News roundup - Friday, 13 August, until 3pm

Nearly 200 coronavirus infections confirmed on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 199 coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday in 1,841 PCR tests for a positivity rate of 10.8%. The cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents continued to steadily increase to stand at 92, up four on the day before, and the 7-day average of new cases rose by eight to 161, show fresh data by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The NIJZ estimates there are currently 1,983 active cases in the country, up by 83. Almost 23,100 rapid antigen tests were also performed yesterday.

Court rejects proposal to stay govt's decision not to appoint EDPs

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Administrative Court has rejected a request from prosecutors Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir to stay the government's May decision not to get formally acquainted with their appointment as Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors (EDPs). It argues the request has not been sufficiently reasoned. In the decision, made on Thursday, the court says that the appellants have not demonstrated the need to issue a temporary injunction in this case, shows Friday's press release from the court. Frank Eler and Oštir filed a suit against the government's decision last week, the second after their first was rejected on procedural grounds. The court intends to treat it as an absolute priority.

Passenger numbers at Ljubljana airport in H1 plummet y/y

BRNIK - Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, told the STA that 70,011 passengers and almost 6,800 aircraft movements were recorded in the first half of 2021, with the first figure being almost three times fewer than in the same period last year. An increased number of passengers was recorded in the last two months though. Drop in cargo traffic was much smaller. The operator is also happy with new links with Ljubljana being established.

Huge charcoal pile to be lit near Litija this afternoon

LITIJA - Europe's biggest charcoal pile will be lit at Dole pri Litiji, some 40km east of Ljubljana, this afternoon in what is another record set by Slovenia in charcoal burning. The event, held by the Slovenian Charcoal Burners Association, will be addressed by Speaker Igor Zorčič and Karl Josef Tielke, the head of the European Charcoal Burners Association. Apart from the largest charcoal pile, Slovenia is also home to the largest number of such piles Europe-wide. The visit by the head of the European Charcoal Burners Association shows that Slovenian charcoal burners are respected in the European community, Jože Prah, the head of the Slovenian association told the STA.