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: 

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: 

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: 

Officers from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland to help police border with Croatia

LJUBLJANA - Police officers from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland will join Slovenian officers in patrolling the border with Croatia from Monday, the Interior Ministry announced. Five officers from Estonia, six from Lithuania and ten from Poland will initially arrive under memorandums of understanding that Slovenia has signed with these countries. The joint patrols will be led by Slovenian police. The ministry said preliminary briefings had been organised at which the guest officers were acquainted with the current situation on the border and their powers in accordance with the law.

Janša says best social policy is job creation

PORTO, Portigal - PM Janez Janša said as he arrived at the Porto Social Summit, where EU leaders debate the European Pillar of Social Rights, that the best social policy was the policy of creating new, well-paid jobs. Such a social policy demands an education system that not only gives the young a lot of know-how but foremost teaches them what to pick from the knowledge available today and how to use this knowledge in an innovative way, he said. EU leaders will hold an informal summit on Saturday to adopt a special statement, in what is the first live summit of EU leaders since the December 2020 summit.

Tonin meets Stoltenberg to discuss defence investments

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Matej Tonin presented to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Slovenia's defence reforms, plans to raise defence spending, and investments into the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) with the focus on meeting the country's commitments towards NATO. Tonin told Stoltenberg in Brussels that SAF can count on EUR 780 million in 2021-2026 for investments to get modernised, the Defence Ministry said. He outlined Slovenia's plans to increase defence spending to 1.5% of the country's GDP in 2024. Stoltenberg welcomed the ministry and government's achievements over the past year, stressing the role of continuing with the positive trends in meeting obligations and sharing burdens. The pair also discussed NATO-EU cooperation and the priorities of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency in defence.

Logar, Kaiser talk current topics, future cooperation projects

KLAGENFURT, Austria - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Governor of Carinthia Peter Kaiser met to discuss a number of topics, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the situation of the Slovenian minority in Austria and the German-speaking community in Slovenia. They also talked about the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU presidency. Kaiser described the meeting as a friendly talk oriented towards the future, and Logar added that Slovenia and Austria were "partner countries with significant trade in goods and services".

Speaker yet to decide on resignation amid speculation about hung parliament

LJUBLJANA - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič expressed surprise after the ruling coalition voted against his proposal for the vote on their proposal for his dismissal to be held as early as next Wednesday, which would be the first possible date. The three coalition parties put forward a motion for Zorčič's dismissal on Thursday after presenting him with an ultimatum the day before that he resign or be dismissed, but rejected his today's proposal to put the motion to vote next week. Zorčič also said he had not yet decided whether he might step down himself as there was more than enough time for him to do so.

Constitutional Court upholds Sunday shopping ban

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court ruled the legislative amendments that ban most shops from being open on Sundays is not in contravention of the constitution as claimed by several retail companies. In a unanimous decision, it held that the right to free enterprise invoked by the petitioners may be limited if a public interest such as protection of health is proven. The court also threw out a petition to examine provisions on fines of between EUR 1,000 and 100,000 for companies and sole proprietors that violate working time rules. The decision was welcomed by the opposition Left, which had petitioned the court, with the Chamber of Commerce (TZS) saying it will be respected.

STA director announces legal action against prime minister

LJUBLJANA - STA director Bojan Veselinovič announced legal action against PM Janez Janša after he implied on Twitter that Veselinovič had been involved in the "murder" of a former STA editor-in-chief more than a decade ago. What Janša wrote exceeds all boundaries, Veselinovič told the TV Slovenija current affairs show Tarča on Thursday evening. The decision comes after Janša wrote on Twitter: "Incredible for 21st century EU that an accomplice in the murder of a journalist still leads the STA and gets EUR 8,500 per month." Veselinovič will press criminal charges as a private plaintiff and lodge a civil defamation suit, an announcement to which Janša responded by tweeting: "Finally. Bullying a journalist who then died must get a closure in court."

Energy sector facing huge challenge in green transition

LJUBLJANA - As debate continues in Slovenia on a coal phaseout strategy, Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak said it will be a huge challenge for the Slovenia energy industry to make up for the loss of key sources of energy while having to meet growing needs. The debate, hosted by the upper chamber of parliament, comes amid growing concerns that due to rising costs of emission coupons, Slovenia could be forced to close down coal-fired power station TEŠ even earlier than in 2033, while the Krško nuclear power plant will close in 2023 if it does not get an environment permit for a 20-year extenstion. "This means we'll lose more than two-thirds of the production sources. At the same time we must set off those losses and increase our production by 50% due to increased consumption," he said.

Motion to impeach Janša on parliament's agenda in 10 days

LJUBLJANA - MPs will vote on an impeachment motion against PM Janez Janša at a parliamentary session starting on Monday, 17 May, the college of deputy leaders decided. The motion was filed in early April by the centre-left opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), which accuse Janša of violating several articles of the constitution and laws, pertaining to healthcare, media, prosecution and human and constitutional rights.

Pahor proposes Ilešič for another term at Court of the EU

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor proposed that the National Assembly appoint Marko Ilešič the Slovenian judge at the Court of the EU in Luxembourg for another term. The president's office said Ilešič was a "respected long-serving justice of the Court of the EU". A public presentation of the candidacy is scheduled for Monday.

Zorčič and Lenarčič highlight European values, media freedom ahead of Europe Day

LJUBLJANA - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič and European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič spoke about the importance of common European values, democracy, the rule of law and media freedom as they marked Europe Day. Zorčič pointed out that the ideas that led to the unification of Europe, particularly solidarity, are still important today. Lenarčič stressed that being European means belonging to a community based on shared values, especially democracy, human rights and the rule of law, but also solidarity.

606 coronavirus infections on Thursday, three deaths

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 606 coronavirus infections for Thursday, a drop of 36% on the same day a week ago, to push the 7-day average down further to 680. Three Covid-19 patients died. Government data show that 4,029 PCR tests were performed yesterday, of which 15% came back positive. The situation at hospitals keeps improving after 52 Covid-19 patients were discharged yesterday, reducing hospitalisations by 13 to 538. But ICU cases rose by two to 141. The cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents is at 440.5.

UKC Maribor hospital gets new head

MARIBOR - The council of UKC Maribor, the country's second largest hospital, appointed Anton Crnjac as the hospital's new director. Crnjac, who has already served as the medical director, was the only candidate for the post. If endorsed by the government, he will succeed Vojsko Flis, whose term ends on 19 June and did not run for another term. Crnjac was backed in a 10:1 vote. The council's head Kazimir Miksić said Crnjac was a top expert and a manager who knew the hospital's problems and possible solutions.

Mladina under investigation for running classified recovery plan

LJUBLJANA - The weekly Mladina has been been asked by police to provide information on how it got hold of classified documents revealing the content of the draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan which the magazine published on its website in February. It was after this that the government decided to declassify the document in late February, something the opposition had long been calling for. Mladina considers the investigation an attempt to intimidate it.

Slovenia below EU average in reducing CO2 emissions

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Slovenia was below the EU average in terms of its reduction in CO2 emissions last year. Preliminary data show that the EU average was at 10%, whereas Slovenia managed to cut CO2 emissions by 6%, Eurostat has reported. The overall reduction in the EU and in member states is attributed mostly to measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, which significantly slowed down economic activity.

Slovenia's Uroš Seljak wins Gruber Prize in Cosmology

NEW HAVEN, US - Uroš Seljak, a Slovenian physicist, cosmologist and astronomy professor at the University of California, Berkeley is among the recipients of this year's Gruber Prize in Cosmology. Seljak will share the US$500,000 prize with his colleagues Marc Kamionowski of Johns Hopkins University from Baltimore and Matias Zaldarriga of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. The accolade honours their contribution in developing methods of key importance for studying the creation of the universe which date back to 1997, when the trio worked on the cosmic microwave background and radiation from the primordial plasma.

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This summary is provide by the STA: 

Committee green light for transportation platforms

LJUBLJANA - The Infrastructure Committee endorsed amendments to the act on road transport that create the legal basis for transportation platforms such as Uber or Lyft, changes that the government argues will facilitate the digitalisation of the transport sector. The proposal sets down that drivers using digital platforms would need to get a licence, just like regular taxi drivers, whereas taximeters would no longer be mandatory for taxi drivers, who would be allowed to use software solutions.

