News roundup - Monday, 2 August

Janša offers help to Belarusian athlete Tsimanouskaya

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Janez Janša indicated Slovenia would be willing to offer refuge to Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya amid reports that she is planning to seek asylum after the Belarusian Olympic Committee removed her from the national team for publicly criticising the coaches. In a tweet posted on Sunday evening in reply to a post by Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Janša said: "Krystsina is welcome in Slovenia."

Stress tests affirm stability of Slovenian banking system

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian central bank announced that stress tests conducted by the European Central Bank (ECB) and Banka Slovenije confirmed the stability of the Slovenian banking system, pointing out Slovenian banks would fare well even under unfavourable economic scenarios. Given Covid-related challenges, the banks were urged to continue to assess and manage credit risks properly. NLB and NKBM banks were involved in ECB bottom-up stress tests, while the central bank also assessed the capital adequacy of smaller Slovenian banks.

Telemach suing Telekom Slovenije for almost EUR 30m

LJUBLJANA - The telecommunications provider Telemach has filed a lawsuit at the Ljubljana District Court against telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije over alleged violations of regulatory decisions, demanding the payment of EUR 28.796 million in damages with default interest from 1 June until payment. Telemach refers to decisions issued by the Agency for Communication Networks and Services, and alleged abuse of dominant position, according to a release on the website of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

Coronavirus remains on the increase

LJUBLJANA - A total of 31 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Sunday, the fifth straight day that the daily case count was up compared with the same day a week ago. Data released by the National Institute of Public Health show the 7-day average of new cases rising by one to 87 and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents by as much to 51. There now an estimated 1,103 active cases in the country.

Brussels clears Slovenia's scheme to support businesses

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission approved a EUR 22.8 million worth Slovenian scheme to support companies in various sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictions implemented to limit the spread of the virus. The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The aid, which will take the form of direct grants, will cover the costs corresponding to the holiday pay for employees' annual leave.

Exhibition on European humanists on show at Cankarjev Dom

LJUBLJANA - On the occasion of Slovenia's EU presidency, the Ljubljana arts centre Cankarjev Dom hosts a documentary exhibition entitled Europe - Legacy of the Humanists. The travelling exhibition presents 44 scholars selected by 22 countries, as Slovenians Primož Trubar and Avguštin Prygl join the ranks of European humanists. Trubar was the most famous Slovenian Protestant, while Avguštin Prygl is not as well known, but he was one of the most prominent humanists of the 16th century in Slovenia. The exhibition is an initiative of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with EUNIC Austria.

Roma Holocaust Memorial Day marked in Maribor

MARIBOR - A memorial ceremony was held in Sinagoga Maribor to mark Roma Holocaust Memorial Day to commemorate the victims of the genocide committed against the Roma in WWII. "This should be spoken about so that such things do not repeat," Amanda Fetahi of the Maribor Roma community said on the occasion.

Lithuania pip Slovenia to gold at beach volleyball World Tour meet

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian pair Alan Košenina and Rok Bračko won silver at the beach volleyball World Tour tournament in Ljubljana on Sunday after conceding to Lithuania's Audrius Knasas and Patrikas Stankevicius in the men's finals. Serbia's Miloš Milić and Lazar Kolarić placed third. In the women's tournament, Martina Williams and Marie-Sara Stochlova of the Czech Republic beat Dutch Emi and Mexime van Driel for gold. Slovenian female players were trounced in the group phase.

Large carnivores presented at new centre in Pivka

PIVKA - A centre opened in Pivka presenting three species of large carnivores living in Slovenia - the brown bear, wolf and lynx. Center Dina is a continuation of a European project Carnivora Dinarica, concluding at the end of the month which is aimed at protecting the carnivores and promoting co-existence. According to the head of the centre, Dragica Jaksetič, the museum will offer interactive content, while visitors will do research themselves, and collect information about the carnivores.