Climate & Water Safety: Slovenia’s hydrology service chief Polajnar received a top civil-servant award for flood forecasting work, highlighting how extreme rainfall and fast flash floods (like August 2023) demand timely alerts and strong cooperation. Waste & Health Debate: A public debate on planned waste-to-energy plants exposed a sharp split between supporters focused on waste management and opponents warning about health and environmental risks. Biodiversity in Focus: Ljubljana Zoo welcomed a female Nubian giraffe, Pietruška, the first in 23 years, after a long trip from Warsaw Zoo. EU Rules for the Green Transition: The European Commission opened infringement steps against 20 EU states, including Slovenia, for delayed transposition of rules meant to curb greenwashing and improve sustainability labels. Clean Heat Funding: The EU selected industrial clean-heat projects for support under the Innovation Fund Heat Auction, including Slovenia’s Lek Pharmaceuticals site, aiming to cut fossil gas use. Energy & Local Action: A Slovenia-backed EU project will help set up energy communities in Moldova, targeting SMEs with vouchers to build local energy cooperation. Weather: Saturday is forecast sunny and hot, with temperatures up to 31°C. Local Tech & Sustainability: Slovenian tracker maker Chipolo partnered with Mercedes-Benz on a rechargeable car key finder made with post-consumer recycled plastic. Governance Watch: The anti-graft watchdog halted proceedings against former environment minister Andrej Vizjak over a Climate Change Fund-linked hydro power case.