Downward coronavirus trend kept up at the weekend
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 210 coronavirus cases amid slowed down testing on Sunday, as the 7-day average declined for the fourth day running, to 762. On the down side, six more Covid-19 patients died, fresh government data show. A total of 1,681 PCR tests were performed yesterday for 12.5% to return positive. As is usual at the weekends, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals rose, increasing by a further 17 to 527 after 37 patients were admitted and 14 were discharged yesterday. The number of patients in intensive care units rose by two to 91. The death toll has climbed to 3,897.
Brazil Covid-19 variant detected in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - After cases of the UK, South Africa and Nigeria variants of coronavirus have been confirmed in Slovenia, a variant first detected in Brazil has now been confirmed as well. "The variant has been detected in the Maribor area, for the time being in three persons within a family with a negative epidemiological anamnesis," Mateja Logar, the government's new chief Covid-19 adviser, told a government press conference. The family members have not reported having contact with a person who has travelled.
Kacin says delays in vaccination could still be compensated
LJUBLJANA - Jelko Kacin, the coordinator for the logistics of mass vaccination, told the STA he was happy with the vaccination process so far. He is confident that with increased supplies Slovenia can make up for some of the lost time. The country is very hopeful about the Janssen Pharmaceutica vaccine, which is yet to be approved. He assessed the vaccination so far had been going well, but there was still room for improvement.
Secondary school students return to school
LJUBLJANA - Secondary school students in years 1-3 joined their final-year peers as secondary schools fully reopened under model C, meaning half the class will be in school for a week while the other half will continue learning from home. There are no changes for final-year secondary school students, who have been coming to school every day since mid-February. "It's a great feeling, seeing your classmates and teachers after a long four months... taking tests will not be as much fun, though," Marko, a Maribor secondary school student told the STA.
Bars, restaurants in Posavje, SE Slovenia start serving outdoors
LJUBLJANA - Bars and restaurants in two eastern regions, Posavje and South-east Slovenia, are once again allowed to serve food and drinks outdoor. While Slovenia is in the orange tier of restrictions, both regions had figures last week that placed them firmly in the milder, yellow tier, where serving customers outdoor is allowed. Guests are served outdoors between 6am and 7pm and they will have to leave the establishment by 7:30pm. Proprietors said they were happy that they may welcome patrons back, but are not pleased at all with the fact that this is will only be a one-week trial.
DeSUS president Erjavec joins Iskratel as expansion advisor
LJUBLJANA - Karl Erjavec, the president of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), has taken a job at the telecoms equipment provider Iskratel where he will advise the CEO on expansion to new markets. Iskratel confirmed for the news portal 24ur that he would act as assistant director to CEO Željko Puljić for foreign markets based on his "knowledge of the economy as well as politics". The news prompted speculations about the future of his political career, which Erjavec refrained from commenting on.
State secretary presents priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency to US official
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a conference call with Molly Montgomery, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State. The officials discussed preparations for Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of the year. One of the priorities of Slovenian presidency will also be to strengthen Transatlantic relations. The EU and US are natural and strong allies, who share history and have the same values and interests, the ministry said.
One bid submitted for second section of Divača-Koper track
LJUBLJANA - Only one contractor has submitted a bid for a second part of the planned Koper-Divača rail section, 2TDK, the state-run company managing the project announced, as a consortium led by Slovenian Kolektor CPG valued the works on the Črni Kal-Koper section at EUR 224.75 million, excluding VAT. Kolektor CPG and its Turkish partners Yapi Merkezi and Özaltin are also the lowest out of the two bidders for the first part of the rail track between Divača and Črni Kal. 2TDK boss Pavle Hevka said that the decision on who is to build the first section is to be announced on Wednesday.
Officials pledge continued efforts to achieve gender equality
LJUBLJANA - Senior officials called for continued efforts to improve gender equality on International Women's Day, praising women's contribution to the battle against Covid-19. President Borut Pahor noted uncompleted efforts for equality and expressed his "special gratitude for the women's priceless contribution in coping with the Covid-19 epidemic". Prime Minister Janez Janša also took to Twitter to say that "partly different natural roles of both genders in Slovenia are largely not an obstacle to equity and equality in society". "We are high above #EU average," Janša said.
Women still disadvantaged in labour market, unions say
LJUBLJANA - Women in the labour market are frequently faced with precarious work forms, discrimination, harassment, sexism and do a lot of unpaid work, trade unions warned. . About 80% of females aged between 15 and 25 have fixed-term employment contracts, while for men the share is under 60%, said Mladi Plus, a union representing young workers. Poverty has become more widespread among young women and access to services in elderly care is increasingly restricted rather then being expanded, which means more unpaid work for women.
Share of women in Slovenian military among highest in NATO
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has one of the highest shares of women in the military in NATO, at 16.7%, the Defence Ministry said. The share of women in the Armed Forces has been one of the highest among NATO members in the past decade. In terms of missions abroad, the representation of women has varied between 7% and 11% in the past decade.
New hospitality bill to bring tighter tourist rental rules
LJUBLJANA - A hospitality bill that has recently been sent into public consultation brings stricter rules for leasing flats and houses to tourists on platform such as Airbnb. Service providers will have to get registered, have an ID number, and obtain certain permits. The draft bill by the Economy Ministry follows a growing trend in short-term renting of private property to tourists in recent years. Over 9,700 pieces of real estate in Slovenia were advertised on Airbnb in 2019, generating EUR 66.5 million in revenue.
Mlakar succeeds Sušelj as boss at public health insurance fund
LJUBLJANA - Tatjana Mlakar was appointed the new director general of the ZZZS public health insurer for a four-year term as MPs endorsed her bid in a 58:8 vote. She succeeds Marjan Sušelj, who has led ZZZS as acting head after his term expired on 2 March. Mlakar, until now the head of ZZZS's unit in Krško, was nominated by the ZZZS assembly in early February following the third call for applications.
Tweet on rape wins ex-minister most sexist quote of the year censure
LJUBLJANA - Žiga Turk, who served as minister of education, science, culture and sport in the 2012-13 Janez Janša government, is the winner of the Silver Thistle for the most sexist quote in the past year. "If sex is a mere recreation, then rape is no worse than a foul. If sex is not recreation, the basic premise of the progressive view on the issue established since 1968 falls," was the tweet that won Turk the censure.
Pole vaulter Šutej wins silver at European Indoor Championships
TORUN, Poland - Slovenian track and field athletes are returning from the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland with the first medal in twelve years as Tina Šutej has won silver in the women's pole vault for her first accolade as senior. On Saturday, Šutej jumped over 4.70 metres to match her best result of the season and win second place, falling five centimetres behind the surprising winner Angelica Moser of Switzerland.
Art cinema network streaming films online
SEŽANA - The Slovenian art cinema network will stream a curated programme of films online from today, starting with The Assistant, a #MeToo-era portrayal of various forms of harassment and the culture of silence, to mark International Women's Day. New films will be available on Thursday evenings, whereas Saturday afternoons will be reserved for younger audiences.
