News roundup - Monday, 5 August, until 3pm

Fajon calls for restraint amid rising tensions in Middle East

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed concern about the rising tensions in the Middle East in a phone call with Iran's acting Foreign Minister Bagheri Kani, calling for maximum restraint by all actors in the region. "There is no military solution to the crisis. Our collective security relies on respect for the UN Charter and international law. We need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the region. Now is the time for Iran to act responsibly to confirm its status in the international community," Fajon said in the phone call with Kani according to a post on the Foreign Ministry's X profile.

Registered jobless total down 6.1% in July

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's registered jobless total was at 44,384 at the end of July, up 2.3% from the previous month but down 6.1% year-on-year. The increase on the monthly basis was mostly due to a rise in job seekers whose fixed-term employment contracts expired, the Employment Service said. A total of 5,220 registered anew as jobless in July, which is 43.5% more than in June and 4.7% more than a year ago. Most of them were persons whose fixed-term contracts expired (2,747), followed by redundant workers (860), those who lost their job because their company went bankrupt (37) and first job seekers (267).

NSi confident as it turns 24, no major changes expected

LJUBLJANA - Vida Čadonič Špelič, a vice-president of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi), expressed pride over the party's achievements and forecast a bright future for it as the NSi is marking its 24th anniversary. She indicated at a news conference that Matej Tonin is expected to remain party leader despite being recently elected to the European Parliament, and announced that the NSi will aim at 10% in the next general election. She criticised the government, saying that PM Robert Golob had nothing to show but broken pledges. "Slovenia deserves a better a government," she said.

Slovenian volleyballers out of Paris Olympics after defeat against Poland

PARIS, France - The Slovenian national men's volleyball team was knocked out of the Paris Olympic Games by losing 1:3 to Poland in the quarterfinals. Slovenia's best scorer was Klemen Čebulj with 16 points, while Poland was led by their star player Wilfredo Leon Venero, who recorded 20 points. The defeat, which automatically means the end of the Slovenian team's Olympic journey, is particularly bitter since it comes after three consecutive wins in the preliminary round in what was their Olympic debut.

Jazz festival to link music and dance

NOVO MESTO - Novo Mesto will soon host the 24th rendition of the jazz workshop and festival Jazzinty. The Jazzon Award for the best Slovenian jazz composition will be awarded to Luka Zabric for Vagabond Suite. Both the jazz festival and the workshop will take place from 12 to 17 August. The festival will open with a performance of Ljubljana University jazz music students, followed by a concert of Miss C-Line, a Swiss alternative neo-soul performer.

Punk rockers starting holiday on the Soča

TOLMIN - Another major music gathering, the Punk Rock Holiday festival, gets under next to the Soča River in Tolmin today. The highlights of the event, taking place in the scenic environment until Friday, include the US punk rockers Rise Against, Descendents and the Alcaline Trio. The popularity of Punk Rock Holiday festival, incepted in 2011, has been rising steadily, and the event, capped at 5,000 visitors due to a new municipal rule, has already been sold out for this year.