STA, 15 September 2021 - Božo Dimnik, a lobbyist whose meetings with Prime Minister Janez Janša have been the subject of media scrutiny in recent days, has denied ever talking business with Janša, describing their meetings as "accidental".

"These were far from lobbying contacts, they were accidental meetings," Dimnik told Kanal A on Wednesday, adding that they never discussed business and that lobbying with a representative of the government would be "disrespectful".

The statement comes after POP TV released photos showing Dimnik and Janša playing golf on the island of Mauritius, reportedly in 2003.

Dimnik said he has been holidaying in Mauritius for forty years and had met Janša at the hotel reception.

A more recent report showed Dimnik on a yacht owned by the businessmen Andrej Marčič, reportedly in 2016. Another report showed Dimnik visiting Janša at home at an unknown date.

Dimnik said both meetings were "accidental", adding that they did not involve the planning or conclusion of any transactions.

Božo Dimnik za @Svet_KanalA o ozadju zasebnih druženj s premierjem @JJansaSDS: “Nikoli in nikdar nisva govorila o poslih, nikoli nisem lobiral.” Pravi, da je vedno šlo za naključna srečanja: “Janez Janša je po pomembnosti na repu mojih poznanstev.”
Svet ob 17.55. pic.twitter.com/4TvbTsxqOQ

— Kaja Kobetič (@KajaKobetic) September 15, 2021

Dimnik is a prominent lobbyist and his daughter owns a major supplier of medical equipment that has done millions of euros worth of business with public hospitals.

He told Kanal A that his daughter's company had won all the deals in public tenders.

Janša's and Dimnik's 2003 meeting in Mauritius has already been investigated by the Corruption Prevention Commission, which did not find any irregularities with respect of the duty of public officials to report lobbying contacts, but the commission only checked his contacts ten years back.

A commission spokeswoman told Kanal A that the watchdog had now initiated a new preliminary inquiry based on the new facts. If they detect any irregularities, they will launch a full investigation.

Janša's lobbying contracts will also be the subject of a debate by the parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances, which continues on Thursday after Janša did not show up for the first session. It is unclear whether Janša will attend this time.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA: 

Janša and Orban address Celje trade fair opening

CELJE - Prime Minister Janez Janša opened the 53rd International Trade Fair (MOS), saying the major challenges brought about by the Covid epidemic had been successfully weathered and that he was optimistic about the future. Welcoming Hungary as this year's partner country at the fair, Janša said bilateral economic cooperation was intensifying, noting that trade in goods reached EUR 1 billion in the first five months. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said that 2020 had been a black year for the global economy, and that 2021 was a kind of an economic milestone, as a new global economic era was emerging although not everyone was aware of it yet.

Slovenian and Hungarian ministers discuss security, migration

CELJE - The home affairs ministers of Slovenia and Hungary, Aleš Hojs and Sandor Pinter, met in Celje on Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting between the two prime ministers, Janez Janša and Viktor Orban, to discuss the security situation and migration. A press release from the Slovenian Ministry of Interior Affairs, said the two ministers had agreed about the urgent need to prevent mass migration flows in the EU and pressure on the bloc's external borders.

Slovenian, Hungarian governments expanding cooperation

CELJE - The governments of Slovenia and Hungary held a joint session with officials conducting an overview of existing cooperation and signed additional bilateral agreements. Government officials signed a letter of intent on a joint fund for Prekmurje and Porabje, the border regions populated by the Hungarian and Slovenian ethnic minorities, and a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation.

Entrepreneurs laud work of commercial diplomacy

CELJE - Business executives and entrepreneurs taking part in debate at the 10th Day of Commercial Diplomacy at the International Trade Fair in Celje praised the work of this branch of the diplomatic service, while they also offered their views on global challenges. The annual event was attended by Slovenian diplomats and representatives of institutions and companies with opening addresses delivered by Stanislav Raščan and Andrej Čuš, state secretaries at the ministries of foreign affairs and economy.

Six deaths and over 1,360 new Covid infections on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,364 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday, up 25% from a week earlier, while six patients with Covid-19 died, according to the latest data. The positivity rate was just over 20%, down from almost 25% a day earlier. The 7-day average of new cases rose to 953 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 to 530, data from the National Institute of Public Health show. It estimates that there are now almost 11,240 active cases in the country. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals increased to 347 this morning, with 76 patients in intensive care.

Surge in vaccinations and protest as Covid pass mandate takes effect

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has seen a surge in vaccinations in the run-up to the Covid pass mandate that took effect today, but the first day has also brought report of tensions in shops and a large protest in front of Parliament House by groups of antivaxxers and anti-maskers, at which police used a water canon and tear gas to disperse the crowd. After the Covid pass mandate was announced on Saturday, vaccine uptake surged with the number of doses administered doubling week-on-week on Monday and Tuesday as long waiting lines were reported in front of vaccination centres.

Pahor upholds von der Leyen's main messages in Rome

ROME, Italy - President Borut Pahor upheld the key points from the State of the Union address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as addressed a meeting in Rome with the heads of state of 15 EU countries as part of the Arraiolos initiative discussing the path to strategic autonomy. He said they were a good compromise between different views and a good pointer for the steps that need to be taken, Pahor's office said.

Slovenian MEPs find von der Leyen's speech realistic, lacking specifics

LJUBLJANA - In assessing the annual address to the European Parliament by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Slovenian MEPs said on Wednesday her speech was realistic but lacked concrete proposals, including on social policy. Some welcomed the announced legislation on media freedom.

Slovenia to deploy more staff to NATO Iraq mission

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia plans to increase the number of personnel in NATO's mission in Iraq (NMI) to up to 15 soldiers and civilian experts under a decision adopted by the government in the summer that the parliamentary foreign policy and defence committees took note today. NATO defence ministers decided in February to expand the Iraq mission from 500 to 4,000 troops. Slovenia has participated in the Iraq mission since 2016 and two soldiers are currently deployed there.

Ombudsman reproves Education Ministry in presenting 2020 report

LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina expressed his disappointment at what he described as unresponsiveness on the part of the Education Ministry to his warnings related to remote schooling, as he presented the 2020 report to a parliamentary committee. Addressing the Committee on Education, Science, Sports and Youth, Svetina said the 2020 report was marked by the Covid-19 epidemic. "Almost throughout the year we were facing measures to protect lives and health which strongly affected our lives, our freedoms, curbing them immensely," he said.

Slovenia part of new UNESCO five-country biosphere reserve

LJUBLJANA - UNESCO, the United Nations educational scientific and cultural organisation, has formally declared a biosphere reserve spanning the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers, the first five-country biosphere in the world. The area, spanning 900,000 hectares along the three rivers, has thus become the largest protected riparian reserve in Europe.

Ex-court stenographer charged with confidential info leak

CELJE - The Celje Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against Vojko Tadina, a former Celje District Court employee who is suspected of having leaked confidential information to the criminal underground in exchange for money, the newspaper Večer reported. Tadina, who started working at the court's criminal law department in 2018, is charged with disclosing confidential information. The investigation has shown that he leaked the confidential information for least two years, and that being a drug addict, he used the bulk of the money he received to pay his drug-related debts.

Pipistrel to produce Virus aircraft in Hungary

CELJE - Slovenian maker of ultralight aircraft Pipistrel signed an aircraft manufacturing agreement with Hungary's Genevation Aircraft on the manufacture, marketing and provision of after-sales support for select markets, a deal the company says is worth in excess of EUR 100 million over ten years. The agreement involves the final assembly of Pipistrel SW 121 family aircraft for select domestic and international markets, and cooperation in the development of opportunities and production of advanced composite structures, aircraft components, special mission programs and zero emission aircraft.

