AGP Executive Report

Nations League, Sarajevo spotlight: Bosnia and Herzegovina host Sweden in Zenica’s Bilino Polje on Friday, with UEFA naming Oleksii Derevinskyi as referee and BHRT set to broadcast; the match also marks Edin Džeko’s farewell in the national team jersey. Team news, health watch: Sweden’s Benjamin Nygren, Yasin Ayari and Gustaf Lagerbielke are isolating with cold symptoms and are doubts for the trip to Bosnia. Humanitarian sports moment: FS BiH invites fans to bring a stuffed toy for Džeko’s farewell, with “teddies” to be delivered to children’s homes via Pomozi.ba. Council of Europe politics: A decision on the “Sarajevo Safari” draft resolution has been postponed until December after a heated committee debate. Health system update (Sarajevo Canton): A new protocol on urgent patient care is now in force, aiming to streamline emergency treatment from first contact to the right level of care. Remembering Sarajevo’s ingenuity: Bosnia mourns Enes Baralić, co-creator of the Sarafix limb-saving device developed during the siege. Diaspora culture: A supplementary Bosnian language school at Bosnia House in Birmingham begins a new school year, continuing 32 years of teaching language and culture.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Football: Bosnia and Herzegovina opened their UEFA Nations League season with a 4-2 win over Romania in Bucharest, with Leeds’ Tarik Muharemović scoring early and adding a standout all-round performance as BiH set up a key next match against Sweden. International Film Production (BiH talent): Bosnian-Dutch director Ena Sendijarević has begun filming her third feature, The Possessed, in Spain, with Ariane Labed, Suzy Bemba, Khalil Gharbia and Ji-Min Park starring—another high-profile step for BiH-linked cinema. Tech & Culture (Sarajevo): The 19th Junior Balkan Olympiad in Informatics wrapped in Sarajevo City Hall, bringing together 55 young IT competitors from 13 countries and featuring BiH teams that won multiple medals, plus cultural events including sevdalinka and pop-rock. Media & Society: Bosnia’s regulator data shows fixed-line subscriptions down to 461,890 in Q2 2026, while fixed internet and pay-TV tick upward—small shifts, big implications for how people access entertainment and news. Environment & Enforcement: Neum authorities report a Federal Police search over alleged illegal waste dumping from Croatia, with documentation temporarily seized as investigators check whether waste volumes exceed an agreement.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Football: Tarik Muharemović (Leeds) shone as BiH beat Romania 4-2 in the Nations League in Bucharest, scoring his first competitive goal for the national team and helping set up a big next step ahead of Sweden in Zenica. Sports Spotlight: The wider Nations League picture also brought Italy’s 4-1 win over Türkiye and France’s late 1-0 over Belgium, while BiH’s campaign continues to gather momentum. Local Culture & Youth: Sarajevo hosted the 19th Junior Balkan Olympiad in Informatics, with BiH taking medals and cultural events featuring sevdalinka and pop-rock. EU & Society: In Tuzla, the “Future is the EU” campaign brought young people into the spotlight, discussing education, jobs, equality, and media literacy as part of BiH’s European path. Arts & Media: Remembering TV icon Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, after his death at 75. Tech & Learning: The week also highlighted judo’s World Judo Day theme “BELONGING,” tying sport to inclusion and community.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Football: The Dragons kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign with a big home night in Zenica: Bosnia and Herzegovina host Sweden at Bilino Polje Stadium on Oct 2 (8:45pm CET), with ticket info circulating ahead of the match. Romania vs BiH: Coach Sergej Barbarez says Bosnia must play “bravely” and exploit chances as they face Romania in Bucharest, with Gheorghe Hagi leading the hosts. EU Youth & Culture: The EU-backed “Future is the EU” campaign lands in Tuzla, where young people discuss education, jobs, equality, mobility, peace, and what kind of society they want to build. Sports Spotlight: A flurry of international football coverage also notes Bosnia-linked Nations League absences and squad pressure, including Sweden’s Alexander Isak withdrawing due to a minor thigh issue. Media & Civic Rules: Bosnia’s election watchdog, CEC BiH, warns parties and candidates of strict sanctions for hate speech ahead of elections. Judo Community: World Judo Day 2026 is set for Oct 28 under the theme “BELONGING,” emphasizing inclusion across abilities, genders, and backgrounds.

