Oct 24, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Tensions remain elevated in the Strait of Hormuz following recent military exchanges between the United States and Iran. Tehran's state media reported missile attacks targeting six vessels, including three American naval ships and three commercial oil tankers, in response to recent U.S. airstrikes.

Emergency crews successfully extinguished a fire aboard one damaged tanker. U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that shipping through the strategic waterway remains operational, stating that Tehran is in severe difficulty.

However, U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that leaders within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps feel emboldened, raising concerns about potential further conflict despite a 14-point memorandum signed in June.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point peace plan for Gaza endorsed by US President Donald Trump, stating that Israeli troops will not withdraw without the full disarmament of Hamas. Speaking during a televised cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed the rejection of the US-backed document.

The stance deepens a public disagreement between Israel and Washington, despite Israeli military actions in Gaza easing recently under US influence. Netanyahu remains under internal political pressure from far-right coalition partners opposed to territorial concessions, while balancing demands from the US ahead of Israel's planned national election on 27 October.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Russian ground offensives in Ukraine have largely stalled, despite official claims of progress from Moscow. Frontline mapping from independent analysts, including the Institute for the Study of War and DeepState, shows minimal net territorial shifts in recent weeks, while Finnish analytical group Black Bird Group reported Russian gains were limited to roughly 133 square kilometers in August. Meanwhile, Ukrainian counterattacks near Oleksandrivka have successfully reclaimed territory.

As ground operations slow, Moscow has intensified long-range strikes against Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter. Prime Minister Serhij Koreckyj confirmed recent bombardments targeting Kyiv's energy infrastructure were the largest since last spring. The escalation coincides with a decline in Ukrainian air defense efficiency, with drone interception rates dropping from 92 percent in May to 83 percent in September.

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

Artificial intelligence adoption in Italy continues to expand across major platforms, even as domestic public confidence experiences a marked decline. Data from Audicom, analyzed by industry expert Vincenzo Cosenza, indicates OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the most widely used AI service in the country, while Google’s Gemini leads on mobile devices alongside rising usage of Claude and Perplexity.

Simultaneously, an SWG survey presented at Italy's Chamber of Deputies reveals that public approval of AI dropped from 68 percent in 2020 to 49 percent, with overall concern rising to 45 percent. Media coverage has highlighted broader debates regarding job displacement—estimated at approximately 425,000 positions globally over three years—and corporate resistance toward state regulation. Meanwhile, Italian executives like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei remain central figures in international discussions surrounding AI safety and development.

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

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced ambitious economic targets, predicting gross domestic product will exceed €100 billion by 2026 and average monthly wages will rise to €1,600 by 2028. Additionally, the government presented a National Industrial Development Plan, pledging nearly €3 billion through 2034 to modernize manufacturing and boost national productivity.

However, business leaders and economic analysts express caution over long-term sustainability. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that rising labor costs are currently outpacing productivity gains, urging stronger reliance on the private sector. Economist Ljubo Jurčić offered a harsher assessment, describing the economy as drifting "without an engine and without a rudder" amid slowing quarterly expansion.

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