Daily headlines - Wednesday, 3 March

DELO

One year of coronavirus epidemic
"Ignorant in first wave, confused in the second": Infectologist Janez Tomažič speaks of the new findings about coronavirus a year since its outbreak and the misconceptions about treating and fighting the disease. (front page, 3-4)

Public procurement
"Changes speed up rail project": On Thursday bids will be reviewed for the construction of the first section of the Koper-Divača rail project and on Monday for the second. The work will begin in May, says Pavle Hevka, head of 2TDK company that is managing the project. (front page, 8)

World's best teacher competition
"Nina Jelen going after million dollars": Nina Jelen from the Ivan Škvarča Primary School from the town of Zagorje ob Savi will represent Slovenia at the competition for the Global Teacher Prize in Paris at the end of the year. (front page, 17)

Germany
"Germans want reopening": German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet leaders of regional governments to discuss extension of coronavirus-related restrictions. (front page, 6)

China
"Virus cannot stop them": The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China will convene its annual session in Beijing next week to celebrate victory over the epidemic and announce growth. (front page, 6)

DNEVNIK

Border fence
"Hojs: More fence to the border!": Additional 50 kilometres of razor wire fence is to be set up on the border with Croatia, for which Interior Minister Aleš Hojs plans to allocate EUR 6 million. (front page, 4)

Covid-19 vaccination
"Why is Slovenia restricting use of AstraZeneca vaccine": Doctors cannot say when younger pensioners will be able to get vaccinated. People older than them have priority over them for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, while AstraZeneca is available only for people up to 65 years. (front page, 2)

FINANCE

Takeover
"Instrumentation Technologies from Solkan in the hands of Czech fund": Czech private investment fund ARX Equity Partners has taken over the Solkan-based tech company Instrumentation Technologies. The value of the deal has not be disclosed. (front page, 3)

Car sales
"Slovenians purchased almost 50% fewer cars this year": Car sales were down by more than 12% in February, while in the first two months sales to individuals dropped by almost 41%. The prospects for next months are brighter. (front page, 4)

Capital profit
"New tax rules that will make you pay more tax this year": The paper brings pointers on how to avoid paying fine if you did not submit your tax return. (front page, 2-3)

Triglav business results
"More net premiums, profit down by 10%": The Triglav insurance group recorded a growth in collected premiums for the sixth year in a row in 2020, as the figure rose by 4% to EUR 1.23 billion. Net profit was meanwhile down 12% compared to 2019 to EUR 73.7 million, shows the unaudited annual report. (front page, 6)

VEČER

Motorways
"Police occupying motorways": As many as 300 police officers will be working for motorway police, patrolling the 600 kilometres of Slovenian motorways. This will affect some traffic departments, including in Maribor and Celje. (front page, 2, 3)

Coronavirus
"Operated on by Bitenc, check-up at UKC": A patient has come forward saying the UKC Maribor doctor infected with the South African strain of coronavirus had examined him but that he was not informed of being in a risky contact. (front page, 5)

Fuel prices
"Driving becoming costlier": Fuel retailers have been raising fuel prices in recent weeks. Although the prices have been going up by a cent or two, since last year the prices of diesel and regular have gone up by 20% and over 15%, respectively. (front page, 6)

Innovation
"Innovation to fight snails": A family business on Kickstarter has proved that the epidemic could indeed be an opportunity. The family from Slovenj Gradec has created a fence driving away snails to be used in gardening. (front page, 13)

Boxmark
"Boxmark finally takes off": Company Boxmark has reached an important deal with Fly Emirates after years of efforts. (front page, 15)