News roundup - Saturday, 4 February

Šinko talks topical issues in agriculture with Hungarian colleague

FELSŐSZSÖLÖNOK, Hungary - Agriculture Minister Irena Šinko visited the Slovenian model farm in the border region of Porabje in Hungary, where she also met counterpart Istvan Nagyi. They talked about topical issues in agriculture, game management along the border, African swine fever and sustainable forest management. The ministers also noted opportunities for cooperation in the border area, including in circular economy, bioeconomy, and organic farming. They also met representatives of the Slovenian minority in Hungary, who briefed them about the activities of the community and discussed open issues.

National railways operator with record revenue last year

LJUBLJANA - The national railways operator Slovenske Železnice made some EUR 40 million in operating profit last year, which is the highest figure ever, while generating EUR 620 million in revenue, show preliminary estimates presented by CEO Dušan Mes. Mes has also said in an interview with the 24ur web portal of the commercial broadcaster POP TV that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) last year reached EUR 100 million for the first time.

Bus and coach drivers again rally for decent pay

KRANJ - Around 70 members of the Trade Union of Bus and Coach Drivers staged a rally at the Kranj bus station to demand decent pay for bus drivers employed in road passenger transport companies in what is a second such protest since mid-December. They spoke about their profession being devalued, indecent pay and working on an inhumane work schedule, and demanded immediate changes Complete suspension of operations is not excluded if the demands are not met.

Cancer equality in Slovenia at high level, more research needed

LJUBLJANA - The latest report from the European Commission and the OECD on cancer inequality, released on the occasion of World Cancer Day, notes that the equality of care for cancer patients in Slovenia is at a high level, but experts warn that even more cancer research is needed. According to the Cancer Registry at the Ljubljana Oncology Institute, more than 16,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer every year in Slovenia, and more than 6,500 of cancer patients die on an annual basis.

Two podium finishes for Slovenian ski jumpers in Willingen

WILLINGEN, Germany - Slovenia's Ema Klinec took second place in the women's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Willingen, for her third second place in a row and fifth podium finish of the season. Anže Lanišek followed this up by finishing second in the men's event for his tenth podium finish this season and the 23rd in his career. Lanišek is currently third in the overall standings with 1,070 points, trailing Norway's Halvor Egner Granerud with 1,416 and Poland's David Kubacki with 1,264 points.