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Daily coronavirus tally and deaths drop but hospitalisations keep increasing

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus tally dropped by over a hundred to 1,564 on Thursday as the share of positive tests inched down to 26.53%, and the daily death toll fell to 26 from 30 the day before. Hospitalisations increased to 1,069 as 92 patients were discharged home, and the number of patients in intensive care units rose by a further seven to 168, but government spokesman Jalko Kacin presented data by the government indicating the peak has been passed. "The trend is good (...) if the trend continues the same way we can look forward to the future and can consider what the government could do next week," Kacin said.

C5 ministers meet online to discuss Covid-19 measures

LJUBLJANA - FM Anže Logar and his counterparts from Austria, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary met on-line as part of the informal Central 5 (C5) initiative dedicated to measures to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular cross-border movement of people, goods and services. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said they agreed that undisrupted cross-border business should be secured as soon as possible and that measures should be unified at the EU level. They endorsed the introduction of a joint European form for reporting passenger travel, while noting that personal information needed to be protected. The ministers also resolutely condemned the Vienna attack and all forms of violence and terrorism which endangered security, human values and people's trust in peaceful and dignified life.

Official says rapid tests no silver bullet

LJUBLJANA - Miroslav Petrovec, the head of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, dampened expectations that rapid antigen tests could soon be a key part of the efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, but said efforts were under way to improve their reliability and the tracing of their results. "We cannot solve the Covid-19 epidemic by means of rapid tests and we cannot replace measures that we have a duty to abide by," he said. Slovenia has joined the European Commission's plan to bulk buy rapid tests, which would mean cheaper and more reliable tests. Petrovec said these could be useful as an aid, but PCR tests remained the norm.

Intel oversight commission to debate violent protests

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services will convene a session next Friday to look into the possible role of intelligence agency SOVA in violent protests in Ljubljana. Commission chair Matjaž Nemec scheduled the session after PM Janez Janša posted on Twitter a photo of Ivan Gale, the employee of the Agency for Commodity Reserves who came out with accusations of wrongdoing in the purchases of personal protective equipment in spring, that the screenshot showed was shared by the SOVA director, leading Nemec to wonder what role SOVA played in the protests. Janša said the picture was from Facebook, which subsequent media reports showed was true.

Condemnation after protests turn violent

LJUBLJANA - Senior officials and several organisations condemned the violence that erupted at protests in Ljubljana on Thursday, leaving 15 police officers injured and resulting in multiple arrests. President Borut Pahor said he resolutely rejected violence as a means of achieving political aims, while Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković said in such protests were "not endorsed in Ljubljana or elsewhere, and we do not need them." The opposition also distanced itself from the riot, rejecting the claims it was behind it and announcing to investigate it. Ljubljana Police Department chief Stanislav Vrečar said infrastructure had also been damaged and assessed that the use of force by police was proportionate.

EFJ condemns attacks on media in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned in the strongest terms verbal and physical attacks on the media following an anti-government protest that turned violent Thursday evening. "We strongly condemn the attacks on media workers and express solidarity with them. It is very worrisome to see that Slovenian politicians are greatly contributing to the increasing hostility and hatred towards journalists," EFJ general secretary Ricardo Gutierrez said. Anti-government protests have been a mainstay of Friday afternoons for months, however, the groups organising the Friday protests have distanced themselves from the rally organised yesterday, mostly by a group named Anonymous Slovenija.

Three Seas' investment fund to narrow infrastructure gap

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's SID Banka will contribute EUR 23 million to an investment fund that twelve Three Seas Initiative countries between the Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea and Black Sea have set up to improve infrastructure in transport, energy and digitalisation in a bid to narrow the infrastructure and development gap with Western Europe. "SID Banka will gradually contribute EUR 23 million and thus try to provide additional funding to Slovenian business and the public sector," its CEO Sibil Svilan said. For Slovenia, the fund is a novelty in that projects have been so far financed mainly with debt instruments.

