News roundup - Friday, 16 August, until 3pm

Police unions call for efforts to increase officer safety

LJUBLJANA - Pointing to the worsening security situation in some areas of the country, the SPS police trade union has called on the Interior Ministry and police commissioner to help bring about legislative changes that would make law enforcement more effective as well as increase officer safety. It was joined by the other police trade union, PSS, whose representatives called on PM Robert Golob to take action to improve the material situation of police employees. This comes after an incident where a group of Roma individuals assaulted officers in the Kočevje area in southern Slovenia. The Interior Ministry and police condemned in the strongest terms any violence and attacks on police officers, noting that such actions need to be processed and punished appropriately.

Days of Poetry and Wine focuses on South Korean poetry, brings writing residency

PTUJ - Ptuj and several other towns will turn into a venue of the Days of Poetry and Wine between 19 and 24 August, showcasing 21 poets, shedding light on South Korean poetry and introducing a writing residency. Its honorary guests will be Pia Tafdrup and Valzhyna Mort while Jacek Dehnel will pen this year's open letter to Europe, pointing to AI. This year's curator is Ukrainian-American poet Ilya Kaminsky, who has selected poets from around the globe who share the experience of duality of being.

Ptuj transforms into Roman Poetovio for annual festival

PTUJ - Ptuj, Slovenia's oldest town, will be catapulted back to ancient Roman times for the 17th year running today to turn into Roman Poetovio for three days. The Roman Games festival will see over 800 participants from seven countries recreate the life and customs from 2000 years ago when the town was a major trade and craft centre. Until the end of the week the north-eastern Slovenian town will be teeming with gladiators, legionnaires, senators, and other ancient figures. According to Andrej Klasinc of the Poetovio LXIX Association, the event is one of the largest presentations of the Roman period in this part of Europe.

Celje drop to UEFA Conference League play-offs, join Olimpija and Maribor

DUBLIN, Ireland - The Slovenian champions Celje have been eliminated from the UEFA Europa League qualifying in the third round by the Irish champions Shamrock Rovers and will join the Slovenian clubs Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor, which have advanced in their qualifiers, in the play-off for the third-tier UEFA Conference League. Celje will play the Armenian champions Pyunik, Olimpija will face Croatia's Rijeka and Maribor will play Sweden's Djurgardens. The first legs will be played on 22 August.