Sep 21, 2026, 07:30 PM UTC

Former Slovenia national team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have offered perspectives on their careers and the state of Slovenian domestic football.

Čeh, who served as assistant coach to Srečko Katanec for over a decade—including seven years in Asia—reaffirmed his affinity for Olimpija Ljubljana and Grazer AK while noting respect for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Mlakar discussed returning to Maribor for a third tenure. Commenting on rivals Olimpija's recent crisis, Mlakar emphasized that upcoming derby matches remain volatile, noting that struggling teams can capitalize on high-stakes fixtures to regain momentum in the PrvaLiga.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

The United States recently led NATO military maneuvers close to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, deploying American and Norwegian fighter jets, AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, and Polish ground forces. NATO described the operation as routine preparation for a defensive alliance.

Meanwhile, a media investigation revealed Moscow has established ten secret military facilities near NATO borders equipped with launch pads for long-range kamikaze drones, some of which are already operational against Ukrainian infrastructure.

Concurrently, aerial bombardment intensified across the region. Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv following the departure of American envoys, killing two people and injuring six, shortly after a drone raid hit a tobacco factory in northern Ukraine. In response, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia's Saratov region, causing several injuries.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The United States military has executed a series of strikes against Iranian military positions and commercial oil vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. Central Command, the operations followed Iranian ballistic missile launches directed at U.S. warships and mine-laying efforts in strategic shipping channels, which military officials state have now been cleared.

The military actions represent a significant escalation as direct conflict expands to encompass commercial maritime fleets. In response to continued missile and drone operations by Iranian forces, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential retaliatory strikes against Iranian domestic energy infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. Military analysts characterize the situation as an manifestation of fifth-generation warfare, marked by targeted disruptions to energy infrastructure intended to affect civil populations and global trade routes.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily cleared the way for construction to continue on President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom.

In a decision issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, a five-justice conservative majority paused a lower court's injunction against the project. The justices indicated that the administration is likely to prevail in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which seeks to halt the expansion over concerns regarding historic integrity.

Although the interim order permits construction crews to proceed while legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court emphasized that its ruling does not represent a final determination on the legal merits of the dispute. The interim measure gives the court additional time to weigh the federal government's emergency appeal.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

German investigators probing a failed explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August have linked the operation directly to Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. According to intelligence documents, a Russian operative acted as the key logistician for the plot, which targeted four Ukrainian transport aircraft.

The incident forms part of a broader wave of suspected state-sponsored hybrid warfare, with German authorities currently investigating over 100 cases involving railway sabotage, unauthorized drone overflights, and damaged undersea cables. Additionally, domestic intelligence agencies suspect Moscow may have hidden weapon caches within Germany to facilitate future sabotage operations designed to destabilize public order and democratic institutions.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau