News roundup - Saturday, 2 March

Slovenian show returns to radio waves in Australia

CANBERRA, Australia - Slovenians in Australia can now again tune in for a radio show broadcast in English and Slovenian after a long-running minority-themed show on the national SBS radio station was cancelled last year. The new show on a Sydney-based radio station, which aired for the first time a week ago, might soon be joined by another aimed at the Slovenian minority in Melbourne, said the Office for Slovenians Abroad.

SocDems happy with Schmit as socialists' top candidate in EU election

ROME, Italy - Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec (SD/S&D) described Luxembourg's Nicolas Schmit, who was elected as the spitzenkandidat of the Party of European Socialists (PES) for the upcoming EU election, as the only true answer to Europe's needs. Nemec, who led the Social Democrats (SD) delegation at a congress in Rome where Schmit was elected, is confident European socialists will become a leading political force after the June election, his office said.

Red Dawns festival bringing another push for women's and queer rights

LJUBLJANA - The 25th Red Dawns international feminist and queer festival got underway in Ljubljana. The annual event features a diverse programme of concerts, performances, exhibitions, social gatherings, and film screenings, all organised or produced by and for women, non-binary, transgender or queer individuals. It also includes events in Maribor and an International Women's Day rally in Ljubljana.

Cycling ace Pogačar kicks off new season with a win

SIENA, Italy - Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) started off his new season with a resounding win. The 25-year-old won this year's Strade Bianche race, leaving his opponents in the dust after attacking solo with some 80 kilometres to go. This is the second weekend in a row that Slovenian cycling has cause for celebration, as Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race in Belgium a week ago.

Slovenian high jumper Lia Apostolovski wins bronze in Glasgow

GLASGOW, UK - Slovenian track and field athlete Lia Apostolovski won bronze in the high jump event at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow on Friday in what is Slovenia's seventh medal at these international competitions. She equalled her personal best with a jump of 1.95 metres. The 23-year-old currently ranks 10th on the women's high jump world rankings.