Spanish delivery company Glovo completes acquisition of Ehrana

LJUBLJANA - The acquisition of the food delivery platform Ehrana has been finalised and all activities have been transferred to Glovo, the Spanish acquirer said, after announcing in May that it would take over one of the largest home delivery providers in Slovenia. Glovo said all the content of the Ehrana app had now been transferred, which means that users of the app will be automatically redirected to Glovo via a personalised link. The same applies to the Ehrana website.

Ex-kindergarten head gets suspended sentence for maltreatment

LJUBLJANA - Branimira Vrečar, the former head of her private kindergarten in Ljubljana, received a two-year suspended prison sentence with a probation of four years for "neglect of minors and cruel treatment of children". Vrečar, 70, pleaded guilty last week but did not attend today's handing down of the sentence at the District Court in Ljubljana. She was also ordered to pay court fees.

Best of Slovenia's contemporary dance on show in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The best of Slovenia's contemporary dance production over the past two years will be showcased at the 10th Gibanica biennial in Ljubljana, which opens tonight at the Old Power Station with the event entitled To Do Hugging, and until Saturday. Choreographer Marko Mlačnik will also be honoured for his lifetime achievement at the opening event. The competition programme will feature nine productions - eight picked from among a total of 55 productions and one that qualified directly by virtue of the producers winning an award at the previous festival.

Globetrotter Alma M. Karlin in focus of Vienna exhibition

VIENNA, Austria - An exhibition on Alma M. Karlin (1889-1950) will open today at the Weltmuseum Wien, shedding light on the life and work of the famed Slovenian author and globetrotter. Open until 18 January, the show's concept mirrors the 2020 monograph Endless Travels of Alma M. Karlin by Barbara Trnovec, a curator from the Celje Regional Museum who has studied Karlin's life for many years. She has co-curated the exhibition together with Reinhard Blumauer of the Weltmuseum.

Launch of demographic office postponed yet again

LJUBLJANA - The government decided at its correspondence session on Tuesday to postpone yet again the launch of the Government Office for Demographic Affairs, this time by a month. The new date for the office, which was to be fully up-and-running today, is now 15 October. The specialised institution designed to address demographic challenges was formally established with a government decree adopted in October 2020. It is still unclear who will lead the new office.

Slovenia defeat Czechia to enter Eurovolley semis

OSTRAVA, Czechia - Slovenia defeated hosts Czechia 3:0 at the Men's European Volleyball Championship to enter the semi-finals, where they will play Poland. The win marks a major boost for the Slovenians given that they lost to Czechia in the group stage, with the Czechs then proceeding to eliminate Olympic champions France.

STA, 15 September 2021 - Police used a water canon and tear gas to disperse a group of several thousand protesters rallying against the Covid pass mandate in front of Parliament House on Wednesday.

The protest started out peacefully in the afternoon, but towards nightfall the crowd started to push against Parliament House and several signal torches were thrown at the building.

Police in riot gear reacted by firing gas canisters at the crowd, which soon dispersed into the surrounding streets.

Smaller groups returned to the square and started throwing more torches, prompting the police to deploy a water cannon. Stones were also thrown at police.

The protest was organised by several groups opposing vaccination, masks and the Covid pass mandate that entered into force today.

Pred parlamentom je vroče! pic.twitter.com/G94xgXWoQA

— Radio Študent (@radiostudent) September 15, 2021

Razbita flaša. pic.twitter.com/UywetezwpF

— Radio Študent (@radiostudent) September 15, 2021

The groups are active mostly on Facebook and their spokespersons today decried the latest restrictions and called on the government and MPs to resign.

Ljubljana police estimate the crowd numbered 8,000 people and described the rally as "a mass violation of public law and order".

It said officers were pelleted with torches, granite pavers and other objects.

The police was still in the city around 10pm to disperse individual groups that scattered around the centre.

