Daily headlines - Friday, 5 March

DELO

Rail project
"Second rail line likely cheaper than expected": Construction work on the new Divača-Koper rail section are expected to start in May. 2TDK, the company managing the rail project, will now take a few weeks to select the contractor, however a bid by a consortium led by Slovenian builder Kolektor CPG is more competitive than Austrian builder Strabag's offer. (front page, page 9)

EU Parliament
"Keeping a close eye on Slovenia": Government attempts to silence independent media in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia is the official title of a debate that will be held at the European Parliament's plenary next Wednesday. PM Janez Janša meanwhile proposed a new date for a discussion with the EU Parliament's Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group. (front page, page 2)

Vaccine
"Blocked export of AstraZeneca vaccine": Italy has blocked the export to Australia of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in what is the first case of imposing the EU export ban after a shortfall in vaccine deliveries to the bloc. (front page)

DNEVNIK

Hospitality
"Outdoor drinks allowed again in certain places": Bars and cafes may again serve customers outdoor in the Posavje, Kočevje, Bela Krajina and Dolenjska regions from Monday. The government move is a reward for the best epidemiological status in the country. Meanwhile border restrictions will be stepped up. (front page, page 2)

Tourism
"Will the new hotel truly destroy Bled's townscape": A number of questions about the planned new hotel in lakeside resort Bled go unanswered as the project is raising dust. Will it have a steel facade? Will its design get in the way of the town's panorama, wonders the paper. (front page, page 7)

Courts
"Kangler facing a lot of work in court": Former Maribor Mayor and current Interior Ministry State Secretary Franc Kangler has a lot of work in store to strengthen his accusations before the next court hearing. The settlement between his team and the State Attorney's office on the compensation Kangler demands from the state has not been reached. (front page, page 4)

EPP-Fidesz
"Orban going his own way, who will go with him?": Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to transform the European right pole after leaving the EPP group. As long as Fidesz is still part of the EPP party, the former's MEPs may not form a new faction or join another one in the European Parliament. (front page, page 6)

VEČER

School
"School at last": Secondary school students are returning to in-classroom learning next week and school head teachers have their hands full with preparations for the step. Education Minister Simona Kustec did not express support for the students who had been fined for protesting over remote schooling. (front page, pages 2, 3, 9)

Pensions
"Two DeSUS MPs against the raise": The MPs have endorsed the Left's proposal to raise the minimum pension and fixed sum for 40 years of work in a slim majority. The decision is not final though and unofficial sources say the government will oppose it. Two MPs of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) voted against and one abstained. (front page, page 4)

Police
"Did Snežič know about the house searches?": An unusual trip by the Maribor-based tax advisor Rok Snežič to Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as allegations that the recent house searches did not come as a surprise raise suspicion that the information about the investigation was leaked and Snežič knew about the developments in advance. The police dismissed this. (front page, commentary 2, page 21)

Pope
"Pope in the land of terror": Iraq is in ruins, its people and religions demolished by the horrors of the wars and radical terrorist groups. Pope Francis is starting today his visit to the country in what is likely the most dangerous trip of his pontificate. (front page, page 6)