Oct 30, 2026, 01:00 PM UTC

Italian public sentiment toward artificial intelligence has grown increasingly cautious, with positive perception dropping from 68% in 2020 to 49%, according to a recent SWG survey presented at the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Public concern over the technology rose to 45% over the same period.

The shift reflects broader economic and industrial anxieties. Automated tools such as AI summaries in search engines threaten traffic for digital publishers by offering zero-click answers. Globally, AI adoption has been linked to over 400,000 job dislocations, even as major tech firms push back against government regulation. Meanwhile, Italian commentators highlight national contributions to the sector, citing prominent figures such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei as key drivers of global innovation.

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

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced a target to increase average net monthly wages to €1,600 by the end of his term in 2028, with consultations on adjusting the minimum wage scheduled for October. Although Croatia registered its 22nd consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, recent growth has shown signs of slowing down.

To strengthen competitiveness, the government introduced a National Industrial Development Plan allocating nearly €3 billion through 2034 to increase manufacturing's share of national output. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, stressed that rising labor costs are outpacing productivity gains, advocating for a growth model driven by real-sector investment rather than public spending and EU funds. Conversely, economist and former minister Ljubo Jurčić offered a critical assessment, stating the economy is drifting "without an engine and without a rudder" and requires annual growth exceeding five percent.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti

The United States Department of Justice has unsealed charges against five alleged Russian intelligence operatives accused of directing a covert campaign of targeted assassinations and sabotage across Western nations. According to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, the suspects recruited individuals worldwide to spy on and execute figures supporting Ukraine, including orchestrating a June 2024 attack in Prague. All five accused remain at large.

In a parallel development, Denmark's Security and Intelligence Service announced that Moscow has targeted Danish defense manufacturers providing military equipment to Kyiv. Officials in Copenhagen characterized these acts of physical sabotage as a marked escalation in Russia's ongoing hybrid warfare strategy designed to undermine Western support for Ukraine.

Sources: BBC News, France24, OCCRP, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

In Geneva, 128 United Nations member states agreed on a formal definition for autonomous weapon systems. Following the accord, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross jointly warned that machine-led human targeting risks "crossing a moral red line."

Concurrently, European militaries are accelerating artificial intelligence integration. Newly disclosed German military concept papers indicate semi-autonomous weapons may operate without step-by-step human involvement, though a defense spokesperson noted that "the decision on the use of military force remains with humans." Germany also rejected software from US vendor Palantir, electing to construct an in-house AI data analysis tool instead.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and NATO have jointly created two AI applications aimed at predicting hostile drone paths and optimizing artillery fire support.

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

Former diplomatic experts and political analysts report that the White House's evolving stance toward Moscow is heavily influenced by domestic election pressures and a lack of strategic expertise. Experts argue that current American officials fail to grasp Russian bargaining tactics compared to Soviet-era negotiators. Reports also indicate U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomatic shifts stem from low approval ratings and rising fuel prices ahead of midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin dismissed prospects for bilateral strategic stability talks, citing American missile deployments in Europe. Analysts state Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to secure full control over Ukraine's Donbas region before entering peace negotiations.

Sources: Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.