Oct 24, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC

Following discussions in Washington, US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a peace agreement before the onset of winter.

Speaking after his meeting with Zelensky, Trump noted that while he agrees with the Ukrainian leader on several topics, both nations need to finalize a deal. Trump also highlighted a recent telephone conversation with Putin, stating his belief that Moscow is equally keen on negotiating a resolution. Zelensky described the meeting as "positive and productive," reaffirming that both Washington and Kyiv aim to end the conflict before winter begins.

Sources: Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Russian forces launched new drone strikes against Kyiv, injuring at least one person, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the United Nations General Assembly. Moscow's defense officials confirmed an ongoing offensive directed at Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter. In response, Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries have disrupted fuel production, compelling Moscow to procure petroleum products abroad.

Meanwhile, security concerns within the European Union heightened after German investigators linked two suspects associated with Moscow to explosive drone incidents near Leipzig. Addressing the alleged sabotage, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, "We do not tolerate attacks on EU soil, ready to respond."

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Recent military engagements near the Strait of Hormuz have intensified tensions between the United States and Iran. Iranian state media claimed retaliatory strikes against six vessels, including three commercial tankers and three American naval ships, alongside targeted missile launches against US aircraft carriers. The reported actions follow earlier American airstrikes in the region.

United States President Donald Trump minimized the operational disruption, maintaining that maritime transit through the strategic waterway remains functional and that Iranian leaders are experiencing significant pressure. Conversely, American intelligence assessments suggest that senior commanders within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps consider themselves emboldened, raising concerns over potential conflict escalation. The dynamic follows the breakdown of a preliminary truce memorandum signed earlier this summer.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Italian adoption of artificial intelligence tools is increasing, even as public confidence in the technology declines. According to Audicom data analyzed by expert Vincenzo Cosenza, OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains Italy's most popular AI platform, while Google’s Gemini leads mobile usage, and platforms like Claude and Perplexity continue to gain traction.

Concurrently, an SWG survey for Fondazione Lottomatica presented at the Chamber of Deputies revealed that positive Italian sentiment toward AI fell from 68 percent in 2020 to 49 percent, while public concern rose from 23 to 45 percent. Commentators also noted growing debates over AI's global impact, including workforce disruptions—estimated at roughly 425,000 lost jobs over three years—and efforts by technology corporations to resist government regulation. Amid these developments, Italian figures such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei remain prominent in international AI leadership.

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

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced targets to elevate the national economy, anticipating gross domestic product will exceed €100 billion by 2026 and average monthly net wages will reach €1,600 by 2028. The government also unveiled a National Industrial Development Plan investing nearly €3 billion to boost manufacturing productivity through 2034.

Despite projected expansion outpacing European Union averages, economic analysts and business leaders expressed caution. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, emphasized that rising labor costs are outpacing productivity growth. Former economy minister Ljubo Jurčić voiced stronger criticism, warning that the economy is drifting "without an engine and without a rudder" as growth momentum slows.

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