Sep 20, 2026, 11:30 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team players Aleš Čeh and Jan Mlakar have offered perspectives on their football journeys and the competitive climate within Slovenian football.

Čeh, the former national team captain under Srečko Katanec, reflected on his transition to coaching, which included a decade-long role as Katanec's assistant across several international tenures, notably seven years in Asia. Čeh maintained his fondness for both domestic and foreign clubs from his playing days, including Olimpija Ljubljana and Grazer AK, while expressing respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, forward Jan Mlakar discussed returning to Maribor for a third tenure. Addressing the ongoing rivalry between Maribor and Olimpija, Mlakar noted that form offers little guarantee in derby fixtures, emphasizing that struggling clubs can often reverse their fortunes during high-stakes rivalries.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Six months following joint air operations by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian infrastructure, regional stability remains precarious. While the strikes significantly impaired Tehran's conventional military power, Iran maintains strategic leverage across critical maritime corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining friction within global energy and transport networks.

Analysts consulted by Radio Free Europe note that the trajectory of the confrontation depends on the resilience of Western sanctions, proxy activities, and whether formal diplomatic avenues can be restored. Separately, diplomatic analyst Zef Mazi linked these Middle Eastern tensions to broader global power competition involving China and Russia, highlighting how local disputes in the Balkans reflect wider systemic shifts.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Kyiv and Moscow for high-level discussions aimed at advancing peace negotiations. Their visit coincides with reports that Ukrainian forces received orders for a four-day operational pause.

While US President Donald Trump stated that both nations agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clarified that Kyiv's participation depends on Western guarantees enforcing Russian compliance across energy, infrastructure, and supply routes.

Despite commitments to avoid targeting capital cities during the visits, regional combat persisted. Fatalities and injuries occurred across Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Belgorod, and Sochi. Meanwhile, European Union officials condemned a Russian strike near the Polish border as an attempt to intimidate European nations.

Sources: Beta, CDM, Index, N1, Vijesti

The United States military has conducted its largest crude oil escort operation through the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities began, deploying maritime, aerial, and space assets. Iranian forces responded by launching rocket-propelled sea mines into critical shipping lanes, leading to American counter-strikes on Larak Island.

Tehran maintained that the passage "will not be opened" until Washington complies with conditions including lifting port blockades, ending energy sanctions, unfreezing assets, and halting military threats. Prior to the conflict, nearly 20 million barrels of crude passed through the strait daily. Observers warn both sides face a shrinking timeframe to apply military pressure, compounding the risk of further regional escalation.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Frontline fighting escalated as Russian forces advanced near Artelne in Kharkiv Oblast and pressured Kostiantynivka, while Ukrainian troops pushed toward Uspenovka and Velyka Novosilka. Belarus also announced a new air assault brigade along its border with Ukraine.

Cross-border attacks caused severe casualties and infrastructure damage. A Russian bombardment on Kyiv left nine people dead and 33 injured. In Russia, Ukrainian drone strikes killed five people in Moscow Oblast and caused a fire at a Wildberries warehouse in Leningrad Oblast. A drone crash on a beach in Krasnodar Krai killed seven people, including three children. Ukraine further targeted Russian logistics, hitting six facilities operated by e-commerce retailer Ozon within three days, causing a major hub fire in Dagestan and triggering a 30 percent drop in the company's shares.

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