Daily headlines - Thursday, 3 August

DELO

Consequences of storms
"Frequent natural disasters will make insurance more expensive": The damage done by a tornado that formed on Tuesday afternoon near Ilirska Bistrica is yet to be determined, but insurance companies will certainly feel the impact. It is expected that insurers will increase their premiums related to natural disasters as they are getting more frequent. (front page, 4-5)

Poverty in EU
"Slovenians not doing bad (yet)": Some 3.5% of Slovenia's residents cannot afford a meal with meat or fish or an equivalent vegetarian meal every other day, the paper says, while noting that the number of people in the EU at risk of poverty and social exclusion is increasing. (front page, 3)

Basketball
"Greece too strong, chance to avenge loss as early as tomorrow": The Slovenian men's basketball team last evening failed to reward fans who packed the 12,000-seat Stožice Arena in Ljubljana as they lost 91:98 to Greece in a friendly ahead of the FIBA World Cup. (front page, 18)

DNEVNIK

Health minister
"Trampuž offering himself, several names on table": While infectologist Andrej Trampuž, one of the most recognisable Slovenian doctors abroad, is willing to become the new health minister, the prime minister's office says that Robert Golob has several names on the table and that no decision has been made yet. (front page, 2)

Driving tests
"Waiting lines are longest in Ljubljana": Candidates are waiting for a long time for the theoretical and practical driving test, with the main reason being the shortage of evaluators, who are less paid than instructors, although a condition for being an evaluator is experience as an instructor. (front page, 10)

Football
"Ljubljana caught in football euphoria": After eliminating Bulgaria's Ludogorets Razgrad from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and entering the 3rd round, Slovenian champions Olimpija Ljubljana have finally managed to secure the group stage in a European club competition. (front page, 14, commentary 12)

FINANCE

Construction
"How much does it cost you to legalise illegal construction": Contributions for community infrastructure charged by municipalities have increased the most in the last two years, the paper notes as it provides advice on what to do when someone wants to legalise a house, extension etc. (front page, 2-4)

Interest rates
"Slovenian banks making record profits": The latest data from the central bank reveals "new wild figures" on the operation of Slovenian banks in 2023 - profits and net interest in the first five months are at historic levels. (front page, 4-5)

Car market analysis
"What cars Slovenians like the most": Despite the changing trends in recent years, the Renault Clio remains at the top of the most popular cars in Slovenia, with crossovers being far behind. The most popular marque overall is Volkswagen. (front page, 14)

VEČER

Construction in Maribor
"Rotovž as a mega project": While quite a few large construction sites in Slovenia's second largest city are active, none of them compares by size and complexity to the project to build the Rotovž multimedia centre. The construction started a year and a half ago, and it is estimated that it will take at least as much to finish it. (front page, 13)

Opposition parties
"NSi looking ahead to European elections": The 2024 European elections will be a major turning point for the New Slovenia (NSi), the paper says, discussing why the party needs to win at least one seat in the European Parliament and why it wants to cooperate with SDS deputy Anže Logar. (front page, 2-3)

Kavač Clan trial
"Fourth repentant would also like to be protected witness": Slavko Tešić has started talking at the trial of the Slovenian cell of the Montenegrin drug trafficking group known as the Kavač Clan, although he has received threats. He is enjoying high-level security measures like the other repentants in the case. (front page, 8-9)

MetalDays festival
"Thunderous along Lake Velenje": The MetalDays music festival has invited metal music lovers from Slovenia and abroad to a new venue, Lake Velenje. Visitors note the good musical line-up and the natural environment, which is also an opportunity for a family holiday. (front page, 19)