News roundup - Friday, 22 November, until 3pm

PM Golob says Slovenia respects ICC arrest warrants and will fully comply

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob responded to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants for leading Israeli and Hamas officials by saying "Slovenia respects the decision of the ICC regarding arrest warrants for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity and will fully comply with it". Former President Danilo Türk said it shows the life force of international criminal law.

Janša auctioning off personal belongings to cover litigation costs

LJUBLJANA - Former Prime Minister Janez Janša auctioned some of his personal belongings to collect funds for EUR 30,000 in litigations costs he has been ordered to pay to the Patria case prosecutor and judges he unsuccessfully sued for damages. While the final auction totals have not been published yet, he is believed to have made EUR 5,500 so far. Several paintings will be put to auction next week.

Han discusses economic cooperation and support for Slovenian community in Trieste

TRIESTE, Italy - Seeking to boost economic cooperation and back the Slovenian minority in Italy, Economy Matjaž Han visited Trieste for talks with the Slovenian Regional Economic Association leadership, representatives of the Slovenian national community, and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region's commissioner for economic activities and tourism.

Insurance group Sava's nine-month net profit up by 70% to EUR 62m

LJUBLJANA - The insurance group Sava generated EUR 814.7 million in turnover in the first nine months of the year, which is 14.7% more year-on-year. Net profit soared by 70% in comparison to the same period last year, which was marked by natural disasters, to EUR 62.1 million, shows the business report published by the controlling company Sava Re on Friday.

Average wages down in September in monthly comparison, up annually

LJUBLJANA - The average gross salary in Slovenia was EUR 2,343.07 in September and the average net salary was EUR 1,478.43. Both were down by 0.5% from August in nominal and real terms. Compared to September 2023, the average gross salary increased by 6.1% in nominal and by 5.5% in real terms, shows data published by the Statistics Office.

Ground broken for new Mediterranean crops development centre

KOPER - The Science and Research Centre (ZRS) Koper broke ground on the Competence Centre for Olives and other Mediterranean Crops, a EUR 4.5 million project that is to be completed in two years. Located in the village of Plavje, a few kilometres northeast of Koper, the centre will house the Oliveculture Institute Laboratory, as well as the Institute of Viticulture and Wine Production.

Ex-Church treasurer turns to top court over damages amount

LJUBLJANA - Mirko Krašovec, former treasurer of the Maribor Archdiocese who has been acquitted of fraud in EU funds and of involvement in a resale of shares, has turned to the Constitutional Court as he finds the EUR 30,000 in damages awarded by the Ljubljana Higher Court after he sued the state insufficient, Delo reported. Krašovec was forced to resign as the treasurer in November 2010 and the Dicastery for the Clergy stripped him of his church titles in April 2013. He was rehabilitated in November 2019.

Six plead guilty to 2018 prison arson

CELJE - Six out of a total of ten defendants have pleaded guilty to arson at the Celje prison in 2018, several media outlets reported. They have been given suspended sentences or prison sentence with the possibility of alternative ways of serving it. Ten former prisoners and detainees were charged with setting the fire at the Celje prison canteen on 29 January 2018 and have faced the Celje District Court individually.

Probe into robbery by teens reportedly turns against potential paedophile

POLJČANE - An investigation into an October robbery case in the Poljčane area involving four teenagers has taken an unexpected turn, Večer reported, explaining that while the four face lesser charges of violent conduct, the alleged victim, reportedly a local politician, has himself become a subject of investigation. According to the paper, the 37-year-old man initially reported being robbed in October, but police are now investigating claims he attempted to arrange a sexual encounter with a minor younger than 15.

Atypical pneumonia on the rise

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana clinic for infectious diseases has seen a significant increase in patients with atypical pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, over the course of the past year. The clinic, which is a part of the UKC Ljubljana hospital, has treated 353 patients who suffered from pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is nearly five times higher than in the winter of 2018-2019, when Slovenia saw its last Mycoplasma pneumoniae epidemic, and ten times higher than in the 2017-2018 winter season, the newspaper Dnevnik has reported.

Origin in focus of contemporary dance CoFestival

LJUBLJANA - Subjects, a production in which French choreographer Sylvain Huc delves into the nature of people, will open the 13th edition of the CoFestival of contemporary dance at Kino Šiška this evening. Productions from several countries will be held at various venues across Ljubljana until next Friday.

Slovenia face Slovakia in UEFA Nations League play-offs

NYON, France - The Slovenian men's football team will play Slovakia in the relegation play-offs in the UEFA Nations League in a bid to stay in League B of the competition, determined a draw in Switzerland's Nyon. They will play two matches in March 2025. Slovenia is the third-placed team from Group 3 of League B of the UEFA Nations League, while Slovakia is the second-placed team from Group 1 of League C.

Snow, fallen trees cause some disruption in traffic

LJUBLJANA - Snow caused some disruption in traffic this morning, with two lorries skidding off the motorway between Ljubljana and Maribor, forcing the authorities to close the motorway at certain sections. Traffic in some places is also obstructed by fallen trees. Some places at higher altitudes got up to 20 cm of snow, the Environment Agency said.