News roundup - Friday, 8 September, until 3pm

Three more prefabricated bridges installed

ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM/KAMNIK/NAZARJE - About half of a total of 14 prefabricated bridges planned in the areas hit hardest by the devastating early-August floods in Slovenia have been successfully installed. The latest additions are the first one in Črna na Koroškem, a bridge near Nazarje, and one near Kamnik, the latter being the final one needed on state roads. Slovenia has received ample help from abroad in the reconstruction efforts, with crucial support also coming in the installing of bridges. The Croatian army installed a 27m bridge in the village of Lašča Vas near Nazarje about 80 km north-east of Ljubljana, which was opened on Thursday.

Slovenians in Italy raise EUR 170,000 to help with post-flood efforts

LJUBLJANA - Representatives of Slovenians living in Italy handed over a cheque for EUR 170,000 to Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon to help with the post-flood reconstruction. The officials said the bond between Slovenians in Italy and their homeland was strong, especially in times of hardship. Civil Protection chief Srečko Šestan expressed gratitude for all the support the country has been receiving from other countries, not just material and financial, but also moral support. He said he was happy with the response and proud that the floods claimed no lives directly, "which means we're doing a good job".

Ministry unveils national digital transformation strategy

LJUBLJANA - A task force at the Ministry for Digital Transformation presented a draft national strategy for a digital decade, introducing 93 measures in digital skills, infrastructure, transformation of the economy and public services. The document, which will be in public consultation until 19 September, aims to meet the goals of the EU Path to Digital Decade plan, which include 80% of the population having basic digital literacy by 2030 and a better gender balance among IT experts. In digital infrastructure, efforts will be made to provide a gigabyte network to all end users and a 5G network to all populated areas.

Dewesoft unveils new development facility

TRBOVLJE - The high-tech manufacturer Dewesoft inaugurated a new development facility at its headquarters in Trbovlje (E). The EUR 5 million investment has been fully financed by the company. The new facility comprises two floors, each floor covering 400 square metres. The construction of the highly energy-efficient building with smart plumbing, which started a year ago, used 100 tonnes of steel. With the EUR 5 million investment having been fully financed by the company, co-founder Jure Knez said at the inauguration ceremony that this was the best recipe for making sure Dewesoft remained a healthy Slovenian company 100 years from now.

Lumar posts another revenue record in 2022

MARIBOR - Lumar, a Maribor-based maker of prefabricated energy-efficient homes, generated a record EUR 26.4 million in revenue in 2022 as sales were record high as well. Net profit reached almost EUR 2 million, up from EUR 1.2 million in 2021, shows the company's annual report. The revenue of the company employing some 90 people and exporting mainly to Austria, was 38% higher in 2022 than in 2021, also a year of record high revenue. Lumar did particularly well in Slovenia, where revenue increased by 46% to EUR 22 million. Sales in Slovenia accounted for almost 84% of total sales, while outside Slovenia, the company made the most deals in Austria.

Physical therapists say more staff needed

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Physiotherapists noted on the occasion of World Physical Therapy Day the unacceptably long waiting times for physical therapy and the need to increase the number of physical therapists in Slovenia, especially at the primary level. Compared to other EU member states, Slovenia is trailing far behind in this aspect - while other member states have up to 200 therapists per 100,000 residents, Slovenia only has 50 to 70. According to the public heath insurer ZZZS, the current waiting times for physical therapy range from 150 to 488 days, depending on the urgency of the case.

Bosnian man killed outside his flat

ŽALEC - A 42-year old foreign citizen, reportedly from Bosnia and Herzegovina, was shot to death on Tuesday morning in the area of Žalec, north-east of the capital. He worked in Slovenia and lived alone in a room in the apartment building where he was shot, the Celje Police Department said. According to the newspaper Slovenske Novice, the victim was a Bosnian citizen who lived in an apartment building in Trnava near Žalec. The paper also said that he was shot seven times, citing anonymous, but reliable sources.

New season at MGL theatre focuses on changes in nature, society

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana City Theatre (MGL) is launching a new season that will be focused on the ongoing changes in nature and society, and will address some burning issues with a total of twelve premieres, starting on 15 September with The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco. Singled out as an interesting show in terms of genre and organisation is the Pohorje Battalion project, directed by Jernej Lorenci in cooperation with Croatian playwright Dino Pešut. The season on the small stage will be launched by the comedy Neighbours, directed by Tijana Zinajić, and based on a 2014 German film, which was later adapted to stage by its author Ralf Westhoff.

Season of Love and Such Things starting at Mladinsko Theatre

LJUBLJANA - The Mladinsko Theatre (SMG) in Ljubljana will explore the phenomenon of love and the anatomy of hatred towards different kinds of love in its 68th season, dubbed Season of Love and Such Things. The season will open in October with Tony Kushner's Angels in America. Directed by Nina Rajić Kranjac, the opening play with the subtitle A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is considered the "canon of the late 20th century and an authentic artistic manifesto of the era accumulating the excess of history", the theatre said.

Slovenia score important win over N Ireland in Euro 2024 qualifiers

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian football team defeated Northern Ireland 4:2 in Stožice Stadium in front of some 12,600 spectators on Thursday evening for its third win in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying. Head coach Matjaž Kek was happy with the level of play displayed by his players. "I think that [the win] was well deserved," he said, adding that "we are excellent on offence, which needs to be utilised." Slovenia are now third in Group H ahead of Sunday's encounter with the minnows San Marino on the road in Serravalle.

Climbing superstars flexing muscles in Koper

KOPER - The port town of Koper is hosting an IFSC Climbing World Cup competition in lead today and Saturday, with the women's final expected to draw the most spectators, as Slovenia's Janja Garnbret currently ranks third in the overall standings, while Vita Lukan is in fourth place. This will be the penultimate World Cup competition of this season and the second time the event is hosted by Koper. Up until two years ago, the season wrapped up with a World Cup competition in Kranj.