News roundup - Saturday, 21 September

Slovenia condemns attacks in Lebanon, urges de-escalation

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia has joined the majority of UN Security Council members in condemning a series of attacks in Lebanon using detonated electronic communication devices, expressing profound concern about the development and calling for maximum restraint by all actors in the region. "We condemn the recent explosions in Lebanon and Syria. This unprecedented attack has resulted in civilian deaths and injuries ... and additionally destabilised the region," Slovenia's Ambassador Samuel Žbogar said at Friday's Security Council session which he chaired.

Golob meets BSH management, talks flood reconstruction

NAZARJE - Prime Minister Robert Golob met with Matthias Metz, CEO of BSH Home Appliances Group, and his team on Friday. The discussions focused on the reconstruction of the company's Nazarje factory, heavily damaged by last August's floods, and the future of the company's operations in Slovenia. According to the prime minister's office, the BSH representatives updated Golob on the company's activities, with a particular focus on restoring the household appliance factory in Nazarje, which suffered significant damage during the floods. They also discussed challenges in employment, the competitiveness of the European market, and the future of BSH's operations in Slovenia.

Union of Slovenian Associations in Croatia gets new head

RIJEKA, Croatia - The Union of Slovenian Associations in Croatia elected Barbara Antolić Vupora its new president. Antolić Vupora, who succeeds Barbara Riman and with whose election the union is relocating from Rijeka to Zagreb, told the STA she will focus on greater involvement of young people and closer collaboration between associations. The union's new head plans to establish new institutions and fields of activity, which will include not only the teaching of the Slovenian language and culture, but also scientific research, economic initiatives, and sports activities involving what are around 10,000 Slovenians living in Croatia. Antolić Vupora is a member of Croatia's centre-left SDP party who was reelected this year for a second term as MP.

Annual gathering of Catholic youth held in Stična

STIČNA - Around 5,200 participants attended on Saturday the 43rd annual meeting of Catholic youths, known as Youth Stična, at the Stična Monastery south-east of Ljubljana. The event was also addressed by President Nataša Pirc Musar, who told the young that they will be "the ones building our common future". Pirc Musar reminded the visitors that peace is far from universal today, with 55 armed conflicts occurring globally - the highest number since World War II. The holy mass at the festival was celebrated by Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore, who invited the young to continue listening to God's word and to make their prayers personal.

Official says state ready to fully fund new Kanin cable car

LJUBLJANA/BOVEC - The potential revival of Kanin, Slovenia's only high-altitude ski resort, is assuming increasingly clear contours. Interest expressed by two groups of foreign investors has prompted the government to announce its readiness to finance Kanin's new cable car, which is a substantial part of the project. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon told Radio Koper that the Bovec municipality, which has reportedly so far received expressions of interest from a group of Serbian investors around former Slovenia ski champion Bojan Križaj and an international consortium called Promotor, would need to find private investors for the rest of what estimates suggest is a EUR 60 million project.

19-year-old Norwegian dies after fall from balcony in Maribor

MARIBOR - A 19-year-old Norwegian tragically died after falling from a balcony in Maribor on Friday evening. He was taken to hospital with severe injuries but passed away early this morning. Police inspected the scene and, based on their findings, believe it was an accident, ruling out foul play, according to the Maribor Police Department.