Police Commissioner Anton Olaj called for tolerance and said on Twitter that violence at protests was "inadmissible".

Interior Minister Aleš Hojs pointed the finger at leftist parties, saying their "offshoots" had organised the rally.

He said on Twitter that this was how "left fascism was implemented in practice".

STA, 15 September 2021 - UNESCO, the United Nations educational scientific and cultural organisation, has formally declared a biosphere reserve spanning the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers, the first five-country biosphere in the world.

The area, spanning 900,000 hectares along the three rivers, has thus become the largest protected riparian reserve in Europe.

The nomination was jointly submitted by Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia in late-2019 and UNESCO formally endorsed it at Wednesday's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

The lower sections of the three rivers and their flood plains form one of the most bio-diverse natural environments in Europe.

The river flow constantly creates new habitats for numerous endangered animal and plant species, including more than 300 bird species. Many fish species, such as sterlet and huchen or Danube salmon, use the 700km-long river network to migrate.

Due to its size and potential, the biosphere reserve is "the first example of the protection of our unique natural areas in conjunction with the development of sustainable business practices," said WWF Adria, an environmental NGO.

Learn more about the biosphere here

STA, 15 September 2021 - Delegates of the coalition Modern Centre Party (Stranka modernega centra – SMC) will meet in Celje on Thursday for a congress at which party president Zdravko Počivalšek will seek support for a merger with the non-parliamentary GAS party and a tie-up with several other parties and lists for a joint list at the next general election.

Počivalšek, who serves as economy minister in the government of Janez Janša, will look to be given the mandate to merge the SMC with the Economically Active Party (Gospodarsko aktivna stranka – GAS), a pro-business party headed by National Council President Alojz Kovšca.

The plan is to create a liberal, business-oriented party, with the talks on the merger having been conducted in recent months, and to hold a merger congress by the end of the year. The new party would also get a new name.

The abbreviation SMC originally stood for the Miro Cerar Party, after its founder and former prime and foreign minister, with the name being changed later to the Modern Centre Party, keeping the same abbreviation.

According to the smallest party in the ruling coalition with five MPs, the new name is expected to shift the focus on the party being a political partner of the business sector.

At the congress, Počivalšek will seek a mandate to connect with some local parties and lists ahead of the next general election, scheduled to take place next year.

According to unofficial information, talks are being held, among others, with the list of Celje Mayor Bojan Šrot, several local parties, and the Greens of Slovenia, which is headed by former MP Andrej Čuš, now a state secretary of Počivalšek's.

The SMC is reportedly also open for talks to join Revive Slovenia, a project which features several parties, lists and individuals, including the People's Party (SLS). These talks are expected to be held at a later date.

All talks on cooperation and association are being held so that the diverse parties and lists create a joint slate for the next election.

It is expected, though, that the SMC as a parliamentary party will be the driving force, while the remaining parties would help out with a developed local network and locally prominent individuals.

The SMC is also expected to adopt guidelines for its platform for the next election, which include political partnership with the business sector and development for all regions.

What is probably a key congress and key election for the party comes after the SMC joined the Janez Janša government last spring after being part of the centre-left coalition led by Marjan Šarec, formed after the 2018 elections.

The party faced criticism for joining the coalition with the Democrats (SDS) after Šarec resigned, including internally, with as many as five MPs or half of the original number of SMC deputies in the National Assembly leaving the deputy group.

In the last year and a half, Počivalšek has faced allegations as economy minister of misconduct in the purchase of medical equipment in the early stages of the Covid-19 epidemic.

"After Šarec quit at the most difficult moment for our country, the SMC made a responsible move and was a motor of creation of the new government, which has tackled the health and economic crisis," Počivalšek told the STA ahead of the congress.

"Because it is precisely the SMC that holds the key to the current government, we have been the main target of attacks on it," he said, adding that "we have bled in this fight, but survived eventually."

