Damage assessment under way after cyberattack on Disaster Relief Admin
LJUBLJANA - The information system of the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration was the target of a cyberattack on Wednesday with damage assessment still under way. Being that the civil rescue system is one of the three pillars of national security, Uroš Svete, the head of the Government Information Security Office, sees the attack as a very serious incident. The administration said 112 emergency call service and alert centres were not disrupted but some internet an e-mail services were.
Interior minister accuses SDS of political manipulation
LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar accused MPs of the opposition Democrats (SDS) of political manipulation following their claims that the removal of the border fence between Slovenia and Croatia led to a surge in the number of migrants entering Slovenia illegally. The SDS is reported to be planning an ouster motion against the minister, claiming she is knowingly opening the border to illegal migrants and exposing citizens to danger. Bobnar said removal of the fence had no effect on migration.
Govt adopts guidance for hybrid work in state admin
LJUBLJANA - The government has adopted guidance on hybrid work in the state administration, recommending for employees to work one day from home, two from the office and two mixed days, depending on the needs. The hybrid system would only be used where possible and in agreement between the employees and their superior. The 1 plus 2 plus 2 hybrid model is also being introduced by the European Commission for its staff. The government recommends work from home to remain an option beyond the Covid-19 epidemic.
Probanka execs, entrepreneur get prison sentences
MARIBOR - The Maribor District Court sentenced to jail an entrepreneur and two board members of the former Probanka bank over the latter's overpriced sale of shares of NKBM bank to the entrepreneur in 2008. Each received a year and eight months in prison. The main defendant, the Velenje-based entrepreneur Tomaž Ročnik, was found guilty of abuse of office or trust, while bankers Milana Lah and Peter Lobnik were found to be complicit. The ruling is not yet final.
Alfi also acquiring Merkur store premises manager
LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Delo reported that after acquiring the hardware retailer Merkur Trgovina, the private equity fund Alfi now also reached agreement to acquire a stake in the company managing the store premises. The deal, which is yet to be signed, was reached with the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), which holds a 62% stake in Merkur Nepremičnine. Delo says the deal is unofficially valued at substantially more than EUR 10 million. In addition Alfi agreed to buy the company's EUR 13 million debt to BAMC and with the debt bought before would become the sole financial creditor of Merkur Nepremičnine.
Luzar's Orchestra wins award at Beijing Film Festival
BEIJING, China - Slovenian director Matevž Luzar won the film direction award in the Forward Future section of the 12th Beijing International Film Festival for The Orchestra, a story of a wind orchestra travelling to a music festival in a small Austrian town. The award jury has recognised Luzar for his "sensitive and cheerful narrative about the misadventures of a brass band on tour in a twinned Austrian city," the Slovenian Film Centre said.
Čeh takes discus silver at European Championships
MUNICH, Germany - Kristjan Čeh won silver in the men's discuss throw at the European Athletics Championships in Munich on Friday, having to concede to Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania, who broke the championship record with 69.78 metres in the fifth attempt to win gold. Čeh, the current world champion, sent his implement out to 68.28 metres in the fifth round for his best mark in the competition. Čeh's is the tenth medal for Slovenia at European Athletics Championships.
New coronavirus cases up by 9% week-on-week
LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,387 new coronavirus cases were logged in Slovenia on Thursday in what is a 9% increase week-on-week. Two patients with Covid-19 died, data from the Health Ministry shows. A total of 87 patients still require hospital treatment for Covid as their main condition, including 12 who need intensive care. The overall number is down by one, while the number of ICU patients is up by one compared to yesterday.
