Oct 12, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team captain Aleš Čeh and Maribor forward Jan Mlakar have reflected on their careers and domestic football rivalries ahead of the Eternal Derby between Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor.

Čeh, who captained Slovenia during its qualification for major tournaments and spent over a decade as an assistant coach under Srečko Katanec, expressed a strong connection to Olimpija and Austrian club Grazer AK while noting his respect for Maribor. Meanwhile, Ljubljana-born forward Mlakar detailed his third stint with Maribor, clarifying that he was never close to signing with his hometown club. Mlakar remarked that although Olimpija is currently experiencing internal struggles, derby fixtures offer competing teams an opportunity to reset their season.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

US President Donald Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine agreed to cease strikes against each other's energy infrastructure. However, hostilities continued across multiple regions, with Ukrainian officials reporting two deaths and 14 injuries from Russian shelling in Kherson. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drone strikes in Belgorod and Sochi reportedly wounded seven individuals.

In response to a Russian attack on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that Moscow is attempting to intimidate European allies and sow internal division. The European Union formally extended its sanctions against Russia following the incident. In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an official decree dismissing the nation's prosecutor general.

Sources: CDM.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged the country's parliament to begin preparing a legal framework for future post-war elections. Fedorov, who was removed from his post by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, argued that early preparation is necessary to facilitate a smooth return to democratic procedures once martial law ends.

Ukrainian law currently prohibits holding elections while martial law remains active during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Authorities face substantial administrative challenges, including coordinating voting procedures for millions of overseas refugees and ensuring fair participation for military personnel on the frontline. Supporters of the proposal stress that addressing these regulatory questions early will guarantee credible elections when security conditions allow.

Sources: Le Monde.

Iran has shifted to a "completely offensive" military posture following the collapse of peace negotiations with the United States and the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding. Iranian military leaders declared that forces would not back down until achieving the "complete defeat" of American troops in the region. The political deadlock coincides with escalating maritime clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, where US Central Command confirmed striking five Iranian oil tankers—sinking one—in response to attacks on a US warship. Analysts warn these developments heighten the risk of full-scale war. Washington confirmed it does not plan to extend the temporary ceasefire.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

An investigation published by The Wall Street Journal has raised questions surrounding the dual role of energy lobbyist Christos Marafatsos and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle in facilitating American natural gas agreements across Europe. According to reporting by regional news outlets, Marafatsos acted as an advisor to Guilfoyle while simultaneously lobbying on behalf of private commercial energy firms.

The inquiry focuses on Guilfoyle's diplomatic efforts in South-Eastern Europe, including a March meeting in Tirana with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Guilfoyle was accompanied by Marafatsos and leadership from the Greek infrastructure firm Aktor. One month later, Aktor secured a $6 billion natural gas supply agreement in Albania. The revelations have prompted increased scrutiny regarding the intersection of US diplomatic representation, private lobbying, and Greek energy expansion in the Balkans.

Sources: Gazeta Tema, Koha