The partners in the incoming coalition finalised on Wednesday the coalition agreement and determined most of the candidates for cabinet posts in an expanded government that will have 19 ministers and one minister without portfolio.

Defence Minister Matej Tonin signed on Wednesday a memorandum with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) that paves the way for the purchase of 45 armoured personnel carriers, just hours after he was authorised to do so and a day before the government is relegated to caretaker role.

Slovenia's largest banking group, NLB, posted EUR 231.5 million in net profit in the first quarter of 2022, more than triple the figure recorded in the same period last year, on the back of the acquisition of the Slovenian subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank in March. The profit of the core company NLB dropped to nearly EUR 33 million.

European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde said Wednesday that the ECB could conduct the first interest rate hike within weeks after it ends purchases under the asset purchase programme early in the third quarter.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor discussed the significance of political stability for economic and social development of Bosnia-Herzegovina in his address to the 11th Sarajevo Business Forum. He warned the process of enlargement to the Western Balkans was too slow and appealed for Bosnia to be awarded candidate status as soon as possible.

The government has authorised Defence Minister Matej Tonin to sign a memorandum of understanding to the Boxer programme with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), thus indirectly approving the signing of a contract to procure 45 8x8 troop carriers that would cost Slovenia EUR 343.4 million.

Last Pizza Slice (LPS) did not make it past the semi-final of the Eurovision song contest, the second year in a row that the Slovenian entrant has remained without the much coveted final.

The 54th annual International Writers' Meeting is getting under way in Bled on Wednesday to focus on topics ranging from ethics to Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The writers will also call for humanity in a declaration.