Latest News from Slovenia
Gen-I to supply solely zero-carbon electricity as of new year
Ljubljana – Gen-I has announced that, as of 2021, it will be able to offer customers electricity produced solely from environmentally friendly and zero-carbon sources, in an effort with which the power producer intends to reduce the carbon footprint of Slovenian households by 1.65 million tonnes of CO2 compared to 2019.
Prešeren Prizes go to author Feri Lainšček, architect Marko Mušič
Ljubljana – Feri Lainšček, a writer and poet from Slovenia’s north-easternmost region, and Marko Mušič, an architect who has made a name for himself in Slovenia and throughout the former Yugoslavia, are the winners of the Prešeren Prizes for lifetime-achievement for 2021. The country’s top accolades for artistic accomplishments will be presented on 7 February.
Chief coronavirus adviser urges caution in easing restrictive measures
Ljubljana – Infectious diseases specialist Bojana Beović, the head of the government’s coronavirus task force, responded to calls for an easing of coronavirus restrictions by saying extra caution was needed in planning any potential relaxation. The epidemic has been plateauing in Slovenia for weeks and could deteriorate at any time, she warned.
New festival to continue the tradition of Slowind
Ljubljana – A new festival of contemporary classical music got under way in virtual format on Tuesday, continuing the 20-year tradition of the Slowind Festival. The New Music Forum, a project of the newly founded society Uho, will feature four concerts in December and two in April and aim to create a platform for outstanding Slovenian musicians.
Ajša Vodnik gets another term as vice chair of AmChams in Europe
Ljubljana – Ajša Vodnik, director general of AmCham Slovenija, has won another term as vice president of AmChams in Europe, a network of American Chambers of Commerce from 43 countries in Europe and Eurasia, AmCham Slovenia said. This means Slovenia will remain the seat of the organisation for another two years.
Three bids submitted for car e-tolling contract
Ljubljana – The state-run motorway company DARS has received three bids in response to a tender to set up a system for electronic tolling of cars, which is to become operational in December next year. The lowest bid was submitted by the Slovenian company Iskratel in partnership with Hungarian ARH Informatics.
Top science accolades go to researcher and professor emeritus
Ljubljana – This year’s Zois Prizes for lifetime achievement in science and research have been bestowed on researcher Tamara Lah Turnšek of the National Institute of Biology and University of Ljubljana professor emeritus Radovan Stanislav Pejovnik. The recipients were presented in a documentary showed on TV Slovenija last evening.
OECD improves Slovenia’s GDP forecast for 2020, outlook for 2021 worse
Paris – The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has slightly upgraded its forecast for Slovenia’s GDP in 2020, projecting that it will fall by 7.5% this year, while also downgrading the expected rebound in 2020, to 3.4%.
In the first half of June, the OECD said that Slovenia’s economy was expected to shrink by 7.8% this year, and then grow by 4.5% in 2021.
Minister Kustec urges joint EU crisis response in sports
Ljubljana – Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec joined her EU counterparts in charge of sports as they supported the survival of the European model of sports, both popular and top competitive sports, in a virtual meeting on Tuesday. Kustec also called for a common approach to the organisation of sports events during the coronavirus pandemic.
Debate hears optimism for renewed transatlantic relations
Ljubljana – There are high hopes for relaunching transatlantic relations after Joe Biden’s win in the US presidential election, a debate held by the European Parliament Information Office in Slovenia heard on Tuesday. Participants said that respect for human rights, the rule of law and liberal democracy was again becoming key on both sides of the Atlantic.