Sep 30, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Former Slovenian international captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have reflected on their careers and the enduring rivalry between NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana ahead of their upcoming derby.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during its early international achievements and spent over a decade coaching alongside Srečko Katanec, highlighted his attachment to Olimpija while maintaining respect for Maribor following a seven-year coaching stint in Asia. Meanwhile, Ljubljana-born forward Jan Mlakar has returned to Maribor for a third spell. Addressing long-standing transfer rumors, the 27-year-old stated that he was "never close to joining Olimpija" despite his roots in the capital. Mlakar added that while Olimpija currently faces a difficult stretch, the club "can only gain" in the high-stakes context of the derby.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Historians increasingly view 1989 as the key turning point that established today's multipolar global order. While European narratives typically emphasize the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet influence across Eastern Europe, concurrent events outside the continent fundamentally altered global politics.

In Asia, the Chinese government's violent crackdown on protests in Tiananmen Square cemented one-party autocratic control alongside rapid state-directed market expansion. Meanwhile, the Soviet military withdrawal from Afghanistan created a power vacuum that unleashed long-term regional instability. Analysts argue that these parallel developments collectively ended Western hopes for a uniform global shift toward democratic governance, instead laying the foundation for contemporary geopolitical rivalries.

Sources: Die Presse

At a conference in Geneva, 128 United Nations member states reached a consensus defining autonomous weapons systems, responding to warnings from the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross about the risks of machine-targeted strikes. Meanwhile, Germany’s Ministry of Defense confirmed updated guidelines allowing certain military systems to operate partially without direct human interaction at every step. Officials stated that "the decision on the use of military force remains with humans." Additionally, the German Bundeswehr rejected using American provider Palantir, opting to develop an in-house artificial intelligence platform for complex data integration to safeguard technological independence and decision-making sovereignty.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, ESUT

Russian forces launched overnight ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv, resulting in at least two fatalities and six injuries. The bombardment also damaged a foreign-owned manufacturing facility in northern Ukraine, with the attacks taking place shortly after the departure of American envoys from the Ukrainian capital.

In response, Ukrainian forces conducted long-range drone attacks targeting industrial facilities in Russia's Saratov and Samara regions. The strikes triggered a fire at the Kuibyshev oil refinery, while local Russian officials claimed air defense systems intercepted dozens of incoming drones.

Concurrently, US-led NATO forces carried out military operations near Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. The maneuvers featured Polish land forces alongside American and Norwegian fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft. NATO officials described the activities as defensive efforts to strengthen alliance capabilities.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Russian forces launched overnight drone strikes on Kyiv, injuring a civilian in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address at the United Nations General Assembly. Russian defense officials simultaneously announced a concerted campaign targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

In response to sustained hostilities, Ukrainian forces escalated long-range drone attacks against Russian petroleum facilities and refineries, triggering domestic fuel shortages inside Russia. Meanwhile, German investigators in Leipzig identified two suspects with ties to Moscow after discovering explosive-laden drones, prompting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to issue a stern warning regarding European security. Von der Leyen stated, "We do not tolerate attacks on EU soil, ready to respond."

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.