Sep 25, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team figures Aleš Čeh and Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their professional trajectories and the rivalries within Slovenian domestic football.

Čeh, who captained the national squad during its historic tournament qualifications under head coach Srečko Katanec, transitioned into coaching following his playing retirement. He spent over ten years as Katanec's assistant, including a seven-year stint in Asia, while maintaining professional respect for NK Maribor despite his affinity for Olimpija Ljubljana.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third spell. The Ljubljana-born player stated he was "never close to Olimpija" and expressed continued faith in Maribor's sporting setup. Commenting on the upcoming derby, Mlakar noted that while Olimpija "is in crisis, but in a derby it can only gain."

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Historical analyses increasingly view 1989 as a global inflection point that established the foundations of twenty-first-century politics. While Western perspectives primarily emphasize the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe, major geopolitical shifts occurred simultaneously across Asia.

In Beijing, the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square entrenched single-party autocratic rule alongside economic expansion. Meanwhile, the departure of Soviet forces from Afghanistan unleashed long-term regional instability across Central and South Asia. Together, these converging events signaled the end of Cold War bipolarity and laid the groundwork for present-day systemic competition between democratic nations and autocratic powers.

Sources: Die Presse.

US President Donald Trump has warned of potential additional military strikes against Iran following a recent exchange of fire near the southern coastal locations of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. Describing the situation, Trump stated that Tehran is "begging" for a diplomatic agreement with Washington to de-escalate tensions.

In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that while his country does not desire a broader conflict, Tehran will "respond decisively" to any foreign strikes. Iranian authorities further maintained that their naval capabilities were not compromised during the engagement and remain fully operational.

The strike marks the first direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran in a month, reflecting persistent volatility in the region as both sides balance military warnings with rhetoric regarding potential negotiations.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework championed by US President Donald Trump. Speaking in televised remarks, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and confirmed military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed".

The announcement highlights growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Israel. Trump recently touted the proposal after Hamas signaled its acceptance in late July. However, Netanyahu faces significant domestic political strain ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for October 27, attempting to balance US pressure with demands from far-right coalition partners even as Israeli military strikes in Gaza have largely paused.

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

Hungarian authorities have recovered approximately 2.3 billion forints (€5.7 million) from a private equity fund connected to businessman Lőrinc Mészáros following an audit of electronic toll contracts. Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy confirmed the repayment, which stems from a review of state acquisitions totaling 64.5 billion forints conducted under former minister János Lázár.

Following the financial recovery, government investigators are turning their focus to IT entrepreneur Gábor Emőri. Emőri managed software development and operations for Hungary's tolling infrastructure for twelve years. Officials are reviewing historical contracts to evaluate whether further public funds can be retrieved.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex.