Sep 16, 2026, 08:00 PM UTC

Prominent Slovenian football figures Aleš Čeh and Jan Mlakar have shared insights regarding their career trajectories and the current state of domestic club football.

Aleš Čeh, the former captain of Slovenia's national team during its golden generation under head coach Srečko Katanec, reflected on his transition into coaching. Čeh spent over a decade working alongside Katanec, including a seven-year stint in Asia, following a playing career with clubs such as Olimpija, GAK, and Maribor.

Separately, 27-year-old striker Jan Mlakar addressed his third return to Maribor. Despite being born in Ljubljana, Mlakar clarified that he was never close to joining hometown rival Olimpija. Commenting on the upcoming derby, Mlakar noted that Olimpija is currently navigating a challenging period, though he emphasized that domestic derbies remain unpredictable.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Global policymakers and computer scientists are increasingly calling for structured safeguards to address artificial intelligence risks while balancing economic potential. Speaking in Cyprus, Deputy Minister Nicodemos Damianou framed artificial intelligence as an opportunity rather than an inherent threat, arguing that human misuse poses the primary risk. Conversely, computer scientist Yoshua Bengio warned that government regulation is approaching a pivot point similar to emergency responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing recent safety incidents and threats to public trust. At the European Union level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged international dialogue on managing potential existential and societal risks, including economic disruption and democratic erosion.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Politico Europe (Defense), Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has submitted a formal response to Chancellor of Justice Janne Salminen, denying any conflict of interest regarding state decisions on the Garden Helsinki arena project and car manufacturer Valmet Automotive.

The legal review was initiated following several complaints concerning potential impropriety tied to campaign financing. In his submission, Orpo maintained that he operated within legal frameworks and was not disqualified from taking part in government decisions concerning financial support or ownership arrangements for Valmet Automotive, nor decisions regarding state aid for Garden Helsinki.

The Chancellor of Justice is assessing Orpo's statement to decide if further legal measures are necessary.

Sources: Helsingin Sanomat

US forces launched a second round of airstrikes on Iranian targets within 48 hours following heightened confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has subsequently appointed a hardline official to lead its Supreme National Security Council. Concurrently, inside Iran, civil defiance against mandatory hijab regulations persists four years after the death of Mahsa Amini, with local enforcement visibly waning in major cities.

Elsewhere in the region, Yemen experienced renewed combat after Houthi attacks on the port of Moca killed 18 people, triggering government strikes against targets in Marib province. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the Taliban government maintains internal security despite widespread economic hardship and strict cultural restrictions, such as public bans on music.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, La Provincia, La Vanguardia

Eastern German states face growing debates over civic education and political pressure ahead of upcoming regional elections. Educators report an increase in far-right symbols and behavior among students, prompting Thuringia’s education ministry to partner with the University of Jena to deploy "constitutional coaches" in classrooms. Concurrently, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for SED dictatorship victims, called for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites to deepen historical understanding.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) proposed eliminating state funding for cultural initiatives considered "anti-German," raising concerns among Holocaust memorials, local theaters, and Bauhaus heritage sites. These developments unfold amid broader political debates surrounding East German regional identity ahead of upcoming state polls.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau.