Sep 30, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against five alleged Russian intelligence operatives accused of orchestrating a global campaign of assassinations, surveillance, and sabotage against allies of Ukraine. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the network attempted to recruit intermediaries in North America and Europe to execute targeted attacks, including a June 2024 incident in Prague. All five suspects remain at large.

In a related legal proceeding, a German court in Stuttgart convicted a Ukrainian national involved in a Russian-linked plot to ship explosive parcels through European delivery services. German judges determined that a Russian state agency initiated the operation to disrupt infrastructure and undermine public trust in European security networks.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, OCCRP, The Guardian.

US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran of additional military actions if Iran retaliates following the first direct military exchange between the two countries in a month. Reports indicated that explosions occurred near the Iranian coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik.

Trump claimed that Iranian leadership is "begging" for a diplomatic agreement with Washington. In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Tehran is not seeking an expanded conflict, but affirmed that the country will "respond decisively to aggressors." Meanwhile, Iranian naval commanders stated that their maritime forces remain fully operational.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced plans to raise the average net monthly salary to €1,600 by 2028, with upcoming consultations to adjust the minimum wage. To sustain long-term economic momentum, the government launched a €3 billion industrial strategy through 2034, seeking to modernize manufacturing and enhance economic resilience.

However, economic commentators and business representatives expressed caution regarding the country's trajectory. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, stressed that rising labor costs are outpacing productivity improvements. Concurrently, former economy minister Ljubo Jurčić warned that the economy is drifting "without an engine or a rudder," noting that slowing growth rates and persistent inflation are eroding consumer purchasing power.

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

Recent reports and analyses highlight ongoing domestic and international challenges facing US President Donald Trump’s administration during its second term. According to findings by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, key indicators of American democracy have dropped to their lowest levels in 50 years, primarily attributed to executive actions.

Simultaneously, data from research organizations indicates that the administration has frozen or cancelled $177 billion in federal grant funding, mainly affecting public health, environmental protection, disaster relief, and nutrition programs. Media commentary further suggests that despite expansive executive power, the administration faces diminished diplomatic influence and domestic cohesion compared to its initial policy objectives.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Klix, N1, Vijesti

German law enforcement and intelligence agencies are intensifying investigations into over 100 suspected state-sponsored hybrid attacks across the country, with recent evidence pointing directly to Russian military intelligence. Media reports citing classified investigative documents identify an operative from Russia's GRU as the logistics coordinator for an August attempted explosive drone attack targeting Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Security services are also monitoring broader hybrid tactics, including unauthorized drone flights over military installations, deep-sea cable damage, fake online media, and suspected weapons caches hidden nationwide for potential future sabotage. Officials assess that these coordinated acts are designed to destabilize public trust and disrupt democratic institutions.

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