Coronavirus infections keep receding
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 3,394 new coronavirus cases for Monday as infections kept receding week-on-week for the fourth day. However, Covid-19 claimed 23 more lives and ICU cases kept climbing. Data released by the government show hospitalisations dropping slightly to 1,154 as the number of patients treated in intensive care increased by ten from the day before to 285, just below the current capacity. The 7-day average of new infections dropped to 3,090 but the 14-day was still slightly up to 2,125.
Govt's tour of Pomurje region focuses on agriculture projects and youth drain
MURSKA SOBOTA - The government toured the north-easternmost region of Pomurje, discussing various projects, including in agriculture, the leading industry in the area, as well as challenges, such as efforts to convince young people to stay in the region. Apart from visiting companies in the region, PM Janez Janša met representatives of the Hungarian minority in Pomurje and visited the Murska Sobota diocese of the Evangelical Church in Slovenia where he met Bishop Leon Novak. The visit concluded with a public debate in Lendava, dedicated to the development of the region.
Top health officials warn about possibility of fifth Covid wave
LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar and the head of the Medical Chamber Bojana Beović warned about the possibility of the fifth wave of Covid infections, with Poklukar saying he thought that another wave could emerge in February next year as a result of an insufficient vaccination rate. Beović told Radio Slovenija earlier that the Covid pass mandate could be amended to make booster doses mandatory. Asked when this change could be put in place, she said that given the epidemiological situation, Slovenia would "surely be among the countries that will be quicker to make such a change".
Hojs discusses fighting terrorism at Atlas network meeting
LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs hosted a meeting of the ATLAS Commanders Forum, attended by representatives of the special police units from the EU member states. Hojs said that terrorism was placed high on the EU priority list and that the role of ATLAS network was important as well. "Terrorism is changing. It is becoming increasingly fragmented, dispersed and thus unpredictable. With this in mind, it is essential to react and respond together and in time," Hojs said in his opening address.
Opposition urges emergency session on higher care home fees
LJUBLJANA - The centre-left opposition requested an emergency parliamentary session to urge the government to provide the missing EUR 16 million to cover a pay rise for social care workers by reallocating budget funds and not by raising care home fees. Presenting the request prepared by the Left and backed by the Marjan Šarec Party (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD) and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), Left MP Miha Kordiš said the rise resulted in higher fees for care home residents. The fees, which are to go up by 5.6% according to government estimates, are already quite high, said Kordiš, as they stand at EUR 680 on average.
Slovenia remembers defender of its northern border
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is observing Rudolf Maister Day, remembering the general who established the first Slovenian army in modern history and secured what later became Slovenia's northern border. The holiday commemorates the day in 1918 when Maister (1874-1934) took control of Maribor. A few events marked the holiday, including open day at the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana and President Borut Pahor's address, and laying of a wreath at the General Maister Memorial at the Defence Ministry.
Consumer confidence down for fifth straight month
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's consumer confidence indicator is down for the fifth consecutive month in November, dropping by 2 percentage points over the month before. But it is up by 7 percentage points compared to November 2020, the Statistics Office said. The monthly drop in the confidence indicator is attributed to more pessimistic consumer expectations about the country's economy (down by 9 p.p.), and about household finances (down by 1 p.p.).
Slovenia drops to 8th place in design creativity in SE Europe
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia ranks 8th in creativity in architecture and interior, product and fashion design in Southeast Europe, found this year's creativity barometer by the Zavod Big organisation and the Museum of Architecture and Design. The country's ranking is down three spots compared to last year. The main criteria was, among other factors, the number and status of international awards received for creative efforts and the number of employees in the relevant fields compared to the total population.
Survey shows 27% of employees in Slovenia experienced fraud
LJUBLJANA - The results of a survey on the frequency of fraud in the public and private sector in Slovenia, conducted in November by PwC Slovenia, show that just over a quarter of respondents reported an occurrence of fraud or suspected fraud in their organisation in the last three years. Over the last three years, an average of just over three cases of fraud or suspected fraud were recorded in the organisations where survey respondents work. One of the key findings of the survey is that just over a quarter (27%) of all respondents reported an occurrence or suspected occurrence of fraud in the company where they work.
