News roundup - Tuesday, 10 August

Ljubljana, 10 August - Below is a roundup of major events on Tuesday, 10 August:

Over 200 new coronavirus cases on Monday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 216 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Monday, the first time since 8 June that the daily count passed 200, as nearly 12% of the tests came back positive. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are now 1,589 active cases in the country, up more than a hundred from the day before. The 7-day average rose to 124 and the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents to 73.

NBA megastar Dončić signs supermax contract extension with the Mavs

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian NBA star player Luka Dončić signed a five-year, US$207 million supermax rookie extension with the Dallas Mavericks in what is the largest guaranteed rookie extension in NBA history, the biggest deal in Mavericks history and the biggest deal a Slovenian athlete has ever signed. Thanking the team and everyone who has supported him along the way, Dončić said: "This is an incredible day for me. I've never expected this. I dreamt of playing in the NBA as a kid and now I have signed this deal." He also said he had never doubted he would sign the extension with the Mavericks as he is very happy in Dallas.

New group of firefighters head for North Macedonia

LJUBLJANA - A new rotation of Slovenian firefighters headed for North Macedonia to replace a group of around 50 of their colleagues who have been fighting wildfires in the Berovo area since last week. The new group counts 43 firefighters and 9 civil protection members, who will be making sure their work on the ground is safe and efficient, according to the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration. They are expected to return to Slovenia on 17 August.

President and sport minister receive Slovenian Olympics team

BRDO PRI KRANJU - President Borut Pahor and Minister of Sport Simona Kustec received the Slovenian Tokyo Olympics team, congratulating and thanking the athletes for their achievements at the latest Summer Games. They also highlighted the role of sports in boosting a sense of community and bringing people together. Sport climber Janja Garnbret, judoka Tina Trstenjak and canoeist Benjamin Savšek attended today's reception. Kustec announced additional steps to help the sports sector. On behalf of the entire team, Garnbret thanked Pahor and all who helped the athletes on their way to Tokyo for their support. "It was a great honour to represent our country," she said.

Hops in Savinja Valley severely damaged by Sunday hail

TABOR/ŽALEC - Sunday's hail storms wreaked havoc in the Savinja Valley damaging around 80% of the hops grown in the area, meaning this year's harvest will be rather poor. Roman Žveglič, president of the Slovenian Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS), visited the area, saying the chamber will call on the government for aid. The KGZS will ask the government to supplement the emergency law passed this year to help farmers whose crops had been affected by frost this spring, he said. Žveglič finds it right that hops growers affected by hail be included in the law.

Roses from EU member states on display at Volčji Potok

VOLČJI POTOK - Roses from all EU member countries are on display at the Volčji Potok Arboretum, the botanical gardens some 15 kilometres north of Ljubljana, to mark the Slovenian EU presidency and present rose growing culture as an integrating element in the EU. Running until 31 October, the EU in Roses show features national flags and QR codes with the exhibited rose varieties which provide details about each variety. It is accompanied by a booklet in Slovenian and English.

30-year-old man attacked by bear near Pivka

PIVKA - A 30-year-old local was attacked by a bear in the woods near the village of Zagorje, south of Pivka in the south-west of the country, on Monday evening. He was taken to the UKC Ljubljana hospital, but there is no official information about his condition yet. According to initial information reported by the 24ur web news portal, the man had probably found himself between the bear and her cub, and the bear struck him with her paw. Koper police confirmed the incident.

Industrial output in June up 18.9% year-on-year

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output was up 18.9% in June over the year before owing to a strong performance in manufacturing and in mining and quarrying. The output was also up on the monthly basis, increasing by 1.6% compared to May, and by 5.2% compared with June 2019, the Statistics Office reported. In the first six months of the year, it expanded by 13.7% year-on-year.

aaz/aaz
© STA, 2021