News Archive - October 2013

Reformation Day to Be Marked in Slovenia

30. 10. 2013
Reformation Day to Be Marked in Slovenia
Reformation Day, a bank holiday in honour of the 16th-century Reformation and Protestant movement, which brought Slovenians their first books, will be marked in Slovenia tomorrow. The main ceremony, organised by the Protestant Association Primož Trubar, will be held in Kranj tonight, with PM Bratušek delivering the keynote.

Does a full moon make people mad?

30. 10. 2013
Does a full moon make people mad?
Belief in the Moon’s power over us is widespread, and the basis of the word lunacy. Claudia Hammond examines whether science can shed any light on the ancient myth.

Russia: Putin says gay athletes and visitors welcome at Sochi games

29. 10. 2013
Russia: Putin says gay athletes and visitors welcome at Sochi games
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been accused of discrimination against homosexuals by his critics, said gay athletes and visitors would be welcome in Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Parliament to Adopt Additional Economic Stabilisation Measures

29. 10. 2013
Parliament to Adopt Additional Economic Stabilisation Measures
Parliament is expected to pass amendments to the banking act and to the income tax act as it wraps up the October plenary on Tuesday.

Poland's former PM Tadeusz Mazowiecki dies aged 86

28. 10. 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24700801
Poland's first prime minister after the fall of communism, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, has died aged 86, Polish media report.

Ethiopia's Mulugeta Wins 18th Ljubljana Marathon

28. 10. 2013
http://www.sloveniatimes.com/ethiopia-s-mulugeta-wins-18th-ljubljana-marathon
Wami Mulugeta of Ethiopia won the 18th Ljubljana Marathon on Sunday, finishing the 42-kilometre race in 2 hours 10 minutes and 26 seconds. Caroline Chepkwony of Kenya (2:27:27) was meanwhile the winner among the women runners.

Greenland awards London Mining huge iron ore project

25. 10. 2013
Greenland awards London Mining huge iron ore project
Greenland has awarded UK-based company London Mining a 30-year licence to build and run a giant iron ore mine.

Super Tax Passes First Reading in Parliament

25. 10. 2013
Super Tax Passes First Reading in Parliament
The National Assembly decided unanimously on Thursday at first reading that changes to the tax procedures act, as part of which the government wants to introduce a super tax as a means of fighting undeclared income, are fit for further debate in parliament.

German Chancellor calls Obama over NSA phone tapping

24. 10. 2013
German Chancellor calls Obama over NSA phone tapping
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called President Obama to demand an explanation after hearing that her mobile phone may have been tapped by US intelligence services.

Bratušek to Attend EU Summit, No Major Decisions Expected

24. 10. 2013
Bratušek to Attend EU Summit, No Major Decisions Expected
Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek will be among the EU leaders who will discuss in Brussels on Thursday and Friday the banking union, youth unemployment, digital challenges and refugee deaths in the Mediterranean. No breaking news is expected at the meeting, which is considered a bridge to the December summit.

Privatisation of Airport Ljubljana Operator Started

23. 10. 2013
Privatisation of Airport Ljubljana Operator Started
The privatisation of airport operator Aerodrom Ljubljana has been officially launched as shareholders holding 73.34% of the stock have signed a shareholder agreement and the state-run SOD fund has started the selection of a financial adviser.

Resume or CV? A global guide

23. 10. 2013
Resume or CV? A global guide
You live and work in New York City, but you're applying for a job in Brussels. Is it enough to send along the standard resume you use for applications in your home country?

French President Hollande berates US over spying claims

22. 10. 2013
French President Hollande berates US over spying claims
French President Francois Hollande has expressed "deep disapproval" over claims the US National Security Agency secretly tapped phone calls in France.

Defence Minister Jakič to Attend Discussions on Future of NATO

22. 10. 2013
Defence Minister Jakič to Attend Discussions on Future of NATO
Defence Minister Roman Jakič will take part in a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday dedicated to the future of the alliance, including plans for next year's summit.

Tito’s widow dies

21. 10. 2013
Tito’s widow dies
Jovanka Broz, the woman who spent three decades as Yugoslavia’s First Lady, but more recently holed up in a crumbling house in isolation and near penury, has died at the age of 88.

Start-up Culture in Focus of Internet Week

21. 10. 2013
Start-up Culture in Focus of Internet Week
The first Internet Week Ljubljana, a festival organised by the Slovenian internet community, will get underway on Monday with the aim of promoting information technology and the start-up culture in Slovenia.

Ukraine: Parliament holds Tymoshenko’s fate in its hands

18. 10. 2013
Ukraine: Parliament holds Tymoshenko fate in its hands
In the biggest step yet towards the release of former opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the Ukrainian president has moved responsibility for a potential new draft law onto parliament’s shoulders.

Pensioner´s Party Not on Board Real Estate Tax in Current Form

18. 10. 2013
Pensioner´s Party Not on Board Real Estate Tax in Current Form
Leader of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) Karl Erjavec said he did not support the real estate tax as proposed in the bill adopted by the government on Thursday. He said the final decision will be up to the executive committee of the party.

France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes

17. 10. 2013
France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes
A Norwegian neo-Nazi musician arrested by French authorities in July on suspicion of planning a terrorist act is due to go on trial in Paris.

Govt Expected to Adopt Real Estate Tax

17. 10. 2013
Govt Expected to Adopt Real Estate Tax
The government is expected to adopt on Thursday the bill introducing the much debated real estate tax. The Finance Ministry has not revealed the exact contents of the bill as talks with different stakeholders were conducted until late on Wednesday.

A New Image for Ljubljana’s Main Street

16. 10. 2013
A New Image for Ljubljana’s Main Street
For many years we have been provoking public curiosity around the redevelopment of Slovenska Street, currently a noisy and polluted traffic corridor, which should contribute to a better quality city centre area. A group of experts have been trying, for more than a year, to design a redevelopment proposal that meets the expectations of those who keep an eye on the renovation of the city centre. This process includes different, but closely linked, forms of architectural, landscape, traffic, environmental, economic and social renovation of the most densely populated and representative part of the city.

Ireland is to close a tax loophole used by Apple

16. 10. 2013
Ireland is to close a tax loophole used by Apple
Ireland plans to shut a tax arrangement used by Apple to shelter $40bn (£25bn) from taxation.

Cameron pledges to confront EU on red tape

15. 10. 2013
Cameron pledges to confront EU on red tape
David Cameron has said he will take the fight on red tape to the EU after a report by business leaders found it is costing UK firms billions of pounds.

Slovenia Upgrading Military Airbase

15. 10. 2013
Slovenia Upgrading Military Airbase
Defence Minister Roman Jakič signed a contract with a consortium of local construction companies on Monday for upgrading Slovenia's sole military airport at Cerklje ob Krki with an apron. The upgrade, allowing the airbase to serve for NATO support, will cost EUR 8.3m, which is to be covered fully by NATO

New Real Estate Valuations Expected Today

14. 10. 2013
New Real Estate Valuations Expected Today
The Surveying and Mapping Authority (GURS) is expected to release new, lower, notional values of real estate for the entire country on Monday. The figures will be crucial, for they will be used for calculation of the new real estate tax.

Italy steps up migrant boat patrols after tragedies

14. 10. 2013
Italy steps up migrant boat patrols after tragedies
Italy is stepping up sea and air patrols following the deaths of hundreds of migrants sailing in overcrowded boats from North Africa.

Lampedusa toll at 311 as Italy divers finish boat search

11. 10. 2013
Lampedusa toll at 311 as Italy divers finish boat search
Italian divers say they have finished searching a boat that sank carrying migrants from Africa, as the death toll from the accident reached 311.

Ljubljana Mayor Charged over Land Plot Sale

11. 10. 2013
Ljubljana Mayor Charged over Land Plot Sale
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal complaints against three officials of the Ljubljana City Municipality, including Mayor Zoran Janković, over a 2009 sale of land plots in Ljubljana, commercial POP TV reported

2012 Bad Year for Slovenian Agriculture

10. 10. 2013
2012 Bad Year for Slovenian Agriculture
A comprehensive report on the state of Slovenian agriculture presented to the parliamentary Agriculture Committee on Wednesday shows that the favourable trends from 2010 and 2011 reversed last year, as overall output of agricultural products dropped by 10%.

