AGP Executive Report

Church & Lourdes: Pope Leo XIV used his Lourdes Mass to urge “truth, justice, forgiveness” after clergy abuse cover-ups, including the case of Slovenian mosaic artist-priest Marko Rupnik now on trial in the Vatican. Slovenia in football spotlight: Scotland began the Sebastien Pocognoli era with a goalless draw in Ljubljana against Slovenia, with debutants Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh impressing and Oli McBurnie missing key chances as Jan Oblak kept the hosts level. Nations League momentum: Elsewhere, Spain rallied to beat England 3-2 at Wembley (Oyarzabal winner, Kane missed penalty) while Croatia edged the Czech Republic 2-1 with Modrić scoring after the break. Food & culture: Gastrosophy Fest returns to Athens with international chefs including Slovenia’s Ana Roš and a lineup boasting 15 Michelin stars. Travel & lifestyle: A guide to autumn city breaks highlights Belgrade’s “affordable” charm, while a Montenegro travel feature spotlights the Bay of Kotor’s serene “lake pretending to be the sea” vibe.

Nations League Spotlight: World champions Spain extended their unbeaten run to 39 matches by rallying to beat England 3-2 at Wembley, with Lamine Yamal striking early and substitute Mikel Oyarzabal delivering the winner after Harry Kane missed a second-half penalty. Croatia Update: Luka Modrić powered Croatia to a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic as new boss Slaven Bilic began with a victory. Scotland in Slovenia: Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland era started with a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana; Oli McBurnie and Robbie Ure impressed but couldn’t break Jan Oblak, leaving Scotland to build on a strong second-half push. Local Sports Culture: Scotland’s new-look squad included debutants and a midfield focus on Billy Gilmour, while the match also highlighted Slovenia’s defensive resilience. Music & Entertainment: Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury says the band’s next album is likely to surface in late 2027, with lyrics starting on tour. NBA/Slovenia Buzz: JJ Redick revealed he spent 48 hours in Ljubljana with Luka Dončić ahead of the Lakers trip, including golf and team-planning talk. Travel Disruption: Paranair is pausing all flights for two weeks for maintenance, with rebooking and refunds offered.

Scotland football in focus: Sebastien Pocognoli’s “new era” starts in Ljubljana as Scotland kick off the UEFA Nations League against Slovenia, with debutants Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh and a recalled Oli McBurnie up front; Slovenia meanwhile are without Benjamin Šeško (shin injury) and Jan Oblak is set to lead the defense. How to watch: Multiple UK and international guides point to BBC One/BBC iPlayer for Slovenia vs Scotland, with kick-off at 2pm BST. Entertainment spotlight: Motionless in White appear in the Season 4 premiere of “Paranormal Prison,” filmed at Ohio State Reformatory, as the team uses spirit-box sessions to capture phrases during investigations. Culture & language: European Day of Languages celebrations in Goražde bring students together for multilingual workshops with support from Slovenia and other EU partners. Tech/transport note: The EU has postponed a vote on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to December at the earliest. Sports history angle: A look back at how early Iron Range towns mixed movie houses, theatre, and sports for community life.

New Film in Ljubljana: Vojko Anzeljc is shooting Mary’s Resurrection (Marijino vstajenje), a bittersweet comedy starring Katarina Čas and Klemen Slakonja about love that won’t stay buried. Pop Culture & Music: Laibach’s new album MUSICK lands as a sharp critique of streaming-era “emotional wallpaper,” mixing pop instincts with their famously unsettling edge. Gaming for Slovenia: Square Enix says Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is expanding to 38 more countries, including Slovenia, after a Sept. 29 update. Sports Spotlight (Slovenia): Slovenia’s Bostjan Cesar previews Saturday’s Nations League opener in Ljubljana against a new-look Scotland under Sébastien Pocognoli, while Benjamin Šeško remains a major injury doubt. GoCritic! Training: GoCritic! selects 10 emerging film journalists/critics for workshops across Animation Festival Network partners, with outputs published on Cineuropa and Zippy Frames. Tech/Policy Watch: The EU delays Tesla’s EU vote on FSD Supervised to December at the earliest.

Nations League Spotlight: Scotland’s new era under Sebastien Pocognoli kicks off in Ljubljana as writers preview Slovenia vs Scotland, with Slovenia’s boss Boštjan Cesar urging his side to stay compact and punish chances, while Scotland are missing key names including Scott McTominay and Kieran Tierney. Swiss Drama: Switzerland lose Breel Embolo and captain Granit Xhaka from the squad after fresh reporting tied to fake COVID-19 documents, adding more uncertainty to the Nations League build-up. Football Finance Fallout: Manchester City face Premier League scrutiny after being found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules, with supporters and clubs watching what comes next. Arts & Culture: A new travelling exhibition, “Under the Skin of a Puppet: Theatre puppet in X-Ray,” opens in Ljubljana, letting visitors explore how theatre puppets work beneath the surface. Film Journalism Training: GoCritic! selects 10 participants for workshops in film journalism and criticism across Animation Festival Network partners, with outputs planned for Cineuropa and Zippy Frames. Weekend Picks (Cyprus): A guide to “weekend warrior” plans in Cyprus mixes sailing, BEONIX electronic nights, and ballet under the stars.

Film & TV: Astra Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 competition lineup in Sibiu (17–25 Oct), with four sections, 70+ documentaries and 200+ film events, plus DocSchool and online screenings. Film & TV: CinEast Festival 2026 also announced its selection, featuring 65+ features and 60+ shorts across multiple sidebar programs, with a Bulgaria spotlight and music, debates and exhibitions. Sports (Slovenia/Scotland): Scotland begin life under Sebastien Pocognoli with a Nations League opener in Ljubljana against Slovenia, with new faces including Robbie Ure and Oli McBurnie recalled. Sports (Slovenia/Scotland): Nations League coverage also highlights Scott McTominay’s return to training for Napoli after heart surgery, targeting a comeback after the international break. Sports (EU football): The UEFA Nations League kicks off with Portugal defending their title vs Wales and big Matchday 1 clashes including England vs Spain and Netherlands vs Germany. Music/Pop culture: The Netherlands confirms a Eurovision return for 2027 after AVROTROS’ boycott, with an independent expert team selecting the entry. Tech & media: The EU published Digital Services Act reports detailing how major platforms (including TikTok, Meta and Google) comply with speech restrictions and disinformation rules.

Sports & Culture in Ljubljana: Scotland kick off their Nations League era with a visit to Slovenia, with match coverage highlighting BBC One/BBC iPlayer details for Slovenia vs Scotland and a fresh-look squad under Sébastien Pocognoli. Local Football Spotlight: Scotland’s new call-ups include Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn) and other youth minutes planned around the opener, while Alan Shearer urges fans to “lower expectations” after Steve Clarke’s exit. Eurovision Drama: The Netherlands is set to return to Eurovision 2027 after AVROTROS withdrew over Israel/Gaza neutrality concerns, with NPO taking over selection and NOS handling broadcasts. Pope on the Move: Pope Leo XIV begins a France trip with a weekend visit to Lourdes, including details on where he sleeps in Paris. Tech & Business (Slovenia): Space Labs secures a $50M investment (4.9% stake) as it expands its real-world digitalization tech.

Eurovision Politics: The Netherlands is back for Eurovision 2027 after a boycott tied to Israel’s participation, with broadcaster NPO stepping in after Avrotros withdrew and the EBU tightening hosting rules. EU & Ukraine: Slovenia’s FM Tone Kajzer backs opening all EU negotiation clusters for Ukraine by end-2026, while stressing Kyiv must keep pushing reforms. Football Spotlight: Scotland begin a new Nations League era under Sebastien Pocognoli in Ljubljana, with a squad packed with new faces for the opener vs Slovenia. MMA Growth: BRAVE CF marks a decade since launching in 2016, expanding to 39 countries and building long-term regional pathways for fighters. Film & Horror: British-Slovenian actress Marta Svetek shines in psychological horror “The Death of Us” after its FrightFest premiere, while Slovenia’s Luka Marčetić’s “Girl in the Night” lands at Fantastic Fest. Local Culture/Community: Park City’s Haley Batten races at home at the World Cup in Utah, finishing sixth in elite women’s cross-country. Church Abuse Update: Slovenian Rupnik accusers urge Pope Leo XIV to expedite a Vatican trial as he heads to Lourdes.

