Oct 20, 2026, 05:00 AM UTC

Former Slovenian national team football captain Aleš Čeh and striker Jan Mlakar have reflected on their careers and current developments in Slovenian domestic football. Čeh, who led the national team during its formative international period, detailed his coaching tenure, which included over ten years assisting former manager Srečko Katanec and seven years working in Asian football. He reaffirmed his affinity for former clubs Olimpija Ljubljana and Grazer AK while expressing respect for Maribor.

Concurrently, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar discussed his third spell with Maribor. Mlakar, who is seeking his first league title with the club, clarified that he was never close to signing for hometown rivals Olimpija Ljubljana. He noted that while Olimpija faces internal challenges, domestic derbies remain highly competitive.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia following a Russian strike on a train close to the Ukrainian-Polish border. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the attack, stating it was designed to divide and intimidate European allies.

Meanwhile, military escalations continued across the region. Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kherson region killed two people and injured 14 others. Concurrently, Ukrainian drone strikes hit targets in Russia's Belgorod region and Sochi, leaving seven people wounded.

In diplomatic developments, US President Donald Trump claimed that Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an executive decree dismissing Ukraine's prosecutor general from his post.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate following recent military exchanges between the United States and Iran. Iranian state media reported that Tehran launched missile strikes targeting a U.S. aircraft carrier and six other vessels, including three naval ships and three oil tankers. Emergency crews successfully extinguished a fire aboard one of the damaged tankers.

In response, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that the strategic maritime passage remains open, adding that Iran is experiencing severe difficulties. However, American intelligence reports indicate that commanders within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assess their recent strikes as successful, raising concerns among U.S. officials that Iranian forces may further escalate hostilities.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

European Union diplomats have resolved a procedural stalemate to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities involved in the invasion of Ukraine. To secure unanimity before existing measures expired, member state ambassadors agreed to remove metals magnate Alischer Usmanov and banker Mikhail Fridman from the blacklist, following requests supported by France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg.

The compromise prevented an automatic lapse of current penalties. Concurrently, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a new, expanded economic sanctions package targeting Russia's war effort. European leaders framed the decision as a demonstration of continued commitment to Kyiv, particularly following recent diplomatic friction between Ukraine and Washington.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly called on parliament to begin drafting legislation to enable future national elections once martial law is lifted. Fedorov, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, argued that early legal preparations are necessary to resolve complex logistical challenges before hostilities end.

Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be conducted while martial law remains in force. However, organizing voting following any eventual peace agreement would require addressing voting access for millions of internally displaced persons, overseas refugees, and frontline military personnel. Fedorov’s intervention underscores intensifying political discussions regarding the country’s post-war democratic readiness and electoral framework.

Sources: Le Monde