News roundup - Tuesday, 19 November, until 3pm

Zelenska visits university, her lecture cancelled

LJUBLJANA - Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the University of Ljubljana to learn about its activities to help students and professors from Ukraine. Her lecture planned at the Faculty of Social Sciences was however cancelled by the Ukrainian side for as yet unknown reasons. As Zelenska visited the National and University Library together with her Slovenian counterpart Aleš Musar, husband of President Nataša Pirc Musar, a minor incident happened as an unknown man shouted that Russia will win the war in Ukraine, several media reported.

Committee wants Energy Agency to tweak new grid fee system

LJUBLJANA - The Infrastructure Committee on Monday urged the Energy Agency to adjust the new system of electricity network charges for both businesses and households, introduced in October, amid discontent over the new system and the higher costs it entails in winter. The new system, which dropped the old scheme of peak and off-peak charges in favour of multiple time bands under which the charge fluctuates depending on time of day and season, was attacked heavily above all by businesses and the two opposition parties, which want it put on hold or repelled.

Slovenian military emissions reporting highlighted as good practice at COP29 event

BAKU, Azerbaijan - The Slovenian Armed Forces were highlighted as an example of good practice in reporting on greenhouse gas emissions at an event on emissions in the defence sector at the COP29 in Baku. As head of the energy efficiency and green transition department at the Defence Ministry Colonel Robert Šipec said their activities include everything from renovating the barracks for better energy efficiency to setting up solar panels on the roofs of the buildings.

Poverty discussed in parliament but no resolutions adopted

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Committee on Labour, the Family and Social Affairs discussed on Monday the issue of poverty among low-income workers who often seek help from charities. While the opposition New Slovenia (NSi), which had requested the session, urged lowering taxes to fight poverty, coalition MPs believe this would not solve the problem.

Conference calls on businesses to use AI more

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenian companies, especially SMEs, are lagging behind when it comes to introducing AI in their operations, heard the GoDigital 2024 conference. AI can help companies automate processes, personalise services and reduce costs, said the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) head Tibor Šimonka. A high level of digitalisation is necessary for AI to be used successfully, Šimonka said. AI can bring many advantages to companies, such as automation of processes, lower costs, personalised experiences for customers.

NGO critical of EU parliament's decision to water down anti-deforestation law

LJUBLJANA - Focus, a Slovenian environmental NGO, is disappointed with a decision by MEPs to postpone by a year the implementation of the EU deforestation regulation, which was adopted in April 2023. The MEPs also adopted some changes to the law, which Focus said seriously undermine the law's goals to protect forests. The NGO urged the government to reject the proposed changes and to only accept the one-year postponement.

Charges filed in Postojna manure spill incident

POSTOJNA - Koper criminal investigators have filed charges against three persons from the company managing the farm responsible for the manure spill that occurred in mid-February in the settlement of Studenec near Postojna, RTV Slovenija's news portal MMC reported. The three are accused of environmental pollution, and of endangering public safety, which carries a penalty of either a fine or up to two years' imprisonment, and up to one year in prison, respectively.

Pogačar says he will strive to get even stronger, mentions Vuelta

LJUBLJANA - Cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar looked back at a historic season and reflected on plans for the future as he spoke to the press after picking up his fifth consecutive award as the nation's best cyclist on Monday. Despite the dominant season, the world's no. 1 vowed to continue striving for improvement, while hinting at a possible Vuelta appearance.

Radovljica declared the most hospitable town in Slovenia

LAŠKO - Radovljica, a medieval town in northern Slovenia with views of the Karavanke mountain range and Julian Alps, has been declared the most hospitable town by the Tourist Association of Slovenia (TZS) as part of the Days of Slovenian Tourism that started in Laško on Monday. Ljubljana has won second place and Podčetrtek the third.