Oct 8, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced plans to increase the average net monthly wage to €1,600 by 2028, alongside upcoming consultations in October to adjust the current €1,050 gross minimum wage. Concurrently, the government unveiled its National Industrial Development Plan through 2034, allocating nearly €3 billion to boost manufacturing's share of GDP and enhance technology.

While Croatia recorded its 22nd consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, slowing momentum drew warnings from economic experts. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that rising labor costs continue to outpace productivity gains. Additionally, economist Ljubo Jurčić described the economy as floating "without an engine and without a rudder," arguing that sustained growth rates exceeding five percent are necessary to ensure long-term stability.

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

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging five alleged Russian intelligence agents with managing a global network to assassinate and harass supporters of Ukraine across Europe and North America. According to American authorities, the suspects recruited operatives to conduct surveillance and execute attacks ordered by the Kremlin, including a June 2024 operation in Prague. All five accused individuals currently remain at large.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service revealed that Russia has executed sabotage operations against Danish defense companies providing equipment to Ukraine. Officials presented the findings at a Copenhagen security conference, identifying the acts as a significant escalation in Moscow's hybrid warfare strategy.

Sources: BBC News, France24, OCCRP, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

At a United Nations conference in Geneva, 128 countries reached a consensus on defining autonomous weapon systems, marking a key step toward international regulation. The agreement comes alongside warnings from humanitarian bodies, with the International Committee of the Red Cross emphasizing that "the autonomous targeting on humans by machines" crosses a critical moral boundary.

Concurrently, Germany’s Ministry of Defence outlined its operational stance on military artificial intelligence. While officials confirmed that "the decision on the use of military force remains with humans," certain semi-autonomous functions may run independently without real-time human intervention depending on the scenario. To safeguard data sovereignty, the Bundeswehr declined to adopt analytics software from US vendor Palantir, choosing instead to develop a custom proprietary AI processing system.

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

German security agencies are actively investigating more than 100 cases of suspected state-sponsored sabotage and hybrid warfare across the country. Following revelations linking Russia's GRU military intelligence agency to a foiled explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport, domestic intelligence officials warned that foreign hostile actors pose an escalating threat to critical infrastructure.

The reported incidents encompass unauthorized drone overflights near military sites, subsea cable disruptions, railway interference, and coordinated disinformation campaigns. Intelligence leaders testifying before a parliamentary committee emphasized that these operations aim to destabilize democratic institutions and deepen societal divisions. Furthermore, domestic security officials alerted lawmakers to indications that foreign operatives may have hidden weapons and explosive caches within Germany to facilitate future attacks.

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

Senior U.S. military commanders have alerted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that sustained large-scale operations against Iran are unsustainable and risk compromising global combat readiness. Internal Pentagon documentation indicates over 50,000 service members remain on heightened alert to satisfy President Donald Trump's requirement to preserve all military options, with deployment extensions spanning into 2027 for certain units.

Concurrently, defense officials are evaluating force presence across the Persian Gulf following repeated Iranian strikes on key installations. Strategic analysts suggest prolonged operational friction could eventually force deep institutional reforms within the U.S. armed forces, echoing post-conflict restructurings of previous eras.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info