Oct 4, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has announced plans to increase average net monthly salaries to €1,600 by 2028, with consultations scheduled for October to adjust minimum wage levels. To sustain economic growth, the government also introduced a €3 billion industrial strategy through 2034, focusing on manufacturing and technological development.

However, representatives from business and economic sectors warned of underlying vulnerabilities. Mislav Balković of the Croatian Employers' Association stressed that labor costs are rising faster than productivity, urging that future expansion rely on private enterprise rather than public spending. Additionally, economist Ljubo Jurčić described the economy as drifting "without an engine or a rudder," warning that persistent inflation is dampening consumer spending despite 22 consecutive quarters of growth.

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

Moldova's parliament and health authorities are pursuing sweeping regulatory changes across public health, pharmaceutical, and consumer sectors. Lawmakers have approved the first reading of a bill tightening regulations on tobacco and electronic cigarettes, introducing revised health warnings and expanded transparency obligations for producers.

Concurrently, public health officials raised concerns over the market launch of nicotine pouches by Philip Morris, which faces an impending statutory ban scheduled for June 2026 despite company claims that sales remain legal until 2027.

In healthcare management, a Ministry of Health investigation into the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency revealed systemic flaws, including over 1,200 pending registrations and database vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, beverage producers have urged the government to cancel a planned 2027 excise tax of 1.60 lei per liter, warning of price increases up to 34 percent.

Sources: Moldova1, Newsmaker, Point, Ziarul de Gardă.

Global investment in artificial intelligence has reached unprecedented levels, surpassing historical capital expenditure on transformative technologies such as the internet and railways. According to a projection by PwC, cumulative worldwide spending specifically dedicated to data center infrastructure could exceed $30 trillion by 2050. This projected expenditure rivals the total current value of outstanding United States Treasury bonds.

Despite the massive influx of capital into the sector, financial analysts note that the eventual return on investment for these large-scale deployments remains uncertain. Major institutions and private investors continue to channel record funds into developing hardware and physical computing facilities, positioning artificial intelligence as the most heavily funded technological shift in history.

Sources: Poslovni dnevnik

Boeing has secured a contract valued at over $20 billion to develop the United States Navy's next-generation carrier-based fighter jet, designated the F/A-XX. The aerospace manufacturer defeated rival defense contractor Northrop Grumman to win the competitive tender.

Designed to operate from aircraft carriers, the new aircraft will feature extended flight range and advanced integration capabilities to coordinate seamlessly with uncrewed combat drones. In addition to the naval initiative, Boeing previously secured a contract for the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter development program, consolidating its position across major American military aviation projects.

Sources: Ekonomický deník

Data released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shows that nearly 300 citizens from Scandinavian countries are registered as serving in the Israeli military. Overall, the IDF records include tens of thousands of service members holding dual or multiple nationalities.

According to figures cited by investigative group Declassified UK, the breakdown includes 150 individuals from Sweden, 99 from Denmark, 35 from Norway, and 62 from Finland. SVT interviewed one of the enlistees for a documentary examining foreign nationals participating in the IDF. Representatives from Declassified UK stressed the importance of public awareness regarding foreign involvement in the military.

Sources: SVT.