STA, 13 April 2022 - Masks will no longer be mandatory in public spaces as of Thursday under a government decision that keeps the mask mandate only in hospital and care facilities. Mask use is still recommended, especially for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The government advisory group for Covid-19 initially proposed that the mask mandate be lifted once the total number of Covid patients in intensive care units drops below 35 for seven consecutive days, which trends suggest would have happened in about a week.

The government has however decided to speed things along given that Covid has been in retreat for some time. ICU cases have been below 35 for two days now.

The mask mandate was the only major restriction still in place, but even that has already been loosened since it was waived for schools in early March.

The mask mandate was first introduced in March 2020 and save for a brief intermission in June the same year the restriction has been in place to varying degrees since then.

At one points masks were mandatory outdoor as well, a measure that proved hugely unpopular.

Infectious diseases specialist Bojana Beović and Milan Krek, the head of the National Institute of Public Health, said today masks have been one of the key public health measures during the pandemic.

Without masks the figures would have been far worse, especially before vaccines were available in sufficient quantities, Krek stressed.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

Indoor mask mandate lifted as of Thursday

LJUBLJANA - Masks will no longer be mandatory in indoor public spaces as of Thursday under a government decision that keeps the mask mandate only in hospital and care facilities, though mask use is still recommended. The government advisory group for Covid-19 initially proposed that the mandate be lifted once the total number of Covid patients in intensive care is below 35 for seven consecutive days, which trends suggest would have happened in about a week. The government has however decided to speed things along; ICU cases have been below 35 for two days now.

First TV debate featuring Janša and Golob focusses on price hikes

LJUBLJANA - Commercial channel KANAL A hosted on Tuesday evening the first televised debate between PM Janez Janša and Robert Golob, the main rivals in the upcoming general election. The debate, also featuring the leaders of the Social Democrats (SD) and New Slovenia (NSi), revolved around rising prices. Janša said Slovenia had a negative inflation rate of more than 1% in March due to lower electricity prices, which resulted from a government measure. Golob believes that many Slovenians are already nevertheless feeling the pressure from the hikes.

New tender for radwaste repository to be published

LJUBLJANA - The Agency for Radioactive Waste decided to issue a new tender for the construction of a radwaste repository after determining that the only qualified bid was inadmissible. The bidder acknowledged in its documents that it would not complete the project in the 900-day window stipulated in the tender. In talks with the agency the bidder indicated it could lower the price in exchange for a longer time frame, but since this was an essential element of the tender it was not subject to change.

National Council vetoes new roads act

LJUBLJANA - The upper chamber of parliament vetoed the recently adopted roads act following an outcry over new rules for the towing of broken down vehicles on motorways that contractors said would effectively give the motorway company DARS a monopoly on this service. The veto came with the explicit support of the government after both Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec and DARS director general Valentin Hajdinjak said that the controversial provision, proposed by the coalition, was not appropriate and a veto was the fastest way to correct the law.

Complaint filed over alleged illegal state aid to NTV24

LJUBLJANA - A network of NGOs has filed a complaint to the European Commission alleging illegal state aid provided to the media company NTV24 through the telecoms incumbent. It noted that such form of state aid was unlawful, as it distorted competition on the EU market. By means of media articles and documentation, the Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy is trying to prove that Telekom Slovenije is paying a disproportionally high fee to NTV24 to include the programmes of Nova24TV in its TV package.

Businessman bankrolls new media company

LJUBLJANA - Businessman Aleš Štrancar has invested a million euros of his personal wealth in a new media company called Media Polis that will purchase the conservative news portal Domovina and its weekly print edition from the pro-family association Iskreni. Štrancar said Domovina was merely the first step in the new media project which would be followed by the purchase of a news portal. Štrancar will hold a 37% stake in the company. Iskreni director Igor Vovk and the editors of the Domovina portal and magazine, Rok Čakš and Tino Mamić, will hold 21% each.

