News roundup - Monday, 11 September, until 3pm

ITF opens office in Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - ITF Enhancing Human Security, a Slovenian-run international demining fund which has been present in Ukraine since 2015, this summer it opened its office in Kyiv to enhance demining efforts and assistance to victims of mines. The office was inaugurated last week, during the visit to the Ukrainian capital by Aleš Musar, the husband of President Nataša Pirc Musar.

Fuel prices up again on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Regulated prices of fuel will increase at midnight with regular petrol off the motorway network being sold at EUR 1.551 a litre, up 0.7 cents, and diesel at EUR 1.60 a litre, up 2.8 cents. Heating oil will cost EUR 1.181 a litre, up by 2.5 cents. The prices will be in force until 25 September, the Environment Ministry announced.

Industrial output down in July

LJUBLJANA - Industrial output in Slovenia was down by 2.5% in July compared to June and down by 6.4% compared to July 2022. Industrial revenue dropped by 8% in monthly comparison, Statistics Office data shows. Industrial output was up in mining and quarrying by 13.9% in July compared to June but was down 1.7% in manufacturing and 1.1% in electricity, gas and steam supply.

Proalp preserving and building on art of shoemaking in Tržič

TRŽIČ - Paying tribute to its tradition of shoemaking, the northwestern town of Tržič celebrates Cobblers' Sunday every year at the beginning of September. Despite the demise of the once flagship shoe factory Peko, the art of shoemaking has been kept alive in the town, including by Proalp, a company leaning heavily on handwork to make sustainable footwear. Proalp was founded in 1997 by Matej Slapar, who had learned the ropes working in Peko, a manufacturer famous for its high-quality fashion footwear.

Slovenian NGO warns about risks of hydrogen facility in near-by Italian port

LJUBLJANA - The environmental NGO Alps Adriatic Green (AAG) has highlighted major risks involving a planned hydrogen plant on the outskirts of the Italian city of Trieste. Saying that Slovenia has not been even informed about the risks, it urged the government to get involved in relevant procedures and conduct an environmental impact assessment.

Entrepreneur reportedly beaten to death in his workshop

MARIBOR - A 64-year-old entrepreneur active in manufacturing of metal structures, was found dead by his employees in his workshop in Zgornji Duplek near Maribor last Friday, allegedly beaten to death with a blunt object. The crime is still being investigated, with the perpetrator reportedly still at large.

Green transition, digitalisation and staff shortage in focus of trade fair

CELJE - The 55th International Trade Fair (MOS) started in Celje, featuring 650 exhibitors from 25 countries and Ukraine as the partner country. Running until Sunday, the event will highlight the green transition, digitalisation and staff shortages as the main concerns businesses are dealing with. This year's event will focus on five areas - MOS Home, MOS Tourism, MOS Tech, MOS B2B and MOS Plus.

Popular TV and radio presenter dies

LJUBLJANA/NOVO MESTO - Popular TV and radio presenter Robi Erjavec has died unexpectedly, aged 52, 24ur.com and other media reported on Sunday. Erjavec worked for commercial broadcaster POP TV for more than 25 years, mostly as the weather forecaster in the daily news show 24ur. He also hosted several popular entertainment shows and was known for his humour and kind-heartedness.

Špela Frlic's debut novel wins Večernica Prize

MARIBOR - Storyteller Špela Frlic has won this year's Večernica Prize for best book for children or youth for her debut youth novel Bleščivka. The jury found the fantasy novel to be exceptionally multi-layered, addressing both children and adults. While young readers enjoy a tense, almost detective story in Bleščivka, the story reveals itself through various interlinguistics elements and symbols to adults, said Dragica Haramija, the head of the jury.

Prešeren's poems to be released in German audiobook

LJUBLJANA - The publishing arm of the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija is set to release a German audiobook of poems by Slovenian national bard France Prešeren to mark several milestones, including Slovenia's upcoming guest of honour appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The audiobook is narrated by German actor Urs Remond.

Slovenia tops Euro 2024 qualifying group after win against San Marino

SERRAVALLE, San Marino - Slovenia defeated San Marino 4:0 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on Sunday to take the top position in Group H alongside Denmark. The scoring opened in the 4th minute when Žan Vipotnik converted a pass from Žan Karničnik from inside the box. Karničnik was also the assist guy for the second goal in the 16th minute as Jan Mlakar scored from a similar position inside the box.