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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia records 15 new Covid-19 cases, virus also among Slovenian KFOR soldiers
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 15 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, which brings the total number of infections to 1,388. One more person died for a total death toll of 81, according to government data released today. The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 declined by one to 77, of whom 23 were in intensive care, down by one. Slovenia has so far performed 48,179 coronavirus tests, 1,161 of which on Friday. Meanwhile, three Slovenian solders serving in the NATO-led mission in Kosovo (KFOR) have been diagnosed with Covid-19, the Slovenian Armed Forces confirmed. They are presently quarantined at a base in Prishtina, are feeling stable and will be brought home as soon as possible.
PM says restrictions here to stay, no inter-municipal movement during holidays
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša commented on the state of the epidemic following Friday's evaluation meeting by saying many of the restrictions in place in Slovenia and the EU "will remain in place in the foreseeable future". Janša said the government's measures were also based on a very serious situation in the neighbourhood and the "very negative experience of countries that are battling repeated outbreaks". A tweet by the government meanwhile showed there are no plans to lift the movement and gatherings ban for the May holidays, meaning people will no be able to leave their municipality. "The epidemic is still simmering and data from comprehensive random population testing is not in yet," the explanation reads.
Milan Krek selected for new Public Health Institute director
LJUBLJANA - The overhauled council of the Public Health Institute (NIJZ) selected Milan Krek, the head of the NIJZ's Koper unit, as the institute's new director. Krek's appointment still requires a nod from the government, which however seems certain given that Krek has been appearing at its coronavirus briefings in recent weeks following the government's clash with the institute's current leadership. Krek, a doctor who became the head of the Koper NIJZ unit in 2006 after he had ran the government office for narcotics, is to replace acting director Ivan Eržen, who was appointed by the new government as Nina Pirnat was moved to the Health Ministry's Healthcare Directorate on 20 March.
PM says Constitutional Court the most politically biased to date
LJUBLJANA - Embracing a dissenting opinion in a recent Constitutional Court ruling, which tasked the government with examining each week whether its lockdown restrictions remain justified, Prime Minister Janez Janša tweeted that "Slovenia unfortunately has the most politically biased Constitutional Court so far". "Double standards mean the death of any institution, especially judical. They are setting up so called selective justice," Janša wrote. He added the current lineup of the Constitutional Court was in the "majority formed in line with the wishes of the left and far-left ideological sphere, and even changes its position on uniform matters depending on the day".
Foreign Ministry crisis repatriation taskforce ends operations
LJUBLJANA - A special consular taskforce at the Foreign Ministry that has helped repatriate several hundred Slovenians during the coronavirus crisis will end its operations on Sunday, the ministry announced, saying the number of Slovenians who wished to return home due to the Covid-19 pandemic had decreased substantially in recent weeks. The taskforce organised repatriation flights and rides that helped return 674 Slovenians home along with 136 foreign citizens. When factoring in those who made it back alone with some assistance from the taskforce, the total number of Slovenians to return home exceeds 2,000, the ministry said.
Mercator reports higher profit for 2019
LJUBLJANA - Retailer Mercator saw its sales revenue increase by 1.8% to EUR 2.14 billion in 2019 as net profit nearly tripled to EUR 4.7 million from EUR 1.6 million in 2018. Revenue from retail sales, Mercator's core business, increased by 2.2% to EUR 1.7 billion. Normalised gross operating profit (EBITDA) rose by more than 60% to EUR 172.5 million. The retail group, which is part of the insolvent Croatian holding Agrokor, reduced its debt by almost a quarter last year, mostly as a result of its real estate monetisation. Net financial debt by comparable standards amounted to EUR 587 million and the net debt-to-EBITDA ratio was reduced from 7.2 to 5.2.
Paraglider dies in crash with ultralight airplane near Ajdovščina
AJDOVŠČINA - A paraglider was killed today in a crash with an ultralight airplaine that occurred near the town of Ajdovščina (SE) at around 11am. The paraglider and the airplaine both crashed to the ground after the impact, but the pilot and passenger of the airplane survived, albeit with serious injuries, the first reports suggest. According to the police, the pilot activated the emergency parachute installed in ultralight aircraft and thereby saved his own and his passenger's life.
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