Sep 26, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar have shared updates on their football careers alongside insights into domestic club rivalries. Čeh, who spent over a decade working as an assistant under former head coach Srečko Katanec—including seven years in Asia—reaffirmed his affection for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, while emphasizing his ongoing respect for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, Ljubljana-born striker Mlakar has returned to NK Maribor for a third tenure. Addressing his local roots, Mlakar clarified that he was "never close to Olimpija" and expressed complete trust in Maribor's management. Commenting on the upcoming domestic derby, Mlakar noted that although Olimpija "is in crisis, but in a derby it can only gain," pointing to the unpredictable dynamics of the fixture.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

A historical analysis published by Austrian daily Die Presse identifies 1989 as the critical turning point shaping contemporary global politics. While Western audiences primarily associate the year with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet control in Eastern Europe, the report highlights parallel events elsewhere that redefined the global order.

In Asia, the Chinese government's crackdown on Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations solidified single-party authority, which later enabled rapid state-led economic expansion. Simultaneously, the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan created power vacuums, triggering long-term regional instability.

According to the analysis, these interconnected events ended Cold War bipolarity and established the foundations of current international relations, characterized by competition between democratic systems and autocratic states.

Sources: Die Presse.

Spanish authorities in Ceuta have established two temporary reception facilities to shelter roughly 1,800 to 2,000 migrants remaining in the enclave following a massive border crossing in late July. The Ministry of Migration confirmed the move aims to ensure individuals no longer spend nights on the street or beaches like Playa del Trampolín.

The initiative follows heightened border deployments by Spanish and Moroccan forces, which successfully deterred a second anticipated migrant influx around August 15 spurred by social media rumours. Despite the physical calm along the perimeter, local residents express rising frustration over municipal strain and voice concerns regarding political exploitation by right-wing groups.

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

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed that domestic intelligence agencies are preparing for potential Russian hybrid attacks, aligning with recent security warnings issued by Polish leadership.

Concurrently, Czech official engagements with Kyiv face administrative hurdles. Chief of General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč awaits defense ministry authorization for an international military summit in Ukraine, while Parliamentary Deputy Speaker Barbora Urbanová completed a visit despite initial parliamentary rejection.

At the European level, updated EU regulations extend temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians until March 2028, conditioning renewal on compliance with military obligations. Domestically, Czech authorities launched "Kobra 26," a task force targeting fraudulent labor agency networks that cost the state billions of korunas annually.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

Tensions in the Middle East and South Asia continue to escalate following a second wave of United States airstrikes on Iranian targets within 48 hours. The military operations coincide with Tehran appointing a hardline official to lead its Supreme National Security Council as friction intensifies in the Strait of Hormuz. Domestically, Iranian women increasingly defy mandatory hijab laws four years after Mahsa Amini's death, with observers noting "authorities have lost control" over enforcement.

Concurrently, heavy fighting in Yemen has shattered fragile stability, with Houthi attacks on the port of Moca leaving 18 dead and triggering government airstrikes in Marib. In Afghanistan, relative domestic security under Taliban rule remains paired with economic hardship and strict prohibitions, including bans on public music.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, La Provincia, La Vanguardia