Divača-Koper construction symbolically launched

DEKANI - Construction of currently the largest infrastructure project in the country was symbolically launched as ground was broken on the 27-km Divača-Koper rail track and the final contract to build one of its two sections, from Divača to Črni Kal, was signed. The project is valued at just below EUR 1 billion and will be built by a consortium led by the Slovenian company Kolektor CPG. "The die has been cast, the second rail track is being built from today," said Infrastructure Minster Jernej Vrtovec.

April's registered joblessness drops by almost 11% y/y

LJUBLJANA - Just over 79,000 were registered as unemployed at the end of April, down 10.6% over the year before and 4.1% compared to March, the Employment Service said. The number of newly unemployed, at 3,890, was down almost 15% compared to March and as much as 73% lower than in April 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. Of the 7,243 that were deregistered, more than three-quarters found a job or became self-employed.

Government proposing a series of tax tweaks

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted amendments to three tax laws in a bid to reduce labour taxation and help businesses and individuals in the post-Covid recovery, including by increasing the general personal income allowance, reducing tax on capital and reducing red tape. The amendments are to be implemented on 1 January 2022. The Finance Ministry said one of the goals of the amendments is to create a friendly administrative framework and tax certainty.

Coalition in new attempt to replace speaker

LJUBLJANA - National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič was urged to step down by the start of next week or else the ruling coalition will bring another motion to dismiss him. The call had been signed by 47 MPs from the three coalition parties, the opposition SNS and DeSUS plus both minority MPs. Zorčič plans to talk it over with some MPs before deciding whether to resign or stay on and let parliament try to dismiss him.

MEPs urge Pahor to act to mend atmosphere in the country

LJUBLJANA - Four MEPs from Slovenia, Milan Brglez, Franc Bogovič, Tanja Fajon and Ljudmila Novak, expressed their concern over the psychosocial situation and the general social atmosphere in Slovenia in a letter addressed to President Borut Pahor. They urged him to use his authority to calm down "the passions and create a social atmosphere of dialogue, respectful expressing of disagreement and criticism". They fear a further deterioration could hamper the functioning of the state.

Changes redefining sexual violence adopted on committee

LJUBLJANA - The Justice Committee unanimously adopted amendments to the penal code redefining sexual violence. Judges, prosecutors and lawyers had opposed the changes, saying there is nothing wrong with the existing legislation. But MPs sided with the organisations which work with victims of sex crimes. Under the changes, rape will no longer have to involve force, as the changes incriminate interference in sexual integrity without consent.

Experts propose reimbursement scheme over bail-in

LJUBLJANA - A group of experts commissioned by the Slovenian central bank to draw up solutions for junior bond- and share-holders wiped out in the 2013 bank bailout sees a reimbursement scheme as the most suitable solution where the state would take on the financial burden. Banka Slovenije Governor Boštjan Vasle said the solution had already been presented to deputy factions. The MDS association of small shareholders welcomed the solution, which would involve an out-of court settlement.

Over 900 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 929 new cases of coronavirus from 4,750 PCR tests on Tuesday. Six patients with Covid-19 died, show the latest government data. The situation in hospitals continued to improve as the overall number of patients declined by 24 to 560, of whom 141 were in intensive care, down by two. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population was at 452, down slightly on the day before.

EUR 2bn investment in healthcare planned by 2031

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry is proposing almost EUR 2 billion worth of investments in healthcare over the next ten years, according to a draft bill designed to make the Slovenian health system resilient and prepared for future challenges and additional pressures on the health system in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and in view of the population's ageing and to make it prepared for potential new outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Jaklitsch meets Hungarian minority official

LJUBLJANA - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch met Ministerial Commissioner for Hungary's Neighbourhood Policy Ferenc Kalmar to discuss challenges and open issues regarding the Slovenian and Hungarian ethnic minorities in Hungary and Slovenia, respectively, including bilinguality and economic development. The pair also talked about activities to prepare the next meeting of the Slovenian-Hungarian commission which monitors implementation of minority rights.

Work on largest solar power plant in Slovenia to start soon

LJUBLJANA - The power utility HSE will launch in July construction of what will be the largest solar power plant in the country. The 3.04 MW installation will be built atop a landfill near Hrastnik, after HSE. "Prapretno is the first megawatt-plus solar power plant in Slovenia. It will cover the annual demand for electricity of around 800 average Slovenian households," the company said.

Govt joins forces with Google to help small business

LJUBLJANA - The Economy Ministry joined forces with US tech giant Google to help some 5,000 small businesses and individuals in Slovenia recover from the coronavirus pandemic and promote the digital transformation. Called Grow Slovenia with Google, the initiative involves Google and local partners providing free workshops on digital skills, digital marketing, artificial intelligence and how to penetrate foreign markets, the company said.

Steel group exec appointed new GZS chairman

LJUBLJANA - Tibor Šimonka, a senior vice-president of the steel group SIJ, was elected new chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) for the next two years to succeed Boštjan Gorjup, CEO of BSH Hišni Aparati, whose term ends on 27 May. As his main priorities, Šimonka identified green transition, support for digitalisation, innovation, research and development, helping GZS members to make use of financial funds, internationalisation and employee career development.

Krško back online after scheduled maintenance

KRŠKO - The Krško Nuclear Power Station has been brought back online after a month-long scheduled maintenance. The maintenance work comprised some 40,000 activities, including the replacement of 56 of the 121 fuel rods, verification of the integrity of key components such as the reactor vessel and steam generator, and maintenance of electrical installations and instruments.

Salonit ups revenue by 3% to EUR 78.5 million

ANHOVO - The cement producer Salonit increased its revenue by 3% to EUR 78.5 million last year. The company said it had managed to achieve most of the growth on the Slovenian market, where it holds a 50% market share, as sales there were up by almost 7% to EUR 42.5 million. Salonit posted almost EUR
11 million in net profit, which is less than the record high EUR 15 million posted in 2019.

Marina Portorož gets a new owner

PORTOROŽ - The spa operator Terme Čatež announced the sale of Marina Portorož had been finalised on 4 May, but failed to disclose the buyer. Meanwhile, the consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers, which conducted the procedure, named the buyer as Luka Lucija, a Ljubljana-based holding company that is owned by the Slovenian investment fund Cirus 1. The value of the deal remains confidential, but the public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported on Tuesday that the owner of Cirus 1 had paid EUR 15-20 million for the marina.

Slovenian-curated show on ex-Yugoslav art opens at MAXXI

ROME, Italy - A major exhibition put together by Slovenian curator Zdenka Badovinac and showcasing contemporary art from the region of the former Yugoslavia has been put on display at the MAXXI museum in Rome. Entitled Bigger than Myself. Voices of Heroes from Ex-Yugoslavia, the show involves more than 50 artists from countries of the former Yugoslavia, including more than ten directly linked with Slovenia.

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EU-Turkey ties high on agenda as Cavusoglu visits Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's positions on issues relevant to EU-Turkey relations and its EU presidency priorities topped the agenda aside from bilateral relations as FM Anže Logar hosted his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. They dedicated a great part of their meeting to plans to boost bilateral cooperation, in particular direct investment, and to balance bilateral goods trade. Cavusoglu also met President Borut Pahor and PM Janez Janša, with the talks with the latter revolving around bilateral relations, EU presidency preparations, the situation in the east Mediterranean and other current issues.

Pahor to host regional summit on 17 May

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian President Borut Pahor will host the leaders of the Brdo-Brijuni process of enhanced cooperation in the Western Balkans for a summit at Brdo estate on 17 May as he continues to meet them separately in the run-up to the event. Pahor will meet his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Đukanović in Podgorica on Wednesday before travelling on to Tirana for talks with Albanian President Ilir Meta on Thursday, his office announced.

Coronavirus cases ticking up again

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 894 coronavirus cases for Monday in the second day the case count has been up week-on-week as pressure on hospitals has been somewhat relieved. Four Covid-19 patients died, government figures show. Hospitalisations declined by 24 to 584 after 74 patients were discharged yesterday. So has the number of patients in intensive care units fallen by four to 143. The 7-day average of new cases rose further to 675.

Standoff on redistribution of seats on working bodies continues

LJUBLJANA - A proposal to reshuffle parliamentary working bodies to accommodate four unaffiliated MPs, including the speaker of parliament, who have recently defected from the Modern Centre Party (SMC) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) was rejected for the third time today. The vote prompted the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) to announce they would boycott the parliament's work with the exception of major votes such as the forthcoming impeachment motion. The remaining opposition factions meanwhile argued a boycott would be counter-productive and pave the way for fast-tracking of legislation.

EU funds for vaccination booking system

LJUBLJANA - The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 1.5 million in EU funds for IT support for a centralised system to book Covid-19 vaccination appointments at the primary level. Announcing the grant, the office said the project, run by the Health Ministry, would guarantee safety and equal treatment of patients through a single vaccination booking solution.

Ministry says only quality journalism worth strengthening

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Culture Ministry has marked World Press Freedom Day, observed yesterday, with a message saying that press freedom should be pursued every day throughout the year, and that it is important to strengthen only quality journalism. The ministry, which is responsible for the media, joined the UN's call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done to strengthen journalism.

Tikhanouskaya received by President Pahor, Speaker Zorčič

LJUBLJANA - Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tikhanouskaya was received by President Borut Pahor and parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič, with the latter expressing support for efforts for democratic change in her country. Zorčič told Tikhanouskaya that democracy was fragile and that it needed to be fought for every day, the National Assembly said in a press release, adding that the Belarusian opposition leader had also met heads of parliamentary deputy groups. The European Parliament office in Slovenia tweeted that it had hosted Tikhanouskaya in the EU House in Ljubljana.

STA turns to EU for direct financial support, Pahor insists funding must be restored

LJUBLJANA - The STA staff addressed a letter to the European Commission highlighting the government's failure to meet its financing obligations despite receiving a green light for EUR 2.5 million in annual funds for the STA from Brussels. They urged the Commission to help by "allocating direct financial support" to the STA to prevent its collapse. The president's office meanwhile said that President Pahor insisted that financing of the public service performed by the STA must be restored, after the president yesterday tweeted that the agency plays an irreplaceable role.

Conservative NGOs urge European media to stop "one-sided propaganda"

LJUBLJANA - Several NGOs that bring together conservative and liberal intellectuals have sent a letter to European media to alert of what they call a misrepresentation on the state of press freedom in Slovenia, urging them to stop "one-sided propaganda" and to get informed on the situation from all world-view groups ahead of Slovenia's EU presidency.

Household deposits in Slovenia up to record EUR 23bn, central bank says

LJUBLJANA - Household deposits at banks rose by over EUR 2 billion to a record EUR 23 billion in the epidemic year of 2020 from 2019, the Slovenian central bank said on Tuesday. It attributed the rise to the labour market measures taken during the epidemic, which enabled income growth. But since many shops were closed, much of the income was not spent.

Steel group SIJ secures EUR 148m long-term loan

LJUBLJANA - SIJ, Slovenia's largest steel producer, has secured a EUR 148 million long-term syndicated loan from a consortium of banks led by Slovenia's NLB. The proceeds will be used to refinance a 2017 loan worth EUR 240 million, provide a liquidity cushion, and to finance development projects, the company said. "We sincerely thank the banks for confidence in the SIJ Group's business model and support of our business in these uncertain times," SIJ vice-president Igor Malevanov said.

SVIZ launching campaign for Kustec to step down

LJUBLJANA - The SVIZ trade union of teachers will launch a campaign to collect signatures among teachers to call on Education Minister Simona Kustec to resign, in a bid to send out a clear message that the Education Ministry has not been run well over the past year, that is during the coronavirus epidemic. Responding, Kustec said the government had taken a number of measures to accommodate for the needs of schools, including labour-related measures as part of coronavirus emergency legislation.

Secondary school-leaving exam gets under way

LJUBLJANA - The secondary school-leaving exam started for some 17,000 final-year students today. This is the second year in a row that the matura exam is taking place during the coronavirus epidemic, and after matura candidates were on distance learning for several months. Almost 7,200 candidates have registered to take the general matura in spring alongside 10,620 who registered for the vocational matura exam.

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Logar expresses support for fight for democracy in Belarus

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar expressed Slovenia's full support for the fight for democracy in Belarus as he hosted Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. He said that Slovenia, as the presiding EU country in the second half of the year, would put the democratisation and discussion about Belarus high on the agenda of the presidency. Tsikhanouskaya said she was grateful for Slovenia for its "strong position about lawlessness in Belarus" and that it was extremely important to keep Belarus high on the agenda on the international level.

Fundraising campaign launched for the STA

LJUBLJANA - A month-long fundraising campaign kicked off on World Press Freedom Day in a bid to secure funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), which has not received budget funds for the performance of public service for four months. Called "Za obSTAnek", the campaign aims to raise two million euros for the agency via small SMS donations and from potential larger donors and kicked off with a press conference in front of the STA headquarters on Monday. National daily newspapers carried front-page stories in support of the campaign as well.

Jourova to visit Slovenia to discuss initiative on security of journalists

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova announced on World Press Freedom Day a visit to Slovenia to "test the waters" and start a dialogue on an initiative promoting security of journalists. She also also hopes to meet Prime Minister Janez Janša. She said the initiative on security of journalists was planned for September, so she would like to discuss this with Slovenian officials as the country holds the EU presidency in the second half of the year.

Ombudsman says media mustn't be hostage of election winners

LJUBLJANA - In his World Press Freedom Day message, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina described free, plural and independent media as a fundamental ingredient of democracies. "Independent media and public services are the bedrock of democratic societies, so they must not be hostage in the hands of election winners," he said. He urged the government to reinstate the financing of the STA in line with the law without any further delay, and to appropriately tackle potential shortcomings in the current funding arrangement.

PCR tests from Serbia, Turkey recognised as of Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - PCR tests done in Serbia and Turkey will be recognised as a way to avoid quarantine on arrival in Slovenia from Wednesday under an amended decree adopted by the government. There are also some changes on the red list of countries from which arrivals must quarantine, with Malta and Portugal removed from the list, and Djibouti added. Save for some exceptions, passengers from countries in the red list must quarantine unless they submit a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours, proof of vaccination, or proof of having had Covid-19 in the past six months.

Report: Prosecution rejects complaints against Tonin, Mahnič

LJUBLJANA - The prosecution rejected criminal complaints filed last year against Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Žan Mahnič, the state secretary for national security in the prime minister's office, Nova24TV reported. The complaints had been filed against Tonin in relation to the disclosure of information about the Slovenia-Croatia border arbitration agreement, and against both Tonin and Mahnič over alleged irregularities in the Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services, of which they were both members when they were still MPs.

Renovated Covid-19 units open in Slovenj Gradec

SLOVENJ GRADEC - Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the Slovenj Gradec general hospital to inaugurate refurbished Covid-19 units in an investment that has cost EUR 27,000, without beds. He praised the hospital's work and plans, noting that a bill on investment in health and long-term care was almost ready. The hospital director Janez Lavre said the refurbished surgical units that had been adjusted to meet the needs of Covid-19 patients would make sure that more beds are available for regular patients again.

Just over 200 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, six deaths

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 209 coronavirus cases on Sunday, 10% more than the same day a week ago. Another six Covid-19 patients lost their lives. Hospitalisations rose by three to 608 but ICU cases dropped by five to 147. The latest cases were confirmed from 1,380 PCR tests, for a positivity rate of 15.1%, but Mateja Logar, the head of the Covid-19 advisory team, expressed concern over rising positivity rate and case count in the past week, although she also noted that the number of active infections has been below 10,000 for the first time since 20 October last year.

Former environment minister forming new party

LJUBLJANA - Former Environment Minister Jure Leben is returning to politics to launch the Party of Green Action (Z.DEJ), whose founding congress will be held online on Saturday. In conceiving the manifesto, the main question was how to find a balance between industrial development and environment protection, he told the newspaper Delo. The new party's demands will not be based only on environmental policy, although sustainable and fair development will be at its heart.

Military exercise Defender Europe DE21 under way until July

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces are taking part in the international military exercise Defender Europe DE21, which is under way between 1 May and 5 July. Slovenian soldiers are training alongside members of 26 ally and partner countries. The purpose of the exercise is to divert potential threats and prepare the Slovenian army for its supporting role within NATO, said the head of the sector for training at the Force Command of the Slovenian army, Colonel Igor Šepec.

Major anti-trust procedure against Telekom stopped

LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency has stopped a major anti-trust procedure against the telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije, a decision that comes seven years after the Supreme Court annulled its original decision. Telekom said on Monday proceedings related to alleged unfair pricing of Itak Džabest, a special monthly plan for youths, between 2008 and 2010, had been stopped after the watchdog "did not manage to obtain evidence on the existence of a predatory exclusionary strategy".

