Oct 22, 2026, 06:00 PM UTC

Former Slovenian national team figures Aleš Čeh and Jan Mlakar have reflected on their career trajectories and the state of domestic football. Čeh, the former national team captain who served for over a decade as an assistant to manager Srečko Katanec—including seven years coaching in Asia—discussed his coaching journey and ongoing ties to both Olimpija Ljubljana and Austrian club Grazer AK.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Jan Mlakar has rejoined NK Maribor for a third spell, aiming to win his first Slovenian league title at Ljudski vrt. Expressing confidence in Maribor's leadership under Zlatko Zahovič and Darko Milanič, Mlakar noted that despite Olimpija Ljubljana's internal struggles, the capital club remains a dangerous opponent ahead of derby matches.

Sources: Delo, Siol.net

The US military has carried out strikes against three Iranian oil tankers and several military positions near the Strait of Hormuz, following an escalation in the regional maritime conflict. According to US Central Command, the actions were launched after Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles at two American warships and attempted to place sea mines in the critical trade passage.

US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, declaring that "very little" of Iran would remain should attacks on international shipping lanes persist. Analysts note the confrontation demonstrates elements of fifth-generation warfare, where uncrewed aerial systems and attacks on energy infrastructure serve as central strategic tools.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

European Union member states have agreed to prolong punitive measures against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities linked to the war in Ukraine. The agreement followed intense diplomatic negotiations and a brief delay caused by disagreements over individual listings.

To secure the necessary unanimity, diplomats accepted requests supported by France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg to remove steel magnate Alisher Usmanov and financier Mikhail Fridman from the asset freeze and travel ban lists. Concurrently, EU foreign ministers convened in Luxembourg to approve a comprehensive new sanctions package targeting Russia's war economy.

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

A report by the Stockholm-based International IDEA foundation indicates that United States democratic indicators dropped to a 50-year low in 2025, marking the eleventh consecutive year of global democratic retreat. According to findings highlighted by regional media, President Donald Trump’s administrative actions were identified as a primary contributor to this decline.

Concurrently, a study by the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness revealed that the administration has frozen or cancelled $177 billion in federal funding, impacting public health, environmental protection, and disaster response programs. Media analyses cited by regional outlets further assert that these domestic funding adjustments and unilateral foreign policy decisions have contributed to growing diplomatic isolation and reduced global influence midway through the presidential term.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti