Oct 13, 2026, 04:00 AM UTC

At a United Nations conference in Geneva, 128 member states agreed on a formal definition for autonomous weapon systems. The development comes as the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that machine targeting of humans risks crossing a "moral red line."

Concurrently, Germany's Defense Ministry confirmed that military weapon systems may deploy partially autonomous functions without step-by-step human intervention, provided overall human authority over force is retained. To maintain technological sovereignty, the Bundeswehr rejected software from US vendor Palantir, deciding instead to construct an internal AI platform for rapid data analysis and decision-making.

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

United States forces have conducted a series of strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, following an Iranian attempt to place naval mines and launch ballistic missiles at two US warships. According to US Central Command, mine-clearing operations in the strategic waterway have been completed.

The military operations included strikes on three Iranian commercial oil tankers, marking an escalation as direct action expands to commercial shipping. The developments follow warnings from US President Donald Trump, who threatened strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if attacks on energy shipping continue. Analysts note that targeting energy infrastructure and commercial fleets reflects a transition into fifth-generation warfare.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV

A fourth heatwave is sweeping across Southern and Western Europe, prompting Italian authorities to issue top-level red alerts in all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria. Public health officials advised residents to stay indoors during peak daylight hours following four heat-related deaths.

Temperature records continue to fall across the continent. Austria registered its highest temperature on record, reaching 40.8 degrees Celsius in a suburb of Vienna. In France, health authorities reported over 7,300 excess fatalities linked to 52 days of extreme heat since mid-June.

Forecasters warn that France and the United Kingdom are preparing for another wave of temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, worsening widespread drought and wildfire risks across the region.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the 2027 national budget will be adopted on schedule, calling the framework realistic and vital for economic stability as the nation stabilizes politically. Radev urged parliament to prioritize upcoming judicial and administrative reforms outlined in Progressive Bulgaria’s platform.

Concurrently, Progressive Bulgaria submitted its candidates for the Supreme Judicial Council's parliamentary quota, asserting that its nominees meet high legal, academic, and moral standards. However, media reports note that four months after winning the election, most of the party's 131 lawmakers remain largely unknown to the public and operate under tight central control, with only a small group handling media appearances.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV