STA, 22 September 2020 - The City of Women (Mesto Žensk) international festival of contemporary arts will begin in Ljubljana on Tuesday, running this year in a stretched out format until 12 October. It will feature over 80 women artists, lecturers, curators and activists.

Addressing the press at the outset of the festival, artistic director Teja Reba raised the question of whether talking about gender equality is suitable in a time when the world is facing a pandemic, climate change, growing wealth disparity, unbridled nationalism and bodies in the Mediterranean.

"Yes, more then ever before," Reba asserted, urging everybody "not to stay silent" and join the festival's efforts.

The City of Women 2020 is opening with the launch of an exhibition named The Unforgettable. It features posters around the city of 50 Slovenian Women Who Pushed the Boundaries of Our World.

The exhibition is named after a book that was published on the occasion and will also be discussed at a symposium called 8 Mach Every day and scheduled on 1 October. The focus will be on securing equal opportunities for young people during education and later on in life.

The opening day will moreover be marked by the first screening in a segment dedicated to actress Delphine Seyrig. One programme section is named Disobedient Muses and will look at the video production of the eponymous collective that Seyrig was a part of.

Gender Equality - A Means to Succeeding in Achieving the Seventeen UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals is the title of an international conference that is scheduled for Friday, while the ŠKUC Gallery will feature from 8 October a group exhibition presenting the exploration of the historical and social aspects of cosmetics as a material culture.

Also on the programme is an exploration of the relations between oppressors, systems of persecution and precarity led by the Dublin-based artists Bernie O'Reilly and Maud Hendricks in cooperation with six women based in Slovenia. Inspired by Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe, it is scheduled for 30 September at the Old Powerhouse.

This far from exhausts the list of events, although the performance segment is scaled down this year due to coronavirus restrictions. Two premieres are scheduled nonetheless - Picture Perfect by Simona Semenič and the final part of Nataša Živkovič's trilogy Dodgeball.

From the festival's Insagram

Meanwhile, cooperating with the 8th March Institute, this year's City of Women will also feature the #METOO IN CULTURE campaign, which aims to highlight sexual harassment in the culture sector.

You can see the full programme of events on the official City or Women 2020 website, and also follow on Facebook

The latest statistics on coronavirus and Slovenia, and the latest police news on red, green and yellow list countries. All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia. Can I transit Slovenia? Find out from the police...

STA, 22 September 2020 - A total of 2,335 tests for the novel coronavirus were performed in Slovenia on Monday, resulting in 88 new cases, show the latest data from the government. The number of hospitalised patients was up by one to 71, while the number of those requiring intensive care stayed at 13. A dozen people needed ventilators.

Eight Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospital yesterday. There were no deaths, with the death toll remaining at 142.

Slovenia had 1,325 active cases yesterday, according to the national tracker site Covid-19.sledilnik.

New infections were recorded in 39 municipalities. In Ljubljana, 24 more people tested positive, bringing the number of active cases in the capital to almost 300.

Six new cases were detected in Maribor and four each in Celje and Domžale. Only 15 out of the 212 Slovenian municipalities remain coronavirus-free.

On Monday, infections were confirmed with two care home residents and four members of medical staff.

According to government Covid-19 spokesperson Jelko Kacin, the Danica Vogrinec care home in Maribor now has four new infections, bringing the total number to 59. 40 residents and 19 members of staff are infected.

Meanwhile, two new infections were also confirmed at a care home in Rogaška Slatina with a resident and an employee. A total of 25 infections have been recorded there so far, 19 among residents and six among staff.

A new hotspot seems to be the CUDV centre for persons with disabilities in Črna na Koroškem, where three employees tested positive, and another 18 members of the staff and 17 residents were placed in quarantine.

The centre works with some 300 persons with disabilities, 215 of whom live at the centre. The unit where the infections were detected has 150 beds, regional branch of Večer reports.

Bojana Beović, the government's chief Covid-19 adviser, said today that the figures of newly infected people did not mean much if their symptoms were mild. "What undoubtedly shows that the disease is a great burden in Slovenia, and that it is increasing, is the rise in the number of patients who need hospital treatment and intensive care," she said.

Projections show that 250 to 270 people perhaps even 300 will be hospitalised in mid-October, which is cause for concern, because the health system cannot afford another standstill, she said, noting that all efforts would be investment in keeping the healthcare system running.

