AGP Executive Report

RTV Slovenija Funding: Journalists’ groups and the EFJ back independent, sustainable financing for public broadcaster RTV Slovenija ahead of an Oct 11 referendum that could scrap the mandatory RTV contribution. Climate & Heritage: Slovenia’s Triglav glacier has shrunk to tiny ice fragments and researchers warn it could vanish within days as early snowmelt and warming take their toll. Tech & Culture (Domains): The .si boom is accelerating after Trump’s push to rename AI as “Super Intelligence” and use “SI,” with AI.si listed for nearly $700,000 and registrations surging in September. Sports (Nations League): Scotland’s new boss Sebastien Pocognoli uses the long international break to settle in as his side rematches Slovenia at Hampden, chasing momentum after a win over North Macedonia. Entertainment & Film Festivals: Zurich Film Festival crowned Pierre Le Gall’s Flesh and Fuel; Strasbourg’s Fantastic Film Festival handed the Golden Octopus to No Rest for the Wicked. Music & Startups: Notey closes a $3M seed round and expands across the Balkans via a Telemach distribution partnership, aiming to make music practice “play” for schools and families.

TV & Pop Culture: ITV is reshuffling soap schedules again, with a UEFA Nations League Scotland vs Slovenia clash (7:45pm, coverage from 7:30pm) spilling into Emmerdale (8pm) and Coronation Street (8:30pm). Cycling Spotlight: Tadej Pogačar has confirmed he’ll skip the UEC European Championships in Slovenia to focus on Il Lombardia, while Remco Evenepoel also plans to skip the time trial. Sports—Nations League Drama: Scotland’s new era under Sebastien Pocognoli got a boost as Kieron Bowie scored early and John McGinn added a penalty in a 2-0 win over North Macedonia, with Andy Robertson marking his 100th cap. Local Football Buzz: Switzerland kept the same XI vs Slovenia, with Michel Aebischer starting and Dan Ndoye starring in the build-up. Tech & Media in Slovenia: Slovenia’s .si domain registrations surged after Trump’s “super intelligence” push, with Register.si reporting a massive jump in September and early October. Arts & Entertainment: Rock Masters in Arco crowned Adam Ondra and Jessica Pilz in the KO Boulder finals.

Football & National Pride: Switzerland edged Slovenia 2-1 with Dan Ndoye starring again, while Scotland’s new boss Sebastien Pocognoli finally got a win as Andy Robertson marked his 100th cap in a 2-0 triumph over North Macedonia, setting up a Nations League rematch at Hampden. Cycling in Slovenia: Demi Vollering powered to a dominant European Championships women’s road race win in Slovenia, while Elisa Longo Borghini finished fourth after a late crash disrupted her medal bid. Climbing & Local Sports Culture: Adam Ondra and Jessica Pilz took top honors at Rock Masters in Arco, with Slovenia’s Luka Potočar finishing third. EU Politics with a Slovenia Link: Seventeen EU leaders—including Slovenia—pushed back on budget cuts, urging protection of farm funding and cohesion policy. Tech & Daily Life: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) rollout faces another EU delay as officials discuss the Dutch request, and Slovenia’s .si domain boom continues after Trump’s “super intelligence” push. Arts & Screen: Cyprus’s International Short Film Festival highlights 13 Cypriot films in its national competition program.

Drone Food Craze: Shenzhen is turning “coffee from the sky” into a real tourist draw, with Meituan Drone delivering hot meals via low-altitude routes in as little as 7 minutes. Strictly Come Dancing (Movie Week): Melanie Walters broke down in tears during Strictly’s movie-themed episode, linking the Waltz to her late mum and her Alzheimer’s-era favorite film. Scotland’s Nations League Moment: Sebastien Pocognoli finally got his first win as Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-0, with Kieron Bowie scoring early and John McGinn sealing it from the spot—though a dog pitch invasion briefly halted the match. Slovenia vs Switzerland Update: Switzerland kept the same XI for the clash with Slovenia, with Michel Aebischer starting again and Zan Celar on the bench. Sports Tech & Culture: Barcolana58 is in full swing around Trieste and Grado, mixing water sports with a big public “village” vibe.

UEFA Nations League (TV guides): Spain host Czech Republic on Oct 3 (2:45pm ET/8:45pm CEST) on FS2, with streaming via fuboTV; Croatia take on England the same day with coverage routed through fubo PPV. Cycling (Slovenia spotlight): Demi Vollering claimed her first rainbow-jersey win at the European Championships road race in Slovenia, powering away on the final climb for a Dutch 1-2. Scotland in the Balkans: Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland chase a first Nations League win as they visit North Macedonia in Skopje, with Robertson set for his 100th cap. Entertainment TV: Strictly Come Dancing pro Nadiya Bychkova makes a surprise return to the spin-off ahead of “Movie Night.” Tech & local domains: Demand for Slovenia’s .si surged after Trump’s “super intelligence” push, with registrations jumping sharply in September. Film (Zurich): Andrina Mračnikar’s Mila/Marija premieres at Zurich Film Festival, tracing a Carinthian Slovene partisan woman’s fight and post-war fallout.

.si Domain Boom: After Donald Trump urged the world to rename AI as “super intelligence” (SI), Slovenia’s country-code domain has surged—Register.si logged 44,000 .si registrations in September and hit 11,000 on Sept. 30, with demand still running at 12,600+ per day. Sports & Spotlight: Luka Dončić has escalated his custody dispute by filing a Hague Convention petition to bring his daughters from Slovenia to the United States. Football (Nations League): Scotland begin life under Sebastien Pocognoli with a must-win at North Macedonia, while Viktor Gyökeres set a UEFA Nations League scoring record with six straight matches for Sweden. Arts & Culture: Austrian director Andrina Mračnikar’s fiction debut “Mila/Marija” premiered at the Zurich Film Festival, exploring a Carinthian Slovene partisan woman’s wartime and post-war fight. Cycling: Tadej Pogačar says he’s “getting better each day” after his crash, while Luka Mezgec is set to become sports director at Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe.

Tech & Money: Trump’s “super intelligence” rebrand is driving a rush for Slovenia’s .si domains, with registrations jumping from under 2,000 in August to about 44,000 in September and 11,000 on Sept. 30 alone—turning the country code into a sudden digital asset. Sports (Football): Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland chase their first Nations League win as they visit North Macedonia in Skopje after a tough start that included a 3-0 loss to Switzerland; meanwhile, Kevin Gallacher says players must adapt to the Belgian’s more European front-foot system. Sports (Football TV): North Macedonia vs Scotland is set for BBC Two/BBC Scotland with streaming via BBC iPlayer/BBC Sport, plus other Nations League viewing guides for the week. Arts & Culture (Law): A Ljubljana court hearing is set for Možina’s defamation lawsuit against cultural figure Svetlana Makarovič. Cycling: Tadej Pogačar says he’s “getting better each day” after his crash, while Luka Mezgec announces a new sports director role at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

EU Legal Push: The European Commission has referred Bulgaria to the EU Court of Justice over electricity market rules, flagging gaps on network access, new generation approvals, consumer participation, and regulator powers. Slovenia Tech & Media: Telekom Slovenije is rolling out Synamedia Iris to let TSmedia sell locally targeted ads on international TV channels like AMC and BBC, while the broader “super intelligence” AI naming buzz is driving a surge in Slovenian .si domain registrations. Sports & Culture: Slovenia’s Old Vine in Maribor remains the world’s oldest grapevine still producing fruit, and the Tokyo International Film Festival unveiled its 2026 lineup. Global Spotlight: Team USA brought home medals from the International AI Olympiad in Ljubljana, and UN child-rights findings were published for Slovenia and other countries.

