Oct 6, 2026, 02:30 AM UTC

Czech child welfare authorities registered over 10,000 cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation over the past year, marking a multi-decade high. A total of 3,616 children were removed from their families, an increase of 300 from the previous year. Welfare experts stressed that the statistics capture only a fraction of actual cases, citing missing evaluation guidelines and insufficient specialized preventive services.

Concurrently, the Czech Republic is completing a seven-billion-koruna EU-funded expansion of early childcare facilities, though analysts warn the initiative lacks clear quality standards.

At the European level, the European Commission introduced the proposed EU KIDS Act to ban social media access for children under 13 and establish age verification requirements across member states.

Sources: Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Montenegro's Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling against businessman Duško Knežević and his co-defendants, according to an official judicial announcement.

In response to the decision, Knežević’s legal team asserted that there are compelling reasons to review all cases handled by former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić. Knežević, who faces multiple financial crime charges, has repeatedly rejected all allegations. His defense maintains that prosecutions initiated under Katnić's leadership warrant a comprehensive legal audit to safeguard justice.

The appellate court’s confirmation seals another stage in the high-profile judicial saga surrounding Knežević, who was extradited to Montenegro earlier this year to face trial.

Sources: Dan

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has submitted a four-second audio recording to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in an effort to register her voice as a trademark.

The application, which features the phrase "Io sono Giorgia Meloni", is intended to guard against unauthorised voice cloning and deepfakes produced through generative artificial intelligence. EUIPO will now review the submission to decide whether the voice mark meets the requirements for formal recognition.

Meloni has previously warned about the risks posed by deepfakes, noting their potential to manipulate and deceive. She is among several prominent Italian figures taking steps to protect their identity from emerging digital technologies.

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

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a €1 billion ($1.1 billion) military assistance package for Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv. The support package includes turbojet-powered drone interceptors, standoff weaponry, and space-based technology.

During the Kyiv visit, German defence technology firm ARX Robotics and Ukrainian developer Roboneers signed an agreement to deepen cooperation on unmanned ground systems, focusing on technical integration and joint development for European and Ukrainian armed forces.

In tandem with the aid announcement, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Germany plans to establish its first dedicated drone regiment. Ground forces will form the new unit based on operational insights gained directly from front-line exchanges in Ukraine, marking a structural effort to institutionalize unmanned warfare capabilities.

Sources: UK Defence Journal, Defense News, Breaking Defense.

Israel's domestic security service, Shin Bet, has heightened its threat alert after intelligence indicated Hamas is preparing a complex attack ahead of the country's upcoming elections on October 27. Security chief David Zini informed cabinet ministers of specific intelligence warnings regarding potential operations.

The alert coincides with continued scrutiny over past intelligence missteps, including reports detailing how Israeli officials previously misjudged Hamas's intentions and overlooked critical warning signs hours before the October 7, 2023 attacks. Meanwhile, ongoing studies highlight the lasting psychological impact of those events, with roughly half of young survivors from the Nova music festival continuing to suffer from severe trauma and post-traumatic stress.

Sources: ANSA, La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera.