News Archive - March 2014

ALDE Leader Verhofstadt Visiting Slovenia

31. 03. 2014
ALDE Leader Verhofstadt Visiting Slovenia
The candidate of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) for head the European Commission, Guy Verhofstadt, is due to visit Slovenia on Monday to rally support for ALDE partners in the country ahead of the May elections to the European Parliament.

Splendour in the vines: How to buy a vineyard

31. 03. 2014
Splendour in the vines: How to buy a vineyard
Nine years ago, former US political strategist Michael Evans went on holiday to Argentina’s predominate wine region, Mendoza, intending to stay for a few months. He’d always dreamt of owning a vineyard, but it seemed “financially impossible.”

Slovenia and Croatia Team Up to Seek Ice Storm Aid

28. 03. 2014
Slovenia and Croatia Team Up to Seek Ice Storm Aid
Slovenia and Croatia have struck a partnership in seeking financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund for the relief efforts following the February ice storm, which caused extensive damage to forests and infrastructure in both countries.

The curious case of the Irish real estate revival

28. 03. 2014
The curious case of the Irish real estate revival
Paul is luckier than many of his generation in Ireland. A thirtysomething in Dublin, he earns a decent, steady wage and a sizeable deposit for a new home from a previous property sale behind him, he appears the ideal property buyer.

Real Estate Tax Tragicomedy Still Not Over

27. 03. 2014
Real Estate Tax Tragicomedy Still Not Over
The National Assembly is expected to pass on Thursday amendments to the real estate tax that will address one of the main complaints by the people and the cause of much bad blood in recent months - different tax rates for residential property depending on its occupancy status.

Flight MH370: Bad weather again hampers plane search

27. 03. 2014
Flight MH370: Bad weather again hampers plane search
An air search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has again been suspended because of bad weather in the southern Indian Ocean.

Ljubljana Wins European Mobility Week Award

26. 03. 2014
Ljubljana Wins European Mobility Week Award
The European Commission has declared Ljubljana the winner of the European Mobility Week Award, praising it for setting up an extensive programme of activities promoting sustainable travel, and for introducing permanent measures in favour of public transport, cycling and walking.

US and Russians blast off together to the International Space Station

26. 03. 2014
US and Russians blast off together to the International Space Station
They are the best of friends who will work together in close proximity hand in hand.

President Pahor Selected for Bosnian Statesman Award

25. 03. 2014
President Pahor Selected for Bosnian Statesman Award
President Borut Pahor has been selected for the 2014 Isa Beg Ishaković Award given out by a Bosnian academic society for his contribution to the development of international community and the city of Sarajevo

Russian manoeuvres keep the West guessing

25. 03. 2014
Russian manoeuvres keep the West guessing
The concern of Nato's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe that Russian forces are capable of moving swiftly into eastern Ukraine underscores the uncertain course of this crisis, with Nato and Western diplomats unable to predict Russian intentions.

Budget Problems: New Borrowing on the Way"

24. 03. 2014
Budget Problems: New Borrowing on the Way
A series of roadshows across Europe will start on Monday as Slovenia makes a renewed attempt to tap into the euro market by issuing its first public euro-denominated bond in three years.

Help out a fellow career woman — or not?

24. 03. 2014
Help out a fellow career woman — or not?
Your dilemma you’re has two horns: your employer demands loyalty, but you want to help another working woman. The question is whether you can act ethically toward both your organisation and this applicant. Complicating that question is your personal view about how “stingy” the maternity policy is. In the United States, unlike in many European countries, Canada, and parts of Asia, paid maternity leave is not an automatic benefit guaranteed by the government. Unpaid leave is only mandated for a limited period with certain work hour and company size qualifications.

EU extends sanctions against Russia, threatens further actions

21. 03. 2014
EU extends sanctions against Russia, threatens further actions
The European Union has announced new sanctions against Russia at the first day of an EU summit in Brussels.

Ljubljana Airport Sale Enters Next Stage

21. 03. 2014
Ljubljana Airport Sale Enters Next Stage
The sale of Aerodrom Ljubljana, the operator of Slovenia's main airport, has entered the next stage, as the financial advisor in the sale issued a call for an expression of interest for a 75.5% stake in the company on Thursday.

Possible debris from missing Malaysian jet seen on Australian satellite images

20. 03. 2014
Possible debris from missing Malaysian jet seen on Australian satellite images
Australian authorities say they have found two objects on satellite images that could be debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.

Port of Koper Soon With New CEO?

20. 03. 2014
Port of Koper Soon With New CEO?
Shareholders of port operator Luka Koper adopted on Wednesday changes to the company's statute that would make it easier to dismiss the CEO. But the Koper municipality, a minority owner, announced it would challenge the decision in court.

Vodafone grabs Spanish hi-tech broadband jewel Ono

19. 03. 2014
Vodafone grabs Spanish hi-tech broadband jewel Ono
Britain’s Vodafone is continuing its push into Europe’s fixed-broadband market, making its third purchase in two years by snapping up Spain’s Ono. Seven point two billion euros is the ticket price for the private-equity firm, which had been preparing to float on the market before Vodaphone stepped in.

Slovenian Bitcoin Exchange Reportedly Gets $10M Investment

19. 03. 2014
Slovenian Bitcoin Exchange Reportedly Gets $10M Investment
Slovenian Bitstamp, which has recently emerged as the biggest bitcoin exchange in the world, has received a $10m investment from Fortress Investment Group, Bloomberg news wire has reported.

March Temperature Record Broken in Ljubljana on Monday

18. 03. 2014
March Temperature Record Broken in Ljubljana on Monday
The Slovenian capital registered daily highs of 25.1 degrees centigrade on Monday, the highest recorded temperature in March since records began, according to the Environment Agency.

Air Canada suspends Venezuela flights over 'civil unrest'

18. 03. 2014
Air Canada has suspended flights to and from Venezuela, citing concerns over security.

Over 96 percent of Crimea voters choose to join Russia

17. 03. 2014
Over 96 percent of Crimea voters choose to join Russia
The votes in Crimea’s referendum have been counted. A complete, preliminary ballot count showed that 96.77 of voters have elected to join Russia, the chairman of the regional government commission overseeing the referendum said on Monday.

President Meeting Austrian, Croatian Counterparts in Vienna

17. 03. 2014
President Meeting Austrian, Croatian Counterparts in Vienna
President Borut Pahor is scheduled to meet his Austrian and Croatian counterparts, Heinz Fischer and Ivo Josipović, in Vienna on Monday as part of a trilateral meeting that is expected to debate regional cooperation and mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.

Pivovarna Laško with EUR 33.8M Net Loss in 2013

14. 03. 2014
Pivovarna Laško with EUR 33.8M Net Loss in 2013
Brewer Pivovarna Laško finished 2013 with EUR 33.8m in net loss, which is EUR 15.3m more than in 2012 even though the company increased revenue by 2.2% to EUR 90.1m. Revenue was also almost 2% higher than planned.

Pollution-hit Paris offers free public transport

14. 03. 2014
Pollution-hit Paris offers free public transport
An exceptionally mild March has seen pollution levels soar in Paris, prompting urgent action to make the city air more breathable.

Crimea prepares for controversial referendum on joining Russia

13. 03. 2014
Crimea prepares for controversial referendum on joining Russia
Preparations are underway in Crimea for Sunday’s referendum on joining Russia, with the regional government promising it will follow stringent election protocols.

Govt Changing Bad Bank Statute to Secure More Transparency

13. 03. 2014
Govt Changing Bad Bank Statute to Secure More Transparency
The government has published a proposal for changes to the statute of the Bank Asset Management Company (BAMC) or bad bank, which aim to secure more transparency in its operations following a wave of accusations about dodgy practices.

Turkey: anger after boy dies following street battles

12. 03. 2014
Turkey: anger after boy dies following street battles
Protesters clashed with police in cities across Turkey on Tuesday evening. The protesters were angry after the death of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan who got caught up in street battles between police and protesters while going to buy bread for his family last summer.

Slovenia Issues Fresh T-Bills

12. 03. 2014
Slovenia Issues Fresh T-Bills
Slovenia issued EUR 102m-worth of three- six- and twelve-month T-bills on Tuesday, capitalising on falling yield on sovereign debt in the aftermath of the December bank bailout.

Slovenia and Spain Want Stronger Cooperation

11. 03. 2014
Slovenia and Spain Want Stronger Cooperation
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo will start a two-day visit to Slovenia on Monday to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between Spain and Slovenia.

eBay cuts chief executive John Donahoe's pay by 53%

11. 03. 2014
eBay cuts chief executive John Donahoe's pay by 53%
E-commerce giant eBay has cut the total compensation of its chief executive, John Donahoe, by more than half.

"Contaminated" New Anti Corruption Commission Boss

10. 03. 2014
"New president of the Corruption Prevention Commission Boris Štefanec will have to step down in the coming days", the daily Delo says in its Monday commentary, obviously Štefanec stepped out of the coalition Positive Slovenia (PS) party only after he was tipped for the post.

Diplomatic efforts increase as Russian troops tighten their grip in Crimea

10. 03. 2014
Diplomatic efforts increase as Russian troops tighten their grip in Crimea
A diplomatic offensive is being ratcheted up with both German and British leaders having telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin urging him to pull back from Crimea.

Bitcoin not a currency says Japan government

07. 03. 2014
Bitcoin not a currency says Japan government
Japan's government said Bitcoin is not a currency but that some transactions using the virtual unit should be taxed.

Registered Unemployment Up 4.6% in February

07. 03. 2014
Registered Unemployment Up 4.6% in February
Unemployment in Slovenia dropped slightly in February over the month before, but a year-on-year comparison shows an increase of 4.6%. The number of people registered with the Employment Service dropped by 79 or 0.1% in February over January to 129,764.

Biathlon World Cup Competitions Starting at Pokljuka

06. 03. 2014
Biathlon World Cup Competitions Starting at Pokljuka
The state-of-the-art Pokljuka Biathlon Centre will host three World Cup biathlon events this week, starting with Thursday's sprint races. The first biathlon competition after the Sochi Winter Olympics will also feature pursuit races on Saturday and mass start races on Sunday.

Venezuela ends relations with Panama as it remembers Chavez

06. 03. 2014
Venezuela ends relations with Panama as it remembers Chavez
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced the end of diplomatic relations with Panama because of a “conspiracy” against him.

New Twingo from Slovenia Premiers at Geneva Motor Show

05. 03. 2014
New Twingo from Slovenia Premiers at Geneva Motor Show
The new generation Twingo, which will be manufactured exclusively at Renault's Slovenian plant in Novo mesto, launched world premieres at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. Revoz CEO Patrice Haettel says 30% of the parts in the new Twingo will be manufactured in Slovenia.

Bonfires and busó‘s: Hungarian festival chases away winter

05. 03. 2014
Bonfires and busó‘s: Hungarian festival chases away winter
Hoards of masked locals shouting, drinking and dressed in traditional garb.

Politics Again Interfering in Takeover of Mercator

04. 03. 2014
Politics Again Interfering in Takeover of Mercator
The new Economy Minister Metod Dragonja doubts that the three-month extension of the deadline for selling the retailer Mercator will secure success. Meanwhile, Agriculture and Environment Minister Dejan Židan also expressed concern over the sale of Mercator to Croatia's Agrokor.

US, EU mull sanctions as Moscow defends Crimea action

04. 03. 2014
US, EU mull sanctions as Moscow defends Crimea action
Russia has said it took action in Crimea after a request for intervention from deposed Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych.

Miners in Velenje and Trbovlje Coal Mines on Strike

03. 03. 2014
Miners in Velenje and Trbovlje Coal Mines on Strike
Miners in Velenje and Trbovlje coal mines will stage token strikes on Monday. But their motives are very different. Miners in Velenje want full payment of the holiday allowance for last year, while those at the Trbovlje-Hrastnik coal mine (RTH) have a wider range of demands.

Oscars: Slave and Gravity share Academy spoils

03. 03. 2014
Oscars: Slave and Gravity share Academy spoils
Historical drama 12 Years a Slave has won best picture at the 86th Academy Awards, while space drama Gravity won the lion's share of awards.