STA, 2 September 2020 - Police apprehended a group of 60 people who had illegally entered the country near the town of Semič in the south-east on Tuesday. The migrants come from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They were captured after a large number of persons were spotted in Srednja Vas at around 4pm, running towards Komarna Vas, the Novo Mesto police department said on Wednesday.

The illegal migrants were apprehended by police officers from Črnomelj, Dolenjske Toplice and the specialised unit for border control of the General Police Administration. A special unit of the Novo Mesto police department also took part in the operation.

The foreigners are still being processed by police.

Police chase vehicle with 16 migrants from Ilirska Bistrica to Italy

STA, 3 September 2020 - Slovenian police chased last evening a vehicle with Italian licence plates carrying 16 Eritrean citizens from the area of Ilriska Bistrica, a town in the south some 10km from Croatia, all the way to Italy, as the Spanish driver refused to pull over.

The Koper Police Department said on Thursday that several unsuccessful attempts had been made to stop it.

The vehicle then ran over a stinger spike system in the coastal town of Škofije, but the 21-year driver continued the journey despite flat tyres.

He finally stopped near the Italian town of Muggia over half an hour after the vehicle was first spotted at 9.30pm in a village near Ilirska Bistrica.

The driver fled, but was caught some 300 metres from the vehicle, while the group of illegal migrants and the driver were taken over by Italian police.

Earlier on Wednesday, a car with German licence plates driven by a 28-year-old Syrian citizen living legally in Germany was stopped in another village near Ilirska Bistrica, carrying five Eritreans.

Further east, near the town of Črnomelj, locals notified last evening the police of a van which carried 24 illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. While they tried but failed to escape, the driver managed to flee and has not yet been found.

STA, 3 September 2020 - Following a number of cancellations due to poor weather, the launch of Slovenia's first satellites, Trisat and Nemo HD, as part of a project by the European space company Arianespace, was successfully executed this morning.

Arianespace's Vega rocket, which carried a record 53 satellites from 13 countries, was successfully launched from French Guiana at 3:51am CET.

Both Slovenian satellites, which are an important milestone for the country's as well as European space technology efforts, have already been placed in the orbit, with Nemo HD circulating at 515 kilometres and Trisat at 530 kilometres above Earth.

Their first contacts with stations in Ljubljana and Maribor are expected to be established at 10:43am and 10:50am, respectively.

The head of the Trisat project Iztok Kramberger of the Maribor Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science told the STA a group of researchers had gathered at the faculty to follow the launch that had gone very smoothly.

"We're happy that this first hurdle is beaten. But now the real work only starts, we're only at the beginning," Kramberger said about the 4.4 kilo nanosatellite that is capable of taking multispectral images of Earth in short-wave infrared spectrum with a camera unlike any other in space at the moment.

It will primarily bring insights about how robust this new space technology is, while its images could help monitor things like sea pollution with oil stains or plastics, major fires or volcanic ash in the atmosphere for the needs of the aviation industry.

The Nemo HD is a 65-kilo micro-satellite, which will be producing panchromatic and multispectral images and will be able to do so in an interactive fashion.

It was developed by the Ljubljana-based Centre of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies (SPACE-SI) and will for instance help monitor the Earth for agricultural, forestry, urbanistic and maritime transport purposes.

The Slovenian satellites are part of the first test of the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) concept, which will allow larger number of satellites to be deployed in one go, meaning at a smaller cost.

Kramberger spoke of a confirmation that Slovenia focused on the right size and technology and "caught the right development wave".

SPACE-SI head Tomaž Rodič agrees: "It is above all a confirmation that our development strategy in the field of micro-satellites, drawn up over a decade ago, was right and allowed us to be part of a pioneering mission of the European Space Agency."

Amsterdam-based Slovenian astrophysicist Jure Japelj echoed this view as well, stressing that Trisat was built almost exclusively in Slovenia.

"Foreigners can notice this and in time this leads to bigger projects," said Japelj, while explaining the primary focus of the two satellites would for now be the testing of new technologies.

A response has also come from Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, who tweeted that "Slovenia has joined the group of countries with operative satellites in space, a top achievement that should make us extremely proud".

The Education, Science and Sport Ministry later joined the ministry in a statement welcoming the "exceptional success and achievement the launch of the satellites represent in the field of science and research."

President Borut Pahor also congratulated the Trisat team project and SPACE-SI for developing Nemo HD, "which has taken Slovenian scientific excellence to the stars".

The University of Maribor and SPACE-SI have confirmed that contacts had already been established with Nemo HD and Trisat, with both at around 10.45am.

The computer on Nemo HD is already up and running, while sensors are expected to be launched and calibrated in the course of three months, followed by technological demonstrations.

On Trisat, the first things to be checked are the status of batteries, solar panels, and later on, two-way communication and launch of the computer will be attempted. It could become fully operational in less than three months.

The University of Maribor added it was proud that the launch had finally been successful after more than a decade of development, and noted that the launch of a new satellite was planed for next year.

"The dream is not over. This is only a beginning," Kramberger told the press, with University Chancellor Zdravko Kačič adding that "it is a historic day ... with Slovenia becoming one of the countries capable of managing hi-tech which enables the launch of a satellite."

According to Kačič, the launch of the two satellites is an important step in the internationalisation of Slovenia's space industry, promotion of space engineering and encouraging international cooperation.

STA, 3 September 2020 - Lot Polish Airlines will temporarily suspend its Ljubljana-Warsaw flights this month, with the last flight scheduled for 16 September. Further flights will be suspended until the start of the winter season. Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Wizz Air has cancelled its plans to fly between Ljubljana and Belgium's Charleroi over the coming winter.

According to the Ex-Yu Aviation portal, Lot could still make changes to its plans for the winter season, which have not been confirmed yet.

The winter season starts at the end of October.

Dutch low-cost carrier Transavia will suspend its connection to Ljubljana as of 13 September as Slovenia has put the Netherlands on its red list of Covid-19 risky countries, but is to return to Brnik airport at the end of October.

While Brussels Airlines is expected to restore its flights to Brussels in the winter season after several delays, Wizz Air is not expected to fly to Belgium from Ljubljana this winter.

The final service this year between Charleroi and Ljubljana is scheduled for 24 October, with two weekly flights to be reinstated on 30 March next year.

Apart from Lot and Transavia, who will temporarily suspend flights, Air Serbia is currently flying from Ljubljana to Belgrade, Montenegro Airlines to Podgorica, Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Wizzair to Charleroi, Air France to Paris, Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and Easyjet to Berlin and London.

Aeroflot, which was to connect Ljubljana to Moscow, has not made its plans public yet. Finnair is expected to return in the 2021 summer season.

Current forecasts suggest Easyjet will not be flying to London's Luton and Stansted this summer season.

Lufthansa is expected to start flying to Munich and Swiss to Zurich in the 2021 summer season.

This year's cancellations also include Iberia's flights to Madrid, British Airways's to Heathrow, Windrose's flights to Kiev and Israir's to Tel Aviv.

STA, 2 September 2020 - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has condemned the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny, as the German government announced on Wednesday that the Russian opposition politician had been attacked in Russia with a chemical nerve agent.

"The use of the nerve agent to silence an opposition leader is unacceptable. We expect clarifications from the Russian Federation and its cooperation with the international community," the ministry said on Twitter.

Slovenian MFA ?? strongly condemns the proven poisoning of Alexei #Navalny. We expect Russian ?? authorities to immediately investigate this crime and cooperate with international community. @govSlovenia

— SLOVENIAN MFA (@MZZRS) September 2, 2020

The German government said today that testing, initiated by a hospital in Germany and performed by the German army, had clearly confirmed that Navalny had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the novichok group.

Slovenia ?? emphasises the importance of Chemical Weapons Convention and total prohibition of chemical weapons. Supporting Germany ?? in its intention to inform @OPCW about chemical attack on #Navalny. @govSlovenia @GermanyDiplo @vladaRS

— SLOVENIAN MFA (@MZZRS) September 2, 2020

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Russia needed to answer the questions about the poisoning, adding that Navalny was a victim of a criminal act.

Merkel said that it was an attempt to silence the opposition politician and condemned it in the strictest terms on behalf of the German government.

The Kremlin said over a spokesperson that it was willing and interested in fully cooperating with Germany in the Navalny case.

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:

Daily coronavirus count hits five-month high

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded a spike in coronavirus infections with the daily tally hitting 55 on Tuesday, a five month high, as 1,608 tests were performed, the highest daily number so far. One Covid-19 fatality was also reported, raising the death toll to 134. Slovenia has so far confirmed 2,979 coronavirus cases, of which 486 remain active, combined data from the government and the national Covid-19 tracker site show. Of the 26 patients hospitalised four are in intensive care.

Logar to set out foreign policy vision to diplomats

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar will set out the government's vision of foreign policy to Slovenian diplomats as they meet for their 24th annual meeting on Thursday and Wednesday. Judging by this year's Bled Strategic Forum, the country's foreign policy is becoming ever more ambitious, returning Slovenia to "the diplomatic map". The diplomats will also be addressed by President Borut Pahor, PM Janez Janša and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Slovenia strongly condemns poisoning of Alexei Navalny

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has condemned the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny, as the German government announced on Wednesday that the Russian opposition politician had been attacked in Russia with a chemical nerve agent. "The use of the nerve agent to silence an opposition leader is unacceptable. We expect clarifications from the Russian Federation and its cooperation with the international community," the ministry said on Twitter. The German government said testing performed by the German army had clearly confirmed that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent from the novichok group.

Poland wooing Slovenia to withdraw from Istanbul Convention

LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Delo reported that Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro had invited Slovenia to join Poland in withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty aimed at preventing violence against women. Poland, which finds the treaty "harmful" because it requires schools to teach children about gender, proposed to Slovenia that a new convention be drawn up. Slovenia signed the Istanbul Convention in 2011 and ratified it in 2015, the same year as Poland. The Slovenian Justice Ministry said it saw no reason to withdraw from the convention or to amend it, a stance which has been made clear to Poland as well.

National Review Commission cuts list of suitable bidders for Koper-Divača

LJUBLJANA - Acting upon complaints by two Slovenian builders, the National Review Commission has shortened the list of suitable bidders for the principal construction works on the new rail section from Divača to Koper. While some bidders will reportedly be asked to supplement their bids, one bidder each from Slovenia, Turkey, China and Austria remain in play. Deciding on complaints filed by Gorenjska Gradbena Družba and Kolektor CPG after the first screening by 2TDK, the state company managing the EUR 1 billion-plus project, the review commission agreed that bids by six of the nine companies targetted had indeed "not been examined by 2TDK in accordance with demands set down in connection with the tender".

Police to review NBI work in prostitution ring case upon state secretary's urging

LJUBLJANA - Acting upon instructions from Interior Ministry State Secretary Franc Kangler, the General Police Administration has announced an investigation into alleged illegal conduct in the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) cracking of a suspected prostitution ring in Nova Gorica in January 2019. While the Specialised State Prosecution filed in mid-2019 an indictment against 18 persons in connection with the ring that was operating in the Marina Sauna club near Nova Gorica, the Koper District Court has excluded several pieces of evidence suspected to have been obtained illegally.

DeSUS deputy group head expects new party president next week

LJUBLJANA - While two camps within the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) remain at odds about whether the party council can dismiss president Aleksandra Pivec, the head of deputy group, Franc Jurša, expressed the belief that the council will appoint a new interim head next week, implying that Health Minister Tomaž Gantar is among the candidates. "We cannot be without leadership, this is a fact, and we need to resolve this at the council meeting," Jurša told the STA, while not wanting to discuss names, saying these would be discussed at the council meeting.

Janša supports Czechia in Taiwan row with China

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša has expressed support for the Czech Republic after a visit by a senior Czech official to Taiwan has upset China, saying on Wednesday that "Slovenia stands by the Czech Republic". "EU-China relations are based on dialogue and mutual respect. Threats directed at one of the EU members and its representatives contradict the very essence of our partnership and as such are unacceptable," reads Janša's tweet on Wednesday, the same statement that Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputova used in a tweet yesterday. Slovenia accepts the One-China policy and does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is however defined as an important market for Slovenia.

Hungary's border closure a problem for Slovenian minority

SZENTGOTTHARD - After Hungary closed its border for foreign citizens on Tuesday to contain the coronavirus, the Slovenian ethnic minority there would like the country to open one smaller border crossing with Slovenia, the Ketvolgy/Verica-Čepinci one, saying it would considerably facilitate communication with Slovenia. Like during the Covid-19 pandemic in spring when the borders were closed, all three borders crossings in the area populated by the Slovenian minority are now closed. This is a problem for many teachers from Slovenia who help teach at minority schools in the Raba river basin and for all the others commuting daily to work.

IPI worried about media freedom in Slovenia

VIENNA, Austria - Having analysed the state of mass media in Slovenia since the Janez Janša government took over in mid-March, the International Press Institute (IPI) found that "few countries in Europe have experienced such a swift downturn in press and media freedom after a new government came to power". The IPI report, published on 1 September, notes the government's plan to de-fund public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and Janša's attempt to expand his party's pro-government media system, urging the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe to follow the developments in Slovenia.

Austrian Chancellor Kurz due in Ljubljana on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is to visit Ljubljana next Tuesday for talks with his Slovenian counterpart Janez Janša, the prime minister's office confirmed. The talks are expected to focus on topical EU issues, as well as bilateral cooperation in the light of Covid-19 and illegal migrations. The Austrian press agency APA reported that Kurz will travel to Ljubljana to coordinate with Janša ahead of the EU summit scheduled for 24 and 25 September.

Private and public health institutions eligible for funds to cut waiting times

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry has decided to invite both public and private health services providers to help cut waiting times for patients. Both will be able to participate in a call for applications worth EUR 42 million under equal terms, Minister Tomaž Gantar said on Wednesday. He said EUR 14 million would be available by the end of the year. The public call for applications will be published this month and the funds will be available by the end of next year. The government plans to allocate EUR 14 million for these efforts this year, while the remaining EUR 28 million will partly come from the EU.

FURS boss replacement triggers speculation of political staffing

LJUBLJANA - Following early dismissal on Monday of Financial Administration (FURS) boss Peter Jenko and the appointment of Finance Ministry State Secretary Irena Nunčič in his stead has triggered media speculation that the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) are taking control of the tax office. The newspaper Dnevnik reported that Nunčič was a vocal supporter and member of the SDS, while public broadcaster TV Slovenija said that Jenko had allegedly been replaced in relation to the invesigation into the procurement of medical ventilators from company Geneplanet.

Pipistrel takes orders for autonomous cargo aircraft

AJDOVŠČINA - The Ajdovščina-based ultra light plane developer Pipistrel announced it had started accepting orders for a new series of electric aircraft Nuuva. The flagship Nuuva V300 is a long-range large-capacity heavy-weight autonomous vessel for logistics and aerial cargo delivery. It operates ten times more economically than helicopters and requires no runways. The highly customizable autonomous aircraft can carry up to 460 kg. Entry into service is planned for the second half of 2023.

ITC and pharmaceutical companies pay leaders

LJUBLJANA - ITC and pharmaceutical companies continued to dominate the business paper Finance's list of top 100 companies in terms of pay. However, Microsoft Slovenija, which topped the ranking for several years, was overtaken by SAP, whose 36 employees' monthly gross pay averaged over EUR 10,100 in 2019. Microsoft's Slovenian business, which had 55 employees with average gross monthly pay of almost EUR 8,850, placed second and Merck Sharp & Dohme (EUR 7,900 gross) third.