Sava Re cancels shareholder meeting, dividend payout on hold

LJUBLJANA - Sava Re, Slovenia's second largest insurance and reinsurance group, called off a general meeting scheduled for 16 November and consequently suspended the payment of dividends due to potential new risks stemming from its international reinsurance business. It said on Friday it had now been informed of "new circumstances that had arisen in certain EU insurance markets and in the United Kingdom that are in contrast to previously obtained legal advice".

Travel agency Kompas sold to Luxembourg company

LJUBLJANA - Kompas, Slovenia's oldest travel agency, has been sold to the Luxembourg-based company Special Sits General Partner II, with the newspaper Delo reporting that the company behind the new owner is a Spanish venture capital fund. The seller, Croatian group Fortenova, has already notified the competition watchdog, which needs to give its go-ahead for the takeover. According to the news web portal Siol.net, Kompas employs more than 200 people in Slovenia alone, generating about EUR 75 million in annual sales revenue. Kompas was recapitalised in 2017 and has been operating at a profit for the past three years.

Sekulić named new coach of men's national basketball team

LJUBLJANA - The executive committee of the Slovenian Basketball Association (KSZ) appointed Aleksander Sekulić the new head coach of the men's national basketball team. Taking over from Radovan Trifunović, he will coach the team for the first time as it continues the qualifiers for the 2022 EuroBasket at the end of November. The 42-year-old assistant coach with Nymburk in the Czech Republic is expected to present the roster on 18 November, the KZS said on Friday after announcing the appointment. The new coach is also to introduce himself to the media as the training camp starts on 22 November.

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STA, 6 November 2020 - Senior coalition figures as well as opposition leaders strongly condemned on Friday the violence that broke out during Thursday's protest in Ljubljana, which was directed against the government's coronavirus measures. The opposition also distanced itself from the riot, rejecting the claims it was behind it and calling to investigate it. 

The government's Covid spokesperson Jelko Kacin said it was irresponsible and inadmissible for riots to be organised in the centre of the capital amid the biggest health crisis in the country.

National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič tweeted that blame for the violent protest is on those who resorted to it, and congratulated police officers on decisive action. "Looking for a culprit in the government, opposition or the media takes us away from appeasement and from addressing the distress caused by the epidemic."

Already yesterday, Prime Minister Janez Janša tweeted support for the police officers, saying that peaceful protests when there is no epidemic are a constitutional right, but riots and physical violence against the police are criminal acts and will be punished. He commended the police for being professional.

Similarly, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs commended the police on Twitter, saying "they were well prepared and contained the riot to the greatest extent possible". Noting the police would launch adequate procedures against the perpetrators, he condemned any form of violence.

Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, the leader of the Modern Centre Party (SMC), stressed that now we need peace and cooperation regardless of different views on the health crisis. "Slovenia is committed to peaceful resolution of conflicts, Slovenian society is committed to co-existence and mutual respect."

"Violence has no place in Slovenian society and cannot be acceptable even as a form of expressing disagreement," tweeted Defence Minister Matej Tonin, the leader of New Slovenia (NSi). He condemned yesterday's violence as irresponsible to say the least while the country is fighting the coronavirus.

Distancing themselves from the riot and condemning it, the opposition LMŠ, SD, Left and SAB said they believed the violence at the protest was staged, announcing they would investigate its background on the parliamentary Home Affairs Committee and the Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services.

"No violence, be it physical or verbal, has a place in a free and democratic society," SocDem leader Tanja Fajon told the press. She believes the riot was a result of several months of tensions created by the government as it divides people and attacks the media.

She also condemned Hojs's yesterday's statement in which he blamed the riot on the media and the Social Democrats (SD), while urging the public to be tolerant and stressing the opposition would do all in its power to change the government.

Similarly critical of the government was LMŠ leader Marjan Šarec, who believes Minister Hojs's presence at the protest proves the violence was staged.

"The minister did not appear at any peaceful Friday protest," he said, calling on people not to be fooled by such provocations, which he believes are meant to discredit Friday anti-government protests.

Left leader Luka Mesec said the government would have to explain how the police had known in advance that Thursday's protest would turn violent.

While the National Assembly worked normally on over 20 Fridays when protests were held, this Thursday MPs were told to leave the premises by 4pm because the police expected violence at the protest scheduled for the afternoon, Mesec said.

