Ljubljana

The second call for applications for subsidies offered by the Slovenian government to improve the country's air connectivity has attracted a single bid, submitted by AirBaltic, Latvia's flag carrier.

AirBaltic is planning to establish an air link between Ljubljana and Riga in the 2024 summer season, the Infrastructure Ministry said when announcing the results of the call on 2 August.

Tina Gaber, the life companion of Prime Minister Robert Golob, has caused controversy for alleging corruption in the plan to trap and remove nutrias from the Ljubljana Marshes. An influencer and an animal rights activist, Gaber is one of more than 24,000 people who signed a petition against the plan.

Large numbers of tourists are flocking to Ljubljana again this summer. Judging by the impressions some of them shared with the Slovenian Press Agency, they are charmed by the city's small size, comfort, and cleanliness. They point to to the abundance of green spaces, delicious Slovenian food, the friendliness of the locals, and the unique little shops in the old town.

Generics producer Sandoz is planning to invest roughly US$90 million at its site in Ljubljana to establish a dedicated centre for development of biosimilars by 2026. As part of the process to spin off from Novartis, Sandoz holds part of the Slovenian pharmaceutical company Lek.

Ljubljana will host the world's first ever official water volleyball tournament on 12 and 13 August. After two successful promotional events, real volleyball showdowns are now on the programme as part of the re:do Volleyball on Water Ljubljanica 2023 tournament, the Slovenian Volleyball Federation has announced.

Ljubljana architecture students have recreated some of the iconic buildings designed by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) using Lego bricks. The scale models are on show at the chapel of Fužine Castle until 30 September.

Members of a Catholic youth association from Domžale, just north-east of Ljubljana, have constructed a church out of 87,423 toilet paper tubes in what is the largest such structure in the world. They hope to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records but also to raise awareness of the importance of resource saving and the power of working together.

The Slovenian National Drama Theatre, Ljubljana's main theatre house, will undergo a thorough renovation starting this month with preliminary archaeological works on the site. Both the main early 20th century building and the two 1960s extensions will be renovated.

A selection of best world and Slovenian cinema from the ongoing season will be screened in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle between 13 July and 5 August as part of the Film Under the Star series.

The National Assembly has opened a parliamentary inquiry into approval and construction of a section of an EU-subsidised sewerage project in Ljubljana over concerns that it will jeopardise the source of drinking water for 300,000 residents of Slovenia's capital. The contentious stretch is about to be completed.