STA, 7 March 2022 - Journalists at RTV Slovenija staged a news conference in front of the public broadcaster on Monday to demand full editorial independence and protest against deteriorating working conditions, mobbing and political pressure. TV Slovenija journalists also oppose Jadranka Rebernik's appointment as editor-in-chief of TV news programmes.

The staff expect changes to news programmes to be decided on solely by RTV Slovenija, while the decisions must not be made at the initiative of political parties or powerful individuals, nor to their benefit.

TV journalist Saša Krajnc said TV Slovenija One programmes are increasingly impoverished, scheduled shows are often not aired at the set times, and decisions to broadcast foreign shows or rallies did not come as a surprise only to the general public but also to RTV Slovenija staff.

This is after TV Slovenija has broadcast two BBC shows on Ukraine since Russia's invasion plus one of the rallies in support of Ukraine, the one which featured senior government officials, including Prime Minister Janez Janša, as key-note speakers.

He also took issue with the controversial changes to the public broadcaster's 2022 production plan over which the previous editor-in-chief of TV news programmes resigned in October. Some of the news shows were abolished, others were shortened or relegated from channel one to channel two.

Kranjc said that some of the news programmes that should have been launched on channel two after the Beijing Olympics have been yet again postponed.

The staff urged the 29-strong programming council to do its job in an independent and unbiased manner. The new lineup had its maiden session in mid-February after 21 members who newly appointed and are seen to be close to the director general.

The staff expects political parties to refrain from attempts to interfere in the work of RTV Slovenija, saying the broadcaster is in the service of the public.

Tatjana Pirc from Radio Slovenija pointed to the unwarranted criticism the Government Communication Office (UKOM) has been making in its reports as it scrutinises RTV Slovenija reporting.

The journalists believe the RTV Slovenija leadership should react in such cases to protect the staff and prevent attempts to undermine the public broadcaster.

Erika Žnidaršič, the host of the Tarča current affairs show, said the staff behind the latest Tarča, on Russia's invasion on Ukraine, were again pressured and attacked.

"The prime minister called us pro-Russian extremists on the day of the show, after we were called British fascists and a disgrace a day earlier," she said, adding that like several times before, there were calls for her dismissal also this time around.

Igor E. Bergant, a journalist at TV news programmes, said RTV Slovenija director general Andrej Grah Whatmough appointed Rebernik editor-in-chief for a full term on Friday even if the staff overwhelmingly supported her rival Mitja Prek.

If Prek agrees, they will ask the programming council to take a position on his candidacy to eventually replace Rebernik, which is possible under the RTV Slovenija act.

The Slovenian Journalist Association (DNS) and Journalist Trade Union (SNS) expressed support for the staff's demands and labelled Rebernik's appointment unlawful, arguing it is the latest in a series of the director general's controversial moves. The DNS said the move called for his dismissal.

Both argue that Grah Whatmough did not act in line with the law which gives the staff the right to put forward their candidate if the one put forward by the TV Slovenija director does not enjoy their trust. In such a case, the programming council must take a stance on the candidate.

TV Slovenija acting director Valentin Areh had put forward both Rebernik (who received some 20% support) and Prek (around 80%), but Grah Whatmough appointed Rebernik. She took over as acting editor-in-chief in December, and did not oppose the controversial production plan, although she also did not support it.

The DNS and the trade union believe the appointment procedure should be repeated, with the DNS adding the programming council and supervisory board should start a procedure to dismiss the director general since he pushed RTV Slovenija into operating lawfully.

The SNS highlighted that such violations gradually affect editorial autonomy, especially since the director general can count on a comfortable majority on the programming council, which votes on a number of his decisions.

The union said the director general had also announced sanctions against those who express their views, which together with "the established political pressure on journalists from the most aggressive members of the programming council and the UKOM" already affects journalists' day-to-day work. It announced it would take "adequate action" against the leadership over the unlawful moves.

