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This summary is provided by the STA:
Govt confirms EUR 106m energy voucher scheme, lower excise duties and network fee cuts
LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed a EUR 200 million package of aid for households and companies to mitigate energy-price hikes. An EUR 106 million energy voucher scheme for households will be coupled with aid for companies and farmers worth EUR 70 million, as well as lower network fees for electricity, and lower excise duties on heating oil and petrol. The excise and network fee cuts will be in place for three months starting in February, while the energy vouchers and aid for companies and farmers will be a one-off payment. It is estimated that 710,000 individuals will benefit from energy vouchers, while aid will be available to about 17,500 companies and 41,000 farms.
Acting director of Research Agency appointed
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Mitja Lainščak acting director of the Slovenian Research Agency, which is in charge of disbursing funding for science, after it replaced four members of the agency's board, the previous board having twice proposed a candidate that the government rejected. Lainščak, who heads the cardiology department at the Murska Sobota hospital, takes office on 31 January and his term lasts until the end of July. The new board nominated him just hours before the cabinet session.
Lenarčič says EU Commission hopes reason will prevail in Ukraine crisis
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia's European commissioner, told Slovenian correspondents on Friday that the European Commission's work was currently most affected by the Ukraine crisis. It is preparing for all possible scenarios, hoping that reason will prevail and peace will be preserved, he stressed. The Commission gives legislative proposals and proposes sanctions in this field.
Almost 14,880 new coronavirus cases recorded on Friday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 14,878 new coronavirus infections were detected in Slovenia on Friday in what is the third largest number of new daily infections since the start of the epidemic. There are currently 160,899 active cases in the country, up by 7,565 from the day before, according to estimates by the National Institute of Public Health. Hospitalisations are up by seven to 726, while the number of patients in intensive care dropped by 10 to 124. Another 11 patients with Covid-19 died.
Poll: SDS followed by Robert Golob's party
LJUBLJANA - The ruling Democrats (SDS) would win 18.5% of the vote in the April general election, according a poll conducted for newspapers Dnevnik and Večer by pollster Ninamedia. The party of Robert Golob, the Freedom Movement, would come second with 16.2%, while the opposition Social Democrats (SD) would be third on 9.9%. The opposition Left in fourth was at 6.1%, followed by the coalition New Slovenia (NSi) with 4.5%.
Fewer pupils distance-learning over refusal to heed Covid rules
LJUBLJANA - The share of primary school children who are distance learners because they refuse to comply with Covid restrictions in schools is declining. However, there are at least dozen cases where parents decided to sue schools over the enforced pandemic rules. The share is now 0.84%, meaning 1,625 students, down from 3.61% last November, when self-testing was introduced in schools. The figure has been steadily falling since then, the Education Ministry has said.
Lek planning EUR 83m investment in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - Lek, a Novartis-owned Slovenian drug maker, is planning an EUR 82.6 million investment in Ljubljana to set up a new production facility for liquid vials and pre-filled syringes. The government is expected to subsidise it with EUR 6.56 million, according to working documents prepared for government sessions.
Giant honey bee a major draw at Dubai Expo
DUBAI, UAE - The exhibition room in Slovenia's Expo pavilion in Dubai is home to a gigantic 3D model of the Carniolan honey bee. The 100:1 scale model has proven to be a popular attraction and over 100,000 people that have seen it thus far. "Slovenia has a rich beekeeping tradition and the World Bee Day was declared by the UN in 2017 upon Slovenia's initiative, so we wanted to honour that tradition at the Slovenian Expo pavillion in Dubai as well," said Slovenia's Expo 2020 commissioner general Matic Volk.
Ski jumper Ema Klinec third in Willingen
WILLINGEN, Germany - Slovenian ski jumper Ema Klinec finished third in a World Cup event in Germany's Willingen on Saturday. Because of strong winds only the first round was carried out. The winner was Austria's Marita Kramer, who also tops the overall World Cup rankings, while Germany's Katharina Atlthaus was second.
