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Salzburg, currently leading the Austrian Bundesliga, has announced the departure of head coach Thomas Letsch. The decision comes after a recent dip in form, with the team securing only a draw and suffering two losses in their last two league matches. Despite the setback, RB Salzburg maintains the top spot in the league thanks to a superior goal difference over Linzer Inquire.

The move marks a significant shift for the Austrian powerhouse, who narrowly missed the league title last season, finishing as runners-up. Letsch, who took the helm at the beginning of last year, leaves with a points-per-game ratio of 1.55 across 56 matches. The club cited the need for “new impetus” as the driving force behind the change.

“We came to the club in a challenging situation, and even if not everything went optimally, we are handing over an intact team with a great chance of winning both national titles,” Letsch was quoted as saying by dpa.

The decision extends beyond Letsch, with assistant coach Kai Hesse also departing the club. Letsch previously managed Bochum for nearly a year and a half, until August 2024, before joining Red Bull Salzburg. The club’s sporting director, Marcus Mann, who has been in his role for just over six weeks after previously working at Hannover 96, explained the rationale behind the change. “After careful analysis, I have come to the conclusion that new impetus is required for FC Red Bull Salzburg,” Mann stated.

Recent Struggles Prompt Coaching Change

The timing of the change is notable given Salzburg’s position at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga. However, the recent results clearly influenced the club’s decision. The team’s performance has been under scrutiny, and the leadership felt a change was necessary to ensure they maintain their competitive edge and achieve their championship aspirations. The club is actively seeking a new manager to guide them through the remainder of the season and beyond.

Mann’s Early Impact at Salzburg

Marcus Mann’s swift action demonstrates his intent to make a significant impact at Red Bull Salzburg. Having joined the club just weeks ago, he has quickly assessed the situation and determined that a change in leadership was crucial. His background in German football, having previously worked with Hannover 96, brings a different perspective to the Austrian club. Mann’s early decisions will be closely watched as he aims to steer Salzburg towards success.

The club’s focus now shifts to finding a suitable replacement for Letsch. The search will likely prioritize candidates with a proven track record of success and a tactical approach that aligns with the club’s ambitions. The new coach will inherit a talented squad capable of competing for both domestic and European honors.

Red Bull Salzburg is also preparing for the upcoming Club World Cup, as detailed in Cincinnati Soccer Talk. The competition will provide a valuable opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage.

The Austrian Bundesliga season is heating up, with Linzer ASK closely trailing Salzburg in the standings. The race for the title promises to be a thrilling contest, and the appointment of a new coach could prove pivotal in determining the outcome. Fans will be eager to see how the team responds to this change in leadership and whether they can maintain their position at the top of the table.

What comes next for Red Bull Salzburg will depend heavily on their choice of new manager and how quickly the team can adapt to their methods. The club’s ambition remains high, and they will be determined to secure both domestic titles and make a strong impression in the Club World Cup. The coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the future of the Austrian champions.

Share your thoughts on this developing story in the comments below.

South Korea’s education superintendents are voicing serious concerns that a recently passed administrative integration law could lead to significant cuts in funding for local education boards. The law, passed by the National Assembly’s Administration and Security Committee on February 12th, allows for adjustments to local tax rates – including the crucial local education tax – within a range of plus or minus 100% in regions undergoing administrative integration.

The Korea Education Superintendents Association (KESA) warned that the potential inclusion of the local education tax in these adjustments poses a “serious concern,” according to a statement released February 13th. The law facilitates the creation of special municipalities by integrating regions like Chungcheongnam-do and Daejeon, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Daegu, and Jeollanam-do, and Gwangju. KESA fears that lowering the local education tax rate could drastically reduce revenue for regional education offices.

According to KESA’s analysis, a 100% reduction in the tax rate could result in a loss of 7.165 billion won for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, 5.982 billion won for Chungcheongnam-do and Daejeon, and 5.423 billion won for Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, totaling 18.57 trillion won nationwide. This represents a “direct and immediate blow to education finances,” the association stated.

The concerns center on the lack of an automatic provision to offset potential revenue losses from the local education tax. KESA argues that without such a safeguard, reductions in local tax revenue could directly translate into cuts in funding for education programs. The association highlighted that education spending is often “rigid,” meaning cuts would likely impact essential areas like special education, care services, and multicultural education.

Kim Dae-jung, a leading education superintendent, expressed regret that financial and special provisions were not included in the legislation, according to a report by Asia Economy. The Joongdo Daily reported February 18th that KESA emphasized the local education tax is a core funding source for education, alongside national grants, and supports mandatory and routine educational expenditures.

The administrative integration law grants authority to adjust local tax rates but lacks a mechanism to automatically compensate for any resulting decrease in education funding. This omission is a key point of contention for KESA, which fears that changes to tax structures, particularly those linked to education taxes like acquisition and registration taxes, will further erode education budgets.

As of February 18th, the Education Ministry had not issued a public response to KESA’s concerns. The next scheduled meeting of the National Assembly’s Administration and Security Committee remains unannounced.

OpenAI has hired Peter Steinberger, the creator of the rapidly popular AI agent OpenClaw, signaling a significant move to integrate the technology into its core product offerings. The announcement, made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on X (formerly Twitter) on February 15, 2026, comes as OpenClaw has gained traction for its ability to automate tasks like email management and online service utilization.