While teenagers may be dreaming of the lie-ins, laziness, and freedom that the summer holidays afford, many parents of teens might not find the same joy in considering how to keep their teenager sufficiently occupied and stimulated for weeks on end during the long summer break - which can extend to as much as 10 weeks or more in some European countries.

Explorer Camps Slovenia – “More than just a camp, a home away from home”

Enter Explorer Camps, the leading teen camp in Europe. Explorer have been running technology-free camps in the great outdoors since 2016, and they continue to get bigger and better every year. Based in Slovenia, a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, ideally located in the heart of Europe, Explorer camps offer an incredible outdoor experience for teenagers aged up to 17 years old.  Based in the comfort of a traditional family-run hotel on the banks of the stunning Kolpa River, teens have the opportunity to try out a variety of outdoor adventure activities daily, including rafting, sailing, scuba-diving, the adventure park, climbing and paintball. Other activities include horse-riding, archery, hiking, swimming in the on-site pool, and a range of exciting whole-camp evening events and activities arranged by the counsellors.

With the camp very much child-centred, focussing on the needs and development of each camper as an individual, the real value of the camp goes far beyond the endless activities and opportunities for adventure on offer.  The camps intend to inspire and empower teenagers, challenging them in a variety of ways and helping prepare them for real life. Teens become immersed into an incredibly caring environment with a very personal touch. All staff undertake an extensive camp training programme, and unlike many other camp environments, the majority of counsellors are professionally trained teachers, allowing them to use their wealth of experience and knowledge of child development to guide teenagers on their camp journey. With an extremely high staff-camper ratio of 1:4, the Explorer team also includes dedicated nurses to ensure the highest levels of care, and a camp photographer to help capture the memories and share teens’ experiences with parents daily while the teenagers are away at camp.

CAMP VALUES

Underpinning all the activities are the core camp values of respect, responsibility, care, honesty and adventure. With the help of teenagers’ mentors, these values are reinforced through both daily reflection sessions and the Explorer reward and recognition programme, which received great feedback from both campers and parents following its introduction in 2021.

Explorer camps have a ‘family feeling’ with the directors and counsellors offering a highly individualised approach. Parents are included throughout the camp journey, starting with extensive contact with the camper and their family well before the start of camp, and continuing afterwards, with parents receiving a report post-camp detailing their teenagers’ progress while away. With the camp forming a tight-knit community with a real sense of belonging, a large proportion of campers return year after year. As such the Explorer team like to think of themselves as more than just a camp, but rather ‘a home away from home’. New for 2022 will be the introduction of monthly ‘virtual camps’, so that the close bonds and friendships formed during the summer can continue throughout the year.

TEEN CAMPS EUROPE

Explorer Teen camps are split into age-based groups, with 13 to 14 year-olds forming the ‘Trailblazers’ group & 15 to 17 year-olds the ‘Pathfinders’. Explorer promotes teens’ independence by offering a separate hotel building dedicated solely to the teen groups, while teenagers are given added freedom through the opportunity to plan and schedule their entire week. With an incredible choice of different activities to pick and choose from on a daily basis, every teenager is sure to find something for them.

Teenagers are treated as young adults and given both additional freedom and obligations in an effort to promote responsibility and develop their independence and maturity, while specially designed 'Teens only' activities have been created to push teenagers to step outside of their comfort zone, helping them develop their teamwork skills, decision-making ability, self-confidence and resilience.

TEEN LEADERSHIP EUROPE

With Explorer building on the camp programme year on year, brand new for 2022 is the addition of a Teen Leadership Programme to the European summer camp programme. The first such teen leadership programme launched on camps in Europe is designed for 13 to 17 year-olds who want to develop leadership skills and be better prepared for life. Teens are challenged to create, plan and lead activities within the camp environment. The programme gives teenagers an opportunity to develop practical leadership skills while making new friends and having fun, and teen leaders become role models for other campers.

