Oct 5, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have shared insights into their careers and the state of domestic football.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during manager Srečko Katanec's prominent era, spent over a decade working alongside Katanec as an assistant coach, including seven years in Asia. Having played for Olimpija Ljubljana and Grazer AK, Čeh expressed affection for both clubs while maintaining respect for NK Maribor.

Meanwhile, forward Jan Mlakar discussed his third spell with Maribor. The Ljubljana native reaffirmed his trust in Maribor's club leadership and dismissed past rumors regarding a potential transfer to Olimpija. Looking ahead to the derby between the rivals, Mlakar noted that although Olimpija currently faces internal challenges, domestic rivalries remain inherently unpredictable.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated Kyiv will cease targeting Russian energy sites only if Western allies guarantee Moscow stops attacking Ukrainian energy facilities, infrastructure, and food supply lines. The statement followed claims by former US President Donald Trump that both nations had agreed to a mutual halt on energy infrastructure strikes.

Meanwhile, hostilities continue across several regions. Local officials reported two fatalities and 14 injuries from Russian shelling in Kherson, while Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly injured seven people in Belgorod and Sochi. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike on a train near the Polish border, framing it as an attempt to divide and intimidate European partners. Separately, Zelenskyy dismissed Ukraine's state prosecutor.

Sources: CDM, N1

United States President Donald Trump has issued threats of additional military strikes against Iran following the first direct exchange of fire between the two nations in a month. Speaking after explosions were reported near the Iranian coastal sites of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, Trump claimed that Iranian leadership is eager to negotiate a diplomatic deal with Washington.

In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran does not desire an expanded war, though he warned that the country will "decisively respond to aggressors." Meanwhile, Iranian military officials rejected claims that their naval infrastructure had been compromised, asserting that their forces remain intact and operational despite the recent strikes. Both sides maintain high readiness as regional tensions persist.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Russian forces launched nearly 60 attacks across five districts in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, leaving five people dead and 16 others injured, according to emergency services.

The heaviest casualties occurred in Kamianske district, where strikes killed three residents and wounded five others. In Pavlohrad, bombardment resulted in two deaths and seven injuries. Additional casualties and damage were recorded in Nikopol district as shelling impacted local infrastructure.

Emergency personnel responded to multiple sites across the region to extinguish fires and clear rubble caused by artillery and drone fire. Local authorities continue to assess the full scale of destruction in the affected communities.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

Media outlets in the Balkans have highlighted a Wall Street Journal report examining the actions of US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. The report focuses on her promotion of commercial energy initiatives across Southern Europe, specifically detailing her involvement in securing a $6 billion gas supply agreement between the Greek corporation Aktor and Albanian authorities.

According to the investigation, Guilfoyle met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama alongside Aktor executives and energy lobbyist Christos Marafatsos shortly before the contract was finalized. Questions have emerged regarding Marafatsos's dual capacity as a private sector advocate and close advisor to the ambassador. The scrutiny centers on the potential overlap between official American diplomatic efforts and private business deals in the regional energy sector.

Sources: Gazeta Tema, Koha