Oct 10, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their footballing careers and the ongoing rivalry between Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor.

Čeh, who spent over a decade assisting manager Srečko Katanec across Europe and Asia, reaffirmed his affection for Olimpija Ljubljana and Austria's Grazer AK, while expressing professional respect for Maribor.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has rejoined Maribor for his third spell with the club. Despite his Ljubljana roots, Mlakar stated that he "was never close to Olimpija" and voiced trust in Maribor's leadership under Zlatko Zahovič and Darko Milanič. Discussing the derby, Mlakar observed that although Olimpija is experiencing an internal crisis, derby matches allow struggling teams a chance to reset their season.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

International discussions regarding autonomous weapons systems have reached an initial milestone after 128 countries at the United Nations agreed on a common definition. The step comes amid joint warnings from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which cautioned that allowing automated systems to target humans threatens to cross a fundamental moral boundary.

Simultaneously, European defense policies are adapting. The German Ministry of Defense affirmed that while human oversight will govern decisions on military force, certain weapon functions may act autonomously depending on operational contexts. To bolster strategic sovereignty, Germany's military has chosen to build an internal artificial intelligence platform for data analysis rather than deploying commercial software from US vendor Palantir. Analysts stress that maintaining sovereign decision-making tools will prove essential for future tactical advantage.

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

US military forces carried out strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles at American warships and attempted sea-mining operations. US Central Command confirmed that mine-clearing operations in the waterway have concluded and sea lanes are now secure.

The American strikes included action against three Iranian commercial oil tankers, marking a direct military escalation involving commercial energy fleets. Following the strikes, US President Donald Trump issued explicit warnings of severe retaliation against Iranian infrastructure if attacks on maritime trade persist. Strategic analysis indicates the ongoing conflict reflects a transition toward fifth-generation warfare, where civilian energy networks and trade routes are increasingly targeted.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, stating that Israeli forces will not pull out of the territory until Hamas completely disarms. Speaking to his cabinet, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and confirmed that troops "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

The rejection highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and Israel, despite Israeli forces recently scaling back military strikes in Gaza following American pressure. The decision comes ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for October 27, as Netanyahu balances political pressure from far-right coalition partners with demands from international allies.

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

Hungarian Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy confirmed that a private equity fund linked to businessman Lőrinc Mészáros has returned 2.27 billion forints to the state treasury. The reimbursement follows an official audit into a 64.5 billion forint transaction conducted under former minister János Lázár, in which three electronic toll management companies were acquired by the state.

Following the asset recovery, government investigators are extending their scrutiny to IT entrepreneur Gábor Emőri. Emőri, who spent 12 years developing and operating Hungary's national electronic toll network, became a primary beneficiary of public technology contracts. Authorities are reviewing historical procurement agreements to determine whether further state funds should be reclaimed.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex.