Oct 30, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Russian forces launched fresh drone attacks on Kyiv, injuring at least one person, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations General Assembly that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "patient zero who wanted the war".

Moscow's defense officials announced an intensified campaign targeting Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter. Concurrently, Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russian fuel infrastructure have disrupted domestic oil supplies, forcing Russia to import petrol.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil" after German authorities identified two suspects linked to Moscow regarding explosive drone incidents near critical infrastructure in Leipzig.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Italian public opinion on artificial intelligence is shifting toward greater caution as economic and industry challenges surface. A recent SWG poll presented at the Italian Chamber of Deputies shows positive sentiment falling from 68 percent in 2020 to 49 percent, while public concern rose to 45 percent. The shift comes amid reports linking hundreds of thousands of job losses worldwide to AI adoption over the last three years. Simultaneously, digital publishers express concern over search engine AI summaries, which threaten online traffic through zero-click answers. While major technology firms push back against government regulations, Italian figures such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei remain key players in global technological development.

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

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced plans to raise average monthly net wages to €1,600 by 2028, alongside upcoming October negotiations to adjust the minimum wage. To bolster manufacturing, the government unveiled a nearly €3 billion National Industrial Development Plan extending to 2034.

While Croatia recorded its 22nd consecutive quarter of growth, recent data indicates slowing expansion. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that labor costs are rising faster than economic productivity, arguing that future growth must rely on real-sector enterprise rather than state consumption. Meanwhile, economist and former minister Ljubo Jurčić criticized current performance, stating the economy is floating "without an engine and without a rudder" and requires growth exceeding five percent annually.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti

Serbians turned out in high numbers on Sunday for snap parliamentary elections, marking the most significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party since 2012.

The vote follows nearly two years of student-led anti-corruption demonstrations, which intensified after a fatal railway station collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people. Transforming from a street protest movement into a formal political candidate list, student organizers are attempting to unseat the government through the ballot box rather than civil disobedience.

Analysts view the contest as the country's most unpredictable in 14 years. However, despite strong public participation, student activists and opposition figures have expressed widespread concerns that the ruling party may engage in electoral fraud and ballot theft to retain power.

Sources: Balkan Insight, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, OCCRP, Politico Europe.

Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday to elect the 26th Knesset in the nation's first parliamentary election since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Over seven million citizens were eligible to vote following years of multi-front regional conflict.

The vote is widely viewed as a decisive test of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing leadership and security record. Polls showed a tight contest between Netanyahu’s coalition bloc and an opposition alignment led by former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Election officials reported high voter turnout, reaching 66.7 percent by late afternoon. Under Israel's fundamental laws, the president will assign a mandate to form a governing coalition in the 120-seat parliament within seven days of the official results certification.

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