Lockdown measures looming as Covid situation worsens
LJUBLJANA - As hospital beds are filling with Covid-19 patients fast, the Covid-19 advisory team is meeting the government today to propose what an unofficial but well-placed source told the STA were two potential scenarios to tackle the situation; either a 10-day lockdown, or a series of restrictions, including an 11pm bar curfew, spectatorless sports events, and work from home for public employees. Official data shows another 1,136 infections were confirmed on Monday, a public holiday, on a test positivity rate of 43%. Ten Covid-19 patients died. Hospitalisations rose to 634 with 158 ICU cases.
Hospitals suspending elective procedures to increase capacity of Covid wards
LJUBLJANA - The majority of Slovenian hospitals will suspend all elective procedures as they move to increase the capacity of overflowing Covid-19 wards, it was agreed at a meeting featuring hospital directors and the Health Ministry, which came in the midst of a rapidly surging wave of infections. The number of beds for Covid patients at intensive care units will rise to 182 by tomorrow, and the number of non-ICU beds will rise from 479 to to 590. Robert Carotta, the national coordinator for Covid hospital wards, said that the number of patients has recently been growing at the fastest pace since the start of the pandemic.
Booster shot recommended after two months for viral vector vaccines
LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunisation proposed that, given the current epidemiological situation, those who have been vaccinated with viral vector vaccines receive a booster shot after at least two months since being fully immunised. The list of other groups for whom a booster shot is recommended has been extended. A booster shot was also recommended for family members of persons with a weak immune system and patients with chronic diseases who are particularly vulnerable, persons who are particularly exposed to the virus at work and those who have been vaccinated with viral vector vaccines.
Slovenian and Hungarian ministers discuss security topics
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin and his Hungarian counterpart Tibor Benko exchanged views on topical security issues, defence reforms and other topics of common interest as Benko visited Slovenia. Tonin said after the meeting that they had spent quite some time discussing modernisation of both armies. While Tonin noted Hungary was ahead of Slovenia in modernisation efforts, having launched them already in 2015, the pair still discussed cases of best practice, foremost in terms of increasing the troop numbers. The ministers agreed it would be good if the Slovenian and Hungarian defence industries find a way to strengthen cooperation in the modernisation efforts in both countries' armed forces, according to Tonin.
Slovenia to join Powering Past Coal Alliance at COP26
LJUBLJANA - The government decided that Slovenia will join the Powering Past Coal Alliance as part of the Energy Day at the COP26 conference in Glasgow on Thursday. "Slovenia supports the strengthening of the global climate ambition as the only way way to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, in accordance with the report of the IPCC on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius," the government said, adding that Slovenia would also sign the Statement on Public Support for the Clean Energy.
Janša attends launch of initiative to reduce methane emission
GLASGOW, UK - PM Janez Janša took part in the launch of an initiative to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, proposed by the US and EU, the prime minister's office said, noting that Slovenia was among the supporters of the initiative. As he concluded a two-day visit, Janša said that a lot of coordination had taken place between the EU and global partners on the sidelines of the climate conference, and that various open issues had been discussed. "There were also many opportunities for bilateral talks on Slovenia's cooperation with countries from other continents. It is nice to have friends everywhere," he tweeted.
Decline in unemployment stops as youth hit job market
LJUBLJANA - While official figures on registered unemployment in October are not due until Thursday, the head of the Employment Service, Mitja Bobnar, told the STA in an interview that the falling trend had stopped for the first time since February. The reason is not the expiry of subsidies for shorter working hours but first-time job seekers. Bobnar expects the situation in the labour market to remain favourable. He said the unemployment being at near record low in September was due to job retention measures.
Committee okays penal code changes on threats to senior officals
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Justice Committee okayed in a seven to five vote a bill changing the penal code to introduce prosecution of suspects who have threatened the country's senior officials or their relatives ex officio, without the injured party initiating proceedings. The bill, adopted by the government in early September, comes after such a solution was proposed in February as the justice and home affairs committees discussed mounting hostility in society. Nataša Sukič of the opposition Left announced that, if the National Assembly passed the bill, a constitutional review of its parts would follow.
Minister talks food industry cooperation in Dubai, highlights countryside digitalisation in Expo debate
DUBAI, UAE - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek met Saif Mohammed Rashid Saeed al Shara, a high representative of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE. The pair talked cooperation in agricultural and food products and the transfer of knowledge, especially in terms of cooperation of expert institutions. Podgoršek also took part on Monday in a debate discussing efforts to tackle global challenges related to smart villages, which was held as part of the Expo 2020. He discussed countryside digitalisation as one of the priorities of the new common agricultural policy, and linked efforts to improve the quality of life in rural areas to the efforts to preserve the cultural landscape and natural heritage.
STA, UKOM directors hold first meeting
LJUBLJANA - Igor Kadunc, the new acting director of the STA, and Uroš Urbanija, the director of the Government Communications Office (UKOM), held their first meeting, with the talks designed to discuss ways to resolve the stand-off regarding financing. The two sides exchanged views on the key dilemmas regarding the public service agreement and steps needed for public financing to resume, the STA management said in a press release. Kadunc acknowledged there were differences in interpretations and said solutions would be sought with the "inclusion of second opinions." Both sides expressed an interest in a timely solution that would be acceptable for all those involved, with the awareness that this is needed as soon as possible, the STA management said.
Ex-MEP Patricija Šulin dies
LJUBLJANA - The ruling Democratic Party (SDS) announced that their former MEP Patricija Šulin had died aged 55 after a severe illness. Šulin served as MEP (EPP) between 2014 and 2019 when she was a vice chair of the Committee on Budgets. Between 2012 and 2013, during the term of the second government of Janez Janša, she served as a substitute MP. She was a member of the parliamentary Finance and Monetary Policy Committee, Economy Committee and Health Committee.
Monument unveiled to Hungarian soldiers killed in WWI
NOVA GORICA - A monument to Hungarian soldiers killed in the Battles of the Isonzo was unveiled in a site above Nova Gorica, close to where some of the worst fighting of WWI took place. "I'm sure that concern for war graves is a permanent and important task of every modern and cultivated country. Attitude to the dead is a fundamental ethical issue," Slovenian Defence Minister Matej Tonin said. Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko, who attended the ceremony, thanked Slovenia and the Nova Gorica municipality for nurturing permanent memory of the Hungarian soldiers who perished in the Battles of the Isonzo.
Slovenian architect to curate Timisoara European City of Culture
TIMISOARA, Romania - Architect Matevž Čelik, a former director of the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) in Ljubljana, was picked as one of the curators of the Romanian city of Timisoara's 2023 European Capital of Culture project. Čelik, 50, will be in charge of the Connections section, where his focus will go beyond architecture to explore relations between the city, architecture, design and society. Heading MAO between 2010 in 2020, Čelik transformed it from a city museum into a major institution in the field.
November Gourmet Ljubljana celebrates innovative dishes
LJUBLJANA - The November Gourmet Ljubljana culinary festival starts this week, bringing a series of events until the end of the month and presenting the very best that the Slovenian capital has to offer to foodies. The highlight of the first week will be the European Food Summit. Organised by the local tourism board, November Gourmet Ljubljana is a joint campaign of hospitality services providers, hotels, food producers, wine makers as well as public institutions that will feature various presentations, guided tours, gourmet-themed events, wine and beer tastings and workshops.