Sancin's bid for UN Human Rights Committee stuck in govt procedure

LJUBLJANA - International law expert Vasilka Sancin has failed to get the government's go-ahead for her bid to get re-elected to the UN Human Rights Committee even though she has been been put forward by the Justice Ministry as the sole candidate to apply for the post. The deadline for the bids expired on 6 April, but the government failed to nominate Sancin for re-election, in a development reminiscent of the delay in the appointment of Slovenia's prosecutors delegated to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

Češko regains sole ownership of Studio Moderna

LJUBLJANA - Sandi Češko, one of the wealthiest Slovenians, has bought back Studio Moderna Holdings, an omnichannel direct-to-consumers retailer active in Central and Eastern Europe that he and his wife founded in 1992. Šeško bought out financial funds that took a 50% stake in 2019 through his Dutch company Studio Moderna Founders B.V.

Takeover of hardware retailer Merkur Trgovina completed

LJUBLJANA - Alfi, Slovenia's largest private equity fund, completed the takeover of hardware retail company Merkur Trgovina and appointed a new management team with Jure Kapetan as director general. The Slovenian regulator cleared the deal last month. While Merkur Trgovina did not say how much Alfi paid for the company, the business newspaper Finance reports the deal is worth around EUR 50 million.

Strike at Gorenje cancelled

VELENJE - The strike at Gorenje, a home appliances manufacturer owned by Chinese group Hisense, which was scheduled for Thursday, was cancelled as the two sides reached agreement on two of several strike demands. Hisense Europe and the in-house SKEI trade union reached an agreement on this year's holiday allowance to stand at EUR 1,400 net. SKEI initially demanded EUR 1,500. They also reached an agreement on the amount of funds allocated for one of the regular allowances Gorenje workers receive with their monthly wages.

Govt to step up support for wood processing industry

LJUBLJANA - Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc told the Days of the Slovenian Wood Industry that the government would step up support for the wood industry to help improve the sector's sales revenue and increase the number of green jobs. This year the sector will receive almost EUR 30 million. In the last cohesion period, the government allocated EUR 64 million to the sector, and in the next period it aims to double this to EUR 134 million.

Slovenian, Croatian ministers call for balanced infrastructure development

PORTOROŽ - The Slovenian and Croatian infrastructure ministers told a Slovenian-Croatian business forum on public investment that there must be a balance between road and rail infrastructure development. "This a must for green transition," Slovenia's Jernej Vrtovec said. Croatian Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković admitted that the disruptions created by the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine "are already making it difficult to carry out infrastructure projects".

NGOs come out against cement maker's plans to expand co-incineration

ANHOVO - A civil initiative and an environmental association have come out against alleged plans by cement maker Salonit Anhovo to double the amount waste it co-incinerates at its plant by the Soča river from 109,000 to 220,000 tonnes a year. Eko Anhovo and Soča Valley said the increase was so inconceivably huge it defies the imagination of reasonable people. Salonit did not provide any detailed information about the plans but said the upgrades would substantially reduce the plant's impact on the environment despite increased production capacities.

Epidemic continues to wane

LJUBLJANA - Coronavirus cases in Slovenia continued to decline as 1,604 infections were confirmed on Tuesday, down by 30% on the same day a week ago. Four people with Covid died yesterday, Health Ministry data showed. Hospitalisations decreased this morning to 113 persons who are currently hospitalised for Covid-19 at regular Covid wards, down by ten on the previous day, and 16 in intensive care, down by one.

Pahor receives reps of Slovenian community in Argentina

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor received representatives of Zedinjena Slovenija (United Slovenia), the umbrella organisation of Slovenians in Argentina. The organisation's president Jure Komar and secretary Marjana Poznič handed to Pahor a publication entitled Zdaj Gre za Slovenijo! (It Is About Slovenia Now), which Zedinjena Slovenia published to mark the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence, the president's office said.

Ukrainian ambassador receives beehive as symbol of support

LJUBLJANA - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek handed a beehive to Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych in what the ministry said was a sign of strong support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. "With this symbolic act we want to convey a positive message to all Ukrainian citizens," Podgoršek said. "Although Slovenia is a small country, it has a big heart. Slovenia has been helping Ukraine in various fields since the beginning of the war," the ambassador was quoted in a press release from the Agriculture Ministry.

Covid tracker wins top design award for socially beneficial effort

LJUBLJANA - The national Covid tracker Covid-19 Sledilnik received the top award for contribution beneficial to society at the 10th Brumen biennial of Slovenian design. The online tracker has shown that design can offer solutions during times of crisis, said the Brumen Foundation. Another epidemic-related project honoured was designer Primož Zorko's #stayinside poster series, which promoted public health guidelines with amusing stills from vintage 1980s porn films.

STA, 13 April 2022 - Parties contesting the 24 April general election have prepared various measures to cut waiting times in Slovenia's healthcare, one of the most pressing issues even before the Covid pandemic hit. Meanwhile, most of them say in their responses to STA questions about healthcare that top-up health insurance should be abolished.

The parties would use all available capacities, including private doctors, to cut waiting times, although they would prioritise public healthcare providers.

Most of them would reform the system to a certain degree, reduce administrative burdens, introduce long-term staffing plans, reward more and better work, ensure transparency of public procurement, and fight against corruption.

Those parties that advocate allowing private practitioners to also work in the public healthcare system highlight the need for oversight and certain limits to this practice.

Only New Slovenia (NSi) and the Patriotic League would not abolish top-up insurance - a monthly sum of around EUR 35 paid directly to insurance companies in addition to monthly contributions employees and employers pay from wages to the ZZZS public health fund. The Democrats (SDS) have meanwhile not responded to this question.

The SDS believes the ZZZS must become an active buyer of services for its insurance policy holders and introduce a permanent mechanism to cut waiting times while integrating all health professionals into the effort. The party would allow doctors from the public system to work for private providers under clear conditions.

The Freedom Movement notes the list of waiting times is no longer kept, and would set up a task force to make waiting times acceptable. It would reform top-up insurance, before which a consensus should be reached how to raise the EUR 600 million from this source annually. They want to raise funds for healthcare to 10% of GDP.

The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) believes that more funds should be secured to cut waiting times and services should be paid as they are performed, especially where waiting lines are extremely long. Ljubljana and Maribor should get city hospitals, while top-up insurance should be abolished and the public health system strengthened.

Strongly supporting public healthcare, the Left would abolish the practice of doctors from the public sector working in the private sector, as a result of which their interest in having long waiting lines would wane. To cope with a shortage of doctors, one measure would be to import foreign doctors in an organised and controlled way.

The Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) would first overhaul waiting lists to exclude those who have received services in the private sector, while noting no other country has doctors working in both public and private systems. Before abolishing top-up insurance, all of its aspects must be examined not to worsen access to health services.

According to Our Land, waiting times could be cut by reforming healthcare, including abolishing top-up insurance, while the ZZZS public fund should be organised as a mutual insurer where those who pay insurance manage it. The state is responsible for quality, solidarity-based and accessible healthcare, and if the health fund does not have enough money to provide it, the state should help in with the funds from the budget.

New Slovenia (NSi) would involve all health providers into efforts to cut waiting times, which need better oversight. They would improve access to family doctors by allowing more enrolments at medical schools, while conditions should be created to attract Slovenian doctors working abroad. The party would abolish the ZZZS's monopoly to introduce competition in mandatory health insurance.

The Connecting Slovenia alliance of parties wants to create stimulating conditions to keep young doctors at home, while enhancing digitalisation and telemedicine. Changing or abolishing top-up insurance should be a matter of a broad consensus, while it promotes public healthcare but does not oppose public doctors working for private providers.

The Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) would like to strengthen public healthcare by increasing investment to increase its quality and accessibility, while also increasing the number of family doctors and improving working conditions with less administrative burden and more digitalisation. A clear line is needed between public and private healthcare.

The Social Democrats (SD) want to cut waiting times for appointments with a specialist to no more than 30 says, which they would achieve with a set of measures, including a EUR 200 million emergency fund to cut waiting lines. They favour doctors employed at public providers to work overtime within the public system not in the private sector.

The National Party (SNS) believes that waiting times could be cut with good organisation and no corruption. The public health system must be preserved while private initiative should also be allowed.

The Pirates believe waiting times could be cut by changing standards and norms, financing and by reducing administrative burdens. They would not ban doctors working in the public system from working for private providers, but would enhance oversight.

