News roundup - Monday, 25 September, until 3pm

Municipalities report EUR 2.7 billion in flood damage

LJUBLJANA - Municipalities have reported over EUR 2.7 billion in damage caused by the August floods, with the amount not including the damage to businesses. The data has been sent in by 173 out of the country's 212 municipalities in more than 23,500 individual forms. This is not the final data, as the authorities will check the damage on the ground.

POP TV poll shows decline in govt rating

LJUBLJANA - The government's approval rating plunged to below 50% following a brief surge right after the August floods, according to a poll by the private broadcaster POP TV, which also shows the two top parties neck-and-neck, both having recorded significant losses on August. After an eight-point surge last mont, the share of those who support the government plunged by seven points to 44.9% as the number of those who think it is doing a poor job rose by four points to 38.9%. Just over 16% are undecided, up by almost three points.

WIPO to help Slovenia with intellectual property protection

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is currently in the process of preparing the first national strategy for the protection of intellectual property, which is expected to be adopted next year. Visiting Ljubljana, Daren Tang, director general of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization, offered help with the preparations at a meeting with Economy Minister Matjaž Han and Karin Žvokelj, head of Slovenia's Intellectual Property Office. He also met several other senior officials, including President Nataša Pirc Musar.

Minister attends Slovenian Days in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, US - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon attended on Sunday the opening of the Slovenian Days festival in Cleveland as part of a multi-day visit to the US. Visiting what is considered the hub of the Slovenian community in the US, he stressed the importance of efforts to preserve the Slovenian identity and culture.

Fiscal revenue up by 6.3% to EUR 21.46 billion in 2022

LJUBLJANA - The state collected revenue from taxes and social security contributions in the total amount of EUR 21.46 billion last year, which is 6.3% more than in 2021, the Statistics Office said, noting that as a share of GDP, revenue was slightly down after growth was recorded in 2021. Last year's growth in revenue from taxes and social contributions generated by the state in nominal terms followed a 12.9% post-Covid growth in 2021.

Diesel up 4% to EUR 1.664 a litre on Tuesday, petrol up 2.4%

LJUBLJANA - Regulated prices of fuel will again increase at midnight with regular petrol off the motorway network being sold at EUR 1.588 a litre, up 3.7 cents, and diesel at EUR 1.664 a litre, up 6.4 cents. Heating oil will cost EUR 1.249 a litre, up by 6.8 cents.

IJS nanotech researchers working on precise cancer drug delivery system

LJUBLJANA - A group of researchers at Slovenia's foremost research centre, the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), is developing a cancer treatment delivery system using red blood cells, which they hope will provide a much more targetted approach than the still widely used radiation and chemotherapy, which can be very detrimental to healthy tissue.

Number of tourists in first eight months up 4% to 4.51m

LJUBLJANA - Around 4.51 million people were recorded in tourist facilities around Slovenia in the first eight months of the year, which is 4% more than in the same period last year. They generated 12.03 million nights or 2.6% more year-on-year, the Statistics Office reported.

Lady Justice visits Ljubljana to warn of human rights violations

LJUBLJANA - A giant balloon installation dubbed Lady Justice by environmental activist Alban Grosdidier was set up near the parliament house in Ljubljana to warn of a proposed EU directive that would make EU companies liable for human rights violations and damage to the environment. The EU directive, which the European Commission presented in February 2022, is to encourage companies to act in a sustainable and responsible manner in all global value chains.