News roundup - Tuesday, 20 August, until 3pm

Pirc Musar says Slovenia and Mongolia share values, goals, challenges

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia - President Natašar Pirc Musar said following a meeting with her counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh that Slovenia and Mongolia are committed to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and both are also strong supporters of multilateralism and respect for international law. According to her, the two countries pursue similar goals in the international arena, while facing similar challenges.

Raising of RTV Slovenija licence fee in pipeline after 12 years

LJUBLJANA - The Culture Ministry has drawn up a decree envisaging a 10% increase of the compulsory monthly license fee for RTV Slovenija, which has been unchanged at EUR 12.75 since 2012. The fee, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the public broadcaster's total revenue, would amount to EUR 14.023 per household starting in 2025. The ministry pointed out that the fee has remained unchanged for more than a decade even as costs have grown.

Corruption watchdog bemoans poor transparency in lobbying

LJUBLJANA - Transparency in lobbying remains poor in Slovenia, the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption says in its 2023 lobbying report. It issued eight written warnings to lobbyists, ten bans in the duration of three to 24 months, and two removals from the registry of lobbyists in 2023 for failure to report lobbying activities. It also warned that state bodies do not report all contacts with lobbyists as required by law.

UNESCO-protected forest saved from fire

KOČEVJE - A wildfire that broke out near a UNESCO-protected forest in southern Slovenia on Friday and to ultimately spread across some 35 hectares of inaccessible forest has been put out. The firefighters' effort was greatly aided by heavy rain that hit Slovenia in the past days. Aided by helicopters and two Air Tractor firefighting aircraft, the firefighters managed to contain the blaze before rainfall swept across Slovenia on Sunday and Monday following weeks of scorching heat. It was contained before reaching the Krokar primaeval forest.

Hot air balloon accident in 2022 was caused by strong wind

LJUBLJANA - A hot air balloon accident that left four persons injured in January 2022 near Ljubljana was a result of a very strong wind during landing, according to the final report issued by the Infrastructure Ministry. The wind exceeded the maximum speeds for a safe landing, says the report, which found no flaws with the balloon. The wind at the time of the accident was much stronger than the expected or forecast values obtained in preparation for the flight by the Belgian pilot, a 56-year-old Belgian who had a valid flying licence and required years of experience.

Centenary of first Constructivist exhibition in Slovenia celebrated

LJUBLJANA - The gym of the Ljubljana Education Centre in Aškerčeva Street will turn on Wednesday into a venue for a theatrical piece by which director Dragan Živadinov will honour the first Constructivist exhibition in Slovenia. Avgust Černigoj's exhibition was held between 15 and 25 August 1924 at the same venue. "An explosion of modernity, the exhibition upset a provincial Ljubljana," Delo said as it announced Živadinov's informance Northern Order AČ::EL, which is also dedicated to art critic Izidor Cankar (1886-1958), who was shocked at what he saw exhibited 100 years ago.