The teen leadership program comprises three separate, but complementary programmes, categorised according to age, starting with the Junior Leaders-in-Training (JLITs), for teens aged 13-14, on to Leaders-in-Training (LITs) for 15-16 year olds, and progressing to Counsellors-in-Training (CITs) for the oldest teenagers on camp (17 year olds). This offers a comprehensive leadership program for older teenagers, while also providing opportunities for younger teenagers on camp to begin their leadership journey and develop their skills over a period of up to 5 years. Every teenager receives personal mentorship from an experienced Explorer counsellor, who guides, supports and teaches the young leaders throughout their two-week journey. Regular on-camp workshops are in place to develop teens' practical experience, using a mix of theory and hands-on sessions.

The teen leadership program is exclusively available for teenagers who stay on the European camp for two weeks. Teenagers remain a regular part of their group throughout the daily activity sessions, but, with the support of senior counsellors they are given additional opportunities during the camp to develop their leadership, organisation and communication skills. A variety of methods are used in the programme including daily mentoring, practical workshops, and hands-on leadership experience with other campers.

The leadership programme builds on the core values of the camp, and, regardless of their age or stage in the journey, campers joining the leadership programme are expected to start with the core camp leadership values, meaning they should be reliable, hard-working, committed, and motivated. The programme seeks to build on these by developing a number of key leadership qualities, including decision-making, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, planning and organisation, and creativity.  These skills can be developed year on year, with new modules added at each stage of the programme such that a teenager can build on their leadership abilities as they grow.

In addition to the programme-specific modules, campers on the teen leadership programme learn new practical and life skills through participation in a 2-week community service project, and further have the opportunity to become certified in other key skills (emergency first response and mental health first aid training will both be offered in 2022, for example). These are ‘life’ programs that give teenagers the opportunity to develop strong leadership skills, self-confidence and maturity within the fun and safety of a camp setting. These skills are not only useful to teen leaders during the camp, but will help teenagers throughout their lives as they support and lead the groups and communities they become a part of.

THE EXPLORER FACTOR

Are you thinking of sending your teenager to camp this summer? Here are 5 great reasons for your teen to choose Explorer camps:

• Explorer camps allow your teenager to take a complete break from technology and the digital world as there is a strict no-screen policy with all devices being removed from teenagers on arrival. Instead teenagers reconnect with nature and the great outdoors, enjoying a stunning remote location between a river and mountains in the awesome natural beauty of Slovenia.
• Explorer camps awaken your teenager’s spirit of adventure – with more than 35 activities to choose from and teenagers enjoying 2-3 activities every day, Explorer offers an action-packed itinerary which is sure not to disappoint. Activities include rafting, paintballing, scuba-diving, sailing and horse-riding, and teens can pick and choose activities to make an itinerary to suit themself.
• Explorer is more than just a camp, it is a comprehensive educational programme. Camp values form the foundation of the camp and counsellors have a highly individualised approach to teenagers, paying great attention to the personal development of each and every camper.
• Explorer fosters teenagers’ sense of independence, and helps them grow in maturity and self-confidence. Teens learn a whole host of life skills while at camp, and an additional leadership programme is available for any teenagers wishing to step up to the next level
• Explorer camps allow teenagers to make lifelong friends from all around the world, having welcomed campers from more than 47 different countries to date. For many campers this also provides a great opportunity to practice English outside the classroom, in a real-world environment. The strong friendships formed help give the camp that strong ‘family feel’, and is one of the big reasons that 70% of campers return year after year.

In 2022 Explorer are running five teen summer camps across July and August. Priced at 699 euros for a 7-day camp, the package includes hotel accommodation, all meals and activities and 24/7 supervision with a 4:1 student: staff ratio. Entry to the teen leadership programme is by application only, beginning with a short letter of application to outline why you would like to join the programme. Further details can be found on the website www.explorercamps.com/summer-camps/  or check out Explorer’s ninety 5-star reviews on Google.