Both Mesec and SAB leader Alenka Bratušek recalled the anti-government protests in 2012 when "thugs were sent by one political party" to mix among the protesters.

STA, 5 November 2020 - The closure of restaurants, hotels and other tourism facilities in the wake of Covid-19 has put companies in the sector in an unenviable position. Some have already been forced to lay off staff, but most of them are hoping the planned sixth stimulus package will help preserve jobs.

The key measures to protect jobs in tourism and hospitality would be to cover the total cost of the furlough scheme and to compensate business for income loss.

Unemployment was not on the rise in Slovenia in October despite partial lockdown. The companies did not repeat mistakes from the first wave of the epidemic when they were quick to let go workers and re-hire them after the government measures stepped in.

The Gorenjska unit of the Employment Service received only one announcement of major downsizing in tourism and hospitality in the autumn, Drago Perc with the unit told the STA, noting that one company said it would lay off some 30 staff.

Many companies are making use of the furlough scheme in the meantime, however Marcela Klofutar, manager of Vila Podvin and Linhart hotel in Radovljica, believes that the measure is not sufficient.

In the spring businesses were refunded the entire compensation for furloughed workers, meaning 80% of their pay, whereas now they only get EUR 870, which means that employers have to cover the rest, that is at least EUR 1000 per gross pay, she said, adding that businesses closed due to the epidemic cannot afford that.

Numerous companies in the sector are without any income. Vila Podvin is trying to get by until the sixth stimulus law is passed to see whether the pay compensation measure would be the same as in the spring.

"If that is not the case, people would have to register as unemployed," she warned, pointing to Austria as an example of good practice since the country has ensured compensation totalling 80% of last year's revenue.

Sava Turizem, one of the major Slovenian tourism companies, is also stressing the importance of stimulus measures. If the government does not endorse measures proposed by the tourism sector, then layoffs could not be avoided, said the company.

Given the sector has been worst hit by Covid-19 ramifications, additional boosts are necessary, including direct one-off aid to offset losses and a new edition of holiday vouchers, said Sava Turizem.

Meanwhile, some are not relying on government support but only on themselves. Matija Blažič, managing Hotel Ribno in lakeside resort Bled, has already laid off 40% of his employees.

"If the state measures were sufficient and announced in advance, it might have been different, however everything is passed last minute in Slovenia," he said.

"There does not exist a tourism company that could pay the entire team for half a year without work." Lakeside resort Bled might see better days around Easter next year, according to him.

A pessimistic outlook for the winter tourism season is shared by Janez Hrovat, the mayor of mountain resort Kranjska Gora and also a businessman trying to survive in the struggling sector.

He believes many, particularly those who invested heavily prior to the epidemic, will be in trouble and hopes the second wave will bring similar measures to those in the first.

Blaž Veber, the head of Turizem Kranjska Gora, has also urged stepping up boosts and following the examples of Austria and Germany regarding compensating revenue loss.

He believes the government measures have been effective so far, however the situation is worsening and the sector does not require help but compensation since it is not its fault it cannot function. It would probably take years to get to the pre-Covid level, he added.

Many providers of tourism services as well as owners of bars and restaurants are also concerned about having generated negative cash flow during the coronavirus crisis, which is thus expected to be followed by the debt crisis, heard yesterday's online debate on tourism after Covid-19.

The discussion, hosted by the Ljubljana School of Economics and Business, featured the head of Fraport Slovenija airport services Janez Krašnja, the head of the Association of Slovenian Hoteliers Gregor Jamnik and restauranteur Martin Jezeršek.

The last two urged the government to provide grants in the sixth stimulus package, warning that the debt crisis would halt the development of the sector.

Krašnja meanwhile said that the aviation industry has had a catastrophic year and that the recovery could last until 2024 at the minimum.

However, air passengers are still expected to be those who spend the most and the industry will have to adjust to the new normal, he said, adding that coronavirus tests could become part of airport checks in the future.

