The Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business (OZS) has presented the awards for tradesman and businessman of the year, with the first title going to Klemen Avguštin and the second to Janez Škrabec. Avguštin runs a family-owned company making stoves and fireplaces, Škrabec is the co-founder and director of engineering company Riko.

The Supreme Court has referred a case involving the dispute over the Plečnik stadium back to the Ljubljana Local Court after the courts of first and second instance ruled in favour of the local residents. The final decision, which could decide the fate of a project to renovate the stadium, is not expected anytime soon.

Industrial group Unior has announced it will shut down its machine manufacture division, news that comes just weeks after it already shut down a small plant in south Slovenia. The division employs 155 workers but it remains unclear how many will be let go.

The Interior Ministry has denied claims that the security situation in the country is deteriorating. The ministry and the police are "performing our duties professionally, lawfully and effectively, the people of Slovenia are safe," it said on Wednesday.

Paying an official visit to Rome and the Vatican, President Nataša Pirc Musar met on Wednesday with the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra' John Dunlap. She expressed her gratitude for the Order's humanitarian work and took the opportunity to point to the escalating war in Ukraine and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Most Slovenians live in houses and this remains their preferred choice of residence. However, over the past 20 years, there has been a slight increase in the popularity of apartment living. Homeownership continues to dominate, but long-term renting is becoming more acceptable, an extensive study has shown.

The SBI TOP index of blue chips on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange was pulled down 0.12% to 1,667.35 points on Wednesday. Overall trading volume stood at EUR 1.8 million, with the NLB bank being the most active issue contributing nearly EUR 760,000.