Currently, Covid-19 patients are being treated at the UKC Ljubljana and Maribor hospitals, the Golnik clinic and the Celje hospital. But since the number of patients is growing, the Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto and Murska Sobota hospitals have also been activated.

The Novo Mesto and Murska Sobota hospitals can accept up to 20 patients each, while 15 beds are expected to be ready for Covid-19 patients in Nova Gorica by the end of the week, according to the hospital's deputy head, Ernest Gortan. The hospital also has five ventilators suitable for Covid-19 patients.

In the 18,339 tests conducted in Slovenia between 14 and 20 September, 721 infections were confirmed; 320 in men and 401 in women, Kacin said today. A total of 49 infections were discovered at care homes, 32 among residents. 74 members of the medical and support staff also tested positive.

Epidemiologists issued 2,526 quarantine orders, and 210 people actually got Covid-19.

The region with the most infections is central Slovenia with 249 cases, followed by Podravje and Savinjska regions with 126 and 114 cases, respectively.

In 454 cases the infection came from a local source, while in 244 cases the source could not be determined.

A total of 16 infections were imported, and another seven cases were related to them. Four people were infected in Austria, three in Germany, two each in Croatia and Italy, and one each in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Czechia, Montenegro and Estonia.

A total of 4,558 cases have been confirmed so far in Slovenia in 203,647 tests.

Poll shows people not very concerned about coronavirus

STA, 21 September 2020 - Although the epidemiological curve in Slovenia has been rising recently, people are not very concerned, the latest Vox Populi poll suggests. The share of respondents who are not concerned by the new coronavirus spreading rose from 13.3% in March to 27.2% in September.

The share of those who are fairly concerned decreased to almost 30% compared to March, when the share was 38%, and the share of those who are quite concerned dropped from 31.2% to 22.1%.

The share of those who are very concerned rose slightly, from 17.5% to 20%, but that did not change the overall situation.

An analysis of responses has shown that women are more concerned by the situation and that the anxiety increases with age.

People also no longer seem to find government-imposed restrictive measures justified. If as many as 70% of respondents assessed government measures as appropriate in March, and a record 75% in April, this percentage dropped to under 45% in September.

The share of people finding anti-corona measures exaggerated has been rising all along. If only 6.5% thought so in March, their share rose to 21.6% in April and climbed to 26.6% in September.

An interesting twist happened with those who deem government measures inadequate. While in March just over 16% thought the authorities should do more to fight the virus, in April and May virtually nobody thought so, but this month 21.2% of the respondents said more measures would be required.

Vox Populi is a survey conducted by Ninamedia for the newspaper Večer and Dnevnik. It was carried out among 700 people between 15 and 17 September.

STA, 21 September 2020 - Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who attended a session of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, told reporters after the session that the EU's new migration pact was eagerly anticipated and that Slovenia would continue to oppose mandatory distribution of migrants, which the country made clear in June.

"We are anxious to see the proposed package, but it is difficult to comment on individual solutions before it is unveiled. We know roughly which way the solutions will go, but this is a very complex matter and the changes are very comprehensive, so I do not dare to comment any further at this point," Logar said after the ministerial, responding to a journalist question about whether Slovenia was happy with the planed solutions.

Seven EU members, including Slovenia, addressed a letter to the European Commission in June, expressing their resolute opposition to compulsory redistribution of migrants among EU member states. The letter was signed by Slovenia, all four Visegrad countries - Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as Estonia and Latvia.

Logar said today the letter made Slovenia's views very clear. "I think the arguments that Slovenia will use in this debate will go along those lines in the future as well," he said.

Asked whether Slovenia would support the new pact, he said that it was impossible to say exactly which way the debate would go at this point.

The new migration pact that the Commission will unveil on Wednesday is expected to be based on a mechanism of obligatory solidarity, which is to include transferring migrants in close connection with returning illegal migrants.

The new approach is said to be more flexible than the solutions which have been on the table so far and which member states failed to find common ground on.

The initiator of the new pact, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, has said that all 27 members states are ready to make concessions.

Logar agrees that a compromise will be found but he stresses it will be within the frameworks of what countries find acceptable.

The Slovenian foreign minister noted this package would be discussed during the German-Portuguese-Slovenian presidency. If no agreement is reached during Portugal's stint, Slovenia will lead the debate, so Logar discussed the matter today with his German counterpart, and the French foreign minister in Paris on Sunday.

Asked about the upcoming report on the rule of law in EU countries, which the Commission is to release on 30 September, Logar said Slovenia was looking forward to the debate on the rule of law and would take active part in it, so that the bloc would have a credible, transparent and fair overview of the situation.

The report will open a dialogue and a quest for a model that would offer an overview of the situation in EU countries in the future as well, Logar said in an on-line press conference.

He added the EU's drawing up the report was a smart way of overcoming the impasse following alleged violations of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary.

Logar also held courtesy meetings with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans and European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius. He presented them Slovenia's priorities for the upcoming EU presidency from green technologies to water diplomacy.

STA, 21 September 2020 - PM Janez Janša said the government will discuss the fifth omnibus bill bringing anti-coronavirus measures this week and the bill will also bring funds to cut waiting time in healthcare. The bill will moreover feature measures designed to prevent the spring scenario, when practically all non-urgent medical services were suspended.

This is what Janša said in parliament on Monday as he answered a question posed by Anderj Rajh from the opposition Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), who urged better access to healthcare also at a time of rising Covid-19 cases.

Janša admitted that the epidemic, even if it lasted in Slovenia a relatively short period of time, caused some problems in access to healthcare.

He fears this could happen again if people fail to respect the measures designed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

However, Janša announced the government would do all in its power for the spring situation not to repeat.

"We are in a serious situation when a debate on this is welcome," he told the National Assembly as it opened the September regular plenary.

He rejected the notion that the government had failed to act, having earmarked more than EUR 210 million for healthcare.

While there will be enough funds for the healthcare system, the problem is also organisation and capacities, he said, adding both issues were being addressed.

Rajh believes that a patient needs to get access to a medical treatment when they need it.

He proposed that parliament discuss Janša's reply to his question as part of a broader debate in parliament, and the MPs will vote on his proposal on Thursday.

A similar question came from Lidija Divjak Mirnik from the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), who also said public healthcare rather than private should be strengthened.

But Janša said the word "public healthcare" had been abused for years. "The more we talk about supporting public healthcare, the more [doctors and nurses] run away."

He announced the government would also address this issue, but said there was a shortage of staff. He noted the EU being a common area, meaning one can seek employment around the bloc where one is better paid.

Janša also announced talks to exclude the services part of the public sector from the uniform public pay system would start soon to set up a new system.

"If this problem is not solved, waiting time in Slovenian healthcare will further deteriorate, regardless of how much funds it gets," he said.

There have been demands to exclude various professions from the public sector pay system, with doctors pushing for higher pay for years.

However, responding to the STA's query, the Ministry of Public Administration said it had nothing to add to Janša's statement.

Health Minister Tomaž Gantar meanwhile told the STA that excluding at least healthcare from the public sector pay system was feasible.

His ministry and the FIDES trade union of doctors are to set up a task force that would try to come up with different remuneration criteria, he explained.

Gantar believes that a more motivating pay system is needed, which is what the task force will try to come up with.

However, this does not mean doctors will get higher pay immediately, he said, indicating they were willing to wait with their demands for some time.

"But we absolutely don't want to postpone these problems to some undefined future," the minister added.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA: 

Pahor and Macron agree closer cooperation

PARIS, France - President Borut Pahor held a working meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron focussing on the future of the EU, its neighbourhood, and bilateral relations. Closer cooperation was agreed, both personally and at the level of the two countries, Pahor said, announcing that "circumstances permitting", he could host Macron in Slovenia before the end of the year. Noting many shared views with Macron, he said they saw unity among 27 member states as a promise of internal and external cohesion.

Logar eagerly awaiting EU's new migration pact

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who attended a session of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, told reporters the EU's forthcoming pact on migration and asylum was eagerly anticipated and that Slovenia would continue to oppose mandatory distribution of migrants, which the country made clear in June. Logar also held courtesy meetings with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans and European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius. He presented them Slovenia's priorities for the upcoming EU presidency from green technologies to water diplomacy.

Bach praises Slovenia as great sporting nation

LJUBLJANA - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach praised Slovenia as a true giant in sports, as he met some of Slovenia's athletes aspiring to attend the Tokyo Olympics. He reiterated the IOC would do all in its power for the Tokyo Olympics, rescheduled due to the coronavirus from 2020 to 2021, to be held next year. He also met PM Janez Janša and Sports Minister Simona Kustec, saying the prime minister and his government were aware of the important role sport plays in society, especially during the health crisis. Bach also attended a fund raiser for underprivileged athletes, contributing US$50,000 on behalf of the IOC, and visited the grave of recently deceased sports official Janez Kocijančič (1941-2020).

DeSUS threatens to leave coalition if ex-leader Pivec stays minister

LJUBLJANA - The opposition, led by the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), filed a motion of no-confidence in Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec, a member of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS). The motion alleges risk of corruption, violation of integrity rules and concealment of public interest facts. DeSUS deputy group head Franc Jurša meanwhile announced the coalition would lose DeSUS's support if Pivec, the DeSUS former leader, who stepped down recently, remained minister. In the words of Tomaž Gantar's, health minister and DeSUS's interim leader, this is in fact an appeal to the prime minister to finally resolve the issue of Pivec's ministerial post.

Hojs remains interior minister after talking it over with Janša

LJUBLJANA - Aleš Hojs remains interior minister not only after surviving a motion of no-confidence in parliament on Saturday but also after today's meeting with PM Janez Janša. He told the STA that Janša had returned him the envelope with his resignation, which he tendered in late June after four opposition parties filed a motion to dismiss him. Back then he indicated he resigned because the police was serving the deep state in an investigation into ventilator procurement related to Covid-19. Janša and Hojs also discussed further coalition commitments that are yet to be implemented. Hojs said changes to the foreigners act, the international protection act and the police organisation and work act were ready. Another attempt is planned to give soldiers some police powers in protecting the border against illegal migrants.

50 coronavirus infections confirmed in scaled-down testing on Sunday

LJUBLJANA - The number of new Sars-Cov-2 infections discovered in Slovenia fell substantially to 50 on Sunday, but the number of tests carried out, 984, was only about a third of the figure during recent week days. There were no new fatalities, so the death toll remains at 142. The number of hospitalised patients increased by four to 70. The number of patients in intensive care increased by one to 14, with 12 attached to ventilators, show official data released on Monday. Meanwhile, the Economy Ministry and business chambers urged companies to implement all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in a bid to keep the economy running.

Poll shows people not very concerned about coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - Although the epidemiological curve in Slovenia has been rising, people are not very concerned, the latest Vox Populi poll suggests. The share of respondents who are not concerned by the new coronavirus spreading rose from 13.3% in March to 27.2% in September. The share of those who are very concerned rose slightly, from 17.5% to 20%, but that did not change the overall situation. An analysis of responses has shown that women are more concerned by the situation and that the anxiety increases with age.

Janša announces funds to cut waiting times, changes to public sector pay

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša said the government will discuss the fifth omnibus bill bringing anti-coronavirus measures this week and the bill will also bring fresh funds to cut waiting time in healthcare. It will moreover feature measures designed to prevent the spring scenario when practically all non-urgent medical services were suspended, Janša said in parliament. He also announced talks to exclude the services part of the public sector from the uniform public pay system would start soon. Health Minister Tomaž Gantar later explained excluding at least healthcare from the public sector pay system was feasible, so a task force of Health Ministry representatives and doctors would try to come up with different remuneration criteria.

2030 strategy looks to create knowledge-based industry

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Economic Development and Technology Ministry presented a draft of the industrial strategy for 2021-2030, which looks to create the conditions for restructuring Slovenia's industrial sector into an industry of knowledge and innovativeness for new and better jobs. The principal indicator of the Slovenian industrial strategy is labour productivity, which the ministry wants to reach EUR 66,000 in added value per employee by 2030. The document was presented at a conference in Brdo pri Kranju, where PM Janez Janša urged structural reforms if Slovenia is to take advantage of the coronacrisis to gain a development momentum.

Janša announces additional oversight over immigrants

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša announced more oversight over the system of social transfers as he responded to an MP question from Zmago Jelinčič from the opposition National Party (SNS) about the status of immigrants from third countries and their social transfers. Janša said the coalition agreement envisaged a reform of social transfers. He noted that in some towns, more than a hundred persons are registered at a single address, which should be looked into. Many of the loopholes in the current legislation will be fixed with changes to the foreigners act, he said.

Pahor and Logar to attend first virtual UN general debate

NEW YORK, US - This year's general debate of the UN General Assembly will be held virtually for the first time in UN history due to Covid-19. Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Foreign Minister Anže Logar will contribute their speeches via videolink. Pahor's speech is expected on Thursday, while Logar will attend a virtual meeting of the Informal Ministerial Network for the International Criminal Court on Wednesday and a ministerial of the Alliance for Multilateralism on Friday.

