News roundup - Tuesday, 4 July, until 3pm

Latest appointment of RTV director general ruled unlawful as well

LJUBLJANA - The Labour and Social Court in Ljubljana annulled in June the decision of the programme council of RTV Slovenija to reappoint Andrej Grah Whatmough director general of the public broadcaster in March last year. This comes after the Higher Labour Court ruled in March that Grah Whatmough's appointment as director general in January 2021 was unlawful because he lacked three years of experience to run large business organisations. The leadership of RTV Slovenija announced an appeal.

Regulator says health insurance biggest risk to insurers

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian insurance sector is stable and well capitalised but the negative impact of frozen supplementary health insurance premiums and uncertainty over the future of health insurance represent the biggest downside risk, the Agency for Insurance Supervision said. The government froze monthly premiums at EUR 35.67, making supplementary health insurance, which is offered by three insurers, unsustainable, the agency's director Gorazd Čibej said.

Caritas Slovenia raises EUR 4.2m for Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - Caritas Slovenia has raised nearly EUR 4.2 million in humanitarian aid for people affected by the war in Ukraine. The organisation said nearly EUR 2.5 million was in financial and EUR 700,000 in material aid. The Foreign Ministry chipped in nearly EUR 1 million. Individuals and 240 companies donated EUR 2.5 million in financial aid, which went to humanitarian projects of Caritas in Ukraine, Caritas Slovenia secretary general Peter Tomažič told reporters.

Dozens of sheep killed in wolf attack in Solčava

SOLČAVA - Dozens of sheep and lambs were killed last weekend at the Olševa mountain pasture in the Solčava municipality in the north, the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) said. The bite marks point to a wolf attack. Breeders and the KGZS say the damage is substantial and urge relevant ministries to take action. A total of 93 sheep had been at the pasture along with some 20 lambs, but only some 30 animals survived the attack, according to the information available so far.

Train derails, two bus passengers injured in separate rockfalls

LJUBLJANA - Storms with heavy rain caused havoc in central Slovenia last night, especially in the areas of Ljubljana, Kranj and Zasavje. Buildings and roads were flooded. A train derailed between Zidani Most and Ljubljana due to a rockfall and another rockfall hit a bus driving between Zagorje ob Savi and Litija. Two of the bus passengers were injured.

Conductor Karmina Šilec wins international award

PODGORICA, Montenegro - Conductor and composer Karmina Šilec is this year's recipient of the Darinka Matić Marović Prize. The jury praised her for introducing a fresh approach to choral music and musical theatre and built her own style of artistic expression that knows no boundaries of cultures or nations. The prize is given every two years to a female artist originating from the ex-Yugoslavian area whose works or achievements represent an outstanding contribution to the development of musical art in the region.