Oct 13, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

Portugal's minority coalition government has strongly criticized both the far-right Chega party and the opposition Socialist Party (PS) following the defeat of a parliamentary motion of censure. The motion, introduced by Chega over controversies involving the internal administration ministry, failed after Socialist lawmakers abstained from voting.

During the three-hour parliamentary debate, Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated that the public would make a "political judgment" on Chega’s decision to advance a motion bound to fail. Despite heated arguments between political figures, cabinet officials reaffirmed that the executive has no "preferred partner" in parliament and will continue negotiating legislation on a case-by-case basis.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Russian ground operations across Ukraine have effectively stalled through late September, contradicting claims of military progress from Moscow. Comparative mapping analysis shows virtually zero net territorial change over four weeks, as limited Russian gains were offset by localized Ukrainian counterattacks.

With frontline momentum constrained, Russian forces have escalated long-range aerial bombardment targeting Ukrainian heating and power infrastructure ahead of winter. Prime Minister Serhij Koreckyj confirmed that recent strikes marked the largest assault on energy assets since last winter, with Kyiv remaining a focal point. Concurrently, Ukrainian air defense efficiency against incoming Russian drones declined to 83 percent in September, down from 92 percent recorded in May.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, Respect, Seznam Zprávy.

Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter has published a technical analysis detailing the primary aerial weapons utilized in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The report outlines key operational differences between ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and long-range attack drones, explaining the strategic challenges each presents to air defense systems.

Ballistic missiles follow high-altitude trajectories at extreme speeds, giving air defense crews minimal reaction time. Conversely, cruise missiles travel at lower altitudes and maneuver along terrain to evade radar detection. Meanwhile, long-range drones are frequently deployed in large swarms to saturate air defense radars and exhaust costly interceptor missile stockpiles. Defense experts stress that protecting infrastructure against these combined threats requires an integrated, multi-tiered defensive strategy capable of addressing high-velocity, low-altitude, and high-volume attacks.

Sources: Dagens Nyheter

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has projected that national gross domestic product will surpass €100 billion by 2026, driven by an estimated annual growth rate of 2.4 percent. The government also pledged to raise average net monthly wages to €1,600 by 2028 and establish new minimum wage targets following consultations with trade unions and employers.

To sustain momentum beyond state spending and EU funds, Zagreb unveiled a €3 billion national industrial strategy running through 2034. However, economic stakeholders raised concerns over structural challenges. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, emphasized that rising labor costs are outpacing productivity gains, insisting that the private sector must lead future expansion. Meanwhile, former economy minister Ljubo Jurčić warned that domestic consumption is cooling, characterising the economy as drifting "without an engine and without a rudder."

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