Seven-day infection average continues to drop in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - A total of 245 infections with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia on Friday in 3,464 PCR tests as the rolling seven-day average continued to drop. Two Covid-19 patients meanwhile died, fresh data from the government show. The number of patients currently in hospitals dropped by four from yesterday to 201, of whom 52 require intensive care, which is seven fewer than on Friday. The rolling seven-day average dropped on Friday to 244 from 259 on Thursday, while the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents is now at 174, show data from the National Institute for Public Health.
Negative rapid test now sufficient to enter Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia now recognises a negative rapid antigen test in addition to a negative PCR test for those who wish to avoid quarantine on entering Slovenia. From Saturday, individuals who produce a negative result of a PCR or rapid antigen test not older than 48 hours are allowed to enter Slovenia without being ordered to quarantine even if they arrive from a red-listed country. A PCR or rapid antigen test is acceptable if it was performed in an EU or Schengen Area member state, Australia, Israel, Canada, New Zealand, Russia, Serbia, the UK and US and, at international air travel checkpoints, Turkey.
Kočevski Rog ceremony hears reconciliation yet to be reached
KOČEVSKI ROG - Retired Ljubljana Archbishop Anton Stres addressed the annual memorial and mass for victims of post-WWII reprisal killings in the Kočevski Rog woods, noting that that reconciliation was yet to be reached in Slovenia. The conditions for that include revealing truth about the post-war executions and condemning those who have committed the acts and forgiveness by those from the other side, he added at the ceremony at then Pod Krenom grave site. The ceremony organised by the New Slovenian Covenant association was also attended by Prime Minister Borut Pahor and PM Janez Janša.
Slovenia's Jurkovič appointed apostolic nuncio in Canada
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis appointed Slovenian Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, as the new apostolic nuncio in Canada, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference said on Saturday. Jurkovič has been the Holy See's permanent observer in several organisations in Geneva in the last five years, and prior to that he served as the apostolic nuncio in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Jurkovič will be joining Slovenian priest Matjaž Roter, who currently serves as the first secretary of the apostolic nunciature in the Canadian capital.
ICOMOS recommends UNESCO listing of Plečnik's Ljubljana works
PARIS - The International Council on Monuments and Sites has positively assessed Slovenia's bid to get selected works of architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) in Ljubljana listed in UNESCO's World Heritage List. It has recommended to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee of to enter them in the list as it holds a session in July. The application, titled Ljubljana: The Timeless, Human Capital Designed by Jože Plečnik, covers the Ljubljanica embankment, Vegova Street, the National and University Library, Congress Square and the surrounding park, the archaeological park around the remains of the Roman defence wall, Žale Cemetery and two churches, St. Michael's south of Ljubljana and St Francis Assisi in the Šiška borough.
Slovenia crush Gibraltar in friendly match in Koper
KOPER - The Slovenian men's football team easily beat Gibraltar 6:0 in Koper on Friday evening in what was the last tune-up game for the team ahead of the next round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Despite the greatly revamped line-up, Slovenia confirmed its role of the favourite at the match with the football minnows in Bonifika Stadium in front of some 500 spectators, taking a 4:0 lead already by the end of the first half. In September, Slovenia will play World Cup qualifiers at home against Slovakia and Malta, and be hosted by Croatia.
Golfer Babnik scores first Slovenian win at Ladies European Tour
ANNECY, France - Golfer Pia Babnik scored the first Slovenian win at the Ladies European Tour as she won the EUR 200,000 Jabra Ladies Open tournament in the Evian Resort Golf Club in France, earning a ticket for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The 17-year-old, who ahead of the tournament was 457th in the world rankings, earned the win on the first hole of the extra series, beating the defending tournament winner, Annabel Dimmock of the UK. Babnik had a nique feat at the Ladies European Tour, as the Slovenian is the youngest participant this year of the second-tier tour for professional women gold players.