Počivalšek said the SMC would be strengthened by new partners in allies so that it could succeed in the election campaign next year.

The SMC is currently barely registered in public opinion polls and ranks well below the threshold to enter the National Assembly.

The congress comes ahead of the imminent debates in parliament on the opposition-sponsored motions to oust two ministers from the SMC quota - Education Minister Simona Kustec and Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič.

STA, 15 September 2021 - An exhibition on Alma M. Karlin (1889-1950) will open on Wednesday at the Weltmuseum Wien, shedding light on the life and work of the famed Slovenian author and globetrotter. The show is open until 18 January.

Conceptually, the show mirrors the 2020 monograph Neskončno Potovanje Alme M. Karlin" (Endless Travels of Alma M. Karlin) by Barbara Trnovec, a curator from the Celje Regional Museum who has studied Karlin's life for many years.

She has co-curated the exhibition together with Reinhard Blumauer of the Weltmuseum, the Celje Regional Museum said.

The exhibition showcases objects that Karlin collected during her travels, along with her photographs and her biography. According to Trnovec, the way the exhibits are showcased, "each one comes across as a work of art".

In lieu of a catalogue, the exhibition will be accompanied by the English and German translations of Trnovec's monograph.

Karlin embarked on a world tour in 1919 and travelled alone for eight years. To make money, she wrote articles for a Celje newspaper and occasionally took on various jobs, a remarkable feat for her time.

After finishing her journey, she soon became well known abroad. She held lectures around Europe. In a 1931 calendar, she was presented as one of the most influential women in Germany.

Although she was born in Celje, her mother decided that her mother tongue will be German, but Karlin later showed her devotion to her homeland by becoming a fierce opponent of Nazism and joining the Partisan movement in 1944.

Staying true to her principles, Karlin eventually fought against Communism as well. Both regimes spied on her and both wanted to kill her. She died five years after the end of World War II of typhoid and cancer, in poverty and obscurity.

The show will open with an address by Slovenian Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti.

You can learn more about the exhibition here

STA, 14 September 2021 - A joint session of two parliamentary working bodies, called by the centre-left opposition to discuss the status of an association that has been linked to the Identitarian movement, was broken off yesterday after one of the ministers invited walked out, while another excused himself from attending the meeting.

The joint session by the Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities and the Culture Committee was to discuss the status of the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Values, whose erstwhile leader Urban Purgar recently resigned in the wake of controversy after he posted a "Hitler is #hero" tweet on 1 August.

Urban Purgar and his tweet. Photos: YouTube, Twitter

The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Left, Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the non-affiliated MPs (NeP) wanted for the Culture Ministry to annul the decision whereby it awarded the association the status of an association in the public interest, which was one of the conclusions proposed for the session to adopt.

SD MP Meira Hot said it was "completely unacceptable" for the association to enjoy such a status considering that it "incites hatred, offends people and even threatens liquidations".

"How can glorifying one of the biggest Nazi leaders be for the general benefit of our society and public interest," the MP wondered, adding that such actions ran in contravention of the Slovenian law.

Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said a session on neo-Nazism was welcome, and it would be good for discussion to be held in parliament once about "hate speech and totalitarian criminal systems such as Communism, Fascism and Nazism".

He said it was up to the authorities in charge to detect if neo-Nazism was present in Slovenia, while "it is required to approach in equal measure and vigilantly to detecting other totalitarian systems".

The minister soon left the session without stating his position on the proposed conclusions. Since Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič had already excused himself from attendance beforehand, the session was broken off after about an hour.

The centre-left opposition said they would keep resuming and interrupting the session until they have been given answers to their concrete questions.

The parties had told reporters ahead of the session they would insist on the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Values being stripped of the status of an association in the public interest.