Music & Live Events: Academy Award winner Russell Crowe will bring his Indoor Garden Party to Pula Arena on 27 June 2027, with the show positioned as a major European stop aimed at audiences across Croatia and nearby Slovenia. TV Advertising Boom: Telekom Slovenije, via TSmedia, is rolling out Synamedia Iris to let Slovenian brands buy locally targeted ads on international linear channels like AMC and BBC—replacing international ad breaks with campaigns tailored for Slovenian viewers. Tech & Domains: Registrations for Slovenia’s .si web addresses reportedly surged after Donald Trump pushed to rename AI as “super intelligence” (SI), with September .si sign-ups jumping from under 2,000 in August to about 44,000. Sports (Scotland vs Slovenia): Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli starts his Nations League run after a tough Hampden debut, with the next big test coming as Scotland prepare for North Macedonia, while Slovenia remains in the spotlight for fans and fixtures. Film Festival: Tokyo International Film Festival unveils its 2026 competition lineup, including multiple world premieres and gala titles.

Eurovision Politics: Iceland is set to boycott Eurovision 2027 again unless Israel is barred, following the 2026 boycott that included Slovenia and Ireland. Football Spotlight (Slovenia ties): Slovenia drew Scotland 0-0 in Sebastien Pocognoli’s first match, then Scotland were hit 3-0 by Switzerland; Pocognoli insists he won’t panic despite a four-game scoring drought. Tech & Local Culture: Telekom Slovenije is rolling out local ad sales on international linear TV channels via Synamedia Iris, letting Slovenian brands replace some foreign ad spots. Music & Arts: Bulgarian conductor Rossen Milanov will lead the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall for its 75th anniversary. Domains & Internet Buzz: Trump’s “super intelligence/SI” push sparked a rush for Slovenian .si domain registrations, with register.si reporting a surge after his UN remarks. Sports (Climbing): Slovenian climbers retreated from K7’s East Face in Pakistan after heavy snowfall.

Music & Culture: Bulgarian conductor Rossen Milanov will lead the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 28 for its 75th anniversary, with Davóne Tines as soloist and a programme featuring Tchaikovsky plus new works. Film Industry: European Work in Progress 2026 (EWIP) handed out ten awards in Hamburg, supporting projects across drama, animation, horror and neo-western. TV/Streaming: Mubi secured worldwide rights to Movistar Plus International series “La Mesías” and “Riot Police,” while Movistar Plus International expanded Originals sales. Eurovision Politics: Eurovision’s 2027 outlook remains tangled in geopolitics after 2026 boycotts, including Slovenia. Slovenia Tech Buzz: Trump’s “superintelligence/SI” push sparked a surge in Slovenian “.si” domain registrations, with register.si reporting a jump to 220,000+ domains. Sports (Local): Slovenia beat North Macedonia 2-0 in UEFA Nations League, with goals from Sandi Lovrič and Aljosa Matko. Cycling (Home Event): Pogačar’s team says he won’t ride the European Championships in Slovenia, citing health first.

Slovenian Politics: A new Mediana poll for POP TV shows public confidence in Prime Minister Janez Janša’s government slipping further ahead of 11 October referendums, with 50.2% opposing the government’s work. Film & Festivals: FilmFestival Cottbus opens its 36th edition (3–8 Nov 2026) with first programme highlights and industry accreditation now live, while Bucharest’s BIEFF.16 crowned winners in a “Vanishing Futures” lineup. Music Charts Research: A Royal Society Open Science study maps how Billboard hits rise, fade, return, and reshuffle over decades—songs as short bursts, albums as longer-lasting peaks. Local Screen Debut: Lun Sevnik has wrapped filming on debut feature The Healers, a Ljubljana-set drama about a debt-strapped spiritual healer and a son pulled into a growing belief in miracles. Tech & Domains: After Trump’s “superintelligence” push, Slovenia’s .si domain registrations reportedly surged past 200,000, with register.si saying systems are running smoothly. Sports (Slovenia link): Cycling drama continues around Tadej Pogačar’s possible European Championships ride, as Slovenia’s cycling federation says the final list isn’t out yet.

