Sep 19, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Former Slovenian national football team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have reflected on their footballing careers and current domestic developments.

Čeh, a prominent figure in Slovenia's national team history, discussed his shift into coaching after completing a decade-long tenure as assistant to Srečko Katanec, which included seven years working in Asia. Čeh maintains ties to former clubs including Olimpija, Maribor, and Austria's Grazer AK.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana-born forward Jan Mlakar addressed his third playing spell with Maribor. Speaking ahead of the upcoming eternal derby against Olimpija, Mlakar acknowledged his hometown club's recent operational struggles but emphasized that derby fixtures remain inherently unpredictable, stating that struggling opponents "can only gain" from such high-profile matches. Mlakar also expressed confidence in Maribor's sporting leadership as the team aims for domestic success.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

US-led NATO forces have executed high-intensity maneuvers around Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, involving fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and Polish ground troops. NATO officials described the activity as routine efforts to enhance defensive readiness.

The exercise coincides with an investigative report alleging Russia has established 10 covert facilities near NATO borders to launch long-range kamikaze drones capable of striking deep into Western Europe.

Simultaneously, cross-border strikes between Russia and Ukraine intensified. Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv, killing two people and injuring six, following prior drone damage to a commercial facility. In response, Ukrainian drone attacks targeted Russia’s Saratov region, causing reported casualties.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV.

US Central Command has completed a new series of large-scale military strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The operations followed Iranian attempts to deploy naval mines in the international shipping corridor and ballistic missile launches targeting two American warships.

US forces also targeted three Iranian commercial oil tankers, marking a direct expansion of military action into commercial shipping fleets. Following the strikes, US President Donald Trump issued fresh warnings to Tehran, stating that further escalation would risk widespread destruction to Iranian infrastructure. Analysts highlight that the ongoing confrontation reflects a transition toward fifth-generation warfare focused on commercial energy networks and drone strikes.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Iran has transitioned to a "fully offensive" military posture following the failure of peace negotiations with the United States and the expiration of a 60-day truce memorandum. Iranian armed forces stated they will push for the "complete defeat" of American forces in the region and the restoration of national rights.

The diplomatic breakdown coincides with direct military exchanges in regional waters. US Central Command confirmed strikes against five Iranian tankers, sinking one, after Tehran conducted two attacks against an American warship. Analysts caution that escalating confrontations and economic sanctions risk reigniting a broader conflict, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Cross-border drone strikes and military clashes have intensified between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles targeted major Russian commercial infrastructure, triggering fires at Wildberries facilities in Leningrad and Moscow Oblasts and striking multiple Ozon hubs, including a major site in Dagestan. Drone strikes in the Moscow region left at least five people dead and ten injured, while seven people, including three children, died when a drone fell on a beach in Krasnodar Krai.

Concurrently, a Russian strike on Kyiv resulted in nine fatalities and dozens of injuries. On the battlefield, Russian troops secured tactical advances in Kharkiv Oblast, while Ukrainian units recorded progress in southern Donetsk. Amid the escalating conflict, Belarus announced plans to deploy a new air assault brigade along its border with Ukraine.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Guardian, The Insider