{"id":176408,"date":"2025-12-21T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T10:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-slovenia.com\/news\/the-slovenia-top-news-of-the-week-24-7-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T17:55:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T16:55:03","slug":"the-slovenia-top-news-of-the-week-24-7-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-slovenia.com\/en\/slovenia-news\/the-slovenia-top-news-of-the-week-24-7-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Slovenia Top News of the Week 24\/7 – December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each week, we bring you the most relevant stories from across Slovenia, from politics and business to culture, tourism, and local events. Curated from verified sources like the Slovenian government, official tourism boards, and trusted news outlets, this newsletter aims to present a balanced, engaging snapshot of what\u2019s happening right now \u2013 with a distinctly Slovenian flavor.<\/strong><\/p>

Slovenian Boy Urban Receives World\u2019s First Gene Therapy for Rare Disease<\/strong><\/h2>

Urban, a young boy from Slovenia, has become the first patient in the world to receive a pioneering gene therapy for CTNNB1 syndrome, a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. The treatment was administered at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana as part of an international clinical trial. The therapy, named Urbagen after the boy, was developed over several years by a team of scientists and doctors in cooperation with patient organisations. The procedure was completed successfully, and Urban recovered well after the treatment. The trial will continue with additional patients and represents an important breakthrough in the treatment of rare genetic diseases.<\/p>

Slovenian scientists help discover distant supermassive black hole<\/strong><\/h2>

A team of astrophysicists from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana<\/strong> has played a key role in identifying an active supermassive black hole in the early universe<\/strong>. The discovery, made possible through analysis of data from the James Webb Space Telescope<\/strong>, reveals a galaxy hosting a massive accreting black hole less than 600 million years after the Big Bang. Researchers from Ljubljana contributed to the international study, providing expertise in spectral analysis that confirmed the black hole\u2019s activity. Their work helps challenge and refine current theories on how such enormous black holes could form so early in cosmic history.<\/p>

Nova Gorica and Gorizia Conclude First Cross-Border European Capital of Culture<\/strong><\/h2>

Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy have officially wrapped up their groundbreaking year as the first cross-border European Capital of Culture. Under the shared banner GO! 2025, the twin cities hosted hundreds of cultural events, from exhibitions and concerts to theatre, film and community projects. The programme highlighted the region\u2019s intertwined history and showcased how culture can connect communities across former borders.<\/p>

Europe Square, once a symbol of division, became the heart of the celebration, bringing together residents and visitors from both sides. Although the official title has ended, the two cities plan to continue strengthening cultural cooperation and developing joint projects inspired by the success of 2025.<\/p>

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