Court orders debt restructuring at newsstand operator

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court ordered a court-mandated debt restructuring for newsstand operator Delo Prodaja on Wednesday on the proposal by Luxembourg-based York Global Finance Offshore BDH and with agreement of Delo Prodaja. Creditors have until 2 October to report liabilities to receiver Miha Mušič, according to the AJPES agency for public legal records. York Global Finance Offshore filed for debt restructuring in late July stating Delo Prodaja had been in violation of the 2017 financial restructuring agreement. Claims, by York as well, had fallen due, while Delo Prodaja was insolvent.

Cigarette prices to go up by almost 5% in October

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Ministry proposes a hike in excise duties that entails a 4.8% increase in the average price of a pack of cigarettes in October. The prices of other tobacco products will also go up, while heat-not-burn products and electronic cigarettes will not be affected. The rise is expected to bring in an additional EUR 18 million a year. Under the proposal, to be discussed by the government at a forthcoming session, excise duty per 1,000 cigarettes will increase from 114 to 120 euro.

Police apprehend 60 migrants in south-east

NOVO MESTO - Police apprehended a group of 60 people who had illegally entered the country near the town of Semič in the south-east on Tuesday. The migrants come from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The foreigners are still being processed by police.

Cross-border workers push for legislative changes

LJUBLJANA - The trade union representing commuting migrant workers started collecting voter signatures on Monday in support for changes to legislative provisions that limit unemployment allowances paid by the host state and provisions allowing a double levying of income tax. The Trade Union of Slovenian Migrant Workers has been protesting against rules that mostly affect Slovenian commuters to Austria for four years. It hopes for support from the ruling Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi), which had been pushing for changes when still in opposition.

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

STA, 2 September 2020 - Acting upon instructions from Interior Ministry State Secretary Franc Kangler, the General Police Administration has announced an investigation into alleged illegal conduct in the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) cracking of a suspected prostitution ring in Nova Gorica in January 2019.

While the Specialised State Prosecution filed in mid-2019 an indictment against 18 persons in connection with the ring that was operating in the Marina Sauna club near Nova Gorica, the Koper District Court has excluded several pieces of evidence suspected to have been obtained illegally.

Kangler, a former police officer and ex-Maribor mayor who has had several cases against him dropped over faulty police work, confirmed on Tuesday he had written to acting Police Commissioner Andrej Jurič about the court decision and asked him to take action.

Kangler said the NBI, which worked on the case for several years, had forged documents, conducted house searches without warrants, monitored and photographed the lawyers of the defendants and illegally violated privacy.

Photos Facebook

 While POP TV reported that the prosecution has appealed against the exclusion of the evidence, Kangler rejected he was interfering in cases that are open in court. He said he had written to the police, whose investigation of the Marina case was closed, and not to the prosecution or court.

Kangler moreover rejected interpretations he was interfering because one of the suspects was his acquaintance, arguing his motive was merely to come to the bottom of the illegal actions of the criminal police.

"The most high-profile case in recent years is in danger of falling through because of illegal work on the part of the NBI," said Kangler, whose letter to Jurič came in the wake of a request for a police review of several more high-profile NBI cases on the part of Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.

Sergej Racman Wanted for Sex Trafficking Arrested in Canada

The General Police Administration said today that Kangler had forwarded to them a complaint filed by a citizen over alleged NBI irregularities in the investigation of the Marina club.

Announcing an internal security procedure and potential follow-up actions, the police said that Kangler's demand for a report shows that the matter is exclusively about establishing potential systemic irregularities.

The police added Kangler feels there is reason to suspect that certain NBI investigators committed acts that are prosecuted ex officio. "This is why he expects that we notify the Specialised State Prosecution," the General Police Administration wrote.

All our stories on prostitution in Slovenia

STA, 2 September 2020 - Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has invited Slovenia in a letter to join Poland in withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty aimed at preventing violence against women, the newspaper Delo reported on Wednesday.

Poland, which finds the treaty "harmful" because it requires schools to teach children about gender, proposed to Slovenia that a new convention be drawn up.

Several versions of the new convention were reportedly mentioned, including one that would promote protection of children in the face of moral corruption and the definition of a child based on the 1989 UN convention but with an addition that the child's life starts at conception.

It would also include a definition of the family as exclusively one consisting of a father, mother and a child or children, and the possibility of marriage only between a man and woman.

Ziobro has labelled the Istanbul Convention a feminist invention that wants to justify homosexual ideology. He announced Poland's intention to withdraw from the convention at the end of July, thus causing a stir both in Poland and abroad.

Thousands of Polish people gathered at protests around the country, and the EU and the Council of Europe expressed regret at the decision.

The Istanbul Convention is the first internationally binding instrument for prevention of violence against women, from rape to domestic violence and genital mutilation. It has been drawn up by the Council of Europe, the oldest human rights organisation in Europe.

Slovenia signed the convention in 2011 and ratified it in 2015, the same year as Poland.

In Slovenia, 80 MPs of the 90-member parliament voted in favour of the ratification. The EU signed the convention in June 2017.

After signing the convention, Slovenia amended the act on preventing domestic violence and explicitly banned corporal punishment of children.

The government has not stated its opinion on the convention yet, but MP of the ruling Democrats (SDS) Branko Grims, who according to Delo voted in favour of the ratification in 2014, commented on Poland's announcement on Twitter in July by saying that Slovenia too should withdraw from the convention.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry told the STA later in the day that it had received Poland's letter. However, the ministry sees no reason to withdraw from the convention or to amend it, a stance which has been made clear to Poland as well.

The ministry received the letter on 25 August and its reply reads that the convention is an important international legal instrument regarding preventing and tackling domestic violence and violence against women.

"The ministry believes that the convention sets good foundations for facing societal challenges and paves the way for values, such as equality and decency for all our citizens," said the ministry, adding that international law, EU law and Slovenia's law ensure appropriate legal frameworks in this area.

Hence, the ministry does not see any reason to come up with a different treaty. Moreover, changes proposed by Poland would entail amendments to Slovenia's law and constitution.

The letter has been sent to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities, said the Justice Ministry, since it concerns relevant issues for the former ministry as well.

The Modern Centre Party (SMC), of which Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič is a member, said earlier that withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention would be unacceptable.

"Slovenia as a state should not be even considering that," said Janja Sluga of the SMC, highlighting that the convention primarily aimed to ensure a Europe without violence against women and children and to protect decency and equality of all citizens.

Poland's initiative jeopardises Slovenia's constitutional and legal system, she said, adding that it would push us back to the dark times when women and children's abuse was a norm.

Asked whether the government could withdraw from the convention on its own even though it was parliament who had ratified it, she said that the question should be addressed to parliament.

STA, 2 September 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has expressed support for the Czech Republic after a visit by a senior Czech official to Taiwan has upset China, saying on Wednesday that "Slovenia stands by the Czech Republic".

"EU-China relations are based on dialogue and mutual respect. Threats directed at one of the EU members and its representatives contradict the very essence of our partnership and as such are unacceptable," reads Janša's tweet on Wednesday, the same statement that Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputova used in a tweet yesterday.

#Slovenia stands by the #CzechRepublic. #EU-#China relations are based on dialogue and mutual respect. Threats directed at one of the EU members and its representatives contradict the very essence of our partnership and as such are unacceptable. @AndrejBabis

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) September 2, 2020

Czech Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil and a roughly 90-member delegation started a six-day official visit to Taiwan on Sunday despite China's protest against official contact with the island, which China considers a breakaway province.

Vystrcil, a member of the right-wing opposition Civil Democrats, is the highest-level Czech politician to visit Taiwan to date although the country does not have formal diplomatic relations with it and supports the One-China policy.

China labelled his visit a violation of China's sovereignty, saying he would "pay a high price for his short-sighted behaviour and political speculation".

The threat prompted the Czech Republic to summon the Chinese ambassador to express disapproval of the statement.

Slovenia accepts the One-China policy and does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is however defined as an important market for Slovenia.

STA, 2 September 2020 - The International Press Institute (IPI) has analysed the state of mass media in Slovenia since the new, Janez Janša government took over in mid-March, saying that "few countries in Europe have experienced such a swift downturn in press and media freedom after a new government came to power".

Headlined New Administration, Old Agenda: Press Freedom Strained Again in Slovenia under Veteran PM Janša, the report, posted on IPI's website on 1 September, says that in the last six months, Janša "has immediately renewed long-standing grievances with the press and denigrated critical media outlets".

It adds that experts say he has launched a series of attacks on reporters on Twitter, enabling a wider increase in digital harassment from online trolls and contributing to an increasingly hostile climate for watchdog journalism.

Janša's attacks and willingness to denounce critical reporting as fake news have also drawn parallels with other leaders and brought Slovenia to the attention of press freedom groups, the OSCE and top EU bodies, IPI, headquartered in Austria's Vienna, says in its introduction to the report.

It points out that the ruling right-wing Democratic Party (SDS) is trying to exert greater influence over the country's small media market as part of what it claims is an effort to promote greater media pluralism.

It notes the government plan to introduce legislation to de-fund public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and Janša's attempt to expand his party's pro-government media system, chiefly NovaTV24.si, much of which are funded by Hungarian media linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The report says these developments raise concerns the Orban system of media control could be exported to Slovenia, although it believes it is premature to believe that Slovenia will become another illiberal democracy similar to Hungary.

Nevertheless, the export of Hungarian methods to Slovenia and other Central and SE European countries should worry EU leaders, so the report says the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe should carefully follow the developments in Slovenia and react to possible new violations of media freedom.

The media organisation says that while Slovenia was previously considered a relative safe haven for independent journalism, it is now witnessing "a worrying decline in press freedom" in a rather short period of time.

IPI says that journalists are now working in a far more antagonistic climate, one in which staunch criticism of the prime minister risks immediate rebuke, while Janša's attacks on journalists and media outlets are according to observers corroding public discourse and worsening polarisation.

Should only few changes be made to the draft amendments to the RTV Slovenija act and to Slovenian Press Agency act after the public consultation period for them expires on Friday, "the overhaul of the country's media space will have gained considerable momentum" in the coming weeks, says IPI.

Its report in English is available at https://ipi.media/new-administration-old-agenda-press-freedom-strained-again-in-slovenia-under-veteran-pm-jansa/

STA, 2 September 2020 - Slovenia has recorded a spike in coronavirus infections with the daily tally hitting 55 on Tuesday, a five month high, as one more Covid-19 patient died, government data show.

The latest cases come from 1,608 tests, the highest daily number so far.

The number of Covid-19 hospitalisations increased by one to 26 as two patients were discharged home yesterday. Four patients are intensive care, one more than the day before.

The latest infections bring Slovenia's overall tally of cases to 2,979, of which 486 are still active, and the death toll to 134, data from tracker site covid-19.sledilnik.org show.

The government's chief Covid-19 advisor, Bojana Beović, is concerned about the spike in infections coinciding with the start of the new school year.

"That's what we had been trying to prevent, and we've obviously not been successful (...) as soon as infections spread in schools, classes, schools will have to be closed," she said, appealing on schools to exert caution and implement precautionary measures.

She believes the latest infections come from sources originating abroad.

She warned that restrictions would have to be stepped up if the infections continue to grow, suggesting those should best be imposed "where problems occur".

Concern about the high number of infections was also expressed by Health Minister Tomaž Gantar.

The latest cases include two residents of the Črneče care home in the northern Koroška region, which has now four infected elderly residents but no infections among staff, according to the facility director Srečko Mlačnik.

The infection was brought into the home, which takes care of about 255 elderly persons, by a newly admitted resident, who only developed symptoms later.