STA, 26 October 2020 - A survey has shown that a vast majority of Slovenian companies are considering increasing the share of work conducted from home also in the long-term, meaning in post-corona times. The poll also showed companies are more optimistic than during the spring coronavirus wave.

The study, carried out in September and October by consultancy Kearney in cooperation with AmCham Slovenija, had 96% of the polled companies saying they fully or partially agree that work from home will remain more frequent also in the long-term.

The second poll of this kind, following the one in the spring, moreover showed companies are more optimistic in their forecasts than during the spring coronavirus wave, AmCham Slovenija said on Monday, while noting that the survey had been completed before the epidemic and lockdown had been declared for the second time.

According to the survey, companies on average expect revenue to fall by 3% this year compared to 2019, which compares to a 15% drop forecast in the spring. The expected drop in employment fell from 6% to 3%, and the expected drop in investment changed from 13% to 4%. The pollsters believe most companies took the likelihood of a second wave into account when making these forecasts.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has encouraged managers to develop new competences for facing the challenges on the market. More than half of the companies polled report of partial or significant changes in competence and the manner of operations.

Most companies are pursuing measures that strengthen labour process flexibility and digitalisation. Listed the most frequently among measures that had positive effects were flexibility measures (64%), business digitalisation (40%) and internal debureaucratization (32%).

Work from home turned out to be a positive measure for more than a third of the companies involved in the survey. 37% reported greater productivity, 54% raised satisfaction levels and more motivation among staff.

"Six months into the pandemic companies entered a 'new normal'. This means that most of them did not return to the old tracks but are changed today because of the measures introduced and better equipped for the current and potential next crisis waves," Marko Derča, a Kearney partner, wrote.

As many as 84% of the companies strongly agree that there will be more work from home in the future long-term, which is a 31 percentage points increase compared to the spring survey. Another 12% agree with this partly.

Almost two thirds or 65% expect a further strengthening of digital forms of work within organisations, which is marginally more than in the spring. Companies from the manufacturing sector moreover highlighted a greater focus on robotisation and automation (44%).

Also, 82% of the companies polled expect a rise in sales through web channels and the same share expects more intensive use of digital tools in their communication with clients.

The study involved 48 companies, all members of AmCham Slovenija. More than two thirds deal with professional and business services.

STA, 26 October 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša said after holding talks with Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik, who had not waited for their coronavirus test results in isolation, that he was not asking them to resign, as the government was working around the clock and was thus making mistakes.

"I demand from no one to resign. The government works 24 hours a day and also makes mistakes. This happens in particular because each minister is performing a dual job," Janša said on Monday in an answer to a question from POP TV.

The prime minister also said in a tweet, to which he attached a screenshot of journalist questions, that the job of a minister was stressful and that they did not receive bonuses. "These are received by those who, without masks on their faces, criticise from a full studio someone without [a mask]".

Logar's positive test was confirmed on Friday after he was routinely tested as he returned from abroad, while the media report that he met in the National Gallery its director Barbara Jaki while waiting for the test results.

According to government Covid-19 spokesman Jelko Kacin, Logar was scheduled to be present at the event after the testing.

Immediately after being informed about testing positive, he stopped all his activities, and the entire office of the foreign minister stopped its activities as well, he added.

Kacin also said that Logar had not had any symptoms and that he had been routinely tested. "No one had expected that he would be positive, but it turned out that he was. He has been in isolation since," he added.

The media have also reported that Minister Koritnik did not wait for his preventive coronavirus test result in isolation either, and that he visited a beauty salon. His test has turned out to be negative.

Koritnik apologised in a written statement today, saying that it was ill-advised of him "not to wait in the car in front of the salon". He claims he did not put anyone at risk or violated the measures and epidemiological recommendations valid at the time.

The minister added that he believed the preventive test was a sign of his responsible behaviour towards his colleagues and all others in his surroundings.

Koritnik said he was following the expert recommendation that a preventive test without symptoms or risky contacts does not require self-isolation.

Kacin also said that Interior Minister Aleš Hojs had been tested today after an infection had been detected among his closest aides.

The test is negative and Hojs returns to his job today, Kacin said, adding that the minister had been in self-isolation while waiting for the results.

MPs meanwhile said later today that missteps regarding compliance with preventive measures could be made by anyone, however decision-makers, putting in place those measures, should respect them and set an example for citizens to follow.

Opposition parties also mostly acknowledged that to err was human, but also went harsher on Logar and Koritnik's conduct as well as on Milan Krek, the head of the National Institute of Public Health, who recently failed to wear a mask while pumping gas at a filling station.

The Left's leader Luka Mesec was most critical, finding it outrageous that the prime minister did not even apologise, let alone dismiss these officials. He also noted that Janša recently blamed the worsening epidemiologic situation on media and the opposition, urging the government to step down.

Marjan Šarec, the previous prime minister and head of his eponymous party LMŠ, said that such missteps undermined the credibility of the measures and pointed to what he sees as the two-faced nature of the current government, which showed no remorse.

Such missteps should be as rare as possible among public figures, who should be role models for citizens, said Predrag Baković, a SocDems MP. Andrej Rajh of the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) pointed out that when such missteps were as a common occurrence as among government officials, the epidemiological situation became alarming.

Meanwhile, the National Party (SNS) head Zmago Jeličič considers reports about the missteps rivalry between various media in catching officials flouting the rules. He also said that SocDems leader Tanja Fajon had not always been wearing a mask, however that had not been in focus on television.

Anja Bah Žibert of the ruling Democrats (SDS) said that the party was heeding the measures non-stop and had never been urging citizens to flout them. Gregor Perič of the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) said that such missteps could occur to anyone, however they should be avoided as much as possible.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA: 

Daily coronavirus tally tops 1,100 on slower testing

LJUBLJANA - Despite slowed down testing on Sunday, Slovenia registered 1,115 new coronavirus cases as over 30% of the tests returned positive results, the highest rate yet. The country reported ten more Covid-related deaths for a total of 251. Presenting fresh data, government spokesman Jelko Kacin said Covid-19 hospitalisations had risen to 523 and the number of those in intensive care to 82. Kacin said the situation was worst in the north-western region of Gorenjska, where 43% of all tests were positive. National Covid-19 tracker site shows the rolling 14-day average per 100,000 is now 727.

PM not asking Logar, Koritnik to resign for failing to self-isolate

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša said after holding talks with Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik, who had not waited for their coronavirus test results in isolation, that he was not asking them to resign, as the government was working around the clock and was thus making mistakes. Logar's positive test was confirmed on Friday after he was routinely tested as he returned from abroad, while the media report that he met in the National Gallery its director Barbara Jaki while waiting for the test results. Koritnik had tested negative.

Stanislav Vidovič new Slovenian ambassador to Ireland

LJUBLJANA - Seasoned diplomat Stanislav Vidovič was recalled prematurely from the post of ambassador to the US today to become the country's new ambassador to Ireland. It is not yet clear who will succeed him in Washington, DC. The decree to post him to Dublin was signed by President Borut Pahor and published in the Official Gazette, while the Foreign Ministry told the STA that the procedure to appoint a new ambassador to the US was still ongoing. Vidovič's replacement in the US has been speculated about for months, with media reports suggesting he would be posted to the recently reopened embassy in Dublin.

Culture minister sees Friday's protest as death threat

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti denounced Friday's protest in which culture workers put up tables smeared with fake blood as a death threat against him and his aides, urging police to act in response to what he sees as extremely dangerous conduct. In a press release on Sunday the minister described the scene in front of his ministry as an "office after a murder: tables placed in the street sprayed with colour representing blood, names of co-workers clearly written on the tables".

Tone Peršak new Slovenian PEN president

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian PEN elected writer and former politician Tone Peršak its new president on Monday to succeed Ifigenija Simonović, who has served since March 2017. Peršak, 73, already served as Slovenian PEN president in the 2000s. He has also served as culture minister and the president of the Slovenian Writers' Association. He once said that "PEN has no tanks or much money, but it can speak, and we believe that words still have some power".

Post Pahor's appeal for cooperation, coalition-opposition divide persists

LJUBLJANA - Following President Borut Pahor's appeal for cross-partisan efforts to overcome the Covid-19 crisis, the coalition said that cooperation was already offered to opposition parties, but they mostly declined. The opposition meanwhile said it was willing to cooperate to stem the epidemic. On the other hand, the opposition parties reiterated today that their views had not been as acknowledged as they should have been, highlighting they were not supporting the Janez Janša government modus operandi.

