News roundup - Thursday, 20 February, until 3pm

PM's adviser worried about Trump's statements about Zelensky

LJUBLJANA - Vojko Volk, the state secretary at the prime minister's office in charge of international affairs, has expressed concern over the statements by US President Donald Trump that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a dictator who better moved fast or else he would have no country left. Talking to the late night current affairs show Odmevi on TV Slovenija Wednesday night, Volk said yesterday's meeting of EU leaders, which was hosted by the French President Emmanuel Macron and held mostly online, also featuring Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob, as serious and going in-depth.

NLB group profit down 7% in 2024 to EUR 515m

LJUBLJANA - The banking group NLB posted a net profit of EUR 514.6 million in 2024, a drop of 7% compared to the record year of 2023. The bank described the past financial year as solid, as it released its unaudited financials, adding that the group expects its dividend payout this year to reach 50% of its profit in 2024. Last year was the second consecutive year that the group posted a net profit exceeding half a million euro. Net revenue increased by 14% to EUR 1.24 billion, with net interest revenue increasing by 12% to EUR 934.5 million, while net non-interest revenue grew by 19% to EUR 310.6 million.

Consumer confidence drops in February

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence in Slovenia dipped by 3 points in February over January and by 2 points compared to February 2024 to reach -31 points, the Statistics Office said. The figure was also 4 points below last year's average and 7 points below the average of the past 15 years, the Statistics Office said. On the monthly level, the index was dragged down by poorer expectations about the economic situation in the country (down by 7 points) and household financials (4 point drop).

Business Club calls out against corruption in open letter to PM

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Business Club (SBC) has addressed an open letter to the Prime Minister Robert Golob, calling out against what it terms as wide-spread corruption in the country. The government is placing impossible burdens on citizens, while the businesses fight for basic competitiveness, SBC president Joc Pečečnik wrote in the letter.

Hamlet ballet premiers in Ljubljana as artistic director Zanella bids farewell

LJUBLJANA - Hamlet, a ballet by choreographer and director Leo Mujić, will premiere at the SNG Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana this evening in what is the second premiere at the national opera and ballet company this season. This is also the last production under their ballet artistic director Renato Zanella.

Annual one-week vacation more accessible to Slovenians in 2024

Ljubljana - A one-week vacation away was accessible to 82% of Slovenian households last year, which was three percentage points more than in 2023, the Statistics Office said on Thursday. Overall satisfaction with life remained unchanged last year. 25% of households were able to make ends meet without difficulty, a point fewer than in 2023.