News roundup - Friday, 12 July, until 3pm

Foreign Policy Committee takes note of security agreement with Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee discussed behind closed doors the draft security agreement between Slovenia and Ukraine, but details are scarce due to confidentiality. Radio Slovenia reported that PM Robert Golob could sign the agreement next week in London at a meeting of the European Political Community.

Slovenia to double presence in peacekeeping mission in Kosovo

WASHINGTON, US - Prime Minister Robert Golob announced at the end of the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday that Slovenia will double its presence in the NATO mission in Kosovo next year. He explained that the presence of the alliance in the Western Balkans is being boosted at the initiative of US President Joe Biden, who knows the region well.

Fajon wraps up NATO summit with a forum on hybrid threats

WASHINGTON, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon concluded her participation in the NATO summit by taking part in a public forum on hybrid threats at which she noted the need to strengthen the resilience of societies to the growing hybrid threats. "No country is immune to the growing hybrid threats, so strengthening the resilience of societies is key to overcoming this security challenge," Fajon said.

Report: Doctors bill more services to ZZZS than are performed

LJUBLJANA - Patients have reported doctors who billed the public insurer ZZZS for services they did not perform, reported online portal 24ur. ZZZS reduced its contractual obligations by EUR 2.3 million last year due to incorrectly billed services, according to the portal, which reported of a case of a mother who took a child with developmental issues to four therapy sessions but noticed that 30 sessions were recorded in the online portal.

Roglič withdraws from Tour de France after crash in 12th stage

PAU, France - Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič announces he was out of the Tour de France after suffering a nasty crash during the 12th stage of the race from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot on Thursday. Roglič has dropped almost five minutes behind the overall leader, his compatriot Tadej Pogačar, losing more than two minutes in yesterday's stage alone.

Dance and the Child International Ljubljana Declaration signed

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana hosted the Dance and the Child International Conference this week, where the latest practices and guidelines in the dance pedagogy were discussed. The culture and education ministers and several officials from the Dance and the Child International Organisation (daCi) signed the Dance and the Child International Ljubljana Declaration.

Youth crime drama series Stinkbomb to hit TVs next spring

LJUBLJANA - The public broadcaster RTV Slovenija has launched the production of a youth crime drama series based on the novel Smrdljivc (Stinkbomb) by Rok Bohinc. The six-part series, financially supported by the Slovenian Film Centre, is expected to hit TV screens next spring. The story revolves around a student who throws a stinkbomb in the toilet just before the start of the class, causing the school to be evacuated.