News roundup - Thursday, 3 October, until 3pm

Left urges govt to stop military support to Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - Worried by the European Parliament resolution eliminating any restrictions on the use of weapons for targeting sites within Russian territory by Ukraine and the threats issued in response by Vladimir Putin, the Left called on the government to halt all forms of military support to Ukraine. Continued military support to Ukraine could lead to an intensification and potential escalation of the conflict, MP Nataša Sukič said.

Prison administration wants activation of measures against overcrowding

LJUBLJANA - The Prison Administration called on the government to declare a prison emergency due to overcrowding, including the option of releasing prisoners early. This would be in line with recent law changes that allow the government to issue such decrees in the event of an adverse security situation. Currently Slovenian prisons are at 140% capacity and there are 3.5 prisoners per prison officer, which means that the criteria prescribed by law for an adverse security situation are already met, it said.

Review shows cost estimate for Jesenice railway station upgrade too low

LJUBLJANA - State investors planning a Jesenice railway station upgrade have assessed the cost of the project too low, shows a review of the planned project by the Austrian company IKK. The review thus recommends that government agencies enter direct talks with the bidders to prevent the final price from further rising. It highlights the fact that the project is not just a train station upgrade but an overhaul of a major railway hub.

Slovenian researchers win 1st prize for fusion innovation

LJUBLJANA - A team of researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute have won first prize and EUR 50,000 at the Symposium for Fusion Technology in Dublin for the development of a novel material that has the potential to be deployed in a portion of fusion reactors where temperatures are highest. "This prize is a huge recognition of the work of our research group and the Slovenian Fusion Association. ... It puts us on the international fusion map," team leader Petra Januš Belec said.

Unemployment down in September

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's registered unemployment went down in September after two months of growth as the number of those without a job declined by 1.4% in September, to 43,874. This is 4.7% less than a year ago, show the latest Employment Service data. While the number of those newly registered as unemployed rose by 40.5% on the month before to 5,318, the number of whose who got a job nearly doubled to 4,005, with an additional 2,000 unregistered for other reasons.