Vox Populi poll: Parties losing ground, SDS remains in the lead

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - Most parties lost ground in September's Vox Populi poll, conducted by Ninamedia for the newspapers Večer and Dnevnik, but the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) remain on top, followed somewhat closer than before by the opposition Social Democrats (SD) and Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ). If an election was held this Sunday, the SDS would receive 22.1% of the vote, followed by the SD with 13.6%. The LMŠ in third place would be receive 9% of the voters. The opposition Left, which was the only parliamentary party to see a slight rise in support thismonth, polled at 7.2%.

Jaklitsch concludes Germany visit in Baden-Württemberg

STUTTGART, Germany - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch concluded a two-day visit to the Slovenian community in Germany on Sunday in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where she met representatives of Slovenian associations in Stuttgart and Sindelfingen and a Slovenian Catholic mission there. Slovenians in this part of Germany are facing similar problems as those living in Bavaria, whom Jaklitsch visited on Saturday. Membership is declining, as some of the older members are returning to Slovenia upon retirement, while it is hard to encourage the younger generations to get involved in the organised activities of the Slovenian community.

Trade union wants MPs to define relations between interior ministry and police

LJUBLJANA - The SPS trade union, one of the two representing Slovenian police officers, called on parliament to provide an "authentic interpretation" of the organisation and work of the police act in the part where the law determines the relations between the Interior Ministry and the police force. The move comes after tensions between Minister Aleš Hojs and police following his July order issued to the police commissioner to review five high-profile cases handled by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The trade union believes this is necessary to stop clashes in the media, which are harming the police force's reputation.

Over EUR 200 million out of last year's budget for R&D

LJUBLJANA - Last year, Slovenia earmarked EUR 219.8 million in budget funds for R&D activities, up 14.7% or EUR 28.1 million on 2018. Budget funding for R&D increased for the fourth year in a row in 2019 and exceeded EUR 200 million for the first time since 2011. The share of public funding for R&D in GDP also went up from 0.42% to 0.46% in 2019 compared to 2018, show Statistics Office data.

New exhibition marks Laibach's 40th anniversary

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition of artworks by Laibach opened at Gallery P74 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of this alternative band. Entitled RE:KONS:TRUKT, the show is a re-imagining of old works by Laibach and will be on display until 2 November. Ausstellung! Laibach Kunst is a series of exhibitions by Laibach, and according to curator Barbara Borčič, this particular exhibition evokes the memories of their early artistic practice, especially of the band's first two exhibitions at the Škuc Gallery in 1982 and 1983.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

Today I’m going to take you to a place very special to me. So special that I keep returning there more often that I probably should considering I’ve got a hiking agency (Exploring Slovenia) that requires work on many tours around the Alps. This hike is simple, not too easy but also not too hard, and at 2,000 meters the top is still cozily covered with soft grass. There you can lay down and enjoy spectacular views of Triglav and other peaks of the Julian Alps to the west, the Karavanke Alps to the north stretching towards the northeast, and the Krma valley nestled between us and Triglav.

I’m actually not talking about just one peak, but a few peaks dotted along a beautiful ridge. You can start with Debela Peč, a broad 2,014-m peak on the far right once you reach the Blejska koča Hut, and then slowly make your way to the left following the ridge over to Brda, 2,008 m, Lipanski Vrh, 1,974 m, and finally Mrežce, 1,965 m. You can continue further on to Debeli Vrh, 1,962 m, and then return back down through a beautiful larch forest, which is actually what we offer in one of our tours above Pokljuka. Or you could even hike all the way to Viševnik and Mali Draški Vrh, but let’s leave that to the most avid of hikers.

The ridge from Viševnik continues further on towards Mali Draški Vrh

While a few of the peaks might be fairly popular with the locals, and you can expect quite a few visitors on a sunny weekend, on weekdays the trails empty and the air instead gets filled with the whistling sounds of sturdy chamois.

Soak in cinematic views of the soaring mountains across the plummeting 1000-meter deep glacial valley Krma

Lush larch forests along the trail sparkles golden in the sun

With many hiking options in those parts of the Julian Alps, one can walk the whole day or just a couple of hours, and that’s the true beauty of it. It makes the most sense to start the hike from Planina Zajavornik, a gorgeous meadow with old wooden houses in the middle of Pokljuka’s tall fir forest, or further up in Medvedova Konta, from where the first peak - Debela Peč is merely two hours away.