Steinberger, an Austrian software developer who had been dividing his time between London and Vienna, will “drive the next generation of personal agents” at OpenAI, according to Altman. OpenClaw itself will “live in a foundation as an open source project that OpenAI will continue to support,” Altman stated. The acquisition of both Steinberger and the project underscores OpenAI’s ambition to advance autonomous AI systems.

The move follows a period of rapid growth for OpenClaw, which previously went by the names Clawdbot and Moltbot. The name changes occurred after Anthropic threatened legal action over similarities to its Claude AI assistant, and later because Steinberger preferred the modern moniker. According to TechCrunch, Steinberger considered building OpenClaw into a standalone company but ultimately decided that joining OpenAI offered the fastest path to widespread impact.

Steinberger articulated his reasoning in a blog post, stating, “What I want is to change the world, not build a large company[,] and teaming up with OpenAI is the fastest way to bring this to everyone.”

The acquisition highlights a broader trend of AI companies aggressively pursuing top talent. OpenAI’s previous acquisition of Jony Ive’s AI devices startup io for over $6 billion in May 2025 demonstrates this willingness to invest heavily in innovation. Meta and Google have also engaged in substantial spending to attract AI developers and researchers.

The news also touches on a long-standing debate within Europe regarding its ability to foster and retain successful technology companies. In response to a question on X from a European university professor about why Europe struggles to keep tech talent, Steinberger cited a stark contrast in attitudes. He stated that in the United States, there is widespread enthusiasm, while in Europe, he frequently encounters criticism focused on responsibility and regulation.

Steinberger further elaborated that establishing a company in Europe would be hampered by stringent labor laws and similar regulations. He contrasted this with the work culture at OpenAI, where he said employees typically work six to seven days a week and are compensated accordingly – a practice he indicated would be illegal in many European countries.

Europe’s relative lack of tech giants is a recurring concern. While Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML currently holds the title of the continent’s most valuable company, with a valuation of approximately $550 billion, it is dwarfed by the ten US companies each worth over $1 trillion. A 2024 EU report identified a significant innovation gap between the region and the United States, proposing a series of reforms to address the issue. However, by late 2025, implementation of those recommendations had been limited.

Steinberger expressed cautious optimism about EU INC, an initiative aimed at creating a unified corporate legal framework across Europe to simplify business operations. However, he suggested the effort is “fizzling out,” describing it as “watered down” and hampered by “too much egoistic national interest that ultimately hurts everyone.”

Lyon, France – French authorities have arrested nine individuals in connection with the death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-aged far-right activist who died after being attacked last week. The arrests, announced Tuesday by Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran, follow a violent incident that has inflamed political tensions across the country as France approaches municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race.

The attack occurred on the sidelines of a protest against a university conference attended by Rima Hassan, a left-wing member of the European Parliament. Deranque sustained a severe brain injury during the assault, succumbing to his injuries days later. The incident has sparked a national debate about political violence and the role of rhetoric in escalating tensions, with both the left and right trading accusations.

According to officials, six of those detained are suspected of directly participating in the beating, while the remaining three are believed to have aided the assailants. Notably, one of the suspects is reportedly an assistant to a member of parliament from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, AFP reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.

A video circulating online, broadcast by TF1 television, appears to show a group of approximately a dozen individuals attacking three people on the ground, with two of the victims managing to escape. A witness who spoke with AFP described the attackers using “iron bars” during the assault.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for calm and a swift investigation, stating on X (formerly Twitter) over the weekend, “It is essential that the perpetrators of this ignominy be prosecuted, brought to justice and convicted. Hatred that kills has no place among us. I call for calm, restraint and respect.”

Government Accusations and Political Fallout

The government has directly implicated the LFI party, with government spokesperson Maud Bregeon accusing them of fostering a climate of violence through their rhetoric. “There is in light of the political climate and the climate of violence, a moral responsibility on the part of LFI,” Bregeon stated on BFMTV. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has rejected any involvement from his party in the attack.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, has demanded that those responsible be brought to justice, calling them “barbarians.” The RN is currently seen as a strong contender in the 2027 presidential election, with some polls suggesting they have an advantage in a first-round vote. Deutsche Welle notes the incident has further strained political tensions ahead of the upcoming elections.

Investigation and Claims of Responsibility

The anti-immigration collective Nemesis, which claims Deranque was present at the protest to protect its members, has blamed the attack on a dissolved left-wing group called Jeune Garde (Young Guard). Jeune Garde, co-founded by Raphael Arnault, a current member of the LFI party, denied any connection to the incident. The group was formally dissolved in June 2025.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, parliamentary speaker Yael Braun-Pivet announced Monday that an assistant to Raphael Arnault had been banned from parliament following witness testimony related to the investigation.

France’s Shifting Political Landscape

The death of Quentin Deranque occurs against a backdrop of increasing political polarization in France. With President Macron ineligible to run in 2027 after serving two terms, the political landscape is wide open. Current polling data suggests the RN, potentially led by Jordan Bardella if Marine Le Pen is unable to run due to an ongoing legal challenge, is well-positioned for the first round of voting. However, the outcome of a second-round runoff remains less certain.

While the RN currently holds an advantage, other potential contenders include Edouard Philippe, the mayor of Le Havre and leader of the Horizons party, and a possible left-wing alliance led by LFI. However, the success of such an alliance hinges on the ability of disparate ideological factions to unite.

The investigation into Deranque’s death is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence and identify additional suspects. A march in his honor is scheduled to accept place in Lyon on Saturday. The coming weeks will likely see continued debate and scrutiny of the political climate in France, as the country grapples with the implications of this tragic event.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Share your thoughts in the comments below.