Sep 30, 2026, 08:00 PM UTC

Former national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their career trajectories ahead of the upcoming derby between NK Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia's "golden generation" under manager Srečko Katanec, reflected on his post-playing career, which featured over a decade of coaching and seven years working in Asia. Despite his long-standing affinity for Olimpija, Čeh emphasized his respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Ljubljana native Jan Mlakar has returned to Maribor for a third stint, expressing complete confidence in club directors Zlatko Zahović and Darko Milanič. Clarifying past transfer speculation, Mlakar stated he was "never close to joining Olimpija" and noted that despite Olimpija's current difficult spell, derby matches present unexpected opportunities.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Overnight military escalation saw Russia and Ukraine exchange heavy strikes following the departure of US envoys from Kyiv. Russian forces launched ballistic missile strikes against the Ukrainian capital, killing at least two people and injuring six others, while a previous drone attack damaged a commercial British American Tobacco facility in northern Ukraine. In response, Ukrainian long-range drones targeted energy and industrial infrastructure across Russia's Samara and Saratov regions. Local officials reported air defense systems downed dozens of drones, though a significant fire broke out at the Kuibyshev oil refinery.

Concurrently, US-led NATO forces conducted notable operations near the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, involving American, Norwegian, and Polish units alongside surveillance aircraft. NATO stated the alliance remains defensive while continuously refining its operational capabilities.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

The year 1989 remains a defining geopolitical watershed that permanently altered the global order. While Western narratives primarily focus on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent collapse of Soviet influence across Eastern Europe, concurrent developments elsewhere established distinct regional trajectories.

In Beijing, the military crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters preserved one-party rule alongside rapid market expansion, steering China toward state-controlled capitalism. Simultaneously, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan created a prolonged power vacuum that generated long-term instability. Together, these parallel developments prevented a uniform global transition to liberal democracy, laying the groundwork for contemporary multipolar rivalries.

Sources: Die Presse

Spanish authorities have established two temporary reception facilities in Ceuta to accommodate roughly 1,800 to 2,000 migrants remaining in the enclave following late July's massive border crossing. The initiative aims to provide basic shelter and prevent individuals from sleeping on public beaches and streets while administrative processing continues.

Simultaneously, heavy security deployments by Spanish and Moroccan forces successfully deterred a rumored second border push anticipated for mid-August following online reports. Although no new surge materialized over the weekend, local residents continue to voice frustration over municipal strain, with some describing the crisis as an "invasion" while criticizing political figures for exploiting the situation.

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

New European Union regulations extending temporary residency protection for displaced Ukrainians until March 2028 have taken effect, linking protection status to the fulfillment of military duties toward their homeland.

Concurrently, Czech authorities are targeting labor market abuses involving foreign workers. Police established the "Kobra 26" task force to dismantle fraudulent employment agency chains suspected of depriving the Czech state of billions of korunas in unpaid taxes and contributions.

These policy developments coincide with internal friction over Czech official travel to Ukraine. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Barbora Urbanová traveled to Kyiv to meet parliamentary counterpart Olena Kondratiuk despite an earlier rejection from a Czech parliamentary committee. Meanwhile, Chief of General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč awaits defense ministry authorization to attend an upcoming security summit with European and Ukrainian military leaders.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy