Gregor

Ljubljana – The European audiovisual industry needs modern legislation that will reflect the rapid development of digital technologies on the market, agreed participants of a regional conference on copyright. They called for the implementation of the EU copyright directive on the single digital market and a mechanism that would protect artists.

Ljubljana – All but one parliamentary party welcomed Slovenia’s offer to accept Ukrainian refugees, although there was some scepticism whether the country has the capacity or would even need to take in between 180,000 and 200,000 as suggested by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs. The opposition also raised unequal treatment of refugees depending on their origin.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor has declined the call by the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) not to sign a decree appointing new ambassadors ahead of the general election. He said that postponement of the appointments as part of regular rotation would be unjustified and harm the country’s foreign policy interests in the international community.

Ljubljana – Economist Jože P. Damijan, the author of the idea for the Constitutional Arch Coalition (KUL), has been joined by a group of more than two dozen former officials as well as businessmen, scientists and other professionals in launching a centre-left development agenda that they plan to realise in collaboration with existing political players.

Ljubljana – Europa Donna Slovenija, the Slovenian branch of the European breast cancer coalition, has established a fund to support research into reproductive cancers, which is seen as key in the efforts to reduce breast and gynaecological cancers.

Ljubljana – The Blue Bird Prize for the best novel for adults that has not yet been published goes to Tina Vrščaj for Na Klancu, which will be published by Cankarjeva Založba this year. The author will receive EUR 10,000.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Defence Committee approved the draft resolution on the general long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) until 2035. The resolution is strongly opposed by the Left party, which plans to propose a consultative referendum.

Ljubljana/Maribor/Koper/Nova Gorica – The beginning of October marks the start of a new academic year, once more impacted by Covid-19, as in-person lectures, seminars and exams being reserved for those meeting the recovered-tested-vaccinated rule. There will be no traditional university welcome for new students either.

Ljubljana – Four centre-left opposition parties have tabled motions of no confidence in Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič and Education Minister Simona Kustec. The main charge against Dikaučič is the failure to appoint delegated European prosecutors. Kustec has been accused of failings regarding getting schools ready for the new wave of the pandemic.

Ljubljana – A group of coronavirus deniers and anti-vaccination protesters stormed the headquarters of the Slovenian public broadcaster last night, managing to get into the newsroom studio before the police intervened.