Daily headlines - Wednesday, 16 February

DELO

Health and social care strike
"Only urgent services available during strike": Employees in healthcare and social care are on strike today as a result of which pharmacies will be closed between 10am and 4pm, care homes will shift to Sunday hours and only urgent services will be available at hospitals and health centres. (front page, page 3)

Ukraine crisis
"Russian troops withdrawing, West cautious": NATO and some European capitals have met with reservations the announcement by the Russian Defence Ministry yesterday that some Russian troops had begun pulling back from the border with Ukraine. (front page, page 5)

Covid exit strategy
"Getting back on track": Health experts gathered at Brdo yesterday set out the path for a phased easing of Covid restrictions. Their recommendations now need the be endorsed by the government. (front page, page 3)

Pensions
"Pensions going up by 4.4%": Pensioners will get 4.4% higher pensions in February along with the rise for January in line with this year's regular adjustment to inflation and salaries. (front page)

DNEVNIK

Interest rates
"Inflation going up, so will interest rates": Inflation can be curbed by raising interest rates. Economist Sašo Polanec is concerned about the harmful impact of central banks delaying a rise in key interest rates as the need for adjustments will only increase later. (front page, page 5)

Investment in education
"New medical school to be costlier": The architectural bureau Multipan, which won the competition for a new campus of the Ljubljana medical school, says the school's cost estimate of EUR 26 million, VAT excluded, is unrealistic. (front page, page 8)

FINANCE

Interest rates
"How cheap are housing loans": Housing loans may soon get costlier, according to indications from banks and market developments. A review of 33 concrete deals shows a 1.5% fixed rate is currently a new normal with some going as low as 1.3%. (front page, page 4)

Business outlook
"Slovenian execs more optimistic than foreign peers": Slovenian executives are more upbeat than their foreign counterparts that the companies they run will see an increase in revenue, a survey by PwC has found. (front page, pages 2, 3)

Energy
"All you need to know about own solar plant": Photovoltaic technology has become so cheap and with the latest energy price hikes it pays to have your own solar plant even in poor sunlight. (front page, pages 24, 25)

VEČER

Health and social care strike
"They don't believe the government": Except for doctors, health staff in health centres, hospitals, social care institutions and social services went on strike this morning over what their trade unions say is the government's unwillingness to wrap up talks on strike demands by 4 March and adopt agreed work standards by 24 April. (front page, page 2)

Hungarian ownership
"Two years into Hungarian ownership": Two years after being sold to a Hungarian owner, the spa resort Terme Lendava remains closed for renovation. Furloughed staff get paid but trade unions are worried. (front page, page 5)

Covid rules
"They expected visit by police": Police have their hands full investigating welcome parties for Slovenian Olympic medallists as to whether they abide by Covid rules. (front page, page 23)

Ski resorts
"For mountain go-karts on Areh": Marprom, the operator of the ski slopes above Maribor, will apply for the call for funds for transformation of Slovenia's large ski resorts to build a way-stop on the Pohorje cableway and a new four-seater chairlift at Ruška. (front page, page 16)