News roundup - Friday, 6 August, until 3pm

Janja Garnbret Olympic champion in sport climbing

TOKYO, Japan - Janja Garnbret won Olympic gold medal in the women's sport climbing combined, the first time that the sport was featured at the Summer Games, to secure the third gold medal for Slovenia at the Games. The 22-year-old finished fifth in speed, but dominated in bouldering and in lead, her flagship discipline, where she holds two World Champion titles.

New Covid infections continue to rise week-on-week

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 144 new coronavirus infections for Thursday on a positivity rate of 8.1% as the week-on-week rise in new infections continued for the 9th day in a row. The 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents were up by four, to 116 and 64, respectively. One Covid patient died as hospitalisations remained stable with 29 patients in hospital, including seven in intensive care, show figures released by the government.

Report: Slovenian soldiers receiving requests for asylum from Afghanistan

LJUBLJANA - After NATO troops left Afghanistan, several people who had cooperated with the Slovenian army there turned to Slovenia for help as they now fear Taliban retaliation, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. The Defence Ministry has confirmed for Dnevnik that some individuals had turned to the ministry or the Slovenian army with requests for help and that options for granting them asylum are being examined. According to the paper, Slovenia is in talks with other EU countries that have participated in military missions in Afghanistan on ways to protect civilians there.

Von der Leyen says countries pick their mix of energy sources themselves

LJUBLJANA - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated in an interview with the newspaper Delo that EU countries decide on which energy sources they will use themselves as she responded to a question regarding the expansion of the lifespan of the Krško nuclear power station by 2043 and plans for a second unit. The decision on running or closing down nuclear power stations is also in the jurisdiction of EU member states, von der Leyen added. Talking about Fit for 55, she noted that she had told PM Janez Janša during her visit to Ljubljana at the start of Slovenia's EU presidency that his support and the support of the presidency would be crucial.

Anti-graft body looking into appointments at band bank

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for Corruption Prevention (KPK) is looking into the circumstances of the appointment of Franci Matoz, a prominent lawyer best known as a long-time legal representative of PM Janez Janša and his Democratic Party (SDS), as the chairman of the board of directors of the Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), Slovenia's bad bank. Confirming a report by newspaper Delo, the KPK told the STA that the inquiry had been based on a report that the anti-graft body had received in May. The KPK will also check the circumstances of the appointments of non-executive directors and members of the BAMC management board carried out in the past weeks.