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This summary is provided by the STA:
Parliament passes stimulus law worth EUR 320 million
LJUBLJAN - Parliament passed the eighth economic stimulus law, worth around EUR 320 million. The key measures are the state shouldering the minimum wage rise, an extension of the furlough scheme, and introduction of fines for vaccine queue-jumping. The furlough scheme, which has been in place since last spring, will be extended until the end of April, with the option of two one-month extensions. The novelty in the furlough scheme is the state covering not only 80% but 100% of the wages in companies which are closed due to government-imposed restrictions.
Four opposition parties file motion to oust education minister
LJUBLJANA - The Left, Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD) and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) filed a motion to oust Education Minister Simona Kustec over what they see as "unprofessional and harmful policies" in organising child care and education during the epidemic, which has led to the longest school and kindergarten closure in Europe. The parties, which together have six votes short of the majority required for the motion to succeed, say that the Education Ministry has not prepared a plan on how to conduct education during the epidemic. Kustec said the motion would be an opportunity to explain the ministry's activities and achievements.
1,560 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Tuesday, 23 died
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 1,560 new cases of coronavirus from almost 16,000 PCR and rapid antigen tests on Tuesday, a significant improvement from a week ago. 23 people with Covid-19 died. The situation in hospitals continued to improve, as 1,012 people with Covid-19 were in hospital, down twenty from the day before, whereas the number of patients in intensive care dropped by three to 165. The government conducted its weekly review of coronavirus restrictions but did not adopt any major decisions. Coronavirus measures are on the agenda of the cabinet's regular session on Thursday.
False positive tests cause confusion amid classroom closures
KRANJ - Several classes of pupils in primaries and kindergartens in the Kranj area had to switch back to remote learning after their teachers tested positive for coronavirus in Monday's rapid testing. However, most of the positives have turned out to be false, causing frustration and calling the reliability of rapid antigen tests into question. Locals are concerned that the false alarm caused by the false test results could lead to school closures in the Gorenjska region from next week. However, health authorities said today that the false positive results would be removed from the statistics.
Philosopher loses professorship over sexual harassment allegations
LJUBLJANA - The senate of the University of Ljubljana has not extended the tenure of associate professor Igor Pribac from the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts after several students made allegations of sexual harassment. The senate took the decision, which is now final, last week. The 63-year-old told the STA that he was considering taking the matter to court, which however does not affect the implementation of the decision.
MPs condemn sexual harassment in academia, urge action
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Education Committee unanimously condemned sexual harassment in the academia and urged universities to adopt the necessary regulations to prevent and sanction it. They also tasked the Justice Ministry to protect the victims by changing the penal code in 60 days, also by including the "yes means yes" principle. The session was requested by the coalition after a sexual harassment case involving Faculty of Arts Professor Igor Pribac. And earlier this week Mia Skrbinac became the first Slovenian actress to speak out publicly about being sexually harassed by a well-known actor, whom she did not name.
President Pahor, Archbishop Zore would welcome Pope's visit
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore discussed a number of topics as they had working lunch. The pair agreed it would be appropriate for the country to pay respects to those who lost their lives due to Covid-19. Pahor said the Slovenians should find a date, place and manner to say goodbye to those who lost their lives due to the health crisis. The pair also agreed a papal visit would be welcome to coincide with major national anniversaries this year.
EU defence policy discussed by presidency trio's defence ministers
LJUBLJANA - The defence ministers of the EU presidency trio of Portugal, Slovenia and Germany held discussed defence policy before the 2-3 March informal meeting of EU defence ministers. Portugal's Joao Gomes Cravinho, Germany's Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Slovenia's Defence Ministry State Secretary Uroš Lampret discussed the Strategic Compass project, the EU's strategy on maritime security, and transatlantic relations.
Jobless total up on monthly and annual levels in January
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's jobless total hit 91,499 at the end of January, up by 4.8% on December and 14.6% year-on-year. The monthly increase is mainly due to the expiry of fixed-term job contracts, the Statistics Office said, noting that unemployment growth was also a result of a decline in employment. The number of newly registered persons was 10,510, an almost 36% increase on December. Compared to January 2020, the total of the newly registered dropped by 6.9% though.
Slovenian-developed vaccine to be designed as spray
LJUBLJANA - After developing a vaccine against Covid-19 last year, Slovenian researchers will focus on developing a technology to spray the vaccine into the nose or mouth, the head of the team, Roman Jerala, told the STA. Jerala's team developed the vaccine based on plasmid DNA, which contains the code for the virus proteins and triggers the production of virus proteins in human cells. These respond by creating anti-bodies and the protective T-cells. It has developed a technology to apply the vaccine as a spray, also because Covid-19 is primarily a respiratory infection and in this way organ tissues would be better protected, said the synthetic biology expert at the National Institute of Chemistry.
Public figures urging de-escalation and cooperation
LJUBLJANA - A group of 38 public figures from social and political spheres has called on politicians, media and opinion leaders to de-escalate tensions, bridge the divides and meet the current challenges together. They also warned about what they see as months-long political and media campaign that does not contribute to a more effective response to the pandemic. "Unfortunately we are one of the few European countries where politics, mainstream media and with them the entire society do not face the pandemic as a united front," the public figures, active in business, science and politics, said.
Aeroflot to restore Ljubljana flights next week
LJUBLJANA - Russian flag carrier Aeroflot announced it will restore flights between Ljubljana and Moscow next week, and to operate one flight a week until the end of the winter schedule. Aeroflot's first flight is scheduled for next Friday, 12 February, the operator of Ljubljana airport, Fraport Slovenija, told the STA. According to web portal Sierra5, the resuming of flights to Ljubljana is yet to be approved by the Russian aviation authorities. Currently only three carriers fly from Ljubljana airport - Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Air Serbia.
Criminal charges filed against four over Hrastovlje rail accident
LJUBLJANA - The Koper investigators have filed criminal charges against four people over the freight train derailment that led to a massive kerosene spill near Hrastovlje in June 2019. They are suspected of failure to conduct supervision in public transport and causing damage to the environment. The two criminal acts carry prison sentences of up to five and up to two years, respectively. This comes as then investigation of the accident in which six wagons of a freight train derailed in a tunnel in SW Slovenia with a large quantity of the jet fuel kerosene leaking out from two tanks was concluded last December.
Left MP nominates Assange, Snowden, Manning for Nobel Peace Prize
LJUBLJANA - Opposition Left MP Violeta Tomić has nominated whistleblowers Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, the party said in a press release on Wednesday. Tomić, who submitted her nomination to the Nobel Committee at the end of January, explained the decision by saying that they were the heroes of our time as rights to privacy and free access to information could not be taken for granted. She believes such a step would "pay a tribute to the memory of Alfred Nobel and inspire hope in journalists, publishers, authors and all of us who strive for truth and peace".
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