Sep 7, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC

Czech child protection authorities documented over 10,000 cases of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation over the past year, marking a 20-year high. Social services removed 3,616 children from their homes, an increase of 300 over the previous period. Experts caution that official data represents only a fraction of actual cases, citing missing preventive support services and unclear guidelines for interventions.

Concurrently, the state is shifting early childhood education policies. A seven-billion-crown investment funded over 300 new preschool groups, though observers raised concerns regarding oversight and care quality. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is tightening rules on primary school enrollment deferrals to restrict them mostly to medical reasons, aiming to curb historically high deferral rates.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.

Turkey claimed the European Women's Volleyball Championship title after defeating Italy 3-2 in a five-set final held at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in Istanbul.

The host team overcame a strong start by Italy, who won the first and third sets before succumbing in the deciding tie-break. The final set scores ended 25-16, 22-25, 25-12, 21-25, and 10-15 in favour of Turkey. Italian opposite hitter Paola Egonu led the scoring for her side with 28 points, but her performance was not enough to secure victory before a crowd of 16,000 spectators.

The defeat prevented Italian head coach Julio Velasco and his squad from securing a historic treble of Olympic, World, and European titles, an achievement previously accomplished only by the Soviet Union.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Repubblica

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is confronting widespread domestic criticism after blocking a joint European Union statement condemning Israel's expansion plans in the West Bank's E1 corridor. Janša defended the decision as an assertion of Slovenia's independent foreign policy, drawing gratitude from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the move represents a major departure from Ljubljana's established diplomatic alignment, prompting opposition parties and the country's president to demand formal explanations.

Despite the veto preventing a unified bloc declaration, senior European officials issued separate statements. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the tenders for over 1,200 housing units as "unacceptable," while EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas warned that building in the corridor risks dividing the West Bank and isolating East Jerusalem.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Tanjug

Ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, Russia is experiencing heightened domestic tensions amid growing public unease over potential military conscription. Despite official denials from Moscow, fears of a post-election draft have led some citizens to sell property and plan departures. Concurrently, Russian authorities have intensified political crackdowns, outlawing the opposition Yabloko party and sentencing its leader Lev Schlosberg to 11 years in prison.

These internal pressures coincide with traditional late-summer strain, often referred to as "Black August," alongside emerging questions regarding long-term political succession for 73-year-old President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to closely monitor political developments in Serbia, frequently invoking risks of "color revolutions" to protect its strategic standing in the Balkans.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration has reached 1,413 days in office, becoming the longest-serving continuous executive in Italy's post-war republican history. The milestone surpasses the previous record established by Silvio Berlusconi's second government from 2001 to 2005.

Speaking at an event in Bari to mark four years in power, Meloni declared that "stability is the first major reform" and indicated her intention to run for a second term in 2027. Joined remotely by her deputy prime ministers, Meloni defended her government's economic record while offering no major new legislative proposals for the remainder of the current term.

Media reactions varied across national outlets. Financial commentators emphasized enhanced international credibility and fiscal stability, whereas critical analyses highlighted policy weaknesses and noted that the coalition benefited significantly from a fragmented opposition.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.