News roundup - Wednesday, 17 April, until 3pm

Fajon and Wang discuss political dialogue, economic cooperation

BEIJING, China - To preserve international peace and security, political solutions must be sought in line with the UN Charter and international law, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said as she started a four-day official visit to China by meeting her counterpart Wang Yi. Fajon and Wang discussed bilateral relations, cooperation within multilateral forums, and ways of looking for answers to common global challenges, the Foreign Ministry said. The visit will also focus on economic cooperation and cultural diplomacy.

Constitutional Court will not rule on fuel price regulation

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has rejected the petition by the energy company Petrol for a constitutional review of the government's decision to regulate certain fuel prices, and proposed that the company sue the state for compensation for the alleged pecuniary damage. The request for Slovenia's top court to review the government decrees that lowered the margins of fuel retailers was filed last December, with Petrol arguing that the measures, meant to keep inflation in check, were disproportionate and in breach of the law.

Telekom Slovenije not to share 2023 profit for now

LJUBLJANA - The management of the telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije proposed that the 2023 net profit be allocated for reserves instead of being paid out to the shareholders as dividends, as the company would otherwise have to return EUR 3.57 million in state aid used to mitigate the effect of high electricity prices. For the same reason, Telekom Slovenije did not share the 2022 net profit among its shareholders last year, deciding that it will be paid out this year.

Nearly 10,000 illegal migrants intercepted in Jan-Mar

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian police officers processed a total of 9,828 illegal migrants in the first three months of the year, up 18% from the same period in 2023. A major rise in Syrian citizens, who accounted for more than a third of all illegal migrants, was recorded, followed by Afghans and Moroccans, police data shows. As much as 83% of all illegal crossings of the border, or 8,168, were recorded in the area covered by the Novo Mesto Police Department, which is usually by far the busiest police department in the country dealing with these issues.

Eurobarometer suggests 62% of Slovenians would vote in EU elections

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Some 62% of Slovenian voters would likely cast a vote in the upcoming European elections if they were held next week, which is 10 percentage points more than ahead of the 2019 EU elections but still below the EU average, suggests the latest Eurobarometer poll. The share is five points higher than in the previous Eurobarometer, which was conducted last autumn and released in December.

Record daily drop in temperature of 26.2C measured on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - The abrupt change in weather in Slovenia on Tuesday caused some damage and problems in traffic due to strong winds and snowing, while a record drop in temperature on a daily basis of more than 26 degrees Celsius was also measured. The Environment Agency said on X yesterday that in the afternoon it was 25 degrees Celsius colder than on Monday in certain parts of the country.

Graphic artist Pogačnik's work on show at National Gallery

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition giving an insight into Slovenian graphic artist Marjan Pogačnik's technique is opening at the National Gallery in Ljubljana tonight. Pogačnik (1920-2005) created a top quality body of prints and won several awards for relief prints, which places him alongside masters of graphic art such as Chagall, Braque and Nesch.