News roundup - Friday, 2 August, until 3pm

Slovenia's exports up by 7% in first six months, imports by 13.8%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia exported EUR 30.3 billion worth of goods in the first half of 2024, a 7% increase year-on-year, while imports were up 13.8% to EUR 32.8 billion. In June alone, exports decreased by 7.6% to EUR 4.8 billion and imports were up 17.2% to EUR 5.5 billion. The foreign trade deficit in goods thus stood at EUR 2.5 billion in the first six month, show data released by the Statistics Office. Slovenia's most important export markets in the first half of the year were Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, Italy and Austria, while the main import markets were Switzerland, China, Germany, Italy and India.

Officials say determined post-flood reconstruction efforts to continue

LJUBNO OB SAVINJI/ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM/LUČE/LJUBLJANA - Officials in charge of reconstruction following the devastating August 2023 floods took stock in recent days of the progress made in the first year and reflected on the way forward. The focus will lie on protective measures against future floods and the completion of red-tape heavy housing replacement and financial compensation programmes. During today's visit to some of the worst hit areas, Boštjan Šefic, the head of the government's reconstruction office, presented the latest developments in procedures involving buildings that have been slated for demolition due to no longer being safe.

Women's handball team defeated by Norway but not yet eliminated

PARIS, France - Slovenia's women's handball team was beaten by Norway 29:22 (15:10) on Thursday to suffer its third defeat in four games at the Paris Olympics. Slovenia, who offered reasonable resistance to save face after a 41:22 loss to Germany, still have a chance of making it into the quarter-finals. In their final game of preliminary play in Group A, Slovenia will face Denmark, which is undefeated in the group along with Norway and Sweden.

Maribor and Olimpija advance in Conference League qualifiers

CRAIOVA, Romania/KRAKOW, Poland - The football clubs Olimpija and Maribor made it to the third round of qualifiers for the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. Olimpija won 2:1 against Ukraine's Polissya Zhytomyr in the return leg of the second round, while Maribor advanced despite a 2:3 defeat against Universitatea Craiova because of a favourable goal difference. Their next matches will be played on 8 August.

There is a new lioness in town

LJUBLJANA - One of the main attractions of Ljubljana Zoo, lioness Čaja, has made a new friend after the death of her companion Maksimus, who had to euthanised in March at the age of 15 due to deteriorating health. Lioness Živana joined her in mid-July and the two seem to be getting along nicely. After her arrival Živana had to get acclimatised first and gradually get to know Čaja better. The adjustment period seems to be going well, as the two headed to the outdoor enclosure together for the first time on Monday.