Nations League Focus: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s “Dragons” head to Bucharest for their second UEFA Nations League match against Romania, with coach Sergej Barbarez urging a brave response to the hosts’ pressure after an opening-round loss and pointing to Haris Tabaković’s expectation of high pressing plus careful defending. Sports Spotlight: Liverpool’s Alexander Isak has withdrawn from Sweden duty with a minor thigh problem after scoring vs Romania, leaving the club to assess him ahead of a tough run that includes Manchester City. Cultural & Community Life: Sarajevo’s “Race for the Cure” turned the city pink again, drawing 12,000+ participants and raising at least 290,000 BAM so far for free mammograms, psychosocial support, and prevention programs. Media & Society: Bosnia’s Central Election Commission warns parties, candidates, supporters and media that hate speech will bring strict sanctions, including possible removal from electoral lists, as monitoring groups flag dozens of concerning cases. Arts & Fashion History: A new historical look at 18th-century Dalmatian women’s fashion shows how scarce elite garments and imported fabrics signaled status and shaped visual identity. EU Politics: The EU is drafting clearer accession roadmaps for some candidates, but Bosnia and Herzegovina is not included in the initial set.

Bosnia Football Spotlight: Sergej Barbarez says Bosnia and Herzegovina must “play bravely” and seize chances as they head to Bucharest for the Nations League clash with Romania, after a solid 0-0 draw with Poland and with the match set to be shown on BHRT/BHT1. Sports & Community Health: Sarajevo’s “Race for the Cure” painted the city pink again, drawing 12,000+ people and raising funds for free mammograms, psychosocial support, and prevention campaigns. Arts & Culture (Fashion History): A deep dive into 18th-century Dalmatian women’s fashion shows how imported fabrics and fine lace signaled status and shaped visual identity. Music (Regional Charts): Jala Brat and Buba Corelli keep dominating Croatia’s charts, with multiple Top 10 hits and heavy radio/stream presence. International Arts Watch (Theatre): A new staging of Sarah Kane’s “4.48 Psychosis” returns to the spotlight, with a bold ensemble approach to the play’s fragmented, unsettling form.

Nations League Focus: Bosnia and Herzegovina head to Bucharest for their Nations League clash with Romania after drawing Poland in Warsaw; the team trained in Warsaw and will play Monday at the National Arena, with BHRT coverage on BHT1. Sports & Community Pride: Sarajevo’s Race for the Cure returned with a pink takeover, drawing 12,000+ participants and raising 290,000 BAM so far for free mammograms, psychosocial support, and prevention education. Youth Sports Results: Sarajevo Swimming Club brought home medals from the Subotica Autumn Cup, led by Esma Dizić’s two golds and multiple personal bests across freestyle, medley, backstroke, and dolphin events. Theatre & Mental Health: A new staging of Sarah Kane’s final work, 4.48 Psychosis, is discussed as a bold, ensemble-driven production that treats the text like a living philosophical inquiry. Culture & Inclusion: Sarajevo’s World Kata Championships highlight kata as shared memory and, in parallel, Special Olympics judo inclusion—athletes perform with adapted categories that keep expectations high. Media & Memory: A Swiss-based Bosnian group files complaints over Weltwoche coverage of Ratko Mladić, arguing it relativizes crimes and misrepresents Bosniaks.

Bosnia Nations League Focus: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s “Dragons” trained in Warsaw after drawing Poland, then head to Bucharest for the Romania clash on Sept. 28, with Sergej Barbarez’s squad split between pitch work and hotel fitness; the match is set for BHRT1 coverage. Diaspora & Media Accountability: A Swiss-based “Voice for Bosnia” group filed complaints against Weltwoche over reporting on Ratko Mladić, arguing the piece relativizes war crimes and misrepresents Bosniaks. Language & Culture: Goražde marked European Day of Languages with EU and EUNIC-backed activities, including crash courses and practice sessions, framing languages as keys to music, films, and new opportunities. Judo & Inclusion: Sarajevo’s World Kata Championships highlighted kata as “shared discipline,” while Special Olympics judo participation put athletes at the heart of the arena. Arts & Performance: A Christmas Carol fundraiser is set for Dec. 16 at Orillia Opera House, with a star-studded cast supporting Green Haven Shelter for Women. Sports Viewing Guide: Multiple previews and “how to watch” guides circulated for Nations League fixtures involving Bosnia, including Poland vs Bosnia and Romania vs Bosnia.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Football: Bosnia and Herzegovina kick off the new UEFA Nations League season in Warsaw against Poland, with coach Sergej Barbarez facing injury absences (Nikola Vasilj, Amar Dedić, Kenan Busuladžić) while Edin Džeko is set to join later; the match is framed as redemption after recent results and a push for early points. International Arts & Culture: The 12th Athens International Poetry Festival opens Sept. 28 at the Athens Concert Hall with “No Exit: Poems for Fragmented/Fragmented Times,” featuring readings that blend spoken word with music and visual elements, including Merima Dizdarević from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Film & Awards: Aamir Khan is set for Singapore’s Screen Icon Award at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival, with a special 25th-anniversary screening of “Lagaan,” a rare Oscars-era moment that also highlights Bosnia’s “No Man’s Land” connection. Gaming: Final Fantasy gacha “Dissidia Duellum” expands to 38 new countries, explicitly including Bosnia and Herzegovina, after a Sept. 29 update. Sports Inclusion: Sarajevo hosts a Special Olympics Judo Open, integrating 113 athletes from 18 nations into the city’s major judo calendar.

Nations League Spotlight: Bosnia and Herzegovina kick off the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League in Warsaw against Poland, with coach Sergej Barbarez aiming to start fast after a World Cup run that reached the round of 32; Edin Džeko is set to join for the window, while injuries keep Nikola Vasilj, Amar Dedić and Kenan Busuladžić out. Football Culture & Media: Multiple guides and broadcast listings point fans to BHRT and free-to-air options for watching the opener, underlining how big the match is for local audiences. Sports Beyond the Pitch (Judo): Sarajevo hosts the Sarajevo Special Olympics Judo Open, bringing 113 athletes from 18 nations into an IJF-style setting and pushing inclusion through sport. Arts & Film: Aamir Khan is set for Singapore’s Screen Icon Award, with a 25th-anniversary celebration of “Lagaan,” while a Serbian documentary-feature “Seven days that changed the century” earns a Cannes corporate media honor. Local Nature Tourism: Perućica in Bosnia’s Sutjeska National Park is named Europe’s most secluded “enchanted” forest, spotlighting Bosnia’s heritage landscapes.

Bosnia on the EU beat: EUFOR hosted a Latvian delegation of senior journalists at Camp Butmir, briefing them on Operation Althea’s mandate and Bosnia’s EU integration context—an effort aimed at more informed reporting. Public broadcasting pressure: European media bodies again urged “urgent action” to keep BHRT on air, keeping the spotlight on media freedom and sustainability in BiH. Election rules and kids in politics: BiH’s Central Election Commission fined parties and candidates for abusing children in campaign materials and premature campaigning, including penalties tied to photos and social media posts. Security after raids: A Bosnian police officer died by suicide after SIPA raids across Sarajevo, Doboj and Bratunac targeting an alleged arms-and-drugs network, with weapons and forged documents seized. Sports culture, local focus: Bosnia’s national team begins Nations League preparations with training at Grbavica, while coach Sergej Barbarez sets expectations for the Fan League opener in Warsaw vs Poland. Arts & memory: A Gaza-to-Edinburgh poetry piece highlights how language can “breach every blockade,” echoing Sarajevo’s own cultural memory.