The trail is technically speaking easy, it also ascends gradually, partly in the forest and partly in the sun. As such it’s appropriate for beginners, kids, elderly hikers, and those who have problems with exposure. At Exploring Slovenia we also offer it as one of the most basic hikes in the Alps above Bled to visitors who want to get a feel for the mountains but have no real experience yet. Extending the tour along the ridge doesn’t only mean prolonging it time-wise, but also spicing it up with more exposure and a few short parts with wires (via ferrata). Hiking the whole ridge - from Debela Peč to Mrežce, adds at least another two hours, and the whole descent down from Mrežce takes another two.

A must stop on the way? Regardless of whether going up to Debela Peč or coming down from Mrežce, you should make a stop in the Blejska koča Hut and grab a plate of barley soup ričet, goulash, beef broth with pasta, or sour cabbage soup jota, and obviously potica, that traditional pastry with ground walnuts. Delicious, and you’ll burn the calories walking!

A little extra to see in Pokljuka? If you still have the energy and time to make a few stops on the way back to the valley, I would suggest not missing the beautiful little Alpine village of Zajamniki (an easy hour hike from Rudno Polje) and the Pokljuka Gorge, through which actually used to go the shortest natural passage to the Pokljuka plateau, back in the olden days.

Zajamniki with flowering crocuses

The well-hidden Pokljuka Gorge

Interested in hiking in Slovenia? Check out the range of tours on offer at Exploring Slovenia - including to the top of Triglav - as well as our interview with the author.

STA, 21 September 2020 - Slovenia is celebrating Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič for their first and second overall place at the Tour de France in what is a historic feat for the nation that had already been crazed by past successes. The cycling euphoria is now reaching a new peak.

Pogačar crossed the finish line of the world's most prestigious road cycling race in Paris on Sunday after having already secured the win a day earlier with a superb performance in the penultimate, mountain stage.

It was a surprise twist at the only time trial of the race, as the 21-year-old had been trailing his older compatriot Primož Roglič, who had been an undisputed favourite throughout the race, by almost a minute.

Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) came aggressively right out of the gate to overtake the yellow jersey from the visibly exhausted Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), beating him by almost two minutes in what expert say was one of the most sensational performances in cycling history.

He became the second youngest winner of the Tour de France, and is the first 21-year-old to win the greatest of the three-week Grand Tour races as a newcomer after France's Laurent Fignon in 1983.

He is also the first to wear the yellow jersey (general classification leader), the polka dot jersey (best in the mountainous classification) and the white jersey as the best young rider.

After clinching the win, Pogačar said that "I think I'm dreaming. I really don't know what to say," and after arriving in the French capital he told reporters that "this is incredible, standing here in Paris on the top step of the podium."

"I never thought I would be here. It's been an amazing three-week adventure. I have to thank everyone who's been involved in the preparation for the race, everyone in my team and my family."

Despite his talent, Pogačar's victory is in a way a surprise given that his first three-week race was only last year's Vuelta, where he placed third, and the fact that his older compatriot Roglič was a clear-cut favourite among the Slovenians.

Roglič (29) was visibly disappointed but said the failure to win the Tour - his ultimate goal that seemed so close - could prove motivation for future. The ski jumper-cum-rider won Spain's Vuelta and placed third at Giro d'Italia last year.

"I'm super proud. I'm proud of what I managed to do and us as a team which really put on super shows throughout the three weeks. I wouldn't change a single thing, there are no regrets, the best rider has won, so sincere congratulations to Tadej," he said.

Many Slovenian fans came to Paris to cheer their winning champions, including President Borut Pahor, while locals in Pogačar and Roglič's home towns celebrated with open-air parties.

Congratulations and praise for both are still pouring in, with many experts agreeing that Pogačar's performance in the penultimate stage was one of the ages, which transcends any past performance of an up-and coming rider.

Slovenia's double victory was preceded by an epic battle between the two Slovenians, and the likes of the cycling legends Sean Kelly and Eddy Merckx labelled the eventual winner as one of the greatest riders of the current millennium.

Slovenian Andrej Hauptman, one of the directors of UAE Team Emirates, said Pogačar was a great gem of Slovenian cycling, and added that neither him nor Roglič had boundaries they were not able to cross.

