News roundup - Saturday, 8 June

Čeh wins gold in discus throw at European championships

ROME, Italy - Slovenian discus thrower Kristjan Čeh won the gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Friday evening in what is his fourth medal in major competitions and the first gold medal for a Slovenian male athlete ever at European championships. The 25-year-old finished ahead Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria (67.70 m) and the defending European and world champion and world record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania (67.48 m).

Warnings against war atrocities heard at Ljubelj ceremony

LJUBELJ - A ceremony was held to mark the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Ljubelj Labour Camp, a subcamp of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp, with the speakers warning against repeating of history and noting that the lessons learned from the horrors of WWII camps must not be forgotten. "At a time when the world seems to have forgotten the recent past, a new war is taking place on European soil, in Ukraine, and a genocide in Palestine," said Culture Minister Asta Vrečko.

S&P and DBRS Morningstar affirm Slovenia's ratings

LJUBLJANA - The ratings agencies S&P Global Ratings and DBRS Morningstar have confirmed Slovenia's existing ratings. S&P affirmed Slovenia at AA-, and DBRS Morningstar confirmed the country's rating of A (high), with a stable outlook, the Finance Ministry announced. DBRS Morningstar says in its report for Slovenia that the country's good status in general is due to the well-developed economy, efficient debt management, a prudent fiscal framework and membership in European institutions.

Former anti-money laundering boss says anonymous reports had to be checked

Ljubljana, 8 June - A parliamentary commission of inquiry interviewed on Friday Damjan Žugelj, the former head of the Money Laundering Prevention Office who is being investigated over suspected abuse of office in looking into bank accounts in 2021. He said the office had to check every anonymous report, as was the case with the disputable insight into the accounts. Žugelj said that he did not know Janša personally and that he had never met him. He did reveal that he is a member of the SDS.

Golob condemns physical attack on his Danish counterpart

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob has condemned Friday's physical attack on his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, who sustained a light neck injury after being assaulted by a 39-year-old man in Copenhagen. "I strongly condemn this shameful and cowardly act of aggression," Golob was quoted in a post on the government's profile on X.

Slovenia draw with Bulgaria before heading for Euro, roster unveiled

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian men's football team played out a 1:1 draw with Bulgaria in Stožice Stadium to wrap-up its training camp ahead of the 2024 Euro in Germany. The spectators saw both goals early, as Kiril Despodov scored for Bulgaria in the 4th minute with a penalty kick, and Andraž Šporar equalised with a header ten minutes later. Slovenia are travelling to Germany next Tuesday as head coach Matjaž Kek yesterday announced the final roster of 26 players who will play in the tournament.