News roundup - Monday, 19 August

Decrease in irregular migration in first seven months, Syrians standing out

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian police processed a total of 25,786 irregular migrants in the first seven months of 2024, a 4% decrease year-on-year. Syrians accounted for almost a third of all cases, with their number up more than tenfold. Afghan nationals follow, but their number is down by 30%. The number of recorded smuggling cases increased from 197 to 308, with 337 individuals caught smuggling 1,927 illegal migrants. Detention orders were issued for 316 smugglers. The number of asylum applications filed fell by 18% to 3,073.

Vox Populi: Quality of life unchanged under Golob govt

LJUBLJANA - The government's popularity continues to grow even though the majority, over 58%, still see the government as unsuccessful, shows the latest Vox Populi poll, released by the newspaper Dnevnik. Most respondents said their quality of life has not changed under the current government. The opposition Democrats (SDS) remain the most popular party at 23.1%, up by 0.1 percentage point from July, followed by the ruling Freedom Movement with 17.1%, up by one point.

Government outlines efforts to address youth grievances

LJUBLJANA - Responding to criticism voiced on International Youth Day by youth representatives, the government has highlighted efforts by Prime Minister Robert Golob and several cabinet departments to address the grievances expressed. Job and housing security and mental health support are all areas that have been or are being worked on, it said.

Boxmark Leather planning new layoffs

KIDRIČEVO - Boxmark Leather, the Kidričevo-based maker of car and air plane seat covers, is set to lay off some 120 of its estimated 470 workers by the end of the year, the public broadcaster Radio Slovenia reported. At the start of the year, the company was still successful at winning new business deals and was even hiring. But before the summer, orders dropped by 25%. Moreover, the company has moved part of its production to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Bled Castle increasingly popular with tourists

BLED - Bled Castle above the scenic Lake Bled is attracting more visitors again after the Covid-19 slump. The castle saw nearly 186,000 visitors in the first half of 2024, up 12% year-on-year, and some 240,000 by 1 August, said the Bled Culture Institute, which manages the castle. Some 16% of visitors were Slovenians, 13% were South Korean and 10% American, followed by visitors from Hungary, Italy, Germany, Croatia, the UK and Poland. Last year the castle saw 412,000 visitors, up from 300,000 in 2022, but still below the pre-pandemic figure of 570,000 in 2019.

Nataša Robežnik appointed head of contemporary history museum

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Asta Vrečko appointed art historian Nataša Robežnik full-fledged director of the National Museum of Contemporary History after she has served as its acting head since January 2023. The museum was formally created in January 2023 when the Robert Golob government merged the new Museum of Slovenian Independence with the National Museum of Contemporary History.

Economy Ministry cautions against malicious e-mail about business award

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport said that some individuals and companies had received a malicious e-mail from a fake e-mail account suggesting it had been sent by Minister Matjaž Han. The e-mail with an attachment says the addressees have won a business award. Relevant institutions have already been notified of the fake message circulating, the ministry said.

FeKK short film festival celebrates 10th anniversary

LJUBLJANA - FeKK, the Ljubljana short film festival, opened at Kinodvor for the 10th year running, bringing over 40 films in two different competition sections and a number of accompanying events at several locations in Ljubljana until Saturday. Twenty-three contemporary short films from the Balkans will compete in the FeKK BAL international competition programme, and 19 of the best of Slovenian shorts as part of FeKK SLO.