Oct 13, 2026, 03:00 PM UTC

Italian public confidence in artificial intelligence has declined significantly, according to a recent SWG survey presented at the Chamber of Deputies. Favorable views fell from 68 percent in 2020 to 49 percent, while public anxiety increased to 45 percent over the same period.

The shift comes as global concerns mount over the broader economic effects of automation, including estimated worldwide job losses of roughly 425,000 over three years and potential disruptions to national tax systems. Additionally, major technology companies face scrutiny regarding lobbying efforts aimed at delaying government oversight. Despite growing skepticism, Italian innovators remain prominent in global development, including Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei, whose firm recently drew attention amid ongoing debates surrounding technological risks.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.

German law enforcement agencies have intensified investigations into foreign state-sponsored hybrid warfare following new arrests and intelligence disclosures. German police arrested four individuals, including two Turkish citizens, at the request of Polish authorities in connection with a recent arson attack on a Starlink satellite station in Poland.

Simultaneously, evidence from a foiled August drone attack targeting Ukrainian transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport has directly linked the operation to Russia's GRU military intelligence service, with investigators identifying an operative as a key logistician.

German federal and state agencies are currently tracking more than 100 cases of suspected foreign state-backed interference, including drone overflights, infrastructure sabotage, damaged undersea cables, and disinformation campaigns. Domestic intelligence officials warned that foreign actors may have also established clandestine weapon stashes across Germany to enable future attacks.

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

U.S. military commanders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that sustained, large-scale operations against Iran are unsustainable and risk eroding global military readiness, according to internal Pentagon documents.

Under directives from President Donald Trump to preserve all operational options, over 50,000 American troops remain on heightened alert, with readiness extensions for some units stretching into 2027. Concurrently, repeated Iranian strikes causing damage to key installations in the Persian Gulf have prompted the Pentagon to conduct detailed assessments of its regional footprint, including potential force reductions at major bases.

Defense analysts further note that the inability to secure a swift outcome in the Middle East could eventually trigger sweeping institutional reforms across the U.S. armed forces.

Sources: Defence24, Portal obronny, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info

Iran has transitioned to a "completely offensive" military strategy following the collapse of peace negotiations with the United States, senior officials confirmed. The shift coincided with the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding signed in June, which aimed to establish a permanent peace agreement between Tehran and Washington. Iranian armed forces stated they would not back down until achieving the "complete defeat" of American forces in the region.

In response to the breakdown in diplomacy, Washington confirmed it will not extend the temporary ceasefire agreement. Tensions escalated further in maritime corridors after US Central Command reported striking five Iranian oil tankers and sinking one in retaliation for Iranian strikes against an American warship. Analysts warn that compounding economic sanctions and military clashes in the Strait of Hormuz raise the risk of a wider regional conflict.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Croatia expects its gross domestic product to surpass €100 billion by 2026, supported by projected annual growth of 2.4 percent, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced. The government also targets raising average net monthly wages to €1,600 by 2028, alongside upcoming consultations to set higher minimum wage levels.

To sustain momentum, Zagreb introduced a €3 billion national industrial strategy running through 2034 to modernize manufacturing and enhance resilience. However, economic stakeholders outlined contrasting views on the nation's trajectory. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that labor costs are rising faster than productivity, urging the private sector to drive future expansion. Meanwhile, economist Ljubo Jurčić criticized current performance, citing slowing growth and declining purchasing power while describing the economy as moving "without an engine and without a rudder."

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