The surprise win has also been making headlines internationally, with The Guardian saying "it was a strange Tour but the winner looks like he is here to stay at the head of exciting young breed of cyclists."

La Gazzetta dello Sport said that Pogačar had a brave heart, as he conquered the wind as his greatest enemy, and the French L'Equipe said that the Slovenian wonder had won what was his first Tour De France.

Sports media appear unanimous in the assessment that Pogačar has already become the main favourite in all future three-week races he will participate in, and that he could remain on the cycling throne for more than a decade.

The cycling papers speculate that the 2020s may become the battleground between Pogačar, Colombia's Egan Bernal and another cycling wunderkind, Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.

STA, 21 September 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced more oversight over the system of social transfers as he responded to an MP question from Zmago Jelinčil from the opposition National Party (SNS) on Monday about the status of immigrants from third countries and their social transfers. Janša said the coalition agreement envisaged a reform of social transfers.

Janša noted that in some towns, more than a hundred persons are registered at a single address, so the relevant ministry should investigate this.

In some cases, hundreds of people are registered at a property of a hundred or two hundred square metres, he said, adding that people were being exploited, having to pay a lot of money to the real estate owners to be registered there.

There are no such irregularities in most towns, but in some there are, and Maribor stands out, he said.

Janša said inspectors should not have a hard time investigating the matter, starting by comparing data.

Many of the loopholes in the current legislation will be fixed with changes to the foreigners act, the PM said.

Jelinčič proposed the National Assembly debate the matter, which MPs will decide on Thursday.

STA, 21 September 2020 - The Economic Development and Technology Ministry presented on Monday a draft of industrial strategy for 2021-2030, which looks to create the conditions for restructuring Slovenia's industrial sector into an industry of knowledge and innovativeness for new and better jobs.

Presenting the document at a conference in Brdo pri Kranju, State Secretary Simon Zajc said that it featured well thought-through and effective measures which would provide the industry with additional development momentum.

The basic purpose is to set up guidelines for industrial development, which would serve as basis for support measures, he said, adding that one of the key tasks should be connecting value chains, companies of various sizes and knowledge institutions with other stakeholders.

The government wants to create conditions for a knowledge- and innovativeness-based industry to secure new and better jobs. "We want to realise the vision of Slovenia's industrial development as green, creative and smart."

The principal indicator of the Slovenian industrial strategy is labour productivity, which the ministry wants to reach EUR 66,000 in added value per employee by 2030. The intermediate goal for 2025 has been set at EUR 60,000.

What is key for green development is resource productivity, with the goal being to create as much added value as possible with the expenditure of raw materials and other resources, the document says.

The innovation indicator is key when it comes to creative development, and the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which measures progress of EU member states in digital competitiveness, is the main indicator for smart development.

From the aspect of green development, transition to circular economy, decarbonisation of the energy-intensive industry, sustainable mobility and industry based on wood and other natural materials are of key importance.

As for creative development, the strategy wants to create a favourable environment for innovation, including support for nanotechnology innovation.

In smart development, Zajc pointed to digitalisation and support for the entire cycle of research and development, saying that particular attention would be paid to internationalisation.

The strategy will be in public consultation until 16 October.

STA, 18 September 2020 - Kino Šiška, one of the main music venues in Ljubljana, will fuse online and on-site concerts in the new season due to precautionary measures such as visitor caps. The centre has entered into a partnership with the online platform DICE to deliver livestreams of performances, mostly by Slovenian musicians.

The move comes come in the wake of strict anti-corona restrictions: due to physical distancing rules the number of visitors has been capped at 150 persons in the Kino Šiška main hall, which usually fits 1,000 visitors.

The centre has some experience with interactive livestreamed projects and has been spurred on to provide a new concert platform by the results of a poll exploring alternative ways of holding cultural events.

As of 1 October, concerts at the Katedrala Hall will be given for up to 150 persons, whereas livestreams will come with no restrictions. They will not be free of charge, though, since artists should be paid fair and square for online concerts too, especially in the current circumstances, Kino Šiška said.

Cooperation with DICE, a provider of online concerts by musicians such as Nick Cave, Laura Marling in Björk, will give the project an international dimension and help promote Slovenian performers, who will take centre stage.

On 1 October, zalagasper will lift the curtain on the new season. The duo represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 and has been topping the INES chart of up-and-coming musicians in the EU for the second month in a row.

See what’s on at Kino Siška, with the page for the hybrid/hibrid events here