News roundup - Monday, 5 August

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 Sunday's phone call with Iran's acting Foreign Minister Bagheri Kani, urging 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 June 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 , those who lost their job because their company went bankrupt and first job seekers.

Agriculture sector receives EUR 34.5m in post-flood aid

LJUBLJANA - The Agriculture, Forestry and Food Ministry has prepared nine forms of aid, totalling EUR 85.5 million to help the agriculture sector recover after the disastrous floods in August 2023, and has already paid out EUR 34.5 million. The damage caused by the floods and landslides last August to agriculture infrastructure, equipment, farming land, livestock and crops, as well as in aquaculture and fishing is estimated at EUR 237 million.

Slovenian blue chips plummet, NLB down over 6%

LJUBLJANA - Joining today's global stock market plunge, blue chips on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange plummeted posting loses from 2.6 to 6.5%, pushing the SBI TOP benchmark 4.52% lower, below 1,600 points. The NLB bank lost the most, as much as 6.51%, as stock brokers closed deals worth EUR 1.79 million in it. Another EUR 1.2 million was made in pharma maker Krka stocks, which lost 2.61% while the overall trading volumes reached EUR 4.53 million. Commenting, Blaž Bračič from NLB Funds told the STA this is a normal correction for stock markets after they had posted high growth this year. He advised investors to keep a cool head and avoid "drastic moves".

NSi confident as it turns 24

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 moreover 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 Olympics 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.

Top athletes discuss transition to life after sport

PARIS, France - Former professional athletes discussed life after sport at a round table at the Slovenia House, stressing that the end of an athlete's professional career comes with many challenges. They highlighted the need for support in entering second careers and in balancing training and education. Young athletes should be aware that sport is not everything, said former Slovenian kayaker Andraž Vehovar.

Oldest living Slovenian Olympian visits Slovenian House

PARIS, France - The Slovenian House at the Paris Olympics had a very special visitor as Ruža Vojsk, born in 1930 and thereby the oldest living Slovenian Olympian, dropped by for a chat. The former gymnast, who lives in New York under the name Rose Voisk, competed in the 1948 London Olympics, where she and the Yugoslav team secured seventh place. "I still speak Slovenian. Sometimes I stumble on certain expressions, but I can still communicate everything," the nonagenarian said in fluent Slovenian.

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, got under way near to the Soča River in Tolmin. 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.