Opposition seeks to secure school meals despite distance learning

LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left opposition parties filed a bill seeking to secure pupils warm meals while they are distance learning during the Covid-19 epidemic. They also urged the government to raise children's allowance by the amount of the subsidy for school meal during remote schooling. The bill, filed by the Social Democrats (SD), the Left, the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), would give local authorities discretion to organise home delivery if children could not come to school to pick the meal.

Kindergarten occupancy reduced to under 10% amid tightened lockdown

LJUBLJANA - More than 90% of kindergarten children stayed home or were put in other forms of care as kindergartens in Slovenia officially closed with the exception of urgent daycare. Municipalities are organising urgent daycare in different ways. While all public kindergartens in Ljubljana remain open and are not asking for any proof of urgency, some municipalities are asking for notes from employers and are giving priority to parents in so called essential professions. Only 9% of the usual number of children was recorded in Ljubljana's 23 public kindergartens. The principal of the Galjevica kindergarten Barbara Novinec told the STA this "shows parents are behaving responsibly".

EUR 472m debt deferred, EUR 387m in crisis loans approved

LJUBLJANA - Banks in Slovenia have approved around EUR 472 million worth of loan payment deferrals under a law that entered into force at the end of March as part of the first government stimulus package. By 16 October, banks had also issued EUR 387.3 million worth of liquidity loans needed because of the crisis, data from the central bank show. Companies have meanwhile made limited use of the state loan guarantee scheme with only EUR 31 million of the EUR 2 billion available approved by mid-October.

EUR 193m in public sector bonuses paid out in spring

LJUBLJANA - Public sector employees received a total of EUR 192.8 million in coronavirus crisis bonuses for work during the first wave of the epidemic between 13 March and 31 May. Now, in the second wave, those working in dangerous conditions will again be eligible for bonuses. Last year, public sector employees received just over EUR 355 million in gross bonuses in total, while this year more than EUR 352 million was paid out already in the first seven months because of the new crisis bonuses.

Postojna had legal basis to introduce tax for use of building land for Poček, court says

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court announced that the Postojna municipality had the legal basis to introduce a special property tax for the Poček military training ground to be paid by the state, or the Defence Ministry. This means Postojna's 2011 decree on the compensation for the use of land designated for construction in the provision pertaining to setting this tax for Poček was not in contradiction with the constitution. The government asked the court in 2016 to examine the decree of the municipality in which the bulk of the country's main military training area is situated. In its petition, the government referred to the 1984 building land act, which the court noted had since become invalid.

Audit finds irregularities under former Petrol management

LJUBLJANA - A special audit initiated by the shareholders' meeting of energy company Petrol last December has found irregularities in eight of a total of 30 audited deals concluded under the former management led by Tomaž Berločnik in 2015-2019. The auditor BDO Revizor believes the management could be liable for damages for some of the flaws and even points to elements of criminal liability. The transactions audited exceed EUR 1 million in total and include the acquisition and disposal of financial investments, other types of investments, and sponsorship contracts.

Ledinek Engineering going strong despite pandemic

HOČE - Ledinek Engineering, which exports its machinery and production lines for the wood processing industry worldwide, doubled its profit to EUR 3 million last year despite a drop in revenue. The company employing 180 people saw a 15% decrease in revenue to EUR 37 million in 2019 mainly because of a delay in a delivery of a major project due to problems on the client's side. The company is working on several major projects this year. It does not expect any major setback due to the pandemic.

Organisers happy with on-line MOS fair

CELJE - The International Trade Fair (MOS) was held as an online series of events and presentations for the first time this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisers are happy with the turnout, as some 30,000 visitors viewed exhibitors' presentation videos and the on-line platform of the fair was visited by 4,000-6,000 people every day. According to Celjski Sejem, the organiser of MOS, which was held between 8 and 22 October, this year's fair was ground-breaking. Exhibitors are happy that they were able to present their products or services as part of live presentations, and visitors were happy to be able to access providers quickly and also communicate with them.

Survey shows companies sure work from home here to stay

LJUBLJANA - A survey carried out in September and October by consultancy Kearney in cooperation with AmCham Slovenija had 96% of the polled companies saying they fully or partially agree that work from home will remain more frequent also in the long-term. The second poll of this kind, following the one in the spring, moreover showed companies are more optimistic in their forecasts than during the spring coronavirus wave. It showed that companies on average expect revenue to fall by 3% this year compared to 2019, which compares to a 15% drop forecast in the spring. The expected drop in employment fell from 6% to 3%, and the expected drop in investment changed from 13% to 4%.

Nova Gorica calls for coordination in border measures

NOVA GORICA/GORIZIA, Italy - The Nova Gorica municipality in the west and Slovenian minority organisations in Italy have called on the Slovenian interior and foreign ministries to coordinate anti-corona measures in the border area where cross-border ties are strong with the Italian government and Friuli-Venezia Giulia authorities. The authorities of Gorizia, just across the border, have already addressed a similar appeal to the Italian government.

Pahor's committee for climate policy meets in new line-up

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor met with his permanent advisory committee on climate change in the new line-up for the first time, agreeing that the Covid-19 pandemic must not be an excuse for returning to unsustainable practices detrimental to the environment and climate, but an opportunity to find innovative and new approaches. In an on-line talk, the committee and Pahor touched on the current situation and consequences of the pandemic for society, individuals and the environment, the president's office said in a press release.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

STA, 26 October 2020 - The Nova Gorica municipality in the west and Slovenian minority organisations in Italy have called on the Slovenian interior and foreign ministries to coordinate anti-corona measures in the border area where cross-border ties are strong with the Italian government and Friuli-Venezia Giulia authorities.

"We would like to see coordination between Ljubljana, Rome and Trieste that would show understanding for people's lives, particularly those of both ethnic communities, the Slovenian in Italy and the Italian in Slovenia, and for the economy in the border area.

"The first wave of infections already showed that the state border in the Goriško area cuts across the Slovenian-speaking area and intense cross-border economy, cultural and social activities," reads the appeal, signed by Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič and the heads of the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ) and of the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO), Ksenija Dobrila and Walter Bandelj, respectively.

Gorizia Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna has already addressed a similar appeal to the Italian government.

The mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, twin towns, separated by the border, have noted the ramifications of poor coordination between Slovenia and Italy, highlighting that citizens do not see the need for restrictions within the community since both the spread of coronavirus and preventive measures are similar on both sides of the border.

Today's appeal points out that even if unilateral measures by Ljubljana or Rome are taken in good faith, they pose a risk of casting doubt on support for turning the area into the European cross-border region.

Moreover, border restrictions interfere with day-to-day activities and urgent errands in the cross-border urban centre of Gorizia and Nova Gorica as well as weaken economic and other ties between the twin towns.

Both towns were relatively successful in tackling the first wave. They are doing relatively well in stemming the second wave as well, with Gorizia being even more effective at the moment. The Italian town is thus surprised over Slovenia's border restrictions in the area.

Nova Gorica and the minority organisations have thus called for measures that would not result in economic damage or hamper the progress of long-term development in the cross-border region.

Miklavič added that the government had taken into account the nature of cross-border regions when imposing movement restrictions. There will be no physical barriers at small border crossings or between the twin towns as a result.

All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia

STA, 26 October 2020 - Despite slowed down testing on Sunday, Slovenia registered 1,116 new coronavirus cases as over 30% of the tests returned positive results, the highest rate yet. The country reported seven more Covid-related deaths in hospitals.

Presenting fresh data at Monday's press briefing, government spokesman Jelko Kacin said the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 has risen to 523, from 508 the day before.

The number of those in intensive care units rose by 11 to 82.

7-Day Ban on Movements Between Municipalities Starts Tuesday

The latest infections bring the national coronavirus case count to over 24,000, of which 15,247 are active cases, according updated data on the tracker site covid-19.sledilnik.org.

The Covid-related death toll has increased to 251.

The rolling 14-day average of cases per 100,000 residents is now 727, according to the tracker site, which shows 1,130 new cases for Sunday, after Kacin previously reported 1,116.

A total of 3,682 tests were performed on Sunday, which compares to 5,776 on Saturday and 7,025 on Friday, when daily case tallies hit 1,675 and 1,961, respectively, the latter a record high.

Kacin said the situation was worst in the north-western region of Gorenjska, where 43% of all tests were positive. The region has 1,265 infections per 100,000 residents.

Ljubljana recorded 190 new cases on Sunday, where the rate of infection is now 0.705%. Higher rates are reported by the municipalities of Odranci (3.467%) and Kuzma (3.748%) in the north-east, and Železniki (2.657%) and Škofja Loka (2.042%) in the north-west.

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STA, 26 October 2020 - A special audit has found irregularities in eight of a total of 30 audited deals energy company Petrol concluded under the former Tomaž Berločnik-led management in 2015-2019. The auditor believes that some irregularities show the management could be liable for damages while elements of criminal liability have also been detected.

BDO Revizor audited 30 deals concluded between 1 January 2015 and 24 October 2019, when the three-member Berločnik management resigned "by mutual agreement".

Audited were the transactions in excess of a million euro concerning the acquisition and disposal of financial investments, other types of investments, and sponsorship contracts.

The report on the audit, which Petrol published on the website of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange on Friday, points to irregularities in the transactions concerning the companies Mbills, Zagorski Metalac, Petrol Beograd, Vjetroelektrarne Glunča, Petrol Hidroenergija, Atet, BH Petrol Oil Company, and Abciti.

These transactions involved acquisitions of ownership stakes in these companies, capital injections or registration of a new company.

They involved violations of internal provisions about compulsory supervisor approval and the absence of due care while the management also underestimated economic feasibility of certain deals.

BDO Revizor maintains that to prove the former management board has caused damage to the company, Petrol will have to seek opinion by various economics experts.

The auditor also detected elements which indicate that the former management possibly committed crimes.

"Given potential court proceedings, the circumstances of this segment of the audit have not been disclosed," the release said.

A decision on the audit was taken in December 2019 as the shareholders met to confront the former management with allegations of mismanagement in drafting plans for 2020-2022. Berločnik, however, claimed the management had to resign due to different views on Petrol's future strategy.

STA, 24 October 2020 - Slovenia is conducting intense preparations for its EU presidency in the second half of 2021, which is expected to foreground economic recovery after Covid-19, the EU's resilience to crises and the bloc's expansion as priorities.

Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan told the STA that "it is increasingly clear to the government what will be doable during the presidency" and what Slovenia can contribute. Things will also depend on how much is done by Germany and Portugal, which will precede Slovenia at the helm of the EU Council.

The second aspect, one where preparations still have a bit to go, is the coordination with the next trio of presiding countries - France, Czechia and Sweden. It is in Slovenia's interest that things that successively presiding countries have in common and are feasible be put on the list of priorities and that a kind of common thread is secured for two trios, Dovžan explained.

The draft of the priorities, which is being debated continuously by a taskforce, will be finally out only at the end of June next year, but it includes economic recovery and development after the pandemic. It will be key to use the envisaged funds as wisely as possible so that a green transition is secured, the official said.

The other priority task of Slovenia's presidency will be strengthening of the EU's resilience to different kinds of crises, which includes pandemics, cyber attacks and migration.

"This is something that is a challenge for all of us and we see that the level of the EU's autonomy needs to be raised here," said Dovžan, the no. 2 official responsible for the presidency project after Foreign Minister Anže Logar.

Another priority will be preserving the focus on EU enlargement. "The crisis we are witnessing has also shown how dependent we are on neighbours and from the standpoint of practical solidarity and security we need to strengthen efforts for the enlargement process to continue," he said.

The programme of the presidency will also depend on the programme of the European Commission for next year, which was adopted this week but is now subject to coordination among EU institutions. Dovžan said Slovenia needs to see what concrete legislation is expected to be on the table during its presidency.

The Commission has already taken the initiative with the financial framework of the EU, the recovery fund, migration and climate change, he added.

The priority tasks will also determine where the country will need the most staffing support during the presidency. Given the Commission's programme this will be finance, interior affairs and climate change. The latter will mostly require people with broad horizontal knowledge, the state secretary argued.

There is a general need for people with very good horizontal knowledge who "can step in in different areas and fill the gaps that are also being created by the pandemic".

