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This summary is provided by the STA:
Temporary easing of restrictions as of Tuesday
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to temporarily ease some restrictions starting on Tuesday. Nationwide, public transportation will restart. Hair salons, flower shops, car washes and dry cleaners will reopen. In four regions with the best epidemiological situation - Central Slovenia, Goriška, Obalno-Kraška and Gorenjska - footwear, apparel and sports equipment shops as well as car dealerships will open. In these four regions individuals using the national exposure notification app #OstaniZdrav will be able to move between municipalities, PM Janez Janša announced on Twitter.
Coronavirus test positivity rate remains high
LJUBLJANA - A total of 830 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Saturday as 31.3% of the tests came back positive. Government data also show Covid-19 hospitalisations rising above 1,300 and 22 more patients losing their lives, raising the death toll from Covid-19 to 2,063. A total of 1,315 Covid-19 patients were treated in hospitals yesterday, 39 more than the day before, despite 52 being discharged home. The number of patients in intensive care units rose by eight to 201.
Italian, Croatian ministers to discuss EEZs Saturday
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced that the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Italy and Croatia would meet in Venice on Saturday to discuss plans by Italy and Croatia to declare exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the Adriatic Sea. In a Twitter post on Saturday evening, Janša said he had received a call from his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte, who "in the light of neighbourly relations" informed him of Italy's reasons to declare an exclusive economic zone. Janša also talked to Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
Pahor urges Bosnia leaders to engage in joint efforts
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - President Borut Pahor called on the leaders of Bosnia-Herzegovina to focus on the country's economic and social challenges together, as he addressed by video link a ceremony in Sarajevo on Saturday marking the 25th anniversary of the Dayton agreement, which ended the war in the country. Pahor said the political leadership in the country should establish trust aspire for reconciliation and focus on what truly mattered to the citizens.
Hydrogen-powered Hy4 aircraft makes successful virgin flight
AJDOVŠČINA - Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, a company of the Slovenian ultralight aircraft maker Pipistrel, announced that the Hy4 hydrogen fuel cell driven hybrid-electric four-seater aircraft had made a successful virgin flight in a "landmark for the MAHEPA project and for the future of clean aviation". The Hy4 made the flight from Maribor airport, in the north-east of Slovenia, in November, despite the Covid-19 repercussions and with all safety precautions in place.
SDS with 12-point lead in Nova24TV poll
LJUBLJANA - The Democratic Party (SDS) of Prime Minister Janez Janša polled at 26.6% in the latest poll commissioned by the commercial broadcaster Nova24TV, 12 percentage points ahead of the runner-up. The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) polled at 14.5% and the Social Democrats (SD) at 10.5%, where the percentages are from answers of respondents who would definitely cast their vote. The junior coalition New Slovenia (NSi) got 8.5% and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) 7.3%.
Prof Edward Gobetz dies
CLEVELAND, US - The Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland announced that Edward Gobetz, an esteemed Slovenian American philosopher, sociologist and anthropologist, a professor emeritus at Kent State University, had died, aged 94, of Covid-19 complications. In August, Gobetz was honoured with the Order of Merit for his contribution to the recognition of Slovenia and enrichment of knowledge about the achievements of Slovenians in the US and the world.
Michelin star chef to launch Zemono+ brand
VIPAVA - Tomaž Kavčič, one of Slovenia's top chefs, who runs Michelin-starred restaurant Pri Lojzetu in Zemono Mansion near Vipava, has unveiled plans to launch his own brand Zemono+. Foodies will be able to purchase Zemono+ products via an online shop starting in January. The Zemono+ shop is expected to come to life in mid-January. "Online sale is inevitable," Kavčič said this week during an online presentation of the brand.
Martin Čater sensational winner of World Cup downhill opener
VAL D'ISERE, France - Martin Čater won the first World Cup downhill of the season in France's Val d'Isere in what is the first podium finish for the 27-year-old, who entered the race with the start number 41. Čater is only the third Slovenian male World Cup downhill winner since independence after Andrej Jerman, who has two wins, and Boštjan Kline, who secured the most recent one in 2017.
Norway win team event at Planica, Slovenia 4th
PLANICA - Norway won the team event at the Ski Flying World Championships at Slovenia's Planica, overtaking Germany in the last round as Halvor Egner Granerud performed better than Karl Geiger, who beat the Norwegian yesterday in the individual event. Slovenia bounced back from the turmoil in their ranks by finishing fourth. The Norwegian team thus defended their gold medal from the previous Ski Flying World Championships to earn the fifth medal for the nation in team events.
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