News roundup - Saturday, 20 April

Fajon wraps up China visit

BEIJING, China - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon wrapped up her four-day visit to China by appearing in round-table debate organised by the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) and the think tank Center for China and Globalization. Fajon, like other participants, stressed the importance of multilateralism and respect for international law, including in action on climate change. The event was addressed by Liu Zenmin, China's special envoy for climate change, Peter Grk, secretary general of the BSF, and Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization. It also featured the ambassadors of Guyana, Japan, Malta, Slovenia and Switzerland to China.

Pahor urges restoring W Balkans' faith in EU enlargement process

LJUBLJANA - Borut Pahor, Slovenia's former president, warned of the waning optimism about EU enlargement in the Western Balkans as he addressed reporters at the conclusion of the first conference organised by his non-profit Friends of the Western Balkans. He said people's trust in the enlargement process should be restored and urged the EU and countries in the region to commit that they will be ready for enlargement by 2030. The two-day conference featured representatives from 19 countries, including many senior diplomats and former heads of state and government.

SDS poses a set of demands to ensure fair EU election

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democrats (SDS) issued a set of demands on conditions that they say would ensure that the June election to the European Parliament in Slovenia is fair and democratic. These include reopening polling stations that have been closed and changes to when ballots cast in early voting are counted. The party also urged an independent external audit of the software used in registration of votes with party leader Janez Janša suggesting on Friday there was a theoretical risk of manipulation.

Over a quarter of digital info points close for lack of interest

LJUBLJANA - Just months after 222 information points were launched across the country with the aim of improving digital inclusion and digital literacy, 60 were closed down starting from April for failing to attract enough interest. The digital info points were set up in a joint project by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business (OZS). The first 62 were launched in mid-October and the remaining 160 a month later. The ministry confirmed a report by the news portal N1 that the 60 locations were closed after an analysis showed the footfall was below the expectations.

Tone of waste recovered from Ljubljanica

LJUBLJANA - Divers removed about a tonne of waste from the river running through Ljubljana in their annual campaign, held for the 33rd time to wrap up the spring clean-up campaign in the capital. Some 100 divers were involved in the effort in the Ljubljanica, along with fishermen, firefighters and other volunteers who helped onshore. Miro Potočnik, the head of the Vivera underwater activities association, was happy to note that the amount of waste discovered was declining by the year.

Country's biggest chocolate festival opens

RADOVLJICA - The medieval town of Radovljica in the northwest of the country is hosting its 11th Chocolate Festival this weekend, featuring 20 vendors and a versatile accompanying programme. Prior to the country's biggest chocolate festival, best pralines were selected in a competition involving 12 entries from six Slovenian chocolatiers. The festival also features a charity exhibition of chocolate mosaics created by 12 local artists and artisans.