News roundup - Sunday, 1 September

Slovenia assuming presidency of the UN Security Council

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia is assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council in September, the most eventful month for the organisation as most world leaders gather in New York for the General Assembly's general debate. Slovenia will present the programme of work to the other 14 Security Council members on Tuesday, while the country's special representative to the Council Samuel Žbogar has already moved to the president's office. The main event during the one-month presidency will be a high-level open debate on 25 September during the general debate at the start of the General Assembly session.

Fajon shocked by killing of six Israeli hostages

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed her shock over the killing of six Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, saying that Slovenia reiterates call for immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and an urgent deal on a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave. "It's our moral responsibility to do everything we can in order to end this torture," she added as the Israeli army announced that it had found dead bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in southern Gaza Strip.

Museums, galleries see fewer visitors last year than in 2019

LJUBLJANA - Museums and galleries in Slovenia hosted 1,224 exhibitions last year, which is 13% fewer than in 2019, the last year before the Covid-19 epidemic. The shows saw a total of 2.7 million visitors, or 1.5% fewer than in 2019, although almost 633,500 or 15% more free tickets were issued, the Statistics Office reported. Museums and galleries in Slovenia recorded a total of EUR 5 million in revenue from ticket sales, or around EUR 1.1 million more than in 2019.

Ballet dancer Henrik Neubauer, a Prešeren Prize laureate, dies

LJUBLJANA - Ballet dancer, choreographer and director Henrik Neubauer, a winner of the latest Prešeren Prize, the highest national accolade for lifetime achievement in arts and culture, has died aged 95, his family announced for the STA. Born in Golnik in 1929, Neubauer entered the world of ballet in 1944 through the ballet school of Maks Kirbos. He was featured in most of the major classical and modern ballets - he choreographed over 80 pieces by Slovenian composers, and directed more than 30 operas and operettas along with 15 plays in French.

Fire breaks out below Mt Porezen in NW Slovenia

TOLMIN - A fire broke out below Mt Porezen in northwestern Slovenia late on Saturday afternoon, having engulfed some two hectares of rough and inaccessible terrain. Firefighters have managed to put out some of the fire and the effort continues on Sunday with the support of Air Tractor aircraft and a Slovenian Armed Forces helicopter. Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration director Leon Behin told the 24ur.com news portal that, while there is no risk for any settlements or infrastructure, the fire will be active for several more days, and it could be only realistically extinguished by rain.