Mass testing with rapid antigen tests has started in 13 locations in Slovenia this week. Mass testing began in all municipalities (Ljubljana, Celje, Maribor, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Murska Sobota, Slovenj Gradec, Koper, Kranj, Velenje and Ptuj) and in Lenart and Sevnica, the two hardest hit areas.

This is the first time since the European Region of Gastronomy title has been awarded that an entire country could participate as a region. Until now, only individual regions of countries have been awarded the title. Following the expert panel assessment in the summer over whether we deserve the title, Slovenia rightly received the European Region of Gastronomy title in autumn 2018.

The selection panel recommended Nova Gorica as the Slovenian city that will be named the European Capital of Culture 2025 (ECoC), together with the German city of Chemnitz. Nova Gorica prepared its candidacy for the ECoC 2025 in collaboration with cross-border Gorizia. The candidature slogan is Go! Borderless.

Slovenia, which is credited for World Bee Day, celebrated on 20 May, is strengthening its efforts to raise awareness of the importance of this endangered pollinator.

The last issue of Sinfo magazine this year is dedicated to December, the month of Christmas and New Year lights that symbolise positive energy, hope, the beginning of something new, something better, something good.

Today, 11 December 2020, a Slovenian spruce will shine for the first time in all its glory in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

From 10 to 13 December 2020, the valley under the Ponce mountains will host the FIS Ski Flying World Championships for the seventh time. This year's Planica spectacle will be a night event illuminated by floodlights.

Prof. dr. Simona Kustec, Minister for Education, Science and Sport, and the American ambassador, Lynda Blanchard, signed an agreement on Thursday, 3 December, on the inclusion of Slovenia in the GLOBE program, and thus invited a new generation of students to join this successful international community of hobby scientists in the GLOBE program.

After 13 years, Slovenia will again be the centre of attention of the international public with its presidency of the EU Council.

The Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, signed an agreement for the co-financing of the Pohorka project, in the scope of the European cohesion programme, which aims to improve the situation of grassland, water, and minority forest habitats, and create quiet areas on Pohorje. The project is worth almost EUR 2.2 million.

This year’s celebration of France Prešeren’s birthday, which we have been celebrating on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the title of This Merry Day of Culture since the 200th anniversary of the national poet’s birth in 2000, will take place virtually.

Following the decision of the RS Government and in agreement with the Holy See, a Slovenian Christmas tree, a spruce tree from the forests of Kočevje, will be placed in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. It will be decorated with handmade Slovenian ethnographic ornaments.

In the November issue of the Das Erbe Unserer Welt magazine, which in the last ten years has been published twice a year as a supplement to the German National Geographic, presents all 18 historic Slovenian towns.

Every third Friday in November, which this year falls on 20 November, Slovenia celebrates Slovenian Food Day.

The setting up of a Christmas tree and accompanying events will serve as an excellent promotion of Slovenia, especially in the light of the nation’s EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2021.

Slovenia has at its disposal EUR 200 million of EU aid by means of which we wish to help with the payment of salaries so that expertise remains in companies, stated Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. EUR 1 billion will be earmarked in total for Slovenia in the form of favourable loans.

Recognising the importance of scientific achievements reaching the public, four years ago the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport decided to hold a series of events in autumn under the umbrella title Science Month.

For the second time, Slovenia has been given the opportunity to showcase its efforts, key achievements, and activities virtually, to the countries participating in the Expo Dubai world exhibition, this time in urban and rural development.

The wine harvest is over and the grapes in cellars are already turning into wine. Since wine is a big part of Slovenia's cultural heritage, St Martin's day is a holiday not to be missed by any Slovenian.

The COVID-19 epidemic has significantly affected our lives, turning them upside down even, according to statistics. Carefree traveling abroad, drinking coffee in a busy coffee shop and socialising without restrictions all seem a distant memory.