Slovenian Tech Buzz: After Donald Trump urged a rename of “artificial intelligence” to “super intelligence,” Slovenia’s .si domain registrations reportedly surged—over 220,000 total and more than 10,000 in September alone. Sports Spotlight (Local Angle): In football, Scotland begin their new era under Sébastien Pocognoli as they host Switzerland in the Nations League at Hampden (kick-off 7:45pm), with talk of possible lineup changes and debut chances for Luis Binks. Eurovision Politics: VRT and NPO confirm they’ll return to Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria, after a wave of boycotts linked to the Israel–Gaza debate. NBA (Slovenia Connection): Luka Dončić says he’s ready to lead the Lakers post-LeBron, including a Slovenia minicamp for new teammates, while Austin Reaves jokes about the toughest part of playing with him—his fast, multi-language on-court chatter.

NBA Spotlight (Slovenian star): Luka Dončić says he’s “honored” to lead the LeBron-less Lakers, fully recovered from a hamstring issue and aiming for a championship push as training camp opens. Local Connection: Dončić also explained why he hosted a mini camp in Slovenia for new teammates—so they could bond and learn his culture. Locker-room Shift: Bronny James addressed LeBron James’ departure with a calm, personal take, while Austin Reaves frames his new leadership role as the franchise moves into a post–LeBron era. Scotland Football (Slovenia ties): New Scotland boss Sébastien Pocognoli wants “a smile” from Billy Gilmour and stresses match-sharp club minutes ahead of Switzerland at Hampden after a 0-0 draw in Slovenia. Tech & Culture: Slovenia’s .si domain saw a surge in registrations after Trump’s UN speech sparked “super intelligence” buzz. Film & Horror: British-Slovenian actress Marta Svetek stars in psychological horror The Death of Us, premiering at Tubi FrightFest.

Scotland Football: Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland era starts to take shape as the team prepares for Tuesday’s Hampden clash with Switzerland after a goalless draw in Slovenia, with Oli McBurnie back in the fold and fans hoping the second-half promise turns into goals. Cycling Glory: Brandon McNulty ends America’s 33-year wait by winning the 2026 UCI men’s road world title in Montreal, while Mathieu van der Poel confirms the Worlds was his final road race of 2026. Pope Leo XIV in France: Pope Leo XIV draws huge crowds in Paris and Lourdes, focusing on faith, AI, and clergy abuse after private meetings with survivors. EU Energy Rules: The European Commission opens infringement cases against 18 states, including Slovenia, over energy-sharing and consumer rules. Tech & Startups (Slovenia): Tech.eu reports Space Labs securing €50M investment, highlighting Slovenia’s growing presence in European funding. Film & Culture: Hong Kong cinema gets a spotlight at the Zurich Film Festival, with local support helping films reach Central and Eastern Europe. Sports on TV: Listings and match-watch guides keep the spotlight on UEFA Nations League action, including Slovenia vs Scotland coverage details.

UCI Road Worlds: Brandon McNulty stunned the favourites with a 32km solo attack to win the elite men’s road race in Montreal, ending a 33-year U.S. drought; Michael Matthews took silver and Mathieu van der Poel bronze, while Ben Healy’s relentless effort earned praise even without a medal. Cycling Spotlight: Mathieu van der Poel grabbed bronze after a chaotic, long-range attack, and Paul Seixas called his 15th place a huge disappointment after a race built for the top climbers. Arts & Culture: Greece’s EMST won the European Museum Academy’s Art Museum Award 2026, beating major European rivals including Slovenia’s National Gallery. Film & Media: Disney/Marvel’s “Avengers Endgame: Encore” roared back with an $86M global re-release opening, powered by a big fanbase. Sports (Football): Scotland began Sebastien Pocognoli’s era with a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana, while Nations League action continued across Europe, including Spain’s 3-2 win over England. Local Travel/Leisure: Croatia topped Eurostat’s overnight-stays-per-inhabitant ranking, with Slovenia also featuring in the top tier.