Latest News from Slovenia
Weather: Skies to clear up but showers still possible
Ljubljana – The skies over Slovenia will partly clear up on Friday morning after a rainy night but local showers can be expected inland around midday and in the afternoon. A weak bora wind will blow in the western Primorska region.
Jobless total decreases by a fifth in second quarter
Ljubljana – The jobless total in Slovenia stood at 44,000 in the second quarter of the year according to the labour force survey, down 20% compared to the quarter before, the Statistics Office said on Friday. The survey unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points lower at 4.3%.
Service sector recovering fast
Ljubljana – Revenue from the sales of services in Slovenia was up by 21.8% in June compared to the same month last year, and by 2.6% compared to June 2019, the Statistics Office reported on Friday, an indication that services are recovering fast from the pandemic slump.
More than 540 new cases as 14-day incidence surpasses 200
Ljubljana – Slovenia reported 542 new coronavirus infections for Thursday and a test positivity rate of 18.3%, almost a percentage point more than the day before. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population cracked 200, increasing by 17 on a daily basis, show fresh data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ).
Use of PCT rule expanded to students, indoor sports
Ljubljana – The tested-vaccinated-recovered requirement, known in Slovenia by the acronym PCT, will be expanded to university students and those participating in indoor sports activities under a decision adopted by the government on Thursday.
Government extracts regulation of gas supply from energy law
Ljubljana – The government confirmed on Thursday a bill that extracts the field of gas supply from the umbrella energy law and regulates it independently, with the additional provisions dealing with emergency measures and implementation of the solidarity mechanism of aid to EU member states in the case of gas supply disruptions.
Logar in Denmark to discuss cooperation, Afghanistan situation
Copenhagen – Foreign Minister Anže Logar paid a visit to Denmark on Thursday to meet his counterpart Jeppe Kofod. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, reviewing the implementation of the priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency, and on topical international issues, including Afghanistan.
Appeal to anti-graft watchdog to check PM’s contacts with lobbyists
Ljubljana – The opposition-controlled Commission for Oversight of Public Finances has asked the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption to check the records of Prime Minister Janez Janša’s contacts with lobbyists after a media reported that he had played golf on several occasions with the owner of a medical devices supplier.
US Travelers Face New Restrictions when Visiting EU
The EU is to discuss on Thursday whether to reintroduce travel restrictions on visitors from the US as new coronavirus cases soar, news wires reported. Slovenia, which holds the rotating EU presidency, recommended that the US be removed from the safe list, according to two officials familiar with the plans.
Fourth Covid-19 wave escalating
Ljubljana – Slovenia reported 509 coronavirus infections for Wednesday as the test positivity rate stood at 17.4%. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose from 187 to 199 and hospitalisations topped 100, show fresh official figures.
This comes after the country’s daily case count exceeded 500 on Tuesday for the first time since mid-May.
Ballet diptych A Viennese Evening premieres at Cankarjev dom
Ljubljana – Cankarjev Dom, Slovenia’s biggest arts and culture centre, will host the premiere of the ballet A Viennese Evening on Thursday night. The ballet diptych, choreographed by Renato Zanella, is a co-production of Cankarjev Dom and SNG Ljubljana Opera and Ballet.
Acclaimed Slovenian writer Boris Pahor celebrates 108th birthday
Ljubljana – Boris Pahor, the internationally famous Slovenian writer from Trieste, celebrates his 108th birthday on Thursday. Throughout his life, Pahor has warned against totalitarian regimes, also in his novel Necropolis, where he describes his experiences in Nazi concentration camps. He has also received numerous honours and awards.
Speaker Zorčič starting two-day official visit to Serbia
Belgrade – Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič will start a two-day official visit to Serbia on Thursday to meet his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dačić. Zorčič will also be received by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and will meet representatives of Slovenian companies in the country.
Minister urges respect for social consensus to stem epidemic
Šmarje pri Jelšah – After a year and a half of dealing with the coronavirus, there is no need for a formal declaration of epidemic as people know how to act and use common sense to help contain the spread of infections, said Health Minister Janez Poklukar on Wednesday, urging respect for social consensus on solidarity.
Lynx released into the wild in Gorenjska welcome first kittens
Ljubljana – Efforts to rejuvenate the lynx population in the north-western Gorenjska region have proved successful as the first kittens have been born after five lynx were released into the wild there under the Life Lynx project. This comes after a successful rejuvenation of the lynx population in the south of the country.