Sep 20, 2026, 05:30 PM UTC

Former Slovenian national football team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their careers and the evolving state of domestic football.

Čeh, who captained the national squad during its celebrated era under manager Srečko Katanec, discussed his transition into coaching. Following his playing career, Čeh spent over a decade assisting Katanec, which included seven years working in Asia. Despite his ties to Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh emphasized his ongoing respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Jan Mlakar addressed his third stint with Maribor. Mlakar reaffirmed his trust in club leadership figures Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič while noting that domestic derbies against Olimpija remain unpredictable regardless of current form.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have exchanged sharp warnings following direct military strikes near the southern Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. The strikes mark the first direct confrontation between the two nations in a month.

President Trump threatened further military action should Iran choose to retaliate, adding that Iranian leadership is "begging" for a diplomatic agreement. President Pezeshkian countered that Tehran does not seek a wider war, while emphasizing that Iran will "decisively respond to aggressors." Simultaneously, Iranian naval commanders denied reports of extensive damage, stating that southern maritime defenses remain operational. Despite the escalating rhetoric, both governments have signaled that diplomatic channels remain open.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Six months after joint US and Israeli air strikes hit Iranian infrastructure, the conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets and maritime shipping without an immediate resolution. Although Iran's conventional military capabilities have suffered extensive damage, Tehran maintains tactical leverage over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

According to analysts cited by Radio Free Europe, the trajectory of the confrontation hinges on four main factors: the durability of Iran's economic resilience under sanctions, proxy operations, domestic political developments, and whether diplomatic channels can be re-established. Meanwhile, diplomatic analyst Zef Mazi linked these Middle Eastern tensions to shifting global power dynamics, noting how localized issues, such as regional water disputes in the Western Balkans, intersect with broader geopolitical rivalries involving the United States, China, Russia, and Iran.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Amid peace negotiations involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, regional fighting between Russia and Ukraine persisted overnight despite commitments to pause strikes on Kyiv and Moscow. Recent attacks resulted in casualties in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Belgorod, and Sochi.

US President Donald Trump stated both nations agreed to cease targeting energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed Kyiv will only comply if Western partners enforce Russian compliance across energy, infrastructure, and supply lines. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops reportedly received orders for a four-day operational pause during the diplomatic visits.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, calling it an attempt to intimidate European partners.

Sources: Beta, CDM, Index, N1, Vijesti

Projections from regional elections in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt show the Alternative for Germany (AfD) securing a decisive victory with approximately 44% of the vote. The result nearly doubles the party's previous standing and puts it within reach of an absolute majority, potentially allowing it to form the first far-right state government in Germany since World War II.

Meanwhile, the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered major losses, falling to between 18.5% and 23% of support.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel described the election outcomes as "simply shocking" and a "real turning point in history" during an appearance at a conference in Cologne, expressing deep pain over her party's heavy defeat.

Sources: Avaz, HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik