News roundup - Saturday, 20 May

Govt hopes to have enough data next year to decide on second NEK reactor

LJUBLJANA - Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer said that next year the authorities will be able to assess for the first time whether there is enough information to make a decision on a second unit of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK). The data is being prepared by Gen Energija as the investor, and includes, among other things, data on the price of the investment, the suitability of suppliers, deadlines and the price of electricity from the nuclear power plant .He also announced in the interview for the newspaper Delo an exit strategy for regulated prices of energy by the summer recess.

Finance committee confirms revised 2023 budget, opposition critical

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Committee confirmed the revised 2023 budget and changes to the act implementing the 2023 and 2024 budgets as the last parliamentary working body before the plenary. The revised budget, which reduces the deficit by EUR 376 million to EUR 2.9 billion, is needed mainly due to the restructuring of the government, and the changes to the relevant act are also mostly technical nature, Finance Ministry State Secretary Saša Jazbec told the MPs. The opposition was critical, saying the government is inefficient in distributing funds, meaning that those who need them the most will not receive them.

President Pirc Musar with busy agenda as she visits Naples

NAPLES, Italy - President Nataša Pirc Musar met representatives of the local authorities and of University of Naples, where courses of the Slovenian language are available. The meeting with representatives of the local authorities of Naples, which is part of the president's multi-day visit to Italy and the Vatican, noted the good cooperation between this Italian city and Slovenia. Pirc Musar also visited members of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) who serving at Allied Joint Force Command Naples, a NATO military command. "The work of Slovenian soldiers abroad is highly valued," she said on the occasion.

Traffic on Slovenian motorways increased by 26% in past ten years

LJUBLJANA - Traffic on Slovenian motorways and expressways increased by 26% in the past ten years, show data from thenational motorway company DARS. Last year, the average daily traffic is estimated to have surpassed 35,000 vehicles. The volume of traffic remained on a constant upward trajectory in the past decade, the only exception being the pandemic year of 2020, which was followed by a quick return to the old trend. In the first quarter of this year, the growth was 6% for instance.

Word Bee Day highlights bee-friendly farming

LJUBLJANA - This year's World Bee Day, 20 May, was be marked by calls for pollinator-friendly agriculture. A number of events were held around the country to promote the role of beekeepers, bees and other pollinators in an effort to improve food security and quality of life, and preserve natural ecosystems. The UN declared 20 May World Bee Day at Slovenia's initiative in 2017 to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators for farming and biodiversity.

Slovenia highlights ecology in architecture at Venice Biennale

VENICE, Italy - Slovenia's pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition, which opened today and which runs until late November, is dedicated to the principles of ecology in architecture, which have been lost in the face of advancing technology. "Our pavilion explores how we can once again respond to ecological issues through the architectural concept, the actual construction process, through design of rooms," architect Eva Gusel said at the official opening earlier this week.

Kenyan Cheruiyot, Croatian Ilijaš win 41st Three Hearts Marathon

RADENCI - Kenyan Laban Cheruiyot (2:20:39) and Croatian Jasmina Ilijaš (3:00:32) won in the men's and women's competitions, respectively, of the Three Hearts Marathon through the northeastern Prekmurje region. In the half-marathon runs, Kennedy Rono Kipkemoi of Kenya (1:05:03) won in the men's race, and Rebecca Chepkemoi, also of Kenya, in the women's race (1:15:01). The best Slovenian was Primož Kobe (1:08:12), who was fourth, while the fastest Slovenian woman runner was Anja Fink (1:15:35).