Juno: The spacecraft putting sling theory to the test

10. 10. 2013
Juno: The spacecraft putting sling theory to the test
Why a probe passing our planet on its way to Jupiter might end a decades-old mystery, and reveal something completely new about gravity.

Serbia launches sweeping austerity measures to avoid bankruptcy

09. 10. 2013
Serbia launches sweeping austerity measures to avoid bankruptcy
Serbia’s government has announced a raft of sweeping austerity measures which it says are necessary to avoid going bankrupt.

Luka Koper With New Supervisors, Chairman's Fate Unclear

09. 10. 2013
Luka Koper With New Supervisors, Chairman
The shareholders of Luka Koper backed on Monday the proposal of the state-run SOD fund to appoint five new supervisors at the port operator following the contentious appointment of Gašpar Gašpar Mišič as CEO.

Budgets for 2014&2015 in the Parliament

08. 10. 2013
Budgets for 2014&2015 in the Parliament
The National Assembly will convene an extraordinary session Tuesday in what will be the start of parliamentary scrutiny of the 2014-2015 budgets. The budget documents will be presented by Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek and Finance Minister Uroš Čufer.

Egg-sized diamond sells for record $30.8m in Hong Kong

08. 10. 2013
Egg-sized diamond sells for record $30.8m in Hong Kong
A white diamond the size and shape of a small egg has sold for a record $30.8m (£19.1m) at auction in Hong Kong.

Olympic flame arrives in Russia ahead of Sochi winter games

07. 10. 2013
Olympic flame arrives in Russia
The Olympic flame has arrived in Russia ahead of the winter games in Sochi next February.

Month of Design Starts in Ljubljana

07. 10. 2013
Month of Design Starts in Ljubljana
The 10th Month of Design Ljubljana will begin at publisher Mladinska knjiga's printing house and the former Merkur store on Dunajska street on Monday, bringing more than 30 exhibitions, conferences and other events. An award ceremony for achievements in design will start the festival.

Portugal passes latest eurozone bailout test

04. 10. 2013
Portugal passes latest eurozone bailout test
Representatives from the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank have approved Portugal's economic progress.

Slovenian Company to Decorate Kremlin for Holiday Season

04. 10. 2013
Slovenian Company to Decorate Kremlin for Holiday Season
Holiday decorations by Slovenian company Pro-Mak will adorn the offices of Russian President Vladimir Putin this holiday season. Pro-Mak was given the honour after its pavilion was proclaimed the most beautiful at Russia's biggest decorations fair.

Ambient Furniture Fair Underlines Role of Wood Industry

03. 10. 2013
Ambient Furniture Fair Underlines Role of Wood Industry
Speakers at the Ambient furniture fair, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday in Ljubljana, have underscored the role of the wood and furniture industry for exiting the economic crisis. Several awards have also been given out at the fair, which features 209 furniture makers from 21 countries.

US shutdown: Barack Obama warns of default danger

03. 10. 2013
US shutdown: Barack Obama warns of default danger
US President Barack Obama has warned that Wall Street should be concerned that a conservative faction of Republicans is willing to allow the country to default on its debt.

Crunch day for Enrico Letta as the Italy PM prepares for confidence vote

02. 10. 2013
Crunch day for Enrico Letta as the Italy PM prepares for confidence vote
The stage is set in the Italian Senate for a day of drama in the latest political crisis to engulf the country.

Minority Hails Election of Ethnic Slovenian to Austrian Parliament

02. 10. 2013
Minority Hails Election of Ethnic Slovenian to Austrian Parliament
The umbrella organisations of the Slovenian minority in Austria's Carinthia have welcomed the election of minority member Angelika Mlinar to the federal parliament on Sunday, stressing that it was the first time the minority would have representatives both in the provincial and federal parliament.

September Inflation Drops to 1.4%

01. 10. 2013
September Inflation Drops to 1.4%
Slovenia's annual inflation rate plunged to 1.4% in September from 2.2% in August, as prices increased 0.3% at the monthly level largely due to the end of seasonal footwear and clothing sales, the Statistics Office said Monday.

Will we ever... live in underwater cities?

01. 10. 2013
Will we ever... live in underwater cities?
Living below the sea is possible, at least for a short time. So what is stopping us creating colonies to ease over-population, or guard against disasters?