Oct 31, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Global leaders presented contrasting visions of foreign policy at the United Nations General Assembly. French President Emmanuel Macron described international diplomatic strategy regarding Gaza as a "shameful spectacle" and criticized Israeli actions in the West Bank, drawing anger from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump defended his unilateral posture, asserting that "while others talk, I act." Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran, predicted the fall of the Cuban regime, and highlighted American access to Venezuelan petroleum reserves. Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez approached Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to request a formal bilateral meeting regarding diplomatic relations between their nations.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia.

Former Chisinau municipal official Iurie Savițchi has been convicted of corruption after admitting to accepting a 600,000 Moldovan lei bribe. Savițchi, former head of the technical supervision service within the capital's housing directorate, entered a plea agreement after confessing he manipulated public procurement procedures to favor a private contractor.

The sentencing coincides with a broader investigation by Ziarul de Gardă into financial crime enforcement in Moldova. An examination of decisions at the Chisinau Court over six years revealed that only one contested tax evasion case—where the accused pleaded not guilty—resulted in a criminal conviction. The findings emphasize ongoing judicial challenges in prosecuting financial offenses.

Sources: Newsmaker, Ziarul de Gardă.

Italian public confidence in artificial intelligence has dropped significantly, according to a recent SWG survey presented at the Chamber of Deputies. The study revealed that positive sentiment fell from 68% in 2020 to 49%, while public concern rose to 45%.

The shift comes as AI reshapes key sectors, driving search engines toward automated summaries that threaten publisher referral traffic through a "zero-click" trend. Reporting also highlights broader economic anxieties, including estimates attributing roughly 425,000 global job losses to AI integration, even as major technology firms resist government regulation. Meanwhile, Italian commentary points to domestic figures shaping global innovation, including Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei.

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

At least 69 people have died and nearly 150 were injured following a high-speed train collision near Urda in Toledo, Spanish authorities confirmed.

According to a preliminary report by the Independent Authority for Technical Investigation of Transport Accidents, an AVE train carrying 397 passengers struck a stationary Iryo train with 146 passengers from behind. The impact occurred at speeds estimated between 160 and 200 kilometers per hour, sending two carriages down an embankment along the Madrid-Andalusia rail line.

Emergency responders continue searching the wreckage, with regional officials warning the death toll could rise further. The incident marks the second fatal disaster on the corridor within nine months following an earlier crash in Adamuz. Rail traffic along the route remains suspended.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced a target to raise average monthly net wages to €1,600 by 2028, with October consultations set to determine upcoming minimum wage adjustments. The announcement coincides with official data showing Croatia recorded its 22nd consecutive quarter of GDP expansion, though recent growth has slowed.

To boost long-term competitiveness, the government launched a National Industrial Development Plan allocating nearly €3 billion through 2034 to expand manufacturing's GDP share. Mislav Balković, head of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that labor costs are rising faster than productivity, calling for growth driven by private investment rather than public spending. Meanwhile, economist Ljubo Jurčić criticized current performance, describing the economy as floating "without an engine and without a rudder" and arguing that annual growth must exceed five percent to ensure sustainability.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti