, classrooms, and a warehouse. It is surrounded by land and a fenced parking lot.

No building permit for Plečnik stadium, developer taking legal action

LJUBLJANA - After the Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry rejected at the end of March the a request for a building permit to overhaul a rundown Ljubljana stadium designed by acclaimed architect Jože Plečnik, the boss of developer BŠP, announced legal action. "We won't give up on the project in which we've put 14 years of effort, desires and money," Pečečnik told the press. Next week he intends to file criminal complaints and damages suits, and an appeal at the Administrative Court.

Vandals target the home of SNS head

LJUBLJANA - The gate of the home of Zmago Jelinčič, the head of the opposition National Party (SNS), has been vandalised. A stencil graffiti appeared on the door saying "Je suis" and an image of a chainsaw, with Jelinčič posting a photo of the graffiti on Twitter. In the tweet, Jeličič wrote that whoever had smeared his door had obviously not seen the warning on the door saying the owner was armed. This is only the latest in a series of acts of vandalism targeting public figures recently.

Reports: Violent protest instigator arrested in Austria for drugs

LJUBLJANA/KLAGENFURT, Austria - Anis Ličina, the man who had been charged with incitement to violent anti-government protests on 5 November 2020, was arrested in Austria the past weekend on suspicion of drug trafficking. He had also been charged with the same type of crime in Slovenia, media reported. The Slovenian police confirmed they had been notified by the Austrian police on Monday of an arrest of a Slovenian citizen based on a national warrant on suspicion of drug trafficking.

25-year-old gets 30 years for triple manslaughter

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court sentenced Peter Gaspeti to 30 years in prison for killing his grandfather, grandmother and uncle with a knife in a village 15 km north of Ljubljana last June. The 25-year-old got 12 years for each of the three criminal acts for a combined sentence of 30 years after the court reclassified the charges from murder to manslaughter, taking into account Gaspeti's personality disorder, no criminal record, and no previous history of violent behaviour.

British citizen caught smuggling migrants after wild chase

ČRENŠOVCI - A 21-year-old British citizen was arrested on Saturday for illegally transporting a five-member family from Iraq after a wild chase during which he crashed into police vehicles several times. The man was apprehended by the Austrian police after escaping on foot after he was forced to pull over with flat tyres after driving through stingers set up by Slovenian police. The Iraqi family, who entered Slovenia illegally from Croatia, applied for international protection.

Slovenia's youth less worried about climate change than European peers

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's youth aged between 15 and 35 see climate change as the third worst global problem after environmental pollution and poverty, showed the European survey Climate of Change, which also sees 36% of them very or extremely worried about climate change, which is 10 percentage points below the average of 23 European countries. The other young Europeans meanwhile see climate change as the most pressing global problem, shows the survey that polled over 22,000 young people.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

21 Apr 2021, 22:13 PM

Some Restrictions Lifted for Hotels, Bars, Restaurants, & Schools Monday, Free Movement Between Regions Friday

STA, 21 April 2021 - The government has decided to ease restrictions for hospitality establishments as hotels will be allowed to reopen in limited capacity on Monday and bars and restaurants in regions with the lowest rates of infections will be able to serve guests indoors.

In nine regions in the orange tier of restrictions hospitality establishments will be allowed to serve guests outdoors while accommodation establishments with up to 30 rooms will be open for guests with a negative coronavirus test, vaccinated guests and those with proof of a Covid infection in the last six months, according to government decrees adopted on Wednesday.

In three regions in the yellow tier - the coastal Obalno-Kraška and Goriška, and the eastern Pomurska region - guests may also be served indoors and accommodation establishments regardless of size may open, but they may only make 30 rooms available for guests.

The government decree will enter into force on Saturday but the provisions on accommodation apply from Monday, the ministry said.

With the country shifting to orange and yellow tiers, restrictions on movement between regions will be lifted as of Friday and public events for up to ten people will be allowed under strict public health conditions.

Next week all educational institutions will open, which means in-person lectures at universities and higher education institutions will be allowed again. A hybrid model is recommended, combining in-person and remote classes. Student dorms will also open.

The relaxation of restrictions follows appeals by businesses for a faster pace of reopening and comes just ahead of the week-long May Day school holiday.

All our stories on Slovenia and coronavirus

21 Apr 2021, 17:01 PM

British Citizen Arrested for Smuggling Iraqi Family After Wild Chase

STA, 21 April 2021 - A 21-year-old British citizen was arrested on Saturday for illegally transporting a five-member family from Iraq after a wild chase during which he crashed into police vehicles several times. The man is in custody.

The 21-year-old driving a car with Spanish licence plates was pulled over by border police in Srednja Bistrica on Friday evening, but when asked to show documents he put the car in reverse and deliberately hit the front part of the police car before leaving in the direction of the motorway, the Murska Sobota police department said on Wednesday.

The police immediately followed him, but he hit the breaks several times to hit the police car behind him. He also collided with another police vehicle during the wild chase.

Police then used stingers with the 21-year-old bypassing the first one and driving right through the second one, being forced to pull over with flat tyres just before reaching the motorway. But the man continued to run on foot and police lost track of him.

After inspecting his vehicle, police found a five-member family from Iraq in the car. The foreigners, who entered the country illegally from Croatia, applied for international protection. The women sustained light injuries during the wild chase.

The Slovenian police informed their counterparts in other countries of the fugitive and he was apprehended by the Austrian police on Saturday morning.

The man faces charges for illegal crossing of the border, prevention of official proceedings and taking revenge on a public official. He has been remanded in custody.

The 21-year-old was already processed by the Radgona police at the beginning of the month after he refused to pull over but continued speeding on the motorway, where he caused a traffic accident. He tried to run away on foot, but police eventually caught him.

The man was also involved in a police chase in the Celje area last year, after he refused to pull over. The chase also involved deliberate collisions with police cars and running away on foot.

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