Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 26 November 2020

By , 26 Nov 2020, 04:18 AM News
Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 26 November 2020 pexels, publicdomainpictures, CC-by-0

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This summary is provided by the STA

Slovenia sees new spike in coronavirus cases, more fatalities

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus case count rose to 2,226 on Tuesday on a day of the week that typically sees the highest number of new cases. This was as 43 more Covid-19 patients died, bringing the overall death toll to 1,199. Data released by the government show the latest cases were from 8,063 coronavirus tests, the highest number yet, which puts the test positivity rate at 27.61%. The daily increase in confirmed cases is the third highest on record, equalling that registered on the Tuesday two weeks ago but the positivity rate at the time was 30%. Hospitalisations at Covid-19 units dropped by two to 1,297, after 113 patients were discharged yesterday, as the number of patients in intensive care also dropped by two to 202.

Rapid testing of care home staff to be decreed shortly

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry will decree rapid antigen testing of everyone working at care homes as soon as possible, announced Mateja Ribič, a state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. She said all key details of such testing in care homes had been agreed at Tuesday's meeting between the two ministries. The idea was to screen staff as well as volunteers, retired staff and students helping out at aged care facilities. However, the details will be determined in the decree to be issued by the Health Ministry.

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PETA approved cork bags, wallets and purses at CORK.SI

EU Parliament discusses claims of Hungary's interference in Slovenian media

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Parliament debated allegations that Hungary has been interfering in media in Slovenia and North Macedonia. Four Slovenian MEPs presented their views on the matter, with S&D and Renew members claiming that Hungarian media with close links to the government influencing Slovenian media was dangerous, and EPP MEPs dismissing the claims. Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD) expressed concern that Hungary's political leadership is interfering in the Slovenian media and democratic processes. Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS) said that "the issue has been raised solely to interfere in internal affairs and discredit the Slovenian government".

Eight carriers get subsidies to fly to Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Eight airlines - Turkish Airlines, Swiss Air, Air Serbia, Montenegro Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, Wizzair and LOT - will receive state subsidies to operate flights to Slovenia. The first instalment of the incentive is worth EUR 985,320, the Economy Ministry said. Lufthansa will be the biggest beneficiary with EUR 371,040, followed by Air France (EUR 176,160) and Turkish Airlines (EUR 148,530). The remaining five will get under EUR 100,000 each, with Swiss Air eligible for the lowest amount, EUR 22,050.

Slovenia highlights efforts to end violence against women

LJUBLJANA - On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Slovenia called for ending violence against women, with Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina saying that raising awareness about such efforts is key, noting that Covid-19 has led to a rise in domestic violence. President Borut Pahor also issued a statement on the occasion, saying violence against women was unfortunately still widely present and affected children as indirect or direct victims as well. The ZSSS trade union warned that workplace violence was also an issue of concern during the epidemic.

New agreement signed on army-police cooperation in border protection

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces and the police signed on Wednesday a document on cooperation between the army and police in protecting the border. The operative-tactical plan signed by the Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier General Robert Glavaš and acting Police Commissioner Andrej Jurič, outlines the tasks of police officers and soldiers in protecting the border and preventing illegal migration. A similar plan was adopted in 2015, allowing the two institutions to cooperate in protecting the border.

Pahor reportedly thinking of granting clemency to sickly old prisoners

LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Dnevnik reported that President Borut Pahor is thinking of granting clemency to sickly old prisoners on the occasion of the upcoming 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence. Pahor has already contacted Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič about this, as it is the justice minister who initiates the clemency procedure. While the president feels the upcoming anniversary is an excellent opportunity for this, Kozlovič, who does not oppose the proposal in principle, warns that several of the sickly old prisoners are serving long sentences for violent crimes.

NGOs, civil society launch campaign against hydro plants on the Sava

LJUBLJANA - Nine NGOs, movements and civil initiatives have formed a group called Za Savo (For the Sava) to fight the planned construction of between nine and 12 hydro power hydro power plants on the central part of the Slovenian section of the Sava river. "We will not accept the starting point that the hydro power plants will be built. Our staring point is - no to the hydro power plants," Uroš Marcel from NGo Eko Krog said. The Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry responded by saying that replacing fossil fuel with renewable energy sources was the goal pursued not only by Slovenia but also Europe and the world.

Employment Service to pay out EUR 323m in coronacrisis aid by December

LJUBLJANA - The Employment Service will have paid out a total of EUR 323.2 million in support by the end of November. The bulk of the payments, accounting EUR 303.5 million, are state subsidies for furloughed workers, followed by subsidies for short time work, which have amounted to EUR 18.2 million, the Employment Service said. By 24 November, the service received over 130,000 requests by employers for roughly 600,000 employees, with employers sometimes filing several request, including for the same employees.

Slovenia expects EU guidelines on ski season

LJUBLJANA - The government has not yet taken a position regarding Italy's appeal to close ski centres around Europe during the December holidays, the Economy Ministry said. "The government has not discussed this issue or taken a position. We also assume that the European Commission will give recommendations based on the epidemiological situation and recommendations by medical experts, which will be forwarded to all EU members."

Tissue maker Paloma getting new director

SLADKI VRH - Tissue maker Paloma is to get a new CEO in Lukaš Keyzlar with the start of 2021 after Jaroslav Fic stepped down for personal reasons at the start of November. Paloma also has two more new management board members in Robert Kasanicky and Jernej Tovšak. The Sladki Vrh-based company, which was sold to the Slovakian and Czech financial fund Eco Investment in 2016 and has been part of the Slovakian paper group SHP, said Keyzlar had years of experience with the production of cellulose and paper. The only management member persisting since the arrival of the new owners is Stevan Lomić, an entrepreneur from Vienna, who executed a major investment into a new production line.

Tourism in Slovenia suffers huge blow in October

LJUBLJANA - Tourism facilities in Slovenia recorded slightly more than 173,000 tourist arrivals in October, down 63% year-on-year, which is mostly attributed to the coronavirus epidemic and more specifically, the government locking down tourism facilities as of 24 October. While the number of Slovenian guests increased by 2% to almost 134,000, the number of foreign tourists plunged by 88% to around 40,000, the Statistics Office said.

Bird flu confirmed in second swan found in Piran

LJUBLJANA - A second swan found dead in the Piran municipality on the Slovenian coast was found to have been infected with the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of bird flu, the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection said. The carcass was found close to where the first dead swan was picked up on Monday.

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If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

 

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