The Patriotic League holds that doctors working in the public and private system in fact help keep the public system afloat, so they would not abolish this practice, arguing that patients are not interested where they are treated as long as they receive a quality service.

The Truth party would cut waiting lines by introducing "a public health system" as it argues the country currently has "a state health system". They promote fighting corruption, which would result in more money for healthcare and doctor pay.

STA, 13 April 2022 - Commercial channel KANAL A hosted on Tuesday evening the first televised debate between PM Janez Janša and Robert Golob, who are considered to be the main rivals in the upcoming general election. The debate, also featuring the leaders of the Social Democrats (SD) and New Slovenia (NSi), revolved around rising prices.

Janša's Democratic Party (SDS), Golob's Freedom Movement, the SD and NSi presented their views on how to best address the energy and food price hikes caused by the war in Ukraine.

The prime minister said that Slovenia had deflation of more than 1% in March due to lower electricity prices, which resulted from a government measure. On the other hand, Golob believes that many Slovenians are already feeling the pressure from the hikes.

Janša highlighted the measures his government has already taken and those that are in the works, adding that the existing measures could be extended.

The government is also working to secure other sources of oil supply, which will have an impact on stabilising energy prices, he said.

Janša also believes that Slovenia needs more land intended for food production, while NSi leader Matej Tonin mentioned a EUR 215,000 measure that should allow public institutions to buy produce directly from local farmers.

Slovenian farmers will receive EUR 30 million in an effort to mitigate the rising prices. Another measure that is being prepared is EUR 315 million for agricultural restructuring, he said.

Both Janša and Tonin noted that price hikes were part of global developments, stressing the role of the EU's actions, including joint procurement of natural gas and sanctions against Russia. The next package of sanctions will be oil-related but it will not yet involve gas supplies, Janša said.

Golob thinks that for the short term, a clear distinction should be made between households on the one hand and industry on the other, stressing that households should have regulated gas prices. The industry should meanwhile manage using costlier gas from Algeria or Qatar or realise that this will not do, which may lead to the closure of some major industrial polluters.

"Money will run out. That's why we need measures that are detailed and targeted and for which we know where the money will come from," he said. Moreover, the Freedom Movement would regulate the food chain, a measure that is also advocated by the SD.

The state must prioritise the purchase of domestically produced food, restrict exports abroad and subsidise raw materials for farmers, said SD leader Tanja Fajon.

Stressing the importance of diversifying resources, she also listed measures such as regulating fuel and energy prices, additional energy bonuses for people most hit by the crisis and a EUR 1.5 billion fund to help out companies.

Addressing youth problems, Janša pointed to the recently adopted housing state guarantee scheme for the young, highlighting the importance of digital and green transitions for improving the situation of young people.

The SD meanwhile proposes new public non-profit flats and efforts to tackle precarious work and brain drain and pursue family-friendly policies.

The Freedom Movement's proposals include reduced taxation for the first ten years of employment, or a tax break for those who want to invest in property. The party is also in favour of building rental flats that young people could buy after five years.

The NSi stressed the importance of improving the business environment and work-life balance to help young people. Tonin sees lower taxes as the solution to high property prices.

Moving on to problems facing the elderly, Janša noted that many do not receive a decent-living pension. The issue cannot be resolved overnight, he said, pointing out that increased life expectancy meant people would have to work longer.

Golob said the Freedom Movement would advocate raising the minimum pension to 10% above the poverty threshold. He also sees a solution in employing those pensioners who would like to continue working and their pension would not be reduced because of this.

Tonin noted the importance of the second pension pillar and efforts to ensure Slovenia has enough people working to contribute to the pension system.

The SocDems would meanwhile increase the minimum pension to EUR 700 by changing the care allowance scheme and enacting the demographic reserves bill to fill up the state pension purse, Fajon said.

STA, 12 April 2022 - Prime Minister Janez Janša told the parliamentary inquiry looking into the financing of political parties on Tuesday that his Democratic Party (SDS) was not financed from abroad or from illegal sources. He also denied that the EUR 450,000 loan taken from a Bosnian citizen in 2017 was money laundering.

It was a continuation of the interview with the prime minister and president of the ruling SDS party after a session held on 3 March.

At the time, Janša denied any influence of the SDS in the companies running the Nova24TV news television channel and its web portal nova24tv.

He told the MPs that the SDS had not influenced in any way in the past the operation of NTV24, as it was a limited liability company, or the operations of Nova Hiša, which runs the web portal.

Today, the prime minister was asked about the EUR 450,000 loan taken by the SDS from Bosnian citizen Dijana Đuđić by several members of the parliamentary inquiry.

Marko Bandelli of the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) noted that the inquiry had found that Đuđić had been suspected of abusing the tax system, falsifying and destroying tax documents and facilitating pyramid schemes.

Janša confirmed that he as the SDS president had signed the loan taken out from Đuđić, as stipulated by the party's statute at the time. The party did not out the loan abroad, but "in Slovenia from a person who had a Slovenian tax number," he said.

"A notary confirmed that [the person] acted in accordance with the rules," Janša said, adding that the loan had been investigated by all possible authorities and institutions.

The only irregularity that was found was the amount of loan, due to which the party paid a fine, while "nothing else was disputable here, there was no money laundering or any other criminal act."

Janša said this was the first and last time that he met Đuđić. "There was no Snežič in between," he said when asked by Jani Möderndorfer of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) to confirm or deny that the deal had been proposed by tax advisor Rok Snežič.

Regarding allegations that the SDS is financed from Hungary and that Hungarian money was used directly for the party's campaign, he noted that it was private capital and that private companies from EU could invest money wherever they wanted.

Janša noted that EUR 800,000 in Hungarian capital had been invested in Nova24TV, while foreign capital investment in the commercial broadcaster POP TV amounted to EUR 200 million.

"These are the relationships we are talking about. EUR 200 million in capital in another media outlet that is attacking our party," he added.

The prime minister confirmed that he had become a co-owner of Nova Hiša, which runs the nova24tv web portal, and that his influence on the media outlet was proportional to his stake in the company - 0.1%.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

C5 ministers commit to further assistance to Ukraine

PRAGUE, Czechia - The war in Ukraine was the main topic as the foreign ministers of the informal C5 initiative, including Slovenia's Anže Logar, met in Štirin Castle near Prague. They committed to further assistance to Ukraine and refugees coming from the country to the EU. Addressing reporters, Logar said the EU must not repeat the mistakes made after Russia's annexation of the Crimea, and urged further EU sanctions against Russia. He was hopeful Ukraine would be admitted to the EU as soon as possible.

Hojs calls for single EU approach to refugees from Ukraine

BLED - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs called for a unified EU approach to migratory flows from Ukraine as he held talks yesterday with his Greek counterpart Notis Mitarachi. "The war in Ukraine and its consequences demand our utmost attention and concerted action by member states. During these difficult times we have to have maximum solidarity with Ukraine and its residents," he said, adding that this "migration challenge" must be managed together.

Ukrainian charity centre opens in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - A Ukrainian charity centre was inaugurated in Ljubljana's BTC retail park to provide Ukrainian refugees with assistance, material aid and a place to socialise and study. The Chervona Kalyna Centre was created in a bid to "give refugees a place to meet and learn, and make themselves at home," its head Natalya Markevych said. The centre is the result of cooperation of the Ukrainian embassy in Slovenia, Slovenian Caritas and BTC, which provided the premises free of charge.

Pahor receives German-speaking community reps

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor received representatives of three associations of German-speaking communities in Slovenia. They presented their status to the president and the problems they face. They agreed that a lot more could be done for the communities within the current constitutional framework. Pahor is to present those opportunities in more detail at the upcoming annual meeting of Umbrella Organisation of Cultural Associations of the German-Speaking Community.

Media in focus of State Department's human rights report for Slovenia

WASHINGTON, US - The latest Report on Human Rights Practice by the US Department of State for Slovenia focuses on the situation in the media, noting credible reports of serious restrictions on free expression and media, including threats of violence against journalists by non-government players. Still, the report finds Slovenia is a country without major human rights issues and the government took steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed abuses or engaged in corruption.

Office for Demography inaugurated in Maribor

MARIBOR- The headquarters of the Government Office for Demography were inaugurated in Maribor with Prime Minister Janez Janša saying the office was created because Slovenia "has a strategic problem that has been neglected for a long time". "More than 35,000 children were born in Slovenia in 1950. In recent years, the annual number has dropped below 20,000," Janša said. He said an important message of the newly established office was that "not all state institutions need to be located in Ljubljana".

Janša denies allegations of illegal financing of his party

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša told the parliamentary inquiry looking into the financing of political parties that his Democratic Party (SDS) was not financed from abroad or from illegal sources. Janša also denied that the EUR 450,000 loan taken from a Bosnian citizen in 2017 was money laundering. It was a continuation of the interview held on 3 March in which Janša denied any influence of the SDS in the companies running the Nova24TV news television channel and its web portal nova24tv.

Ministry explains why no vote cast at Moscow embassy

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry provided an explanation of its assessment that no voting should take place at the Slovenian Embassy in Moscow for the 24 April general election. This was after the Freedom Movement and the NGO 8 March Institute called the decision a violation of the right to vote. The ministry said there was no guarantee the secrecy of the vote and the anonymity of voters could be respected and it was currently not possible to send secure shipments to and from Russia.

Coronavirus keeps receding

LJUBLJANA - The Covid-19 epidemic keeps receding in Slovenia with both new infections and patients in need of hospital treatment decreasing. Cases were down on Monday by nearly 22% week-on-week to 2,653. This morning 123 patients were treated for Covid at regular Covid wards and another 17 in intensive care. The figures are down by 12 and 5, respectively, from yesterday. Three patients with Covid died, according to official data.

Pensioners receive aid to help with high energy prices

LJUBLJANA - To cope with rising energy bills, pensioners whose pension was lower than EUR 1,000 last December received a one-off allowance of EUR 150, under the law on emergency measures to alleviate the consequences of high energy prices passed in February. The money was paid out by the ZPIZ public pension fund. Other individuals eligible for the voucher will receive their money on Thursday.

Survey shows majority in favour of switch to hybrid work model

LJUBLJANA - Two thirds of those questioned in a survey on work models prefer hybrid work, meaning they would prefer to work partly from home. The conventional in-office model is preferred by 11%, while 22% are in favour of switching fully to remote work. The preferences of workers correlate closely with age, with younger workers more likely to prefer remote work, showed the survey by the job search and career portal Mojedelo.com.

Yaskawa's Kočevje company develops new robot

KOČEVJE - Yaskawa Europe Robotics, one of Yaskawa's three companies in Slovenia, has developed its own robot after it has been manufacturing only robots developed in Japan. The GP 20 is suited for the metal-processing industry and the Kočevje-based company would like to sell it in the US. According to the company, the robot has the advantage of an increased working space given its size, a high degree of rigidity and a high degree of precision.

Mercator shareholders confirm company's delisting

LJUBLJANA - The shareholders of Slovenian retailer Mercator, owned by Croatia's Fortenova, endorsed the retailer's withdrawal from the stock market, according to the minutes of the meeting posted on the website of the Agency for Public Legal Records. The decision will be implemented when entered into the court register. Trading in Mercator shares on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange has been suspended since 22 March.

Excessive levels of lead found after farmland treated with white matter

SLOVENJ GRADEC - After reports that several farmers in the Koroška region, in the north, sprinkled their fields with white substance that was supposed to be lime but was in fact gypsum, six out of seven samples taken by inspectors proved to contain excessive amounts of lead. All samples, analysed by the national Agricultural Institute, also contained chromium, the agriculture inspectorate said. Inspectors have examined 23 farms with 60 hectares of land on which 510 tonnes of the white matter had been used.

New gastronomy brand launched to promote Goriška Brda

DOBROVO - Eight gastronomy establishments from the western region of Goriška Brda joined forces to launch of a new brand in a bid to promote local cuisine in this wine-growing region. "The Brdalicious brand aims to bring together local gastronomy businesses and offer a plethora of regional delicacies year-round," Tina Nova Samec, the head of the local tourism centre, told reporters. The project will include tastings of dishes representing Brdo's culinary heritage.

Former Ski Association head gets suspended prison sentence

LJUBLJANA - Primož Ulaga, a former top ski jumper, received a 23-month suspended prison sentence with a three-year probation after he pleaded guilty to four instances of unlawful acceptance of gifts from athletes when he was the head of the Ski Association in 2013. Ulaga, 59, demanded from several top ski jumpers and two coaches that they give him a cut of their personal sponsorship contracts. Some of them did, handing him several hundred euros.

Dončić makes All-Time NBA European Teams cut

NEW YORK, US - The NBA has announced the results of the All-Time NBA European Team category as part of a campaign to celebrate the league's 75th anniversary and commemorate the contributions of European players. Slovenian basketball ace Luka Dončić made it to the All-Time NBA European First Team. Joining Dončić on the team are Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Spain's Pau Gasol, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki and France's Tony Parker.

STA, 12 April 2022 - Eight restaurants from the western region of Goriška Brda have joined forces to launch of a new brand in a bid to promote local cuisine in this wine-growing region. 

"The Brdalicious brand aims to bring together local gastronomy businesses and offer a plethora of regional delicacies year-round," Tina Nova Samec, the head of the local tourism centre, told reporters on Tuesday.

The brand is to further promote the Brdo region and attract locals as well as foreign visitors, thus help tourism services providers, who are part of the project, to expand their business.

Inspired by the region's culinary traditions, the project will kick off with tastings, spanning over two months and bringing together gastronomy providers, each of which will prepare a dish representing Brdo's culinary heritage.

The tastings will feature dishes typical of the Brdo region, such as white polenta, potato gnocchi and frittatas, all of them paired with wild microgreens.

Such seasonal dishes will be associated with the new brand year-long with special emphasis on festive delicacies, such as briške fulje, sweet fried bread dumplings that are served for Easter, or krodegine, meat sausages served on Saint Martin's Day.

The brand's goal is to present the region's culinary history while also attracting foreign food enthusiasts and provide them with high-quality service.

Some more details, in Slovene, are here

If you ask any Slovene what they did at the weekend, the vast majority will reply with something like: “I went hiking with my family”. Hiking in Slovenia is almost a national pastime, and if you’ve ever been to this wonderful country then you will understand why. Slovenia boasts a huge network of well-maintained and well-marked hiking and walking trails.

Being a mountainous land situated at the eastern extremity of the European Alps, you might think that hiking is confined to that part of the country. However, while it’s not all mountains, the hills are very much alive in the rest of the country. As the mountains in the north taper off, they give way to a rich terrain of undulating hills dotted with green pastures, heavily forested hillsides and well irrigated valleys with rivers and plateaus that run right off to the Adriatic coast.

There are many trails suitable for families. Photo by Ian Middleton

Lake Bled, its island and castle offer fairy tale views to go with the walk, and good cream cake at the end. Photo by Ian Middleton: 

Although pretty much everywhere you go you’ll find somewhere to hike, the best trails lead from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. There are long distance tracks, but also many smaller one-day routes within Triglav National Park and over to the Soca Valley. These take you over and around the Karavanke Alps, Kamnik Alps and Julian Alps.

Hiking holidays are becoming ever more popular these days. However, not everyone wants to rough it along the way, so a number of special long distance routes have been developed to accommodate all types of travellers. Many trails have been built in short stages. Therefore, active holidaymakers can hike from town to town and sleep in a nice warm, cosy hotel bed each night. You can plan your hikes according to the amount of time you have available, and even do the whole trail in stages over the years. Numerous websites are available offering trail info and maps, but one of the best ways is to go hiking with a trusted local hiking operator like Slo Trips. You can either take a guided tour with one of their expert guides, or a self-guided holiday that has been meticulously planned and organised by their specialist team. They’ll even design a bespoke trip just for you.

Here are just a few of the great trails you could follow:

Alpe-Adria Trail

One of the biggest and longest is the Alpe-Adria Trail. As the name suggests, it leads you from the majestic Alps to the Adriatic Sea. This long distance hike connects Austria and Italy via Slovenia and takes you alongside some of the most beautiful mountain scenery. It’s not a high alpine trail, so therefore accessible by most experienced walkers.

Of course there is no need to trek the whole length. There are 43 stages so you can choose some shorter routes for your holiday. Each stage is around 20kms long and takes roughly 6 hours.

The Juliana Trail

This is a great circular hiking trail that leads you around the eastern Julian Alps and the entire Triglav National Park. It first opened in October 2019 and now comprises 20 stages and a total distance of 300kms.

Along the Juliana Trail. Photo: YouTube

Hiking the Peaks

If you are a seasoned, avid hiker who prefers something a little more daring and challenging, then several great peaks await you to tackle them in each of the three mountain ranges; including Slovenia’s tallest, Mt. Triglav in the Julian Alps. Tradition says that anyone who tackles this mountain is awarded the honorary title of a “True Slovene”. In the Karavanke Alps, Mt Stol is the highest, and Mt. Grintovec offers the biggest challenge in the Kamnik Alps. Many of these high alpine trails have a mountain hut where you can sleep for the night.

Trekking the Wine Routes

If you prefer a more leisurely trekking holiday with good food and great wine, then the western Karst offers some fabulous trails that meander through sunny terraced hillsides, along rivers and lead to the sparkling Adriatic. In eastern Slovenia you will also find many great wine routes to hike. Be careful though, as Slovenian wine is so delicious you might find yourself walking round in circles after drinking more than anticipated.

Whatever your level of fitness or desire, Slovenia will no doubt have the perfect hiking trail for you. For more in-depth information about hiking in Slovenia have a read of this great article here.

STA, 11 April - The Kočevje municipality in southern Slovenia had been forging ties with the Bucha municipality near Kyiv before the war in Ukraine erupted in February. The two were preparing to become twin towns, a process to continue after the war. In the meantime Kočevje is trying to help Bucha, an area now notorious for reports of atrocities.

Kočevje made contact with Bucha local authorities in 2019 through U-Lead Bridges of Trust, a programme funded by donors from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania and Slovenia that aims to strengthen ties between Ukrainian and EU municipalities, Kočevje Mayor Vladimir Prebilič told the STA.

The two municipalities signed a letter of intent as a precondition for town twinning, but the process was then suspended because of the war, he said, adding it would go on after the war ends.

Prebilič currently has no contact with Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk as the latter has been busy since the beginning of the war in efforts to protect his town, and he was also wounded. Prebilič is in contact with another senior Bucha official though and from time to time Kočevje learns of the current situation in the Ukrainian town.

Being eager to help out, the Slovenian town launched a donation campaign for its twin town to-be that raised some 50 tonnes of material aid.

Bucha, home to some 29,000 residents, is one of the smallest Ukrainian municipalities. It has recently become notorious as a site of documented atrocities against civilians committed by Russian troops. The battle for Bucha ended in late March with the withdrawal of Russian forces.

STA, 12 April 2022 - Yaskawa Europe Robotics, one of Yaskawa's three companies in Slovenia, has developed its own robot after it has been manufacturing only robots developed in Japan. The GP20 is suited for the metal-processing industry and the Kočevje-based company would like to sell it in the US.

The robot has the advantage of an increased working space given its size, a high degree of rigidity and a high degree of precision, the company told the STA.

Its slender upper arm makes it suitable for the metal-processing industry, especially for CNC machines and lathes with narrow inlets.

The company is developing some other projects, including robots specialised for the food industry. Last year it developed subsets for Cartesian robots for a French company.

The Japanese multinational Yaskawa, a global industrial robots leader, started building the Kočevje facility in 2017 and launched production in 2019.

At the time it planned to employ 200 workers by 2023, while it now employs only around 120.

Yaskawa has three companies in Slovenia: apart from Yaskawa Europe Robotics in Kočevje, it has had Yaskawa Ristro and Yaskawa Slovenija in Ribnica for more than 30 years.

The coronavirus epidemic has slashed Yaskawa Europe Robotics' revenue in 2020, but both production and sales picked up in 2021 for the company to end the year with EUR 36 million in revenue.

The Kočevje-based company manufactures more than 330 robots and more than 180 controllers a month.

Learn more about the robot