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This summary is provided by the STA:
UKC Ljubljana director Poklukar nominated for health minister
LJUBLJANA - Janez Poklukar, the director of Slovenia's largest hospital UKC Ljubljana, has been nominated for health minister, Prime Minister Janez Janša announced on Twitter after formally submitting the nomination to the National Assembly. He described Poklukar as a good candidate with a "guaranteed comfortable majority to be elected." Poklukar said on Twitter the decision was not easy but he accepted Janša's invitation "due to all the opportunities for the Slovenian health system and UKC Ljubljana that I see in the future".
1,055 coronavirus infections confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - Another 1,055 coronavirus infections were confirmed on Thursday, which is up slightly from a week ago. The seven-day average of confirmed cases was up by lightly to 841. The number of hospitalisations dropped below 800 after a very long time, the government's Covid-19 spokesperson Maja Bratuša told the press. A total of 789 Covid-19 patients were in hospital, 39 fewer than the day before, including 154 in intensive care, which is 3 fewer than on Wednesday. The number of deaths was up by five compared to the day before to 15.
All positive antigen tests to be double checked with PCR tests
LJUBLJANA - Starting from Saturday all those who test positive for coronavirus in rapid antigen tests will be swabbed again for their infection to be confirmed with a more reliable PCR test, Health Ministry State Secretary Marija Magajne announced. The decision comes after clusters of positive rapid antigen test results emerged amid weekly swabbing of school and kindergarten staff at several locations across the country only to be later overturned by PCR tests.
Lenarčič urges Slovenia to make best use of recovery finds
LJUBLJANA - European Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič urged Slovenia to make the best use of the funds available as part of the EU mechanism for recovery and resilience. Slovenia should prepare its plan for drawing these funds the best it can and use the assistance of European Commission's experts services, the commissioner told a videoconference presenting his priorities in 2021 to the parliamentary EU Affairs Committee.
STA staff concerned about planned transfer to demographic fund
LJUBLJANA - The STA staff made a public appeal to lawmakers and party leaders, expressing concern after an amendment was passed yesterday under which the agency would be folded into the emerging National Demographic Fund. "Such far-reaching changes to the agency's ownership and management call for expertise-based arguments and dialogue," reads a joint statement issued on Friday by the editorial board, works council and in-house trade union.
Four parties demand debate on hate speech
LJUBLJANA - Deputy groups of the coalition NSi, SDS and SMC, the opposition SNS and both minority MPs requested a session of the parliamentary interior and justice committees regarding what they see as stepping up of ideology-based hostility, ostracising and attacks. The move was initiated by the NSi, which said it would not point fingers at anyone but called on everyone to "push the reset button, because we have reached a point where Slovenian society has never been before".
Restrictions on bank dividend payments extended but relaxed
LJUBLJANA - The central bank extended until the end of September a requirement that banks may not pay out dividends. It said limits on dividends, purchase of own stock or use of profit for other purposes would remain binding. However, if a bank posts profit in the first quarter of 2021, it will be able to pay out up to 15% of profit generated in 2019 and 2020, or 0.2% of common equity tier 1 capital, whichever is lower.
Selection of e-tolling contractor challenged by two bidders
LJUBLJANA - The selection of Slovakia's Skytoll for an e-tolling system for cars in Slovenia is being challenged by both bidders who were rejected, motorway company DARS told the STA. The complaints were received by DARS. If they are rejected, the National Review Commission, where public tender disputes are ultimately resolved, will weigh in.
Pandemic drives down business revenue and expenditure in 2020
LJUBLJANA - Data for 2020 show a drop in revenue and expenditure for business entities in Slovenia, according to a report by the AJPES agency for legal records. For legal entities, revenue dropped by 10.6% over the year before to EUR 299.8 billion and data for sole proprietors show a drop of nearly 20% to EUR 8.3 billion. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) said that the drop comes as no surprise, as the coronavirus pandemic hit small companies the hardest.
Call for measures to address remote schooling ramifications
LJUBLJANA - Remote schooling has taken a toll on parents, particularly mothers, and primary school children who have been struggling due to stress, exhaustion and lack of motivation, shows a study by the March 8 Institute. The NGO has urged a strategy to address the repercussions of remote learning. The study was conducted among more than 2,600 Slovenian households with primary school children.
Slovenians still optimistic about EU, survey shows
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenians' positive attitude towards the EU remains above the EU average in a survey presented by the European Parliament. The share of such respondents has increased by 10 percentage points to 50%, while in Slovenia the figure was at 58% in autumn, when the survey was conducted. Moreover, 60% of respondents from Slovenia said things were going in the right direction following the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, whereas the EU average was at 39%.
Merger to create Slovenia's largest co-op cleared
NOVO MESTO/TREBNJE - The Competition Protection Agency cleared the merger of the farmers' co-operatives Trebnje and Krka to create Slovenia's largest co-operative, brining together about 1,000 farmers to generate EUR 65 million in annual revenue. The deal to create the Trebnje-Krka Co-operative was signed in December last year.
Exhibition offers insight into modern Slovenian architecture
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition set up by the Architects' Society of Ljubljana opened at the Cankarjev Dom to present architectural innovations and buildings constructed in Slovenia over the past two years as well as the attitude of political and economic sectors to architecture. Architecture - Stocktaking offers a comprehensive two-year overview of Slovenia's architecture with architects from other Slovenian associations taking part along with ten guests from Serbia.
Cyclist Pogačar and 2004 handball team honoured for sporting achievements
LJUBLJANA - Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar and the team that won silver at the 2004 European Men's Handball Championships were honoured for their international achievements as the Bloudek Prizes, Slovenia's top sports awards, were handed out in a virtual ceremony.
Sweden's Ponsiluoma wins men's sprint event in Pokljuka
POKLJUKA - Sweden's Martin Ponsiluoma won the men's sprint at the Biathlon World Championships in Pokljuka in what was a surprising finish at the first individual event. Second and third places went to France's Simon Desthieux and Emilen Jacquelin. Miha Dovžan achieved the best result among Slovenians, ranking 25th, his second best ranking so far in his career.
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