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This summary is provided by the STA:
Minister says all Covid measures on the table due to Omicron
LJUBLJANA - Due to enhanced spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, all Covid measures are on the table and will be discussed this week, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said, adding that the best solutions for the health system and society in general would be sought. If the measures are not socially acceptable, they do not serve their purpose. Asked whether obligatory vaccination may be introduced and the recovered-tested-vaccinated rule changed to recovered-vaccinated, Poklukar said he was waiting for guidelines from experts.
Over 1,000 coronavirus infections detected on Sunday
LJUBLJANA - The epidemiological curve continues to rise in Slovenia, with the number of new infections confirmed on Sunday amounting to 1,008, up by over 40% on the week before. More than 44% of all PCR tests were positive. Data provided by the government show that 548 Covid patients are currently in hospital, 15 more than yesterday, including 173 in intensive care, the same as yesterday. Eleven patients died.
Poklukar identifies agreement on HERA as key EU presidency achievement
LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar took stock of the achievements of the Slovenian EU presidency in his brief, identifying the political agreement on the new European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) as one of the biggest achievements. He also listed the search for innovative solutions for more resilient health systems, improving accessibility and availability of medicines, stepping up the combat against cancer and boosting the EU's global role.
Damijan Dolinar takes over at SID Bank
LJUBLJANA - SID Bank, Slovenia's development and export bank, has a new management board as the term of the board headed by Sibil Svilan expired at the end of 2021. Taking over at the fully state-owned bank on 1 January was Damijan Dolinar, with Stanka Šarc Majdič joining him as a board member. A third member is expected to be appointed soon as Gašpar Ogris Martič withdrawn his bid before the beginning of the term.
State budget with record amount of revenue in December 2021
LJUBLJANA - The state budget recorded revenue of EUR 1.1 billion in December last year, the highest since general government revenue started to be recorded, show the preliminary estimates by the Finance Ministry. Expenditure meanwhile amounted to EUR 1.67 billion, with deficit standing at EUR 572 million. State budget revenue in December 2021 was 14.7% higher than in December 2019, and 51.1% higher than in December 2020.
Investments in Slovenian army to top EUR 100m this year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will allocate more than EUR 100 million for defence investments this year. In line with the act on investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces in 2021-2026, modernisation and staffing consolidation remain the key projects. Most of the funds will go for armoured vehicles and a transport aircraft, and the reconstruction and adaptation of military infrastructure around the country.
Staff put forward bill to overhaul RTV Slovenija
LJUBLJANA - Four prominent long-serving members of staff at RTV Slovenija have drawn up a bill in which they propose transforming the public broadcaster into a fully independent public broadcasting service overseen by a board of trustees. They believe a consensus has been reached in public on the need to reform media legislation, but say this should not be in the hands of those who hold political power or interest groups and lobbies.
Šimundža leaving Mura for Bulgarian champions Ludogorets
LJUBLJANA - After coaching Mura to the title of national champions, Ante Šimundža has left the football club from Murska Sobota to continue his career in the Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad. This makes him only a second Slovenian to coach a major European club after Luka Elsner, who manages Belgium's Standard Liège. According to the Ludogorets Razgrad website, Šimundža's assistants in the club will be Slovenian Damjan Ošlaj and Croatian Luka Bašić.
2022 dedicated to greats Plečnik and Tartini
LJUBLJANA - The government decided at the end of December that 2022 will be dedicated to Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) after declaring it the year of Piran-born Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770) earlier in the month, to mark the two greats' birth anniversaries, the 150th and 330th, respectively.
Army helicopter crews aided more than 600 people in 2021
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian army helicopter crews clocked up 633 interventions in 2021 to airlift 644 injured or sick people, carry incubators and drop roughly 110,00 litres of water on fires, government data shows. The 151st Rotary Wing Squadron of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) assisted in 196 mountain rescue operations and seven firefighting campaigns, responded to 410 medical emergencies and carried incubators 20 times for a total of 711 flight hours. Defence Ministry data shows that the total number of SAF helicopter interventions was higher only in 2019 and 2018, at 733 and 654, respectively.
Ljubljana stock market in the green
LJUBLJANA - Stock brokers closed deals worth EUR 1.09 million on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, as the SBI TOP index of blue chips gained 0.65% on the first trading day in 2022. While accounting for the bulk of daily volume, pharma company Krka was the only one to record a drop (-1.27%). Tool maker Unior gained the most, almost 4%.