Slovenia is a nation of mountaineers and hikers. The first hut was built in 1893. Now, over 160 mountain huts are standing, managed by the local hiking clubs under the Alpine Association of Slovenia. Each area of the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Karawanke has at least one hut, some even more. They are there to provide shelter and a resting point for adventurous hikers on their hut-to-hut tour or brave mountaineers on their quest for greatness.

Even though huts are all over Slovenia, they share some commonalities. They are not a luxurious way to spend a night in the mountains, but an authentic place that brings you closer to the Slovenian mountain spirit. The food you can eat there is a part of that. The menu in mountain huts always consists of traditional homemade dishes that make a hiker's belly happy and the hiker ready for the next day of adventure.

An authentic experience in the mountains

The comfort found in these lodges is basic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not cosy. Most huts in the high-altitude don’t have drinking water because of the soluble rock surrounding them. Water and other supplies get transported to them by helicopter. Showers are therefore also a luxury, found only somewhere at lower altitudes.

Apart from all the stuff you need to take with you on every hike, you need to take some extra when staying in huts. That means extra clothes, some cash if they don’t have a reliable internet signal, your ID and the UIAA membership card if you want a discount. They have both dormitories and private rooms available for booking, but I recommend you do it early since the huts are quite crowded in the summer.

Staying in mountain huts is a wonderful thing that every hiker must experience. It is not only extra time spent in the mountains — It’s a place to meet like-minded people with whom you can connect. And don’t forget, you will be able to watch both the sunset and the sunrise. The sun coming down or up and colouring the peaks in exceptionally magnificent colours will be a sight you will never forget. I couldn’t recommend you more to see it at least once. And staying the night in a mountain hut requires the least amount of effort.

Some of the best mountain huts in Slovenia

When someone thinks of the huts in Slovenia, the huts under Triglav probably come to mind first. Planika Lodge at Triglav is our favourite. It is the most convenient option if you want to include Triglav in your hut-to-hut tour and is a smaller, more authentic alternative to the better known Kredarica hut. Its name comes from the Slovenian name for the Edelweiss flower. It stands on the edge of the southern plateau beneath Triglav, with an excellent view that stretches far down south to the Adriatic sea.

Plankia Lodge

The next must-visit hut is located in one of the most picturesque areas of the Triglav National Park, the Triglav Lakes Valley. Standing next to the Double Lake, the Triglav Lakes Lodge is the perfect resting place on your Seven Lakes Valley Hut to Hut Hike. Surrounded by a rocky ridge on one side and the forest that turns yellow in autumn on the other, it is a magnificent place to spend a night.

Related: Climbing Mount Triglav with Slovenia Discovery

Last but not least, it is the Vodnik Lodge on Velo Polje. It stands on the crossroads of many different routes in the heart of the Julian Alps, which makes it a convenient option for many hut-to-hut hikers. If you’re coming from Pokljuka plateau, Lake Bohinj or the Krma Valley and are heading to Triglav or the Seven Lakes Valley, be sure to stop here. The night will be one of the more comfortable ones on your tour, maybe even your last day with a proper shower.

Besides these three, there are more equally awesome but unique huts in the Slovenian mountains. Be sure to check them out and add them to your plan for the perfect hut-to-hut tour in Slovenia.

STA, 7 March 2022 - Slovenia exported EUR 3.5 billion worth of goods in January, or 20.5% more than in the same month last year, while imports surged by 52.1% to EUR 3.9 billion, the Statistics Office reported on Monday. A trade deficit of EUR 400 million was thus recorded for the exports-to-imports coverage of 89.2%.

In January, exports to the EU member states were up by 28.8% year-on-year to EUR 2.4 billion, while imports from these countries increased by 38% to EUR 2.4 billion.

Trade with the EU member states represented 68.5% of the total value of Slovenia's exports and 60.9% of the total value of imports.

Exports to non-EU countries in January were 5.7% higher than in the same month in 2021, to amount to EUR 1.1 billion, while imports from these countries surged by 80.6% to EUR 1.5 billion.

The Statistics Office noted that operations involving processing represented an important share of the value of trade with non-EU countries in January, with such transactions accounting for roughly two-fifths of all exports and nearly half of all imports.

More on this data

STA, 7 March - Slovenia's Nika Križnar has won the Raw Air ski jumping tour in Norway after placing fourth in the final event on Sunday. Olympic champion Urša Bogataj finished second in the final event, which was enough for third place overall, behind Sara Takanashi of Japan.

"I'm not too pleased with my jumping since I made quite a few mistakes. But winning the tour is something special, I'm really happy about that," said Križnar, the second ever winner of Raw Air after back-to-back wins by Norway's Maren Lundby.

Bogataj jumped 130.5 metres in the final series but botched the landing, which she said was a shame. "I'm happy that everything worked out nevertheless," she said.

The two top Slovenian jumpers are now second and third in the overall World Cup standings, with Križnar 195 points behind the Austrian Marita Kramer and Bogataj another 80 points adrift.

Two end-of-season events in Russia having been cancelled, the jumpers only have two more events in Oberhof, Germany next weekend, which narrows Križnar's chances of retaining last year's title of overall World Cup winner.

RAW AIR Champion 2022: Nika Kriznar!#skijumping #FISskijumping pic.twitter.com/IVIoBgTM3g

— FIS Ski Jumping (@FISskijumping) March 6, 2022

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:

RTV Slovenia temporarily halts reporting from Russia

LJUBLJANA - Public broadcaster RTV Slovenija suspended on Saturday reporting from Moscow due to the entry into force of a new law against misinformation that has led many other international media to leave Russia. Its Moscow correspondent Vlasta Jeseničnik will therefore "not be reporting on the program until the possible consequences of the new legislation are carefully examined", said the broadcaster said, which will continue monitoring the developments in Ukraine through the remaining correspondent network and domestic foreign policy journalists.

Slovenian Caritas sends first shipment of aid to Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Caritas sent the first shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine on Saturday. 26 pallets of medicines, food, water and hygiene products are intended mostly for the most vulnerable groups in Kyiv, while some food was also distributed to refugees in Transcarpathia. Until yesterday, the Christian charity also raised EUR 203,000 in financial aid, with part of the funds already transferred to the Caritas Ukraine. The second shipment is due next week.

Almost 100 young Ukrainian musicians expected in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Youth Orchestra, which brings together musicians aged 12 to 22, responded to a call for help by the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine, and 95 young Ukrainian musicians fleeing war were expected to arrive in Slovenia today. The operation is supported by the city of Ljubljana, food company Perutnina Ptuj and the Foreign Ministry. The Slovenian orchestra plans to organise a camp and other activities for the refugees to practice and play with their Slovenian peers.

Govt seeking new accommodation facilities for Ukrainian refugees

LJUBLAJNA - The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants is seeking new facilities to accommodate a growing number of refugees from Ukraine, publishing a public call to legal persons to secure facilities with at least 20 beds. The call is open until Tuesday at 9am. First refugees from Ukraine arrived in Slovenia soon after Russia invaded its western neighbour. 85 are at an accommodation centre in Logatec, SW of Ljubljana, while some have been accommodated by their relatives or friends.

Russian writer says failure to address evil leads to catastrophe

LJUBLJANA - Russia's aggression against Ukraine is happening because Soviet atrocities have never been addressed and punished, believes Russian writer Sergei Lebedev, who spoke about his 2010 novel Oblivion via video link at the opening of the Fabula literary festival at Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana on Saturday evening. He said that Russian authorities have blood on their hands and that all public institutions, including the Orthodox Church, are a mere ornament to Putin's authoritarian leadership.

