Daily headlines - Thursday, 30 November

DELO

COP28
"Climate saved in the middle of oil wells": The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) starts in Dubai today with high expectations and weak signals that an agreement could be reached. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have cancelled their appearances. (front page 5)

Fortenova sale
"Fortenova from Russians to a Croat": The Croatian holding Fortenova, the owner of the largest Slovenian retailer Mercator, will squeeze out the sanctioned Russian banks from the ownership, with the umbrella holding, based in the Netherlands, to sell the outright stake in Fortenova to a newly-established holding, controlled by Croatian businessman Pavao Vujnovac. (front page, 4)

Palestinian-Israeli conflict
"Violence moving from Gaza to the West Bank": In the seven weeks of attacks, around 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli forces also continue with attacks in the occupied part of the West Bank. (front page, 2, 6)

DNEVNIK

Slovenian Olympic Committee
"Mass departures from umbrella sport organisation": A number of heads of sectors in the Slovenian Olympic Committee (OKS) have resigned in recent weeks, which the paper finds worrying. OKS secretary general Tomaž Jontes says that this has nothing to do with the changes he has introduced since new OKS president Franjo Bobinac took over almost one year ago. (front page, 13)

Femicides
"Women are killed by violent men, not jealousy": As many as 89,000 women were victims of violent death last year, which is the most in the last two decades. More than half were killed by their (former) partners or other family members. Slovenia is no exception. (front page, 21)

FINANCE

People's bonds
"Government setting up foundation for people's bonds": According to unofficial information obtained by Finance, the government will issue people's bonds and notes soon after new year. It notes that interest on these instruments would be tax-free to a certain extent. (front page, 10-11)

Workforce shortage
"What experience Slovenian companies have with Filipino workers": While Croatia and Hungary are hiring Filipino workers at an accelerated pace, procedures in Slovenia last up to eleven months. A Slovenian consulate in Manila is expected to be opened next spring. (front page, 2-3)

Receivership scandal
"How more than EUR 100,000 disappeared from receivership estates": After an official receiver has died, it transpired that he had been transferring money to his account from the receivership estates from several cases he had been entrusted with. Unofficially, the damage amounts to at least EUR 130,000. (front page, 4-5)

Black Friday
"How much Slovenians spent on Black Friday": Data from the Financial Administration (FURS) shows that Slovenians spent around EUR 130 million for shopping on Black Friday, which is only slightly more than last year. (front page, 4)

Cooling of economy
"Impol sees no improvement of situation in short run": The aluminium producer Impol, which was Slovenia's largest exporter last year, says that demand is 10-15% lower than last year. No improvement of the situation is expected in the first quarter of 2024. (front page, 13)

VEČER

Covid-19
"Number of infections increasing again": All healthcare institutions in Slovenia record an increased number of Covid-19 patients, with people from the risk groups being particularly affected. The growing number of variants is also worrying. (front page, 2-3)

Shifts on the right
"Logar's collision with Janša": After MP Anže Logar resigned as chair of the council of the opposition Democrats (SDS), the paper wonders what Logar's next move in distancing himself from SDS president Janez Janša will be. He is to form a party only shortly before the next general election. (front page, 4)

Hospitality in Maribor
"Pri Treh Ribnikih Inn closed again": The short-term lease of the ground floor of one of the best-known inns in Maribor is running out, so the municipality-owned real estate company is looking for an entrepreneur who would take over the entire building. (front page, 13)