News roundup - Tuesday, 17 August, until 3pm

318 new infections confirmed on Monday, most since 1 June

LJUBLJANA - A total of 2,058 PCR tests were performed in Slovenia to result in 318 new confirmed coronavirus infections, the highest daily number since 1 June, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) said. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population increased by seven to 107. The positivity rate was 15.5%, significantly higher than on the day before. The government reported on Twitter that there are 49 Covid-19 patients in Slovenian hospitals, four more than yesterday, while the number of patients in intensive care was up by one to eleven.

Opposition announce vote of no confidence in education minister

LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left parties are planning to file a motion to vote Education Minister Simona Kustec out of office, arguing that two weeks before the start of the new school year, it is still not clear how primary and secondary schools will organise the education process while the epidemiological situation in the country is deteriorating. The announcement was made by Tanja Fajon, leader of the Social Democrats (SD) after a meeting of the leaders of the remaining three parties - the LMŠ, SAB and Left. She said that the no-confidence motion could be filed to the National Assembly within a week.

Two Slovenians have left Kabul, one remains in Afghanistan

LJUBLJANA - Out of a total of three Slovenian citizens who were still in Afghanistan on Monday, two embarked on a Qatar-bound plane from Kabul last night, while the third one has remained in Afghanistan, according to unofficial information available to the Foreign Ministry. It explained that the Slovenian citizens had not turned to them for help and that their evacuation was being arranged by their employers. News portal N1 said the citizen staying in Afghanistan is in charge of security of the EU delegation and will stay there until he has arranged for evacuation of his co-workers.

Police file criminal complaint against actor Tribušon over sexual harassment

LJUBLJANA - Police have filed a criminal complaint against actor and drama teacher Matjaž Tribušon, 58, after young actress Mia Skrbinac publicly accused him of sexually harassing her while she was a student in 2014-2016 and filed a sexual harassment complaint at the University of Ljubljana last spring, Delo reported. In early February, Skrbinac, born in 1994, became the first public figure in Slovenia to come forward as a victim of sexual harassment since the start of the Slovenian offshoot of the #MeToo movement.

Janša says every government should support Prekmurje

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša said in his message on Prekmurje Unification Day it was remarkable that Prekmurje has preserved the Slovenian language and culture despite being cut off from Slovenian territory for a long time in the past. Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič meanwhile said that on this day, Slovenians celebrated being together, adding that the people of Prekmurje rightly expected a boost to the regional economy, which will require a prudent, development-oriented and cohesive policy. President Borut Pahor hosted an open day in the Presidential Palace on the occasion.