Number of Covid infections keeps dropping

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 939 coronavirus cases on Saturday, down from 901 a week a ago, while 10 patients infected with the novel coronavirus died. The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) estimates there are now 25,342 active cases in the country. The 7-day average of new cases is at 1,643 and the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 people at 1,200. This morning, 271 patients were in hospital with Covid-19 as their main condition this morning, of whom 76 were in intensive care.

Hella Saturnus planning EUR 108m investment

LJUBLJANA - Hella Saturnus Slovenija, the subsidiary of German group Hella, is planning an investment worth EUR 107.7 million into a new logistics centre that is to create 50 new jobs and should prepare the company for new trends in the automotive industry. The new logistical centre will feature a laboratory to test new products and technologies, a production facility for new electronic components, and a warehouse. The government is expected to subsidise it with EUR 5.42 million in 2022-2025, according to working documents prepared for government sessions.

Ski jumper Lanišek second in Oslo

OSLO, Norway - Slovenia's ski jumper Anže Lanišek placed second with 267.1 points in Sunday's World Cup event in Oslo, Norway, being outperformed only by Norwegian Daniel Andre Tande (271.2 points). This is the fifth podium result for Lanišek this winter and the eleventh World Cup podium result in his career. As the best Slovenian ski jumper this season, he is currently seventh in the World Cup standings.

Dallas fans get a dose of Slovenia

DALLAS, US - Although Slovenian basketball star Luka Dončić skipped Saturday's fixture against the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, Dallas Mavericks fans still got a Slovenian night in the form of a special campaign termed I Feel Slovenia Night promoting Slovenia as a tourist destination. The Slovenian Tourist Board said Slovenia was becoming an increasingly popular destination for US tourists, to a certain extent due to Dončić's popularity.

STA, 6 March 2022 - Ninety-five young Ukrainian musicians fleeing war in their country are expected to arrive in Slovenia on Sunday, while the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants is seeking new facilities to accommodate a growing number of refugees from Ukraine.

The Slovenian Youth Orchestra, which brings together musicians aged 12 to 22, said on Saturday it had responded to a call for help by the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine.

The first 95 young musicians are thus expected in Slovenia today in an operation supported by the city of Ljubljana, food company Perutnina Ptuj and the Foreign Ministry.

The city is helping out with transport and accommodation, the ministry has offered logistical and administrative support, and Perutnina Ptuj, which is in Ukrainian ownership, will contribute food and financial aid. The refugees will be first accommodated at hostels and then placed with families or volunteers.

The Slovenian Youth Orchestra and its artistic director Živa Ploj Peršuh plan to organise a camp and other activities in Ljubljana for the refugee musicians to practice and play with their Slovenian peers.

The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants has meanwhile published a public call to secure more accommodation facilities for Ukrainian refugees.

Legal persons that can offer facilities with at least 20 beds can respond to the call, which is open until Tuesday at 9am.

First refugees from Ukraine arrived in Slovenia soon after Russia invaded its western neighbour.

Eighty-five refugees are at an accommodation centre in Logatec, south-west of Ljubljana, while some have also been accommodated by their relatives or friends.

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:

FM says Slovenia supports further sanctions against Russia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's Anže Logar attended an emergency session of the EU foreign ministers on Friday to note that Slovenia supported further sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions that have already been adopted should be reviewed to close possible gaps - dual citizenships or Russian aircraft registered in Europe flying freely. With this goal in mind, Logar proposed that a special group is established to deal with sanctions, and coordinate and find solutions to close the gaps that arise, he said in a virtual address to Slovenian correspondents.

Number of coronavirus cases increases slightly week-on-week

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,836 cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in Slovenia on Friday what is a 3% increase week-on-week, show figures by the National Institute of Public Health, which estimates that there are currently 26,692 active cases in the country, or 1,900 fewer on a daily basis. While the 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population continued to drop, decreasing by 91 to 1,264, the seven-day daily average of new cases was up by five to 1,639. This morning, 273 patients were in hospital because of Covid-19, down 15 from yesterday. Another ten patients with Covid-19 died.

Left addressing "crisis of democracy" with election platform

MARIBOR - The opposition Left held a congress in Maribor on Saturday to discuss the platform and present the list of candidates for the 24 April general election. The platform addresses the "crisis of capitalism, crisis of climate and crisis of democracy", and presents measures in social affairs, climate, culture, media and foreign policy. The congress featuring some 300 members of the party presented the platform that advocates economy tailored to humans, adoption of a national development strategy and measures strengthening state control of the banking sector. Left coordinator Luka Mesec said the party was betting on the scenario under which Slovenia's next government featured the Left.

NSi determined to promote a business-oriented Slovenia

CELJE - The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) held a conference to confirm its election platform and present candidates for the 24 April general election. The party said it continued to promote an economically powerful and business-oriented Slovenia under the slogan Resolutely Forward. NSi president and Defence Minister Matej Tonin said that the party would be a surprise of the election. "We must do everything to make the NSi part of the government coalition also in the future," he said.

Žižek says West knew Putin will try to restore Russian Empire

MARIBOR - Philosopher Slavoj Žižek assessed that both the Western countries and Russia are responsible for the crisis in Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had been preparing the invasion for years and the West had been aware of it. Addressing a congress of the Left, Žižek recalled the period of the Russian Empire, in which the Ukrainian national identity was prohibited. It is said that only in the first decade of the Soviet Union that had Ukrainians fully developed their national identity and got their own literature. According to Žižek, Putin's policy means a return to the Russian Empire.

Recycling rate above EU average, circular material use rate down

LJUBLJANA - Circular economy indicators published by the Statistics Offices this week show Slovenia kept its recycling rates for packaging and municipal waste well above EU average in 2019 and 2020. It however continued to lag behind in terms of the circular material use rate. In 2019, the recycling rate of overall packaging in Slovenia was 67.1%, which compares to the EU average of 64.8%. Minor decreases were recorded both in Slovenia and at the EU level in 2020.

Ski jumper Križnar 2nd in women's World Cup event in Oslo

OSLO - Slovenian Nika Križnar finished second in the women's Ski Jumping World Cup event as part of the Raw Air tournament, finishing behind Silje Opseth of Norway and ahead of Sara Takanashi of Japan. Opseth had jumps of 129 and 131.5 metres to earn 249.7 points, only 2.4 points ahead of Križnar, while Takanashi was more than nine points behind the Slovenian. "I did a great job and deservedly finished in this place," Križnar said, congratulating Opseth on her first World Cup win.

STA, 5 March 2022 - Philosopher Slavoj Žižek has assessed that both the Western countries and Russia are responsible for the crisis in Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had been preparing the invasion for years and the West had been aware of it. He believes that Putin's policy means return to the Russian Empire.

As he addressed a congress of the opposition Left in Maribor on Saturday, Žižek recalled the period of the Russian Empire, in which the Ukrainian national identity was prohibited.

It is alleged that it was only in the first decade of the Soviet Union that Ukrainians fully developed their national identity, got dictionaries and their own literature. According to Žižek, Putin's policy means a return to the Russian Empire.

"Putin is not only a conservative nationalist, but even worse, because he elevated van Ilyin, a political theologian who advocated a basic version of fascism of his own a hundred years ago, to his national philosopher," he said.

Ilyin is said to imagine democracy as "people voting only to confirm support for our leader", as votes do not legitimise the leader.

"Thus is how democracy has worked in Russia for the past decade, and it is no wonder that Putin has become popular among modern-day populist politicians, especially in the US," Žižek said.

"When Putin talks about denazification, we must remember that this is the same Putin who for years supported Marine Le Pen in France, Lega and Salvini in Italy, Alternative for Germany even Orban in Hungary, who has shown remarkable understanding for Putin."

