News roundup - Tuesday, 5 March, until 3pm

NBI conducting 16 house searches in connection to court building purchase

LJUBLJANA - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted conducting searches at 16 locations in connection to the controversial purchase of a building that was to house several courts. Neither former Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan nor her former state secretary Igor Šoltes are among the suspects, the STA learnt unofficially. The suspects reportedly include former Justice Ministry secretary general Uroš Gojkovič, former head of property and investment department Simon Starček, the seller Sebastjan Vežnaver, and appraiser Anton Rigler.

Andreja Katič appointed justice minister

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly appointed Andreja Katič justice minister in what marks the second time in her political career that she will take over at the helm of the Justice Ministry. She replaces Dominika Švarc Pipan amid an ongoing investigation into allegations about irregularities in a purchase of a building by the ministry. She was appointed in a 45:18 vote after opposition MPs made it clear she did not enjoy their support. She has already been sworn in.

Registered unemployment dropped below 50,000 again in February

LJUBLJANA - After two months of growth, registered unemployment dropped by 3.7% in monthly comparison and by 6.9% at the annual level to 49,716 in February, the Employment Service said. In February, 4,681 newly unemployed people were registered, which is 49.5% fewer than in January and 6.6% more than in February last year. Among them, 1,959 registered because their fixed-term contracts expired, which is almost 60% fewer than in January and 3.1% fewer year-on-year.

Slovenia strongly condemns chemical weapons at UN Security Council meeting

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia's representative in the UN Security Council Samuel Žbogar strongly condemned at Monday's meeting of the UN Security Council the use of chemical weapons and warned Moscow against double standards, after the Russian representative dismissed the debate as unnecessary. In Slovenia chemical weapons were used during the First World War and their use in the 21st century is unacceptable, he said.

FIS giant slalom in Kranjska Gora cancelled, slalom moved to Saturday

KRANJSKA GORA - The organisers of the Alpine Ski World Cup in Kranjska gora were forced to cancel the giant slalom event, planned for Saturday, due to unfavourable weather conditions which could endanger the safety of the competitors, said the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). Instead, the organisers will try to hold the slalom event, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, FIS said.

Ski season cut short by high temperatures

KRANJSKA GORA/CERKNO - Ski resorts around Slovenia are struggling because of unseasonably high temperatures and will not be able to make up for the poor results of the first half in the second half of the season. Some ski resorts are already closing, while most others are operating at limited capacities. One of the country's most popular ski destinations, Kranjska Gora in the northwest will shut down this afternoon.

State secretary for culture in PM's office to resign in April

LJUBLJANA - State Secretary for Culture Kaja Širok will leave the prime minister's office on 1 April. She did not reveal her reasons for leaving. While saying she will stay in the field of culture, she did not reveal any plans, including whether she will return to work on the European Culture Capital 2025 project, which she led for less than three months before she was appointed state secretary.

Skobe wins regional Sony World Photography award

LONDON, UK - Slovenian architect and photographer Ana Skobe has won the top regional award of this year's prestigious Sony World Photography Awards competition. An exhibition of the award-winning entries is scheduled from 19 April to 6 May at Somerset House in London. Skobe won the regional award for Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina with a photo of a lighthouse in soft evening light.

Art and culture in focus of Slovenia's promotion at ITB Berlin

BERLIN, Germany - Slovenia put art and culture at the heart of its promotion as tourist destination at ITB Berlin, a leading tourism trade fair exclusively for the business community. Apart from a number of its most heavily visited sights such as Postojna Cave or Ljubljana Castle, Slovenia will promote Nova Gorica, the city which will turn into the European Capital of Culture for a year in 2025 together with the neighbouring Italian city of Gorizia.

Radovljica library displaying 1541 book by humanist Oberstain

RADOVLJICA - A 1541 book written by Radovljica's humanist Pavel Oberstain in honour of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, whom he served in Vienna, will be on display in the town's library until 31 March. The item is one of only three known copies of what is considered the first known printed work by a Radovljica resident.