Sep 24, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC

At least five people were killed and 16 others sustained injuries following extensive Russian strikes across Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, local emergency services reported.

Russian forces launched nearly 60 bombardments targeting five separate districts in the region. The heaviest casualties were reported in the Kamianske district, where three individuals died and five were injured, and in Pavlohrad, where two fatalities and seven injuries occurred. Additional casualties and structural damage were recorded in the Nikopol district. Emergency response crews remain deployed across affected municipalities, managing fires, clearing debris, and assessing the physical destruction.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills a list of specific demands, including lifting port blockades, ending oil sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets, and ceasing military operations. However, an Iranian official stated via mediators that the strategic waterway could potentially reopen within seven days if Washington reduces military pressure and commits to negotiated diplomacy.

The conditional offer follows a sharp escalation in the region. After United States forces began escorting commercial tankers through the strait at night, Iranian troops deployed rocket-launched sea mines. Washington subsequently launched strikes against Iran's Larak Island, further heightening risks of wider military confrontation.

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a US-supported 15-point peace proposal for Gaza, declaring that Israeli troops will not pull back until Hamas is completely disarmed. In televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and confirmed that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed".

The stance marks a distinct rift with US President Donald Trump, who recently promoted the initiative as a major diplomatic breakthrough. Despite a recent lull in military strikes brought about by American pressure, Netanyahu faces complex domestic pressures ahead of Israel's October 27 election, attempting to balance demands from far-right coalition partners against diplomatic ties with Washington.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Iran has adopted a "completely offensive" military stance following the breakdown of peace negotiations with the United States and the expiration of a 60-day ceasefire memorandum. Washington declined to extend the temporary truce, prompting Iranian military officials to pledge continued operations until achieving the "complete defeat" of American forces in the region.

The diplomatic collapse coincides with escalating maritime skirmishes. United States Central Command announced that American forces struck five Iranian oil tankers, sinking one, in retaliation for strikes targeting a US warship. Meanwhile, analysts warn that worsening economic sanctions and growing friction surrounding maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz significantly increase the risk of a wider regional war.

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

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their football careers and the ongoing rivalry between Slovenian clubs NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.

Čeh, who led the national squad during its prominent era, transitioned to coaching after retiring as a player. He spent over a decade as an assistant to head coach Srečko Katanec, including seven years coaching in Asia. Despite his affinity for Olimpija and Austria's Grazer AK, Čeh expressed enduring respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Jan Mlakar explained his decision to rejoin Maribor for a third stint. Mlakar noted that he was "never close to Olimpija" despite his hometown roots. He reiterated trust in Maribor's leadership, specifically Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič, highlighting that upcoming derby matches offer teams a chance to regain form during challenging periods.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net