News roundup - Saturday, 28 January

Slovenia joins condemnation of Jerusalem attacks

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob and the Slovenian Foreign Ministry condemned the deadly shooting at a synagogue in East Jerusalem on Friday and the attack that followed on Saturday. "Violence must be avoided at all costs. My thoughts are with the families and relatives of the victims," Golob said on the government's Twitter profile. The Foreign Ministry called "on all parties to refrain from actions which would lead to further violence".

Diplomats, execs, politicians meet for cross-country skiing

POKLJUKA - The Pokljuka Plateau, not far from Bled, is hosting diplomats, politicians and business executives for the 30th annual cross-country skiing meet. The event, organised by the Strelica sports association, attracts MPs, MEPs, government members, mayors, people from business and ambassadors every year. The event, which also raises charity funds, serves as a place for business and political officials to meet and exchange ideas.

Steklarna Hrastnik helping explore use of hydrogen

HRASTNIK - The Steklarna Hrastnik glassworks is involved in the Horizon Europe project H2GLASS, which aims to create the technology stack that glass manufacturers need in order to implement 100% hydrogen combustion in their production facilities. It is one of 23 partners in the EUR 33 million project that was launched this week and is coordinated by the Norwegian company Sintef Energy. Also involved in the endeavour is the National Institute of Chemistry.

Prices of petroleum products up 30% in 2022

LJUBLJANA - The retail prices of all petroleum products in Slovenia rose last year. The average price of regular petrol was 23% higher at EUR 1.493 per litre, the average price of diesel went up by 29% to EUR 1.634 and of liquefied petroleum gas by 38% to EUR 0.975. The price of heating oil increased by 33% to EUR 1.288. The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy said the rise as due to the unfavourable upstream energy market conditions during most of 2022.

EUR 106m for motorway renovation this year

LJUBLJANA - The national motorway company DARS is planning EUR 301 million worth of investment this year, including EUR 106 million to reconstruct and renovate motorways and expressways. EUR 77 million will be invested into construction of new roads. The most demanding renovation project will be a reconstruction of the section between Dramlje and Slovenske Konjice on the A1 motorway between Ljubljana and Maribor. DARS expects the work to result in congestions this summer and the next.

Domen Prevc third at Kulm ski flying event

BAD MITTERNDORF, Austria - Slovenia's Domen Prevc placed third at the first Ski Flying World Cup event this season on the Kulm hill, Austria, where his brother Peter set the venue record in 2016. Norway's jumper Halvor Egner Graneurd won the event ahead of Austria's Stefan Kraft. Another Slovenian, Timi Zajc placed 6th after jumping 243 metres in the second series, just a metre short of the hill record set by the eldest of the Prevc brothers.

Ema Klinec 2nd in Hinterzarten

HINTERZARTEN, Germany - Slovenia's Ema Klinec placed second at the women's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Hinterzarten, Germany, after jumping 105.5 metres in the final series to climb up four spots. German Katharina Althaus won the event. Abigail Strate of Canada finished third for her first career podium. Klinec, the reigning World Champion, is in top form having chalked up two second spots in Sapporo, Japan, earlier this month.

Snow castles rise up in Koroška

ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM - The town of Črna na Koroškem in the north of the country hosted the 31st snow sculpting competition. Luckily, there is plenty of snow at this time and temperatures have fallen so the organizers were able to make enough artificial snow, which is easier to shape than natural. The event, known as the Castles of King Matjaž, evokes the legend of a righteous king sleeping under Mount Peca near by, which competitors as a rule explore as the theme in their sculptures.