Lower VAT on women's sanitary products takes effect

LJUBLJANA - The legislative changes lowering VAT on women's sanitary products from 22% to 9.5% entered into force. The initiative for the changes had come from Bojana Muršič, an MP for the opposition Social Democrats (SD), who argued that women's sanitary products in Slovenia are subject to the highest of the two VAT rates, while some other hygiene products for general use, such as cotton wool, gauze or nappies, are taxed at 9.5%.

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Vaccination campaign in Slovenia reaches two milestones

LJUBLJANA - The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 has reached two important milestones. According to data by the National Institute of Public Health, more than 20% of the population has received one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine and more than 10% have been fully vaccinated. So far, 426,043 people have been vaccinated with the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 211,199 have received both doses.

362 new coronavirus cases recorded on Saturday, six deaths

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 362 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, when 1,827 PCR tests were conducted. The share of positive tests was thus 19.8%, government data show. This morning, 605 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals, including 152 in intensive care. Six patients died. The share of positive tests thus decreased compared to Friday, when the positivity rate was at 24.2%.

Muslim graves desecrated in Domžale

DOMŽALE - Three Muslim graves at a cemetery in Domžale, 15 km north of Ljubljana, were desecrated on Saturday. An unknown perpetrator poured red fluid over the graves and put pieces of meat on them, media have reported. Police are investigating the incident, which has already been condemned by the Islamic community in Slovenia.

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This summary is provided by the STA: 

Foreign ministers of Slovenia, Japan call for boosting cooperation

LJUBLJANA - FM Anže Logar received his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, with the pair calling for enhancing cooperation between Slovenia and Japan in business and politics, as Slovenia sees potential in high-tech. Logar said Japan was one of the most important trade partners and investors in the programme for encouraging investment and internationalisation of the Slovenian economy in the next four years. The pair also exchanged views on the Western Balkans and the Indo-Pacific region. Motegi also met President Borut Pahor and PM Janez Janša.

Pahor finds statements about govt undermining democracy too radical

MARIBOR - President Borut Pahor said in an interview with the newspaper Večer that government officials had indeed created the impression that press freedom or the independence of journalists was at risk. Still, he finds assessments that democracy is being undermined under this government too radical. He said all democratic institutions, including the political ones, were functioning without disruption, media included. But he is frustrated that the STA financing cannot be solved.

EU Commission urges Slovenia to speed up delegated prosecutor appointments

BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders urged Slovenia's Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič to speed up the appointment of European delegated prosecutors. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is set to be launched on 1 June and the only other participating country running behind is Finland, unofficial sources told the STA. Reynders addressed Kozlovič in a letter sent to her on Thursday and seen by the STA.

Budget records EUR 1.27bn deficit in first quarter

LJUBLJANA - State budget revenue in the first quarter of the year amounted to EUR 2.4 billion, up 1% year-on-year, while expenditure rose by 37% to almost EUR 3.68 billion for a deficit of nearly EUR 1.27 billion, up from EUR 304.9 million in the same period last year. The Finance Ministry said the higher expenditure was mostly due to measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on companies and individuals with wage payments increasing by 13.2% to EUR 391.3 million.

Protesters light bonfire in front of parliament

LJUBLJANA - After a massive anti-government protest in Slovenia's capital on Resistance Day, several hundred protesters hit the streets on their bicycles today, stopping by at the headquarters of the STA on their way to express support before lighting a bonfire in the square in front of the parliament building. The protest, which was held in defiance of the ban on gatherings of more than ten people, unfolded peacefully with most protesters wearing face masks.

Labour Day messages call for job security and safety at work

LJUBLJANA - While coronavirus restrictions prevented traditional bonfire celebrations on the eve of Labour Day, trade unions came out in support of labour right, calling for job security, decent pensions, social security but also for safety at work in the face of coronavirus infections. The youth trade union Mladi Plus urged the government to provide help to young job seekers. Over 82,600 were registered as unemployed in March, among them 16,360 people aged between 15 and 29. Offucial statistics show the outlook indicator is rising and nearing the pre-crisis level.

Slovenian, Italian unions call for easing of border restrictions

NOVA GORICA - Trade unions from the Slovenian-Italian border area staged an annual get-together on the eve of Labour Day, this year drawing attention to the problems faced by the people commuting for work across the border and calling for easing of border-crossing restrictions. Therefore the FJK-SLO inter-regional council of trade unions called upon the Slovenia and Italian governments several times to ease the restrictions, repeating their message today as well.

