Sep 24, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Prominent Slovenian football figures Aleš Čeh and Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their careers and their involvement in the domestic rivalry between NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.

Former national team captain Čeh reflected on his playing days and subsequent coaching career, during which he served over a decade as assistant to Srečko Katanec, including seven years in Asia. Despite his strong ties to Olimpija and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh expressed enduring respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Mlakar discussed returning to Maribor for a third stint. The Ljubljana-native stated he was "never close to Olimpija" and voiced trust in club leadership under Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič, noting that derby matches offer struggling teams an opportunity to regain momentum.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

European authorities are escalating security measures following warnings of potential Russian sabotage operations across the continent. Danish intelligence officials cautioned that Moscow may target local industrial facilities, while German authorities identified two suspects linked to explosive devices discovered at Leipzig Airport. The individuals include a Russian national with Latvian documentation and a Belarusian citizen holding Russian paperwork.

In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "we will not tolerate attacks on EU soil." Meanwhile, military actions persist on the front lines, with Russia launching targeted strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure while Ukrainian drone operations continue impacting Russian fuel refineries.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Spanish authorities have relocated approximately 2,000 migrants in the North African enclave of Ceuta to two newly established temporary reception centers. The measure, announced by the Spanish Migration Ministry, aims to provide shelter for individuals who have been sleeping on streets and beaches following a massive border influx in late July.

While the majority of the estimated 72,000 people who initially entered from Morocco have since returned, nearly 1,800 remain in Ceuta. Security was reinforced over the weekend by Spanish and Moroccan forces after online rumors warned of a secondary border crossing on August 15, which ultimately did not occur. Despite the calm, social friction persists in the enclave as residents express growing dissatisfaction with municipal strains and government handling.

Sources: Correctiv, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Military exchanges between the United States and Iran have intensified around the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command announced the destruction of five vessels belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after an attempted attack on American naval ships.

Tehran retaliated by launching 20 missiles targeting US military bases in Jordan, according to Iranian state media. Iranian sources also claimed strikes on six maritime ships, including three oil tankers and an aircraft carrier. Emergency crews managed to extinguish a fire aboard one damaged tanker.

While US President Donald Trump insisted that the strategic shipping lane remains open, stating that "Tehran is in severe difficulty," American intelligence agencies warned that Iranian forces may seek to escalate the conflict further.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

United States authorities have unsealed an indictment charging five alleged Russian intelligence operatives with orchestrating targeted assassinations and sabotage operations across Europe and North America. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the network recruited operatives globally to conduct surveillance and carry out lethal attacks against individuals supporting Ukraine. The targeted actions include a June 2024 incident in Prague. All five suspects remain at large.

Concurrently, a regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, convicted a Ukrainian national involved in a Russian-backed sabotage scheme. German prosecutors revealed that the plot entailed sending packages containing tracking devices and auto parts from Germany to Ukraine, aiming to destabilize public confidence in European transport security.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, OCCRP, The Guardian