Eurovision Shake-Up: The Netherlands is set to return to Eurovision in 2027 after AVROTROS stepped back over Gaza-related concerns, with NPO taking over and pointing to EBU rule changes about hosting during “armed conflict” or sensitive geopolitical situations. Slovenia in the Spotlight (Sports): UEFA Nations League 2026/27 kicks off with Slovenia in League B, and Scotland’s new boss Sebastien Pocognoli faces Slovenia in Ljubljana as he starts a fresh-look squad. Church Accountability: Slovenian victims of alleged abuse by former Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik have urged Pope Leo XIV to push for a faster Vatican trial, complaining about “excessive silences” as the pope prepares for a France visit. Local Tech & Industry (Cars): Nissan unveiled the Pixo, a pixel-inspired 8-bit style electric city car built at Renault’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, with early 2027 deliveries planned. Diplomacy: Slovenia’s FM Tone Kajzer spoke in Kyiv about Russia’s aggression and parallels with Slovenia’s independence struggle.

Slovenia in the Spotlight (Football): Benjamin Šeško has apologized after withdrawing from Slovenia’s Nations League squad with a recurring shin problem, leaving the team without its key striker ahead of matches against Scotland, North Macedonia and Switzerland. Scotland–Slovenia Build-Up: New Scotland boss Sébastien Pocognoli says the door is still open for players left out of his first squad, and he plans to sing “Flower of Scotland” before games as preparations continue for the Nations League opener in Ljubljana. Film & Awards: Montenegro selected the documentary To Hold a Mountain / Planina—a co-production including Slovenia—for the 99th Oscars’ Best International Feature race, after a Sundance premiere and multiple documentary prizes. Cinema Industry: Slovenia-linked connecting cottbus (coco) announced its 28th edition lineup, with 63% of selected projects led by women, highlighting Central and Eastern European co-productions. Music (Metal): Nile announced a December 2026 European/UK headlining run that includes a stop in Ljubljana. Arts & Architecture: A Ljubljana renovation story spotlights how 1950s terrace homes were reworked into brighter, more flexible vertical layouts while preserving key architectural elements.

Football & National Pride: Benjamin Šeško has apologized after withdrawing from Slovenia’s Nations League fixtures with a recurring shin issue, while Manchester United say he’ll undergo tests and define an individual recovery plan this week. International Sports Spotlight: Slovenia’s squad is also missing other injured players ahead of matches in Ljubljana, with Scotland set to be coached by Sebastien Pocognoli for the first time. Arts & Culture: Slovenia’s National Ballet (Maribor) brings “Don Quixote” to Paphos Medieval Castle in Cyprus on Sept. 25–26, continuing a busy tour schedule. Animation Industry: Slovenia’s Aerodrom & Gliser is among eight projects competing for the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award at the CEE Animation Forum, with a €50,000 prize for a cross-border animated series. MMA Growth: BRAVE CF marks its 10th anniversary by touting the largest European footprint among major MMA promotions, including Slovenia on its event map. Science & Curiosity: Research led by a Slovenian institute links mysterious Nullarbor Plain trenches to ancient caves collapsing underground.

MMA Spotlight: BRAVE Combat Federation marks its 10th anniversary by claiming the biggest European footprint among major MMA promotions, having staged events across 20 European countries and now including Slovenia among its host list. Public Media Politics (Slovenia): Ahead of Slovenia’s license-fee referendum, trade and media watchdog RSF is pushing for protections to keep RTV SLO’s independent funding and governance safe from political pressure. Football & Scandal (Switzerland/Europe): Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted he used a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate, withdrew from Nations League duty, and faces a Lucerne investigation that could carry criminal penalties. Tech & Privacy (EU): Ireland’s data regulator fined Google €403 million over improper use of users’ location data, ordering GDPR compliance within six months. Sports (Slovenia tie-in): Luka Dončić shared an emotional goodbye to his daughters as he left Slovenia for the Lakers, while Slovenia’s presence also shows up in European sports coverage around upcoming international fixtures.

Politics & Protest: Slovenian trade unions are pushing for a referendum to overturn the new government’s anti-social policies, after the Constitutional Court upheld their signature drive. Tech & Privacy: The EU’s data protection watchdog fined Google €403 million over improper use of location data, ordering compliance with GDPR within six months. Football (Slovenia-linked): Manchester United’s Benjamin Šeško is again in doubt with a shin injury after missing the Fulham match, raising fresh concerns ahead of Slovenia’s Nations League games. International Sport: Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka admitted using a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate and was dropped from the Nations League squad. Arts & Film: Slovenia has announced feature film production grants, supporting new local screen projects. Culture & Travel: A new Alpe Adria hiking loop highlights the shared Austria–Slovenia–Italy trail experience.

Slovenian Film Funding: The Slovenian Film Centre has approved €4.9m for seven feature films, led by Damjan Kozole’s Podzavest (€900,000), plus €600,000 for seven short features. Local Sports Spotlight: Slovenia beat Israel 4–0 in a Davis Cup tie in Ljubljana, sending the team to the next stage after straight-match wins including a decisive doubles result. NBA & Slovenian Starwatch: Luka Dončić shared a heartfelt Instagram message to his daughters from Slovenia as he prepares to return to Los Angeles ahead of Lakers media day, with reports also noting a leaner look after offseason work. Cycling Worlds Buzz: Remco Evenepoel made history in Montreal by winning a record-tying fourth consecutive elite men’s time trial world title. International Film Awards: Slovakia’s Flood / Potopa won the IGRIC Award for Best Feature Film Released in Cinemas, with Chronicle / Letopis taking the documentary prize. Tech & Industry: Ljubljana hosted sessions from the 69th IT Press Tour, including StratoFoundry’s new KARL launch and Cybee’s focus on disaster recovery and governed data.

Slovenian Film Funding: The Slovenian Film Centre has distributed €4.9m for seven feature films, led by €900k for Damjan Kozole’s Podzavest, plus €600k for seven short features. International Co-Productions: FilmFestival Cottbus’ East-West market coco has unveiled its 28th lineup, with projects from 17 countries and a strong female-director presence, running 4–6 Nov in Cottbus. Davis Cup Spotlight: Slovenia beat Israel 4–0 in Ljubljana to secure a Davis Cup World Group II playoff spot for Feb 2027. Innovation Debate: A new analysis argues Slovenia is slipping in innovation, pointing to weaker enterprise R&D, fewer patents, and less high-tech export output than peers. Sports & Culture Mix: A PBS-bound documentary, Saving Walden’s World, returns to Belfast for a fundraiser screening at the Colonial Theatre, with part of the production filmed in Belfast and across Maine and Slovenia. Music/TV Buzz: Strictly Come Dancing revealed 2026 pairings, including Dani Dyer reuniting with Nikita Kuzmin.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026: The BBC revealed the full celebrity line-up and pairings for the new season, including Love Island winner Dani Dyer reuniting with Nikita Kuzmin after she withdrew last year due to injury, plus the show’s third all-female couple ever: Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu. Sailing in Slovenia: Portorož hosted the 470 Open European Trophy & Master’s Cup, with Switzerland’s Julian Flessati and Stephan Ammann taking overall honours and Slovenia’s Dušan Puh and Matjaž Puh winning two races on the final day to claim Grand Masters. Tech + Ljubljana spotlight: The IT Press Tour returned to Ljubljana, featuring StratoFoundry’s new KARL product concept and DataCore’s push for smarter data services above S3 storage. Sports with a Slovenian thread: Luka Dončić’s Lakers drew attention for his reported summer conditioning and body transformation, while NBA news also included Heat guard Pelle Larsson agreeing a four-year extension. Culture: Tartu Illustration Festival is back with workshops, talks, and a Slovenian guest spotlight featuring children’s book illustrator Damijan Stepančič.