At least five Israelis dead, 12 wounded in Jerusalem shooting

At least five people were killed and 12 were injured in a shooting attack at the Ramot intersection in Jerusalem by an Israeli Arab Palestinian, according to initial reports.

Orban warns EU risks collapse without structural overhaul

PM Viktor Orban says Hungary faces a choice between safeguarding its sovereignty or "heading for the abyss" by deepening integration with the EU.

Ukraine, Russia in the most intense exchange of missiles targeting cities and refineries

The US imported $455,000 worth of Russian chicken eggs for the first time 1992 despite sanctions

The US imported $455,000 worth of Russian chicken eggs for the first time in decades despite sanctions, RIA Novosti reported on September 5, citing data from the US statistical service.

Putin warns that coalition of the willing peacekeepers in Ukraine are "legitimate targets"

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if Ukraine’s European allies send peacekeepers to Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Russia (AFR) will consider them to be “legitimate military targets,” in comments at the Eastern Economic Forum.

Qatar backs AI firm Anthropic in $13bn Series F, doubling valuation to $183bn

Qatar Investment Authority joins $13bn funding round for AI company Anthropic, supporting the Claude developer's rapid revenue growth and international expansion plans.

Serbian president promises flying cars by 2026

Aleksandar Vucic says flying cars will debut in Serbia ahead of Expo 2027 in Belgrade, which will showcase the country’s modernisation strategy.

Electric flying taxis to launch in Saudi Arabia within two years

Austrian firm FlyNow Arabia plans electric helicopter services in Saudi Arabia starting 2027, targeting urban transport with €350,000 aircraft offering zero emissions and 55-decibel noise levels.

Russian state Max messenger mandatory across all devices

As of September 1, the Max messenger of state-controlled internet major VK is legally prerequired to be preinstalled on every smartphone and tablet sold in Russia, as well as be featured mandatory on the Russian app store RuStore, including on Apple.

Croatia launches new digital platforms to streamline public services

Zagreb hopes the initiative will simplify bureaucratic procedures, boost transparency and improve user experience across Croatia’s public administration.

ING: Czech industry joins the growth pack

Industrial output accelerated in July, beating market expectations. Robust gains were recorded in key segments of manufacturing, suggesting the onset of a broad-based recovery.

COMMENT: Potential sanctions on Russian oil keeps price outlook uncertain

The ongoing Ukraine war ceasefire talks and the potential for new and even more extreme sanctions on Russian oil exports is keeping the outlook for the price of oil uncertain, Oxford Economics said in a note.

ING: Risks to Czech inflation from wages and emission allowances

Inflation eased to 2.5% in August, dragged down by another monthly decline in food prices. We see the soft reading as a low point, with inflation set to gain pace over the coming quarter.

BOOKS: Globalisation splinters as US-China rivalry reshapes world economy

'The Fractured Age’ author, Capital Economics chief economist Neil Shearing, tells bne IntelliNews the defining trend of the coming decades will be fragmentation, driven by US-China rivalry.

COMMENT: Russia’s size is its Achilles’ heel as Ukraine targets its oil infrastructure

Since August the Armed Forces of Ukraine has mounted a continuous barrage on Russian refineries that has reduced output by 20%. Russia is so big that the Kremlin can’t protect all its pipelines and refineries.

India, China, Europe, all face population declines by the end of the century – OWID

This chart tracks the UN’s latest demographic projections for four large populations: India, China, Europe, and the United States. Together, they account for about half of today’s world population, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.

Half of Poles now against Ukraine joining Nato – poll

Just over half of Poles (53%) are now against Ukraine joining Nato, while only a third (33.5%) support the idea, according to to a recent poll conducted by the IBRiS institute for the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita on August 29-30.

PMI records softer rise in Kazakhstan services in August

Sentiment at three-month high, but rising cost inflation complicating demand support.

Romania’s retail sales rise 5.3% y/y in July, ahead of expected slowdown

Recent VAT and excise duty hikes as well as slower household income growth to weigh on consumption.

South Korea marks largest ever current account surplus for July

The Bank of Korea reported a surplus of $10.78bn for July, extending the country’s run of consecutive monthly surpluses to 27, dating back to May 2023.

China accused of escalating Taiwan tensions with oil drilling in disputed waters

By placing energy platforms in contested waters, China is signalling both defiance of international rulings and a willingness to tighten the squeeze on Taiwan.

Fat payoff to Mourinho as Turkish football confirms status as eager member of big-spending league

Super Lig clubs splurge €321mn on buying players. Istanbul club Galatasaray Europe’s fifth biggest spender.

Central Asia and Afghanistan heading for “confrontation” over water-thirsty canal, warns analyst

Minimal progress seen in dealing with rightful Taliban claim to share of Amu Darya border river. Region’s water security dilemma worsening.

US and Taiwan quietly hold defence talks in Alaska as Trump balances China ties

Taipei has recently announced a record defence budget, proposing a 23% rise that would lift military spending to more than 3.3% of GDP next year.

LONG READ: Europeans face recession, financial crises, as they struggle to boost defence spending

US President Donald Trump has dropped the burden of supplying and supporting Ukraine’s battle against Russia firmly in Europe’s lap. But cash-strapped and with the UK and France on the verge of crisis, they are going to struggle to manage.

KYIV BLOG: Brexit on steroids

The coalition of the willing Paris summit on September 4 ended in disaster. The European team has been working really hard for several weeks to thrash out a plan to save Ukraine and came together in Paris.

BALKAN BLOG: A Bosnian statelet in denial

Milorad Dodik has been stripped of his role as president of Bosnia's Republika Srpska but he is continuing to operate as if still in power.

BALKAN BLOG: One step forward, two steps back in Kosovo's deadlocked parliament

Kosovans are running out of patience with the political crisis that has persisted since the February general election, taking its toll on the country’s economy.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey’s GDP data – believe it if you want to

The figures are laughable, but the media take them ever so seriously.

BALKAN BLOG: Vucic's letters from Belgrade

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's letters and interviews published by international media outlets are part of a counter-offensive against hyperbolic portrayals of his country as sliding into outright authoritarianism.

Tajikistan’s glaciers are disappearing

Tajikistan’s glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate, with over 1,000 already gone completely and dozens more under threat, according to a new Atlas of Environmental Change published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Snowfall shortages destabilising some of world’s last resilient glaciers, expedition in Tajikistan shows

Scientific team unable to yet say whether the “water towers” have reached “point of no return”.

Solar overtakes gas to become Hungary’s second largest source of energy - OWID

A decade ago, solar power was almost non-existent in Hungary. It generated just 0.2% of the country’s electricity. Nuclear, coal, and gas dominated the grid, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.

UK-based energy think tank Ember reports record growth in solar panel imports across Africa

Imports of solar panels from China into Africa have surged dramatically over the past year, pointing to the start of a transformation in how the continent generates electricity.

Romania sees surge in extreme weather alerts

Greenpeace Romania study shows an upward trend in storms, floods, and tornadoes.