Dovžan expects that candidates will also apply that already have some experience, as well as driven young people willing to learn fast.

Asked whether the staff will be ready for the task by July next year, he said that nobody included in the project will be alone.

"This work is done in groups, so we feel the train has not departed yet," Dovžan said, mentioning reassignments within the system and a strong push toward being ready as much as possible by 30 June next year given the circumstances.

He explained that about 61% of the planned 350 fixed-term hirings for the presidency project have been completed by mid-September. The number of total hirings planned has not been changed for the time being.

"We want to see now how many people are hired by 10 November and then we will decide if the posts left unoccupied at individual ministries will be used to directly strengthen the permanent representation in Brussels," Dovžan said.

He explained that the pandemic and the problems with travelling made it likely that the presidency will be focused in Brussels more than expected. There is also the infection and self-isolation factor, which leads to sudden shortages of staff, which is why it is necessary to have extra capacities, the state secretary said.

He added that the situation has also led to a decrease in the planned informal events related to the presidency in Slovenia. While the idea was to organise more than 300 such events, the plan is to reduce this figure by around 20%.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA: 

Nearly 1,700 new coronavirus cases on record high positivity rate

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw 1,675 new coronavirus cases for Saturday as a record 29% of all tests returned positive results. Hospitalisations exceeded 500 and another six patients with Covid-19 died. The country's total case count has now neared 23,000, at 22,952, as the number of active cases increased to 14,288, data from the government and national Covid-19 tracker site show. The rolling 14-day average per 100,000 residents increased to 682 and the death toll rose to 241. The Jožef Stefan Institute estimates the reproduction number rose to 2.20 as the daily number of cases doubles in 6.2 days.

Ban to be imposed on movements between municipalities

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced a ban on movements between municipalities will be imposed for the whole country starting from Tuesday in response to the surge in coronavirus. "The restriction will be initially in force for 7 days for the whole country, and will be eased gradually by regions that will first curb the epidemic," Janša said on his Twitter profile. A similar ban in spring provoked a major controversy, but it has been cleared by the Constitutional Court.

Non-essential medical services suspended

LJUBLJANA - Most non-essential medical services were suspended under a decree issued by the Health Minister Tomaž Gantar to focus health resources on the battle against Covid-19. After some hospitals, including UKC Ljubljana had started suspending non-essential services in recent days, the new decree applies to health providers nation-wide. Oncology, services for pregnant women and newborns, vaccination and occupational medicine are exempt from suspension.

President appeals for cross-partisan effort to overcome crisis

LJUBLJANA - Addressing the nation on Sovereignty Day, 29 years to the day after the last Yugoslav troops left Slovenian soil, President Borut Pahor appealed on parliamentary parties to take their cue from their predecessors of the time, and commit to work together to defeat the coronavirus crisis. Pahor said Slovenia was now again facing a situation when political and all-national cooperation was essential. In separate messages, similar calls, evoking the nation's courage, resolve and unity of the time, were also made Prime Minister Janez Janša and National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič.

Janša's Trump endorsement sparks exchange with Biden aide

NEW YORK, US/LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša's endorsement of US President Donald Trump for a second term has sparked an acrimonious Twitter exchange with Michael Carpenter, the foreign policy advisor to Trump's Democrat challenger Joseph Biden. "Lol, Trump picks up an endorsement from Slovenia's prime minister, previously indicted and convicted on corruption charges," Carpenter tweeted on Friday, with Janša denouncing the tweet as a blatant lie on Twitter on Saturday.

Sunday shop closure takes effect

LJUBLJANA - Today was the first Sunday that almost all shops must remain closed in accordance with an amendment to the retail act that the National Assembly passed in late September. The exemptions to the blanket ban include shops under 200 m2 at service stations, border crossings, ports, airports, train and bus stations, and hospitals. Outside these facilities, shops with a surface area of under 200 m2 may open, but only shop owners, students and pensioners may work Sundays, regular employees may not.

Roglič loses red jersey at the Vuelta

LJUBLJANA - Ecuadorian rider Richard Carapaz took the Vuelta a Espana overall leader's red jersey from defending champion Primož Roglič after Spaniard Ion Izagirre won the sixth stage in the Pyrenees. Finishing 20th today, the Slovenian Jumbo-Visma rider fell to fourth overall, but remains in contention for the overall lead with a 30 second-lag behind Carapaz. That is if the race if continues on Tuesday after a state of emergency was declared for the whole of Spain due to coronavirus.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

STA, 25 October 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has announced a ban on movements between municipalities will be imposed for the whole country starting from Tuesday in response to the surge in coronavirus. [Ed. Assume this means from midnight Monday]

"The restriction will be initially in force for 7 days for the whole country, and will be eased gradually by regions that will first curb the epidemic," Janša said on his Twitter profile.

"Let's do everything to limit contacts to the minimum and so that restrictions can be lifted as soon as possible. Protect lives, health and prosperity," reads Janša's tweet with the hashtag We Can Do It.

Janša said that exceptions to the ban outside the municipality of residence would as those valid during a similar ban in spring.

The exceptions are thus expected to be similar as for the ban on movements between regions already in force and include commute to work, travel for the purposes of business, farming, access to health services and pharmacies, caring for or assisting a close relative, and seeing to a property.

In justifying the ban, Janša noted that the numbers of Covid-19 patients are rising, so additional measures were being imposed from the government plan to control the epidemic.

Janša referred to an earlier announcement by Health Minister Tomaž Gantar that more tan 700 beds for Covid-19 patients would soon be ready with talks under way to secure a further 300 if necessary.

"Activities to secure healthcare capacities continue uninterruptedly. Including in spas and hotels. No need for tents and fairgrounds," Janša said.

The latest government data show that there are currently 508 patients hospitalised with Covid-19, including 71 in intensive care units.

Slovenia reported 1,675 new coronavirus cases for Saturday for the total case count of 22,952, as the number of active cases increased to 14,288. The death toll increased by six to 241.

The spring ban on movements between municipalities has been challenged at the Constitutional Court, which has given its clearance for the measure.

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STA, 25 October 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša's endorsement of US President Donald Trump for a second term has sparked an acrimonious Twitter exchange with Michael Carpenter, the foreign policy advisor to Trump's Democrat challenger Joseph Biden.

"Lol, Trump picks up an endorsement from Slovenia's prime minister, previously indicted and convicted on corruption charges. But don't worry, Slovenian friends, in 11 days we'll be sending demagogic populism packing," Carpenter tweeted, adding the Slovenian word for shame, 'sramota' at the end.

Lol, Trump picks up an endorsement from Slovenia's prime minister, previously indicted and convicted on corruption charges. But don't worry, Slovenian friends, in 11 days we'll be sending demagogic populism packing. Sramota. https://t.co/0e9J41kTRy

— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) October 23, 2020

This was after Janša joined leaders of the likes of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in endorsing Trump.

"We respect difficult, tragic personal life of Joe Biden and some of his political achievements years ago. But today, if elected, he would be one of the weakest presidents in history," Janša tweeted on Friday.

In response to Carpenter's tweet Janša denounced it as blatant lie on Twitter on Saturday.

"Yes, I was not only wrongfully convicted, but also sent to prison 3 times starting with 1988 trial in front of Yugoslav communist military court. But all cases were dismantled by Constitutional or other courts. It is A.D. 2021. You can easily check the facts online," Janša tweeted.

Well, Mr. @mikercarpenter from @PennBiden:
1. all of us outside #US will of course respect the decision of US voters whatever they decide. Hope you will do the same (there are some doubts watching your supporters in Baltimore)1/5

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) October 24, 2020

"Despite that, you are blatantly lying. Now I see why @realDonaldTrump calls you the #Swamp. Even if this is an influence of yours "slovenian friends", it doesn't excuse you. Hope US administration will newer again shame itself by such "career" diplomat."

Janša also said that "all of us outside #US will of course respect the decision of US voters whatever they decide. Hope you will do the same (there are some doubts watching your supporters in Baltimore)".

Carpenter's tweet invited both negative and positive reactions. Dan Fried, a former as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, tweeted that it was not wise for a country to take sides in another country's democratic elections.

Reporting on Janša's endorsement of Trump, the Associated Press wrote that right-wing conservatives in Eastern and Central Europe, like Orban, Serbian President Aleksanda Vučić and Janša, "have sometimes copied Trump's style of leadership".