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STA, 6 November 2020 - Slovenia's daily coronavirus tally dropped by over a hundred to 1,564 on Thursday as the share of positive tests inched down to 26.53%, and the daily death toll fell to 26 from 30 the day before. Hospitalisations kept increasing but at a slower pace and data presented by the government suggest the peak has been passed.

Government data show the latest cases come from 5,895 Sars-Cov-2 tests on Thursday, roughly on a par with the day before, while the positivity rate has decreased by almost two percentage points.

Presenting fresh data, government spokesman Jelko Kacin also said that the R0, the figure showing how many people one infected person passes the virus on, had dropped to 1, which means the outbreak is no longer expanding.

What is more, the 14-day and 7-day incidence graphs he presented at the press briefing on Friday show the peak had been reached days ago with the curve well on its path down and a simulation suggesting it could flatten sometime in early December.

According to tracker site sledilnik.org, the rolling 14-day average of cases per 100,000 residents fell to 1,113 on Thursday.

"The trend is good (...) if the trend continues the same way we can look forward to the future and can consider what the government could do next week," Kacin said, offering the promise of an easing of measures as the cabinet reviews restrictions next Thursday.

However, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals keeps increasing, but even there Kacin noted that the growth is slowing down.

Hospitalisations increased to 1,069 as 92 patients were discharged home, and the number of patients in intensive care units rose by a further seven to 168.

Yesterday, there were 50 new admissions when deducting discharges and fatalities, which compares to 76 at the peak on 31 October.

The tracker site shows the total number of coronavirus cases so far confirmed in the country has exceeded 42,600 with 23,336 cases still active. The death toll has inched close to 500, at 497.

All of Austria, Croatia, Hungary on Slovenia's quarantine list

STA, 5 November 2020 - The government has amended the coronavirus status of several countries as a result of which the whole of Croatia, Austria and Hungary plus Serbia will be on Slovenia's quarantine list starting from Monday, as will almost entire Italy.

Calabria will be the only Italian region not yet on Slovenia's red list, as the amended decree on the movement across the border takes effect, expectedly on Monday.

This is even as Calabria will be one of the four red regions that Italy will impose the tightest coronavirus restrictions on starting from Friday.

Meanwhile, even those parts of Croatia, Austria and Hungary that have so far been on Slovenia's orange list are being moved to the red, which entails mandatory ten-day quarantine, except for any of several exceptions.

Also moved to the red list are the whole of Serbia, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, the Vatican and San Marino.

The list is thus being extended from 116 to 147 countries, some of those having only certain administrative regions on the list.

Arrivals from those countries can avoid quarantine with a negative coronavirus test, or if they fall under one of the 17 exceptions such as daily migrant workers, international hauliers, persons in transit and members of foreign official delegations.

Other exceptions include those attending to urgent business, having health examinations or surgeries, or owners of property in a neighbouring country. Some exceptions also include close family or household members when travelling together with the person eligible.

Presenting the latest changes to the government measures, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said the government advised against all non-essential travel outside the country anyway.

He said the same restrictions to travel across the border as for Slovenian citizens also apply to foreigners residing in Slovenia who have relatives in other countries of the former Yugoslavia.

"As you arrive on the border and you don't produce [proof of] one of the reasons for the crossing of border municipalities, you will be fined," said Hojs.

This was after a line of vehicles stretching several kilometres formed at the Obrežje crossing with Croatia on Friday as many arrived there without documents proving their eligibility to travel.

The government today also extended the green list of Covid-19 safe countries that only comprises third countries to add Japan, South Korea, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand. Arrivals from those countries can enter without quarantine.

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STA, 5 November 2020 - SPACE-SI, the Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies, posted on Thursday the first images made by their satellite Nemo HD, which was launched into space in early September.

The microsatellite, launched together with another Slovenian satellite on 3 September, will circle the Earth for the 1000th time this weekend, says SPACE-SI's website.

The centre posted what it termed "the first, historic image" the microsatellite made above eastern Slovenia on 18 September.

Although the image only shows clouds, the team is very happy that the sensitive optic system survived the pressure and acceleration during the launch.

The centre said that all of the satellite's vital systems were working well.

Nemo HD is producing panchromatic and multispectral images, helping monitor the Earth for agricultural, forestry, urbanist and maritime transport purposes.

The launch and calibration of the 65-kg satellite is expected to be completed at the end of December, to be followed by technological demonstrations.

Nemo HD and Trisat were launched as the first Slovenian satellites to be ever launch in space after a series of delays due to poor weather.

They are seen as an important milestone for Slovenia's and European space technology efforts.

The launch, which took place in French Guiana, was part of a project by the European space company Arianespace.

STA, 5 November 2020 - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has detected multiple corruption risks concerning the purchases of personal protective equipment in spring as part of a focused review of these purchases. It will launch its own inquiries and inform the competent authorities of suspected wrongdoing that it not within its purview.

The findings will be forwarded to the National Review Commission, the Market Inspectorate, the Court of Audit, police, Financial Administration and the Agency for Medicines, Commission president Robert Šumi told the press on Thursday.

He did not specify the persons or authorities that individual cases of suspected wrongdoing refer to beyond saying that the Commission will launch its own inquiries targeting several persons, including public officials, as early as this month.

Following a series of media reports about suspected irregularities in the purchases of protective face masks and ventilators in the earliest stages of the epidemic, the Commission launched a focused preliminary inquiry into the matter.

Šumi said that the Commission realised how grave and demanding the situation was at the time, which demanded swift and effective action.

"We also realise that the purchasing of protective equipment was conducted in extraordinary circumstances, when the need to buy protective equipment to protect the citizens was the priority. Nevertheless, we emphasise that even in such circumstances it is necessary to act responsibly, transparently and with a high degree of integrity."

The watchdog detected risks in all phases of PPE procurement, pertaining to unclarity as to the role of individual stakeholders in the process.

As a result, it also detected specific risks throughout the process of a lack of traceability and transparency, unequal treatment of bidders and selected contractors and influence peddling by unauthorised persons.

Since this would be outside its remit, the watchdog has not passed its opinion on purchases through intermediaries, but it has detected issues regarding the role of the Agency for Commodity Reserves.

The watchdog's Katja Mihelič Sušnik noted a lack of clarity as to the role of individuals involved in the selection and purchasing. However, Šumi said the commission is yet to examine accountability of individual persons.

The commission can also initiate a process for the protection of witnesses, something requested by Ivan Gale, a former employee at the Agency for Commodity Reserves who came forward with allegations of wrongdoing in spring.

The watchdog will try, within the scope of its powers, to establish a causal link between Gale's alleged disclosure and his recent dismissal from the job at the agency, said Šumi, adding that Gale had been subject to close examination by the watchdog as well as a person involved in the processes under examination.

The watchdog has acquired information on alleged wrongdoing based on media reports, complaints and public disclosure.

The oversight has been running since May 2020, involving extensive documentation, interviews with various individuals and meetings with organisations.

Mihelič Sušnik said the watchdog had not had difficulties in acquiring documents; the investigation focused on purchases of protective face masks and in part on ventilators.

The commission has issued 15 recommendations to the key stakeholders in the purchasing procedures, pertaining to detailed defining of roles of individual players, the quantities of purchases and the required proofs and selection measures and criteria, among other things.

The commission sent its report today to the government, the Agency for Commodity Reserves, the ministries involved in the PPE procurement procedures, and the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration.

The report contains tables of all 61 contracts and three purchase orders and tables listing the revenue of chosen suppliers, while it does not include the values of orders and supplies, said Mihelič Sušnik.

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: 

All pupils switching to distance learning

LJUBLJANA - After an extended two-week holiday, primary school pupils will not return to schools on Monday due to the coronavirus situation in Slovenia, as the government decreed that distance learning will be introduced once again for primary schools as well. This is after secondary schools switched to remote teaching this week. Kindergartens remain closed as well, but childcare will continue to be available to parents who work in vital services.

Lockdown restrictions extended, new exceptions added

LJUBLJANA - With the coronavirus situation remaining serious, the government extended restrictions on movement outside municipalities and gatherings for another week, while it allowed some more services and businesses to reopen from Friday. These are pedicure services, and specialised shops selling baby, childcare and mother care items, technical goods, cars, bicycles, furniture, photographic and photocopying services, watch and jewellery shops. Only one customer per 30 square metres is allowed.

All of Austria, Croatia, Hungary on Slovenia's quarantine list

LJUBLJANA - The government amended the coronavirus status of several countries as a result of which the whole of Croatia, Austria and Hungary plus Serbia will be on Slovenia's quarantine list starting from Monday, as will almost entire Italy with the exception of Calabria. Also moved to the red list were the whole of Serbia, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, the Vatican and San Marino. Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said the government advised against all non-essential travel outside the country.

Coronavirus cases down slightly but deaths and hospitalisations record high

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus infections fell to 1,685 on Wednesday from over 2,000 the day before, however, the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients and those in intensive care increased to new highs of 979 and 161, respectively. So did the daily death toll rise to a record 30. The share of positive tests decreased by four percentage points to 28% and the rolling 14-day average per 100,000 residents fell to 1,114, which government spokesman Jelko Kacin said was a good sign. The R0 fell to 1.11.

Violent protesters clash with police

LJUBLJANA - A violent protest originally organised by Anonymous Slovenia in Ljubljana saw protesters clashing with the police, using flares and throwing granite pavement cubes at the riot police. The police used a water cannon for the first time since 2012. Several persons were injured, including a photojournalist who had to seek medical assistance, and several police officers sustained light injuries. Ten of some 500 protesters were apprehended. Prime Minister Janez Janša tweeted support for the police officers. The organisers of Friday bicycle protests disavowed the protest beforehand.

Brussels projects Slovenia's GDP to contract 7.1% this year, rebound by 5.1% in 2021

LJUBLJANA - The European Commission forecast for Slovenia's economy to contract by 7.1% this year, roughly on par with its previous estimate. A rebound of 5.1% is expected in 2021, a percentage point lower than the forecast in July. The economy is expected to return to pre-coronavirus levels in 2022, when GDP growth is estimated to be at 3.8%, according to the Commission's autumn report. Job losses have been smaller than expected and the measures taken have avoided a surge in bankruptcies thanks to public policy measures, the commission said.

Centre-left coalition says Janša no longer fit to serve

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Arch Coalition (KUL), the recently formed initiative of four centre-left parties, said that PM Janez Janša lost all credibility in the international arena with his tweets on the US election. Such a person is not fit to serve as PM and even less so to lead the EU presidency next year, KUL wrote, saying that Janša has absolutely no regard for the values of democracy, coexistence and harmony that took decades to build.

Anti-graft commission detects corruption risk in PPE purchases

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has detected multiple corruption risks concerning the purchases of personal protective equipment in spring as part of a focused review of these purchases. It will launch its own inquiries as early as this month and inform the competent authorities of suspected wrongdoing that it not within its purview. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, a key official responsible for the procurement, responded by saying he had followed all rules and that the report would help improve proceedings in the future.

Govt approves aid for countries hit by pandemic

LJUBLJANA - The government approved humanitarian aid for developing countries and countries facing humanitarian crises during the coronavirus pandemic. EUR 45,000 will be allocated to the World Food Programme for the global Covid-19 response plan, and EUR 50,000 to address humanitarian needs in North Macedonia. Slovenia has so far contributed a total of EUR 1.22 million for response to Covid-19 in developing countries.

Slovenian MEPs welcome deal tying rule of law to EU funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Half of Slovenia's eight MEPs welcomed the agreement of the member states and the European Parliament tying the rule of law to states' access to funds. "The EU will no longer be a cash machine while its basic values are being trampled in some member states," Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) tweeted. Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD) labelled the agreement historic and so was the agreement welcomed by MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj (both Renew/LMŠ).

Judicial Council backs Ilešič, Brkan for Luxembourg posts

LJUBLJANA - The Judicial Council unanimously endorsed the bids of Marko Ilešič and Maja Brkan for the country's two spots at the EU's General Court in Luxembourg. This time, the council issued its opinion on the candidates in a shorter procedure, without interviewing them, and without assessing the other candidates that applied for the job. Slovenia's efforts to fill the two spots on the EU's General Court in Luxembourg began in June 2018, but so far no candidate got further than the vetting committee.

