World Cup Spotlight (Slovenia in the spotlight): FIFA has named Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to officiate the Argentina–Spain final at MetLife Stadium, with fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačić as assistants and Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh as fourth official. Vinčić broke down in tears after the appointment, and the news has quickly reignited debate online about a 2020 Bosnia raid—claims that he was involved in wrongdoing are being challenged, with reporting saying he was detained briefly as a witness and released without charge. Tennis (Local success): Tamara Zidanšek reached the semifinals at the UniCredit Iasi Open in Romania after a straight-sets win, setting up a semifinal against Spain’s Paul Badosa. Tour de France (Slovenian connection): Tadej Pogačar remains in yellow as the Tour pushes into its next mountain stretch, while Slovenian-linked cycling coverage also highlights the wider ecosystem around his UAE Team Emirates XRG. Film (Regional culture): Croatia’s “Honey Bunny” won top honors at the Pula Film Festival, including the Grand Golden Arena for Best Croatian Film, with a Slovenian/Croatian title also taking a major Golden Arena prize. Tech & policy (EU rollout): New research suggests awareness of the EU’s EUDI digital identity wallet remains low in France and Germany, raising trust and adoption questions ahead of the December 2026 deadline. Sports business (Slovenian talent abroad): Tarik Muharemović has joined Leeds United from Sassuolo for a reported €40m, a major move for the Ljubljana-born defender.