Sep 29, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced targets to raise the country's average net monthly wage to €1,600 by 2028, with October talks planned to revise the current €1,050 gross minimum wage. To support long-term growth, the government also presented a €3 billion industrial strategy through 2034 aimed at modernizing manufacturing.

Despite official targets, business representatives and economists expressed concern over economic sustainability. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, warned that rising labor costs are exceeding productivity gains and urged a shift toward private-sector investment. Meanwhile, former economy minister Ljubo Jurčić presented a sharper critique, arguing the economy is "drifting without an engine or a rudder" as growth decelerates and inflation dampens spending.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to impose what he described as "the toughest sanctions in history" against Iran, aiming to isolate Tehran from the global financial system. Speaking at a press conference, Bessent stated that Washington intends to bar any entities facilitating Iranian money laundering from the US dollar market, seeking to cut off economic support until Tehran "stands completely alone."

The measures follow warnings from US President Donald Trump of an "economic D-day" against Iran. Bessent suggested that intensifying economic pressure could reduce the likelihood of renewed large-scale military action in the Middle East, while calling on foreign allies to enforce the enforcement measures. Meanwhile, Iran's rial dropped to an all-time low on unregulated markets following the announcement.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

In Geneva, 128 United Nations member states agreed on a standardized definition for autonomous weapon systems, marking an initial step toward global regulation. The consensus comes amid joint warnings from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross that machine-targeted human attacks risk crossing a "moral red line."

Simultaneously, Germany is revising its military operational guidelines. According to Defense Ministry documents, certain weapons may function with partially autonomous capabilities, meaning human operators might not intervene in every individual execution step. However, officials emphasized that ultimate authority over using force remains with humans. Additionally, the Bundeswehr rejected using American contractor Palantir's data-analysis tools, choosing instead to construct a domestic AI-supported platform to ensure technological sovereignty.

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

German investigative findings into a failed August drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport increasingly point toward Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU. Reports citing confidential security files identify a Russian national affiliated with the agency as the primary logistics coordinator for the plot, which targeted an area near Ukrainian cargo planes.

The operation forms part of a broader surge in suspected foreign state-backed interference across Germany. Law enforcement agencies nationwide are examining over 100 incidents involving unauthorized drone flights, physical sabotage, and targeted disinformation. Intelligence officials warn that these coordinated actions are designed to compromise critical infrastructure and destabilize public security.

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

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has secured the required sponsorships to participate in the upcoming left-wing primary ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Royal joins six other contenders in the contest, scheduled in two rounds for October 9–10 and October 16–17, jointly organized by the Socialist Party and Place Publique. Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure has also confirmed his candidacy. Meanwhile, Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel announced an independent presidential bid outside the primary framework.

Internal friction has already surfaced, as Royal targeted rival candidate Raphaël Glucksmann, calling him the "chouchou des médias" despite her earlier pledges to avoid attacking fellow primary participants.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.