STA, 13 October 2018 - The 53rd Maribor Theatre Festival will get under way on Monday, bringing almost 70 events until 28 October. Ten Slovenian productions will be competing for awards. Its new artistic director, Aleš Novak, who took over for five years as of 2018, would like the festival to become a genuine "celebration of theatre creativity". 

The Austria Press Agency (APA) reported yesterday that Vienna has decided to continue its current border check regime with Slovenia and Hungary for at least another six months. 

STA, 11 October 2018 - The incumbent and former mayors of Maribor, Andrej Fištravec and Franc Kangler, considered the favourites in the upcoming local election, have gotten a rival who might prove dangerous to them. Saša Arsenovič, an established businessman, will allegedly run with the support of the Modern Centre Party (SMC) and some influential local players. 

STA, 11 October 2018 - The 22-year-old who stabbed actor Gašper Tič to death at his home in June 2017 has had his sentence increased by a year and a half to ten years by the Higher Court. The sentence is now final. 

STA, 11 October 2018 - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted searches of homes, companies and public hospitals on Thursday as part of an investigation into crimes committed in public procurement of stents. The investigation targeted ten individuals and two legal persons. 

October 12, 2018

Both Ljubljana Castle and the hostel it now operates in Metelkova, Celica, had good summers, with the former greeting it’s one millionth visitor of the year on September 18^th, while the latter saw 91% occupancy of beds and 95% occupancy of rooms between July and September.

Below is a review of the headlines in Slovenian dailies for Friday, 12 October 2018, as prepared by the STA: 

STA, 11 October 2018 - Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) published on Thursday an invitation to investors to express their interest in Abanka, Slovenia's third largest bank. The entire 100% stake is up for sale. 

The website Emerging Europe notes that of the 14 “emerging” European nations included in Brand Finance’s 2018 Nation Brand report (PDF), Slovenia has seen the greatest growth in value. The consultancy firm now values the brand “Slovenia” at US$89 billion, a rise of 29% on last year. As Konrad Jagodziński, communications director at Brand Finance told the website, as “the foremost example of peaceful transition in the Western Balkans, Slovenia boasts a stable economy and a stable government system with a solid perspective for future growth. For investors and visitors alike, it simply stands out amongst its CEE neighbours.” 

STA, 10 October - An event in Ljubljana brought together on Wednesday the former and current participants in a state-funded programme promoting entrepreneurship among unemployed women. Entitled Entrepreneurship Is Female (Ženske in podjetništvo), the programme has so far provided courses and financial support to about 1,500 women, 90% of whom went on to start their own business.