He noted that Russia today was not returning to the Cold War with a set of clear rules that both sides are supposed to respect, but that something much crazier is happening, as an era of warm peace has begun.

"We are in a period when peace means a constant hybrid war, where armed operations are declared as peaceful humanitarian missions against genocide. How many times have we heard this phrase from the western forces," Žižek said.

He thinks that the West taking a critical look at itself is the only successful way to oppose Putin, as it was the West who had pushed Russia into fascism. He noted the economic proposals from the US that destroyed the Russian economy in the 1990s under Boris Yeltsin and paved the way for Putin.

He agrees with the assessment that Putin is a war criminal, but wonders how this has been noticed only now. "Wasn't he a war criminal when the Russian air force bombed the city of Aleppo in Syria, much more brutally than Kyiv is bombed now," he said.

"Remember that Ukraine is the poorest of all post-Soviet countries," Žižek said, adding that even if they won the war, they would have to accept the bitter truth that the western liberal democracy is in a deep crisis itself.

He wondered what kind of Europe should be saved. "If Europe that does not tolerate non-white refugees and excludes the uncivilised wins, then we do not need Russia to destroy us, we will do it ourselves," he added.

The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 4 March 2022.

Mladina: SDS Abused Ukraine rally

STA, 4 March 2022 - After five rallies in support of Ukraine were organised in Slovenia after Russia attacked its neighbour, there was a sixth such rally on Wednesday that was organised by PM Janez Janša, who was also one of the key-note speakers, Mladina magazine says on Friday, adding that his SDS abused the hardships of Ukrainians for election gain.

After inviting everyone to the rally, Janša realised it was a bit odd that the prime minister, who has the power to express his views or protest in the political arena, would organise a civil society rally.

Janša, who thinks he is both an opposition leader and PM, and a national TV editor and its guest, then did what he knows best - he resorted to cheap political mimicry.

He found what was until then an unknown Ljubljana-Kyiv Culture Society to formally organise his protest, while everything - from the stage and PA system to the moderator - was taken care of by his Democratic Party (SDS).

Together with its coalition partners, the SDS abused the hardships of Ukrainians, from common people to their ambassador to Slovenia, to have an election rally, Mladina says, adding that Slovenia has not witnessed something so base for a while.

Protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine are held across Europe and across the world, "but nowhere are they organised by prime ministers. Protests are a matter of the civil society. Well, there is one country where only protests organised by authorities are allowed. Its name is Russia."

Demokracija: Putin an alienated madman who cannot win

STA, 3 March 2022 - Commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Demokracija says that it seems that the "madman from the end of the conference table" has raised the stakes and started to play a game which he cannot withdraw from any longer.

After this reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the weekly says that "Putin is using Bolshevist methods to try to become the new Russian tzar."

This needs to be obvious, as advisors and guests must feel and be aware of his untouchability, and Putin seems to have already reached the level of a tyrant when his physical contact with other people becomes impossible.

"He is using proper spatial distancing because he is afraid of a Brutus from his own ranks," Demokracija adds under the headline Madman from the End of the Conference Table.

It adds that Putin is not a blessing for Russia, and that he could become a curse, just like all former officials of socialist secret services who climbed to the posts of country leaders.

Thirty years ago, Ukraine deliberately renounced nuclear weapons because it was counting on EU and NATO memberships, but its accession has been blocked mainly by Germany, which made concessions to Putin over the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.

Demokracija notes that Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša was right when he said that "if the EU does not expand, something else will", and adds that the world is now on the brink of global conflict.

Putin is by no means a great statesman and leader, he is only a "lunatic who is flying high on the wings of the lukewarm warnings from the West."

So far, he has only managed to alienate himself from most of the world and show that the Russian army is not so powerful, as not even an overwhelming number of 5th-generation fighter jets cannot ensure full air supremacy, concludes the commentary.

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