For unions, legislated minimum wage rise non-negotiable

LJUBLJANA - Trade unions are strongly against the possibility of freezing the 1 January 2021 rise in the minimum wage, as demanded by businesses and supported by the economy minister, with ZSSS confederation head Lidija Jerkič saying that the unions won't negotiate on it. Opposition was also expressed by the KSJS confederation of public sector trade unions, and the opposition Left. From 2021, the minimum wage is due to rise above the minimum cost of living.

Telekom revenue, profit down slightly in Jan-Sep

LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije, the majority state-owned telecoms incumbent, saw net sales decline by 4% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2020, to EUR 440 million. Net profit declined by 7% to EUR 27.4 million. Operating profit was up 7% to EUR 40.1 million and profit before income tax, amortisation and depreciation was down 1% to EUR 144.6 million. The figures exclude the media arm Planet TV, which has already been sold to TV2 in Hungary, and the Kosovo subsidiary Ipko, which was supposed to be sold by now but has not been after the sales procedure was terminated.

Slovenia's 2019 gross R&D spending record high

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) amounted to a record EUR 989.3 million in 2019, up 10.8% from 2018 and 5.8% more than the previous high in 2013, preliminary data released by the Statistics Office show. Last year thus saw the second consecutive rise in R&D spending - that of more than EUR 90 million in nominal terms and that of 10% in relative terms. R&D expenditure was higher in all sectors. Businesses accounted for 61% of the spending.

Banks at low to moderate risk to climate challenges

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian central bank's report on climate risks in Slovenia shows that banks are not greatly exposed to climate-related risks in the most climate-sensitive sectors, such as manufacturing, electricity production, transport and construction, or in relation to households. Their exposure shares range from 36% to 44%. Financial systems are faced with a new kind of risk stemming from climate change, which reflects in higher costs of natural disasters, which bring more physical risks.

Watchdog suspects collusion among four LPG providers

LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency said it had launched an investigation into potential collusion among energy companies Butan Plin, Ina Slovenija, Istrabenz Plini and Plinarna Maribor. They are suspected of having secretly agreed to only accept the returns of their own liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, to parcel up the LPG cylinders market. This could constitute orchestrated action that aims to prevent, hamper or distort competition in Slovenia and in a substantial part of the EU's internal market.

Metronik named Delo Business Star of the year

LJUBLJANA - Metronik, a Ljubljana-based company specialising in automation and digitalisation of production, critical infrastructure and smart buildings, was declared the 2020 Delo Business Star by the newspaper publisher. The company convinced the jury with its business results, success on foreign markets and sustainability. The readership choice award went to prefabricated house maker Marles Hiše Maribor.

Dismissed NBI head fails with motion to halt appointment of successor

LJUBLJANA - A court in charge of labour disputes has reportedly rejected the motion by the lawyer of Darko Muženič, the dismissed director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to halt the call for applications for his successor. According to a report by the newspaper Dnevnik, the reasoning is that although the Administrative Court found Muženič's May dismissal to have been illegal, it did not determine that he needed to be reinstated to the post.

Canada extradites Slovenian charged with sex trafficking

LJUBLJANA - Canada has extradited to Slovenia Sergej Racman, who was wanted on international arrest warrant on sex trafficking charges. Slovenian police said Wednesday evening the man had been handed to police after being deported from Canada and taken to the Koper prison. The former owner of the cinema chain operator Kolosej had been wanted under an Interpol Red Notice alert for his alleged role in a prostitution ring that was allegedly operating in the Marina Sauna Club near Nova Gorica.

First image by Slovenian satellite Nemo released

LJUBLJANA - SPACE-SI, the Slovenian Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies, posted the first images made by their satellite Nemo HD, which was launched into space in early September. The microsatellite, launched together with another Slovenian satellite on 3 September, will circle the Earth for the 1000th time this weekend, says SPACE-SI's website. The centre posted what it termed "the first, historic image" the microsatellite made above eastern Slovenia on 18 September.

