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This summary is provided by the STA:
Exports up 57.2% in June year-on-year, up 32.1% in H1
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's exports went up by 32.1% and imports by 47% in the first six months compared to the same period last year, while an external trade deficit of EUR 2.2 billion was recorded in trade balance. The export-import ratio was at 92%. In June, Slovenia exported a record EUR 5.3 billion of goods (up 57.2% year on year) and imported a record of EUR 4.8 billion (up 40%).
Elektronček buying water bottling company Costella
LJUBLJANA/KOSTEL - The gaming company Elektronček Group, owned by entrepreneur Joc Pečečnik, announced the acquisition of the company Costella. Costella's owner, the Swiss company Agrokor, which is in liquidation, put the water bottling company, whose most valuable asset is a water extraction concession valid until 2035, up for sale at the end of last year. Elektronček announced the takeover on 29 July, says the website of the Agency for the Protection of Competition. According to unofficial information of the business newspaper Finance, Elektronček is to pay less than EUR 5 million for the company.
Minister says Ljubljana administrative unit in for restructuring
LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik said that her dismissing Bojan Babič as the director of the Ljubljana administrative unit was not a politically motivated decision as she announced broader restructuring of administrative units. Babič agreed with the assessment and will not appeal, as this would not suspend his dismissal, and a deputy head has already been appointed. He will be succeeded by Nataša Trček, who serves as secretary general at the Public Administration Ministry, as acting head. She will be dismissed from the current post on 31 August.
Pahor to be guest of honour at Sinjska Alka on Sunday
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will be the guest of honour at the traditional Sinjska Alka equestrian competition in the Croatian town of Sinj this Sunday upon invitation of his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović. Pahor will be the first foreign statesman in this capacity at the tournament, the president's office announced. The 307th iteration of the competition will be held under the sponsorship of Milanović, who arranged with the association's members in May to invite Pahor as the guest of honour. Pahor and Milanović last met on 15 June in Ohrid, North Macedonia, when they attended the Prespa Forum.
Report: Austrian postal operator uses unregistered name in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The Austrian national postal company, Österreichische Post, which entered the Slovenian postal market at the start of July, has been using the word Slovenia in the name of its subsidiary without permission of the Slovenian government, so the Economy Ministry reported this to the market inspectorate, the newspaper Delo reported. Moreover, the subsidiary has been registered as Express One SI, but has been using the name Express One Slovenia.
Covid cases down by nearly 20% week-on-week on Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 1,624 new Covid cases on Wednesday in what is an 18% drop week-on-week. As the epidemic continues to wane, hospitalisations remain stable, shows the latest data by the Health Ministry. The number of people with active infections in the country has decreased to some 22,340. Two people with Covid died yesterday.
Prosecution demands life imprisonment in Christmas triple murder retrial
PTUJ - A retrial for a man charged with murder of his former partner and her parents on Christmas 2020 is coming to an end at the Ptuj District Court. While the defendant changed his plea from guilty in the first trial to not guilty, the prosecution once again proposes life imprisonment. It demands three 30-year sentences and a 4-year sentence for neglecting a minor, or a cumulative sentence of life in prison. The verdict will be delivered on Monday.
Thousands od fish from farm near Lake Bled had to be euthanised due to poisoning
BLED - The peak of the tourist season at Lake Bled resulted in large quantities of malodorous waste being washed off into the only outlet from the lake, the local environmental organisation warned, adding that the Sava Bohinjka river is also full of algae. This led to all 25,000 fish kept by the local angling club at the confluence between the Sava Bohinjka and Sava Dolinka having to be euthanised due to poisoning. It is yet fish kill in Slovenia after a major die-ff in Mali Graben near Ljubljana.
Dutch national in court for alleged possession of explosive device components
KOPER - A 28-year old Dutch man appeared at Koper District Court after charges were pressed against him for allegedly possessing components to make an explosive device at a rented house near Ilirska Bistrica in the south-west. After the hearing, the judge ruled the suspect is to remain in custody after reasonable ground was established for illicit production and trafficking of weapons or explosives.