"Ideas of Nazism and Fascism are being stringently prosecuted throughout Europe, while the Janez Janša government encourages such ideas and gives them value," said Violeta Tomić, the head of the Culture Committee and MP for the Left.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA: 

ECHR finds lack of effective legal remedy with respect to bail-in

STRASBOURG, France - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Slovenia violated Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights in dispossessing holders of shares and subordinated bonds as part of the 2013/14 bank bailout, finding they had no reasonable opportunity to challenge or seek compensation for the Slovenian central bank's measure. A counsel representing the applicants, said the court clearly ordered Slovenia to provide effective legal remedy and tackle the situation at home. The Finance Ministry pointed out that the court did not say whether the applicants were entitled to damages, adding that this was up to Slovenia courts to adjudicate.

Opposition wants answers after photos surface of PM on businessman's yacht

LJUBLJANA - The opposition demanded answers after POP TV released photos showing Prime Minister Janez Janša spending time with the lobbyist Božo Dimnik on a yacht owned by the businessmen Andrej Marčič in 2016. The POP TV report says this shows Janša and Marčič not been meeting accidentally, as Marčič claimed back when photos were published of the two playing golf in Mauritius almost two decades ago. Opposition parties want an investigation and the matter is likely to be discussed by the parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances later this week.

1,393 new coronavirus infections recorded on Monday

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise in Slovenia, with 1,393 infections being detected on Monday, which is up 59% from a week ago and the highest daily figure since 7 April. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals was up by 21 to 333 and the number of patients in intensive care by three to 77. There are now more than 10,640 active cases in the country, according to the National Institute of Public Health.

Pahor discusses cooperation with Lombardy president in Milan

MILAN, Italy - President Borut Pahor met Attilio Fontana, the president of the Italian region of Lombardy, for what his office said were talks about cooperation, in particularly economic ties, and opportunities to develop and enhance bilateral relations. At the meeting, which was also attended by Letizia Moratti, the vice-president of the Italian region, Pahor called for a versatile deepening of the ties between Slovenia and Lombardy.

Opposition's motion on foreign students defeated in parliament

LJUBLJANA - Opposition-sponsored legislation that sought to revoke the requirement that third-country students must provide upfront proof of sufficient funding for their entire stay in Slovenia has been defeated at the National Assembly. The coalition parties as well as the National Party (SNS) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) argued that proving sufficient funds for financing of studies is appropriately regulated.

Slovenian, Hungarian governments to meet in Celje tomorrow

CELJE - PM Janez Janša and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban will meet, accompanied by their delegations of ministers, in Celje on Wednesday, as Hungary is featured as the partner country at the 53rd Celje International Trade Fair, the Government Communication Office announced. The two governments will review bilateral cooperation in economy, infrastructure, defence, home affairs, culture, science and ethnic minorities.

Session on neo-Nazism suspended after minister walks out

LJUBLJANA - A joint session of two parliamentary working bodies, called by the centre-left opposition to discuss the status of an association that has been linked to the Identitarian movement, was broken off yesterday after Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti walked out, while another minister excused himself from attending the session.

Additional fencing planned on border with Croatia

CELJE - Slovenia plans to erect several dozen kilometres of new fencing on the border with Croatia in an effort to crack down on illegal migrations, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said. An agreement on the new fencing is about to be finalised and the construction work should start within two or three weeks, Hojs told reporters during the government's visit to the Savinjska region.

Slovenian tourism expected to bounce back by 2024

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has been recording solid tourism figures this year but the sector is not expected to bounce back before 2023 or, more likely, 2024, Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc said. Asian guests are unlikely to return before 2023. However, the digital Covid pass will make travel easier for European tourists in that it removes uncertainty in the crossing of borders, Zajc said.

SIJ ups revenue by 24% in first half, back to profit

LJUBLJANA - The steel group SIJ generated EUR 451.6 million in sales revenue in the first half of the year, or 24.4% more year-on-year, while bouncing from a loss in the first half of 2020 to more than EUR 10 million in net profit. In the January-June period, the group almost doubled earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to EUR 43.6 million, the company said.

