Top court stays pay ceiling rise for doctors
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has stayed, pending its final decision, the implementation of a provision in the latest Covid relief law that raises the pay ceiling in the single public sector wage system only for the benefit of doctors and dentists. The increase by six wage brackets until the end of 2022, included in the Covid-19 package passed at the end of last year, angered other groups of public sector trade employees, whose unions are now demanding higher wages as well.
Some 7,500 Covid cases confirmed on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 7,514 people tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, the lowest daily figure since mid-January, not taking into account weekends or public holidays, show fresh official data. The seven-day average of daily cases decreased by almost 600 to 8,626 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 people dropped by some 440 to 7,701. The government reported that hospitalisations were up by 15 to 545 today, including 116 people in intensive care units, five fewer than yesterday. Ten people died yesterday. The government will consult with health experts next Tuesday on when and how to adjust coronavirus restrictions now that the Omicron-driven wave has peaked and the epidemiological curve is rapidly declining.
Croatian owner reportedly selling four Portorož hotels
PORTOROŽ - Croatian businessman Darko Ostoja is allegedly selling four hotels in Portorož, Slovenia's best known seaside resort, that he acquired in 2014. According to a report Delo, a Slovenian insurance group has indicated interest in buying the hotels. Ostoja, one of the wealthiest Croatians, bought the four-hotel Metropol Resort in 2014 from Hoteli Bernardin, the hotel chain that is part of the tourism group Sava, for EUR 24.5 million but is now looking to sell for much more, writes Delo.
Most announced resignations at Steklarna Hrastnik withdrawn
HRASTNIK - Most of workers at glassworks Steklarna Hrastnik who announced their resignations on Monday have changed their mind, the company told STA. The management is pleased that out of over 40 workers who had intended to resign around 30 have decided otherwise. However, the company does not want to employ all of them any more. The management added it would continue to build on the constructive social dialogue and open, clear and frank communication within the company.
Govt touring Primorsko-Notranjska region
POSTOJNA - The government visited the Primorsko-Notranjska region to discuss a number of topics, including infrastructure. Mayors from the six municipalities forming the region south-west of Ljubljana have told the STA that they would like to focus on road and railway improvements. The region was last paid a visit by the government in June 2015, just over a year after it was severely hit by sleet.
Group around economist Damijan launches election platform
LJUBLJANA - Economist Jože P. Damijan, the author of the idea for the Constitutional Arch Coalition (KUL), has been joined by a group of more than two dozen former officials as well as businessmen, scientists and other professionals in launching a centre-left development agenda that they plan to realise in collaboration with existing political players.
New movement emerges opposing Covid restrictions
MARIBOR - A new movement has been set up in Maribor that will strive to abolish Covid restrictions on all levels of society and for normal functioning of education and healthcare. If necessary, the movement will turn into a party and stand in the upcoming general election, said its founders. According to Gaber Marolt, coordinator of the Movement of the Free and Well Informed (Gibanje Svobodni in Ozaveščeni Slovenije - SOS), the country's fight against the epidemic is "completely misguided" and the restrictive measures "are causing nothing but harm".
Equality ombudsman finds victimisation in case of civil servant
LJUBLJANA - The equality ombudsman has found that a civil servant who received a dismissal warning has been victimised, meaning she has experienced negative consequences after attempting to eliminate discrimination. The ombudsman sai this was the first case of victimisation it had dealth with. The procedure to establish whether this form of discrimination has indeed taken place was initiated by the civil servant, who is the president of a cultural organisation of an ethnic community in Slovenia.
IPI sees signs of Hungarian media model spreading in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The International Press Institute has a released a report on Hungarian investments in foreign media that suggests the Hungarian model of government control of the media is being transposed to Slovenia, which it says is important in light of Slovenia's upcoming general election. The report, available at https://ipi.media/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/hu.pdf, was written in collaboration with independent investigative reporters and leans heavily on Slovenian investigative journalism portals.
Minister calls for efforts for gender equality in research
LJUBLJANA/POSTOJNA - Efforts to ensure equal rights and opportunities for both men and women in research and innovation should be made on the national, European and global levels, said Education, Science and Sport Minister Simona Kustec on Friday, International Day of Women and Girls in Science. She stressed the role that Slovenian female researchers play in research and development.
Peroci's fairy tales revived a century after her birth
LJUBLJANA - A collection of the best known fairy tales by Ela Peroci (1922-2001) will be published by Mladinska Knjiga to mark the 100th anniversary of birth of one of most popular Slovenian children's authors. The book entitled Med Pravljice (Into Fairy Tales) will feature nine stories and some legendary illustrations. According to Mladinska Knjiga, Peroci in a way created an original version of a modern fairy tale after WWII, drawing from children's world and intertwining it with imagination.
Dončić erupts for career-high 51 points, 28 in first quarter
DALLAS, US - Slovenian NBA star Luka Dončić scored 51 points, his career-high, as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. He erupted already at the start of the game, scoring 28 points in the first quarter alone in what is the record of this NBA season. The 22-year-old also had nine rebounds and six assists, and hit seven three-pointers in the first quarter to make it to 28 points, breaking the previous record for this season, 25 points, which had been set by Stephen Curry.
Ski jumpers, basketball team, Lampič, Ozmec win top sports prizes
BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Slovenian women's ski jumping team, men's basketball team, cross-country skier Anamarija Lampič and former para athlete and sports official Peter Ozmec are the recipients of the 2021 Bloudek Prizes, the highest national awards for current and lifetime achievements in sports. "In difficult times, good examples and inspiring actions are even more important than usual," said Viktor Grošelj, chairman of the Bloudek Prizes board at the 57th awards ceremony.
Ljubljana declared European Best Destination 2022
LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana has been declared European Best Destination 2022 out of over 400 destinations. It is being recommended to those who love nature, city break, foodies, culture lovers, Instagrammers, lovers and families. 92% of the votes for Ljubljana came from other countries, mostly from the US, Italy, Germany, Austria and Croatia. More than 528,000 people from 182 countries voted, with 75,642 picking Ljubljana as their favourite.