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STA, 5 November 2020 - A violent protest organised above all by Anonymous Slovenia took place in Ljubljana city centre, with protesters clashing with the police, using flares and throwing granite pavement cubes at the riot police. The police have used a water cannon for the first time since 2012.

After clashes broke out in the afternoon in front of the Parliament House, the police pushed the protesters, there were several hundred, from the Republic Square, dispersing them along several streets in city centre. Some are rallying against the government, others against coronavirus measures.

Trying to bring the riot under control, the police also used a water cannon, while a police helicopter was circling over the city centre the whole time.

The protests caused some damage on buildings and other infrastructure, as rioters threw granite pavement, and also aimed flares and other pyrotechnical devices at the police, as well as yelling "sheep" and "crooks" at the police.

The head of the Ljubljana Police Administration Stanislav Vrečar said in the evening that some 500 people were protesting and that was clear that they had no interest in peaceful protests. Ten have been arrested.

He said that a fight that broke out around 5pm was the point marking when the protest turned into a riot. In addition to the water canon, gas was also used later in Prešeren Square, said Vrečar, adding that public order was reestablished at around 7pm.

Several police officers have been mildly injured, he said, but could not yet give a number as some were still working. Most of the injuries were caused by pavement cubes. "If a cube hits your helmet, that's a nasty concussion, believe me," he illustrated.

According to his information there were no severe injuries among the police or civilians. He said the Ljubljana police force was aided by officers from other parts of the country but would not give a number, as today's intervention is not yet over.

Prime Minister Janez Janša tweeted support for the police officers, saying that peaceful protests when there is no epidemic are a constitutional right, but riots and physical violence against the police are criminal acts. He commended the police for being professional.

Podpora @policija_si za profesionalno opravljeno delo, za varovanje premoženja in ljudi. Mirni protesti, ko ni epidemije in nevarnosti okužb, so ustavna pravica. Ragrajanje in fizično nasilje ter napadi na policiste pa so vedno in povsod kriminalna dejanja, ki bodo kaznovana. https://t.co/crQ17pnnzo

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) November 5, 2020

According to media reports, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs also expressed support for the police officers on the ground today. He attributed part of the responsibility for the protests turning violent to the media. "You've supported and fed them for months... and now here you have wounded police officers," he told a reporter of the commercial broadcaster POP TV.

The Ljubljana Police Administration has meanwhile said that the situation is under control.

Two civilians reportedly sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

Several media outlets reported that their news crews had been shoved around, while a photographer was reportedly injured.

The Slovenian Journalists' Association (DNS) condemned the violence, saying that a photojournalist had to seek medical aid at the emergency department after being attacked by as yet unknown perpetrator.

"We reiterate that any violence is unacceptable and that such conditions cannot become standard work risk environment for journalists and cameramen performing their mission of gathering and communicating information to the public, who deserve to be kept up t date," the DNS stated.

The association understands Hojs's comment that media share the responsibility for today's riots as pressure on the work of journalists and media, and as yet another attempt by the government to lay the blame for the epidemic and all that is bad at the media's door.

The Trade Union of Police Officers of Slovenia, one of the two biggest police unions, expressed concern today in a tweet over "irresponsible behaviour of individuals... acting violently, unaware of the consequences of their acts in what are demanding times health-wise".

The protest and riots were also condemned "in the strongest terms" by Defence Minister Matej Tonin, who tweeted that such conduct was at least irresponsible at a time when all efforts were devoted to fighting the virus and helping people and healthcare. "Violence has no place in Slovenian society, and cannot be acceptable even as expression of disagreement," the New Slovenia (NSi) leader tweeted.

Earlier this afternoon the protest movement organising the Friday bicycle protests against the government distanced itself from today's rally because some of the organisers called on people to disregard the health protection measures in place and to use violence.

RTV Slovenia's news portal also said that the Friday protestors had warned days ago that coronavirus-deniers and conspiracy theory groups had started calling to protests against the government.

Anonymous responded to this by tweeting that this was proof that the Friday protestors were not serious and did not really want Prime Minister Janez Janša gone.

Meanwhile, public gatherings in Slovenia are still capped to only six persons due to the coronavirus situation and with the country in second lockdown this year.