Civic Tech & Peacebuilding: Kayeh AI named conflict-transformation strategist Dana Eyre as advisor, pitching its tool for tracking both agreement and divergence in polarized dialogue. Local Politics & Media: Bosnia’s Central Election Commission fined parties over premature campaigning and child-related photo use, including Secure Srpska and individual candidates. Public Safety: A Bosnian police officer died by suicide after SIPA raids tied to an organized crime network and alleged illegal arms permits. Arts & Memory: Rochester Institute of Technology students are building Peaceland: Choose Your Memory, a peacebuilding video game drawn from real experiences of conflict. Film & Sarajevo Roots: Winnipeg filmmaker Matea Radic will premiere her animated short Paradaïz in Los Angeles, using hand-drawn animation and Sarajevo memories to explore healing. Culture & Performance: 160 majorettes from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will bring a colour-filled dance program to Srebreno this Saturday. Sports & Community: Sarajevo hosts the World Judo Championships Kata 2026 (Sept 26–27), with 462 judoka from 35 countries.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Sports Spotlight: The Sarajevo World Judo Championships Kata 2026 are set for Sept. 26–27, with 462 judoka from 35 countries expected, while the Veterans Worlds in Sarajevo also spotlight M7–M9 competitors showing judo’s “economy of movement” at the Hotel Hills Arena. Local Media & Democracy: The EBU warns BHRT is on the brink of collapse, citing unpaid staff/suppliers and dropped programs, urging urgent stable public-service funding ahead of the Oct. 4 elections. Regional Arts & Culture: A Bosnia connection pops up in a music story about Dodgy turning down a Knebworth support slot in 1996 to play a show in war-torn Bosnia, highlighting how pop culture intersected with humanitarian work in Tuzla. International Politics Affecting the Region: Bosnia’s Presidency chair Denis Bećirović hits back at Serbia at the UN over Ratko Mladić glorification, calling it an anti-civilisational act. Sports & Identity in the Region: Bosnia’s national team continues Nations League preparations in Ilidža, with Ajdin Hasić and Salko Hamzić briefing media ahead of matches.

Public Media Under Threat: The European Broadcasting Union says BHRT is on the brink of collapse, unable to pay staff and suppliers, with reporting capacity shrinking and hundreds of jobs at risk—warning that losing national public service media would hit Bosnia’s democracy ahead of the Oct. 4 elections. UN Politics, Regional Echoes: Bosnia’s presidency chair Denis Bećirović used the UN General Assembly to condemn Serbia’s leaders for glorifying Ratko Mladić, calling it an anti-civilisational act tied to destabilising ethno-nationalism. Sport & Identity: Bosnia’s presence in the UEFA Nations League is in focus, with the league draw placing BiH in League B Group 4 alongside Poland, Romania and Sweden, while local football media also spotlights national team preparations at Ilidža. Culture & Film: Oldenburg Film Festival winners include “Foreign Tongue,” a German-premiere story with a Bosnian accent twist, adding to the week’s Balkan-screen momentum. Winter Arrives Early: A cold spell brought the season’s first snow to parts of the Balkans, including higher areas across the region.

Public Media Under Threat: The European Federation of Journalists and Bosnia-Herzegovina Journalists’ Association warn BHRT is on the verge of shutting down, citing blocked bank accounts, reduced programming, and possible salary failures for 700+ media workers—urging urgent Bosnian and European action to protect the wider public broadcasting system. Inclusive Sport in Sarajevo: Sarajevo hosts the Special Olympics Judo Open (Sept 25-26), integrated into the IJF world-level programme, with about 130 athletes from 20 countries—another strong signal for inclusion in Bosnia’s sports scene. Judo Spotlight: At the Sarajevo World Judo Championships Veterans 2026, Azerbaijan’s team extended its medal haul to nine, including multiple golds, underscoring the city’s growing role as a regional judo hub. Arts & Culture Beyond Football: A Bosnia-linked charity thread runs through international entertainment news: Rick Wakeman and actor Peter Egan team up for a conversation event raising funds for Bosnia’s stray-dog crisis via UK charity Saving Strays. Bosnia in the Spotlight (Football): Bosnia’s national team Nations League preparations include injury fallout—Kenan Busuladzic out for nine months—while Amar Dedić’s situation remains a key talking point for fans.

Public Media Crisis: The European Federation of Journalists and Bosnia-Herzegovina Journalists’ Association warn BHRT is on the verge of shutting down, after funding shortages forced programming cuts and bank accounts were blocked for over a month—putting more than 700 media workers’ jobs at risk. Inclusive Sport in Sarajevo: Sarajevo will host the Special Olympics Judo Open (Sept 25–26), with about 130 athletes from 20 countries and a first-of-its-kind IJF integration across all five Special Olympics ability levels. Arts & Culture on Screen: HYBE Cine Fest goes global (Oct 24–31), bringing cinema screenings and live BTS broadcasts from South America, plus concert films from Seventeen and Tomorrow X Together. Film Spotlight: Montenegro selected the documentary “To Hold a Mountain” for the 99th Oscars, a co-production shot in Montenegro about a mother and daughter defending their mountain tradition. Football & National Team: Bosnia’s Nations League preparations continue at Grbavica, with coach Sergej Barbarez facing injuries including Kenan Busuladzic out for nine months.