Daily headlines - Tuesday, 26 January

DELO

Coronavirus
"Vaccine not in sufficient supply, measures are the only weapon": Despite the coronavirus trend in Slovenia indicating a slight improvement, doctors Janez Tomažič and Alojz Ihan, writing in an opinion piece, note that Covid-19 is widespread across Europe with new variants of the virus appearing that are more transmissible than the original strain. (front page, pages 3, 6)

E-tolling tender
"Hot DARS deal": The motorway company DARS is expected to pick a contractor early next month to set up an electronic tolling system for cars among three bidders. Since complaints are expected, it will be hard to have the system up and running as planned by 1 December. (front page, page 10)

New parties
"Tie-up on the green": With nearly 36% of those questioned unhappy with the current parties, there is room for new faces in politics. Those planning a return to politics include former Environment Minister Jure Leben, who is working with some well-known business figures to set up a sustainably oriented party. A tie-up based on green policies is also emerging right of the centre, with SMC leader and former DeSUS leader Aleksandra Pivec said to be interested. (front page, page 2)

Italy government crisis
"Conte resigning because he wants to rule on": Italian PM Giuseppe Conte has called a government session for this morning to tender his resignation. (front page)

DNEVNIK

Public broadcaster
"Janša coalition's candidate at the helm of public RTV": The programme council of the public broadcaster appointed Andrej Grah Whatmough, the chairman of the supervisory board of RTV Slovenija, as the public service's new director general with the backing of councillors close to the Janez Janša government. (front page, page 4)

Earthquake safety
"Money for seismic retrofitting is available": If the state puts in some effort and creativity it could get money from the EU recovery and resilience fund to make buildings more earthquake resistant. The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning says it is working on the matter. (front page, page 8)

FINANCE

Takeovers and mergers
"Dream-like sale of Šenčur IT company": The merger in December between the Slovenian group NiceLabel and the US corporation Loftware has created the world's largest provider of labelling software solutions. Unofficially, Loftware paid over EUR 45 million for a 51% stake in Euro Plus, the parent company of NiceLabel. (front page, page 4)

Industry
"Global shortage of semiconductors": Volkswagen, a major buyer for Slovenian industry, has had to scale down production in some of its factories due to a shortage of chips as demand for semiconductors used in the chips has been outstripping supply; larger demand may also indicate an economic recovery. (front page, pages 2, 3)

Venture capital
"Where the fund of former owners of Outfit7, Klika, Zemanta etc. invests": Silicon Gardens, the Slovenian venture capital fund where capital and experiences are offered by successful Slovenian entrepreneurs, mainly from the IT industry, is planning to invest another EUR 3.5 million in startups in the coming two to three years. (front page, page 5)

VEČER

Reopening of schools
"Back to school and kindergarten after all": After nearly three months of distance learning, pupils of the first three grades of primary school in nine Slovenian regions are returning to classrooms and kindergartens are fully reopening today. (front page, pages 2, 3)

Fraud
"Elderly with dementia main target": After Večer disclosed how Vitalius door-to-door salespersons have taken advantage of the elderly and vulnerable to sell them a costly food supplement, more people have come forward to report about intentional fraud. The police have not found grounds for a criminal complaint. (front page, page 12)

Sexual harassment allegations against prof
"Pribac refutes criticism": Igor Pribac, an associate professor at the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts who faces allegations of poor work and sexual harassment from students, believes he does not deserve such a harsh punishment after the faculty's senate refused to award him habilitation. (front page, page 4)

Charity auction
"Yellow jersey being auctioned off": The Slovenska Bistrica Lions Club has put the yellow jersey of the Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar up for auction with the proceeds to go to the disadvantaged. (front page, page 9)

Coronavirus infections in football
"Virus attacking the purples, Bogatinov takes over as coach": Several players as well as the coaching team of the Maribor football club have come down with coronavirus in Turkey's Belek. The match with Shakhtar was off, instead the healthy members of the team were coached by the club's sports director Oliver Bogatinov. (front page, page 24)