Vaccination official says deaths among 60s and 70s unnecessary

LJUBLJANA - Bojana Beović, the head of the national advisory committee on immunisation, expressed her frustration at the fact that people in their 60s and 70s are dying of Covid-19 on a daily basis when they should have been vaccinated against the disease. "Dying of Covid-19 in that population in Slovenia at this time is not understandable or necessary, because everyone could have protected themselves on time by getting inoculated if they wished so," said Beović.

949 new infections recorded on Thursday, seven deaths

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases in Slovenia rose to 949 on Thursday, when 4,442 tests were conducted for a positivity rate of 21.4%. Seven patients died. A total of 626 people were in hospital, 157 of whom needed intensive care, government data show. The 7-day average of new cases rose to 640, after standing at 632 yesterday and at 606 on Wednesday.

One in five Slovenians experienced discrimination, report shows

LJUBLJANA - One in five residents in Slovenia thinks they have been discriminated against, and two-thirds think that discrimination is a major problem in the country, shows the 2020 annual report of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality. It says that discrimination is the most frequent in the employment procedure and in access to goods. The circumstances due to which individuals in Slovenia are treated unequally are disability (14%), ethnicity and race (11%), age (6%), gender (5.5%), religion or belief (5%) and citizenship (5%).

Union hotels 2020 results undermined by pandemic

LJUBLJANA - The Group Union Hoteli ended 2020 in the red due to the coronavirus pandemic. It posted a net loss of EUR 4.3 million after reporting EUR 4.4 million in profit the year before. The group's revenue went from EUR 26 million in 2019 to EUR 6.1 million, according to the group's unaudited report. CEO Matej Rigelnik said Union was the only hotel company in Slovenia to avoid state loan subsidies by issuing bonds to borrow on the capital markets.

Annual inflation at 2.1% on higher electricity prices

LJUBLJANA - The annual inflation rate in Slovenia ran at 2.1% in April, mostly due to much higher electricity prices that are back to pre-epidemic levels. The Statistics Office said those contributed one percentage point to the annual inflation, with higher petroleum product prices adding an additional 0.8 points. Inflation was driven down by lower prices of package holidays (-9.2%). The monthly inflation ran at 1%, mostly as a result of higher prices of clothing and footwear (+8.1%).

This April in Slovenia coldest in 20 years

LJUBLJANA - This year's April in Slovenia was the coldest April in 20 years, the Environment Agency said. The average temperatures for the entire country were 1.5 degrees Celsius lower than the national average in the meteorological period between 1981 and 2010. The warmest day this month was 1 April, when temperatures rose to up to 25 degrees in some parts of the country. Only a week later, the lowest average temperatures for April since 1997 were recorded around the country.

Slovenia had 2,108,977 residents on 1 January

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia had 2,108,977 residents on 1 January, of whom 1,940,326 were citizens of Slovenia and 168,651 were foreigners. A negative trend was observed in the last quarter of 2020, as the number of births decreased and number of deaths increased compared to the same period the year before, the Statistics Office reported. At the beginning of this year, men outnumbered women in Slovenia, as there were 1,059,938 male residents and 1,049,039 female residents.

Gorizia community centre celebrating 40th anniversary

GORIZIA, Italy - The Gorizia community centre, a hub bringing together the Slovenian minority in the Italian border city and broader area, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It was marked on Thursday with the opening of an exhibition featuring more than 60 artists who have donated their work to Kulturni Dom Gorica in the last 40 years. The centre was opened with the desire to become a hub of cultural activity in the city, where the entire Slovenian ethnic community from the Gorizia area would gather. It has since gained a cross-border dimension.

Slovenian men's team qualifies for 2022 European Championship

OPOLE, Poland - The Slovenian men's handball team qualified for the 2022 European Championship despite Thursday's 26:27 loss to Poland in the penultimate round of qualifying, as it cannot finish worse than in the second place in Group 5. This is due to Slovenia having better head-to-head score against the group rivals Poland and the Netherlands. The final tournament will take place on 13-30 January in Hungary's Budapest, Debrecen and Szeged and Slovakia's Bratislava and Košice.

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