UNICEF survey confirms rise in distress among Slovenian teens

LJUBLJANA - A survey UNICEF Slovenia carried out in June among 400 respondents aged 10 to 18 has shown that a lack of quality inter-personal relations during the Covid-19 epidemic has deepened distress of children and youths in Slovenia. Many children and youths also do not turn to adults for help and are trying to resolve their problems themselves.

Man gets three years for robbing rectory in Višnja Gora

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court sentenced a 40-year-old man to three years in prison for the robbery of the rectory in Višnja Gora last December. Milenko Hudorovac pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial, but then changed his mind and denied guilt until the end of the proceedings, the newspaper Dnevnik reported.

Police apprehend three people transporting illegal migrants

MARIBOR/NOVO MESTO - Maribor police detained a Moldovan man on Monday who was illegally transporting ten Bangladeshi nationals in his vehicle, while his accomplice, believed to be an Afghan national, is still on the run. On the same day, Novo Mesto police arrested a man and a woman from Georgia that were illegally transporting seven migrants.

Artist climbs Mt Triglav to examine her national identity

LJUBLJANA - Lina Akif, a Slovenian-born drama student of African-Hungarian descent, climbed Mt Triglav, one of the main Slovenian symbols, last week to claim her Slovenian identity by carrying a head of the Kurent carnival costume, another powerful Slovenian symbol, up to the country's tallest mountain, "the altar of Slovenian identity". The project took the form of the Passion of Jesus, and was termed Slovenian Passion.

STA, 14 September 2021 - Slovenia has been recording solid tourism figures this year but the sector is not expected to bounce back before 2023 or, more likely, 2024, Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc said on Tuesday.

Asian guests are unlikely to return before 2023. However, the digital Covid pass will make travel easier for European tourists in that it removes uncertainty in the crossing of borders, Zajc said.

Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) figures show tourist arrivals rose by 28% year-on-year in July and August combined, but this is still 28% below 2019 figures.

In the first seven months of the year, arrivals were down 19% on the year before and 61% lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The projections for autumn are positive and whole-year arrivals are expected to rise by 11% over the year before, mostly due to the return of foreign guests, according to STO director Maja Pak.

The figures were presented at the Slovenia Incoming Workshop, the biggest event for tour organisers in the country. A total of 193 tour organisers are participating, of which 82 from abroad.

STA, 14 September 2021 - A survey UNICEF Slovenia carried out in June among 400 respondents aged 10 to 18 has shown that a lack of quality inter-personal relations during the Covid-19 epidemic has deepened distress of children and youths in Slovenia. Many children and youths do not turn to adults for help and are trying to resolve their problems themselves.

The survey on mental health of children and youths in Slovenia has also shown that the majority felt strained or under stress "often or all the time" in the past year, UNICEF Slovenia said in a press release on Tuesday.

UNICEF Slovenia has been warning for some time that school closure and other measures to contain the epidemic have had a largely negative impact on children, with risks of abuse, violence and poverty increasing alongside inadequate diet, a rise in overweight children, and a considerable rise in psychological distress.

As many as 70% felt unexplained pain in the stomach or chest, did not feel well physically, or experienced sleep disorders, long-lasting sadness and despair. Some of them felt several of these symptoms simultaneously for a longer period of time, and almost 50% reported to be more anxious than before the epidemic.

21% assessed their mental health as poor, 60% are more afraid of the future as a result of the epidemic, and the majority address their issues without the help of others.

The distress of children and youths remains largely overlooked. The pandemic has caused many new instances of distress, while further deepening the existing issues, said family therapist Polona Greif.

"The scope of much of the distress has not yet become fully visible, but will be certainly felt for a long time by both society and by the most vulnerable individuals," she added.

A rise in distress among children has also been noticed at UNICEF's safe points around the country. There are 1,050 safe points in 120 towns, with more than 2,050 trained adults providing protection, help or just a piece of advice.