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This summary is provided by the STA:
Govt economic adviser: After 8th stimulus law, time for exit strategy
LJUBLJANA - As the National Assembly is convening today to pass the 8th coronavirus relief package, Matej Lahovnik, the economist heading the taskforce preparing the mitigation measures, suggested it was now time to start thinking about an exit strategy. Addressing the daily government press briefing, Lahovnik said the general view was no more additional aid instruments should be sought, and instead in the stimulus packages to follow it was necessary to start thinking about an exit strategy.
Slovenia logs 1,619 coronavirus cases for Monday, including 240 school staff
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1,619 new coronavirus infections on Monday, a decrease of 3.9% from a week ago, as rapid mass testing of school and kindergarten staff in seven regions where schools are open detected 240 infections. Another 19 Covid-19 patients died. Data presented at the daily briefing by the government's Covid-19 spokesperson Maja Bratuša, shows that a total of 37,299 tests for Sars-CoV-2 were performed yesterday, the biggest number of tests yet.
More than 950 serious Covid-19 infections caught in hospitals
LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) data confirm reports that numerous Covid-19 patients have got infected in health institutions. So far, at least 956 severe hospital-acquired infections have been recorded. Since mid-November over 2,400 persons have contracted the virus in health institutions. The data on hospital-acquired infections that have developed into a severe form of Covid-19 are based on the Episari network, which includes 15 hospitals.
Slovenia shocked at Navalny sentence, calls for his release
LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry said that Slovenia was shocked at Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny being sentenced to prison. "We urge his immediate and unconditional release," it added on Twitter. A court in Moscow changed today Navalny's suspended sentence to three and a half years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while he was recuperating in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning. The prison sentence will be shortened by the time he has already served under house arrest.
Slovenia receives EUR 913m from SURE scheme
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission disbursed EUR 913 million to Slovenia in the form of loans under favourable terms as part of the SURE instrument after the country already received EUR 200 million last year to mitigate unemployment risks during the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission said that it had paid out today a total of EUR 14 billion to nine EU member states. Since the scheme kicked in, 15 EU member states have received EUR 53.5 billion, of which Slovenia has received slightly more than EUR 1.1 billion, the final sum.
Brussels approves EUR 5m in state aid for Fraport Slovenija
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission has approved EUR 5 million in state aid for Fraport Slovenija. The company operating Ljubljana airport will receive the money to compensate the damage it suffered between 17 March and 30 June 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission said. If the actual damage suffered by Fraport Slovenija is lower than the approved amount, the company will have to return the difference. It said the state aid scheme was confirmed because it meets the conditions applying to the temporary state aid rules.
Erjavec plans to submit new motion of no confidence next week
LJUBLJANA - Karl Erjavec, the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), plans to submit a new motion of no confidence in the government next week even as he remains short of the 46 votes required to unseat the Janez Janša government. Erjavec told the press on Tuesday the motion would have ten MP signatures, the minimum required by law to initiate the proceedings; the previous motion carried 42 signatures.
Actress speaks out about sexual harassment at Ljubljana academy
LJUBLJANA - Mia Skrbinac has become the first Slovenian actress to speak out publicly about sexual harassment as she revealed for TV Slovenija in a programme aired last night she had been sexually harassed for two years by a well-known actor and acting professor during her time as a student at the Ljubljana Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television. Speaking for the weekly magazine show Tednik, the actress gave an account of how she had been subjected to psychological and physical violence from the professor, whom she would not name, during acting classes and outside class between 2014 and 2016.
NGO proposes legislative changes to redefine sexual violence
LJUBLJANA - The NGO Inštitut 8. Marec filed an initiative in parliament to collect 5,000 signatures in support of its legislative proposal redefining the crimes of rape and sexual violence. The NGO proposes such crimes be treated in line with the consent principle "yes means yes". After receiving an initiative for legislative changes, the parliamentary speaker has seven days to inform the ministry in charge of the voting rights register and to set the deadline for the 60-day collecting of signatures.
Bill improving status of soldiers drafted
LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry has drafted a set of legislative changes bringing a number of benefits to improve the status of Slovenian soldiers and overhauling military education. For instance, the changes to the service in the Slovenian Armed Forces act bring more rest for soldiers in international missions and operations.
Pahor in talks with party leaders to prepare joint meeting
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor launched a series of meetings with the leaders of the parliamentary parties to discuss preparations for their joint meeting. Although two opposition parties have already declined his invitation, Pahor has high expectations from the meeting, the president's office said. The presidents of the parliamentary parties received on Monday Pahor's invitation to the meeting aimed at a consensus on the need for the country to focus the epidemic, a post-pandemic recovery and the country's EU presidency.
Minister, commissioner discuss EU presidency priorities in agriculture
LJUBLJANA - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek held talks with the EU's Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. They talked about topics that will be on the agenda of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency. The officials highlighted reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, sustainable agriculture and rural development in the context of the EU Green Deal, long-term vision for rural areas, agriculture's response to altered consumer expectations, and unfair business practices in the food supply chain.
Investigation into suspected EUR 30m corporate fraud under way
LJUBLJANA - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted house searches as it investigates a suspected EUR 30m case of corporate fraud. The case revolves around the sale of retailer Engrotuš's brands in 2016, the company confirmed. The NBI said it was investigating abuse of position or trust in a business activity involving the sale of stakes in multiple companies and failure to repay loans. Three individuals are among the suspects and face up to eight years in prison.
Austria introduces negative test obligation for daily migrants
VIENNA, Austria - Austria has introduced stricter conditions for entry into the country due to coronavirus. For the first time since the start of the epidemic, daily migrants will also need to present a negative test for coronavirus. This is to affect the around 26,000 daily migrants who come to Austria from Slovenia every day. The country will also keep its controls on the border with Slovenia.
Sonja Šmuc ending her tenure as GZS director general
LJUBLJANA - Sonja Šmuc, the director general of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS), will leave her post by mutual agreement effective on 28 February, the GZS announced. The procedure for the appointment of a new director general has started. In the interim period, the chamber will be headed by executive director Mitja Gorenšček.
Elan unveils first foldable carving skis in the world
BEGUNJE NA GORENJSKEM - The sports goods maker Elan has presented its new product, Elan Voyager, a pair of highly-efficient versatile foldable carving skis, the first such innovative product in the world. The new skis will facilitate access to steep slopes and change the future of skiing, said Elan at Monday's online presentation. Elan Voyager being foldable will change the outlook on ski equipment and its transport, said Leon Korošec, the head of Elan's winter division.
Zavod Iskreni vandalised with swastikas
LJUBLJANA - A building in Ljubljana housing the Zavod Iskreni, a Christian NGO, has been defaced as unknown perpetrators spray-painted two swastikas on its facade and entrance and wrote "Corruption?" on the door, in what is another in a series of similar recent incidents. The NGO, which is best known for promoting family and Christian values and organising anti-abortion rallies and pickets, has lately been in the spotlight after it was one of the organisations selected to receive funding from the Labour Ministry for mitigation of the impact of the coronavirus epidemic.
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