International Zagreb Airport welcomes first direct fligt from China to Croatia
Zagreb: International Zagreb Airport on Friday welcomed the first direct flight from China to Croatia, launching a new route between Beijing and Zagreb via Bucharest, Romania. The new route, operated by Air China, will run three times a week. The aircraft received a ceremonial welcome on arrival, i»»»
Former foreign companies in Russia lag economy despite ownership transfers
The former assets of international companies that either exited the country or were nationalised in Russia after the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine struggle to grow, despite being picked up at massive discounts by new owners, a study by The Bell shows. As closely followed by IntelliNews, a»»»
How can African retailers compete with Shein and Temu?
BusinessAfricaHow can African retailers compete with Shein and Temu?Antonio CascaisShein and Temu are expanding across Africa with low prices and vast product ranges. Businesses and unions warn the growth could come at a cost for local jobs. https://p.dw.com/p/5LQR9Shein and Temu have gained a sign»»»
Pressure in China helps convince Volkswagen it's time to change
Volkswagen's sweeping restructuring announced Thursday underlines the force of the China shock hitting Germany's economy as the world's biggest car market, short years ago a major profit center, rapidly becomes a major competitive challenge. The stiff headwinds from China facing Germany's largest c»»»
Democrats for Strong Bulgaria Party Says Radev Government Programme Is Electoral Rather than Governing Platform
The programme of Prime Minister Rumen Radev's Government is an electoral rather than a governing platform, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) said in a position circulated by the party's press office on Friday. According to DSB, the programme envisages widespread centralization, lacks specifics on»»»
Tourism Minister Announces Connectivity and Promotion Fund to Extend Tourist Season
The State is working actively to extend the tourist season by improving air connectivity, increasing promotion and organizing more events outside the peak summer months. A connectivity and promotion fund is also planned to help attract more tourists to Bulgaria, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov told »»»
IntelliNews Lambda: EU gas storage is emptier than in the 2022 crisis, gas prices doubles
European gas storage is emptier heading into September than it was during the 2022 crisis, and prices have doubled, but at about €74/MWh they are still a fifth of the last crisis year's peak. The shortages are pushing prices up but apart from the weather, another big unknown is the impact of the c»»»
Two trapped tunnel workers rescued in Nepal 'miracle'
Kathmandu, Nepal: Two hydropower workers were pulled alive from a tunnel buried by debris in Nepal on Friday, a rare ray of hope on the tenth day of rescue efforts after catastrophic Himalayan flooding. Rescuers cheered as one man was pulled through a muddy opening, a video released by the energy m»»»
Prime Minister Fico Expresses Slovakia's Full Support for Bulgaria's OECD Entry
Bulgaria has Slovakia's full support for its bid to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said at a joint briefing with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev at the Council of Ministers building in Sofia on Friday. The»»»
Japan and Germany are forgetting the lessons of 1945
The anniversary of victory over militarist Japan is more than a commemoration of a distant war. It is an opportunity to ask uncomfortable questions: What exactly was defeated in 1945 and what lessons were meant to survive the victory? What was supposed to end in 1945?Japan’s surrender ended a catas»»»
Chinese fuel truck drivers allowed visa-free entry to Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers has introduced a temporary special visa-free regime for Chinese citizens working as truck drivers and engaged in international road transportation of petroleum products to Kyrgyzstan. The decision was made to ensure economic security, maintain an uninterrupted supp»»»
Why early warning signs of glacier collapse in Nepal were difficult to detect
The glacier collapse that led to devastating flash floods across the Himalayan region of Nepal and its border with the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet on August 26 was preceded by early warning signs, experts say. But monitoring and emergency alert systems in the region are still insufficient to»»»
USS Lincoln crew hits the streets of Thailand's Pattaya after nine-month deployment
US sailors and Marines streamed into the Thai resort city of Pattaya Thursday after a record-breaking nine months at sea. Local police said there had so far been no major incidents connected to the 5,000-strong contingent of US service members, though two sailors were sent back to the ship after a »»»
Two trapped Nepal tunnel workers rescued after nine days
Rescuers called it a ‘miracle’ after August 26 glacial collapse killed 1,280 people Kathmandu: Two hydropower workers were pulled alive from a tunnel buried by debris in Nepal on Friday, a rare ray of hope on the tenth day of rescue efforts after catastrophic Himalayan flooding. Rescuers cheered as»»»
Volkswagen plans 100,000 job cuts by 2030 in sweeping restructuring
Berlin, Sept. 4 (SANA) Volkswagen plans to cut around 100,000 jobs worldwide by 2030, or roughly 15% of its global workforce, as the German automaker steps up efforts to reduce costs and remain competitive amid mounting pressure on the industry. The group said Thursday it had agreed to eliminate ab»»»
Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit comes up short on achievements
It was a relatively subdued Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He departed the host city Bishkek having made few attention-grabbing headlines. There were no big announcements or the viral moments unlike at 2025’s SCO summit on Xi’s home turf in the C»»»
How a $12.6-billion bet could make the Philippines Asia’s ultimate clean energy superpower
EXPLAIGovernment bets on baseload geothermal to cut reliance on imported fuel TIWI, Philippines: As one approaches the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant in Albay, about 465km south-east of Manila, the landscape gives little hint that beneath it lies one of the Philippines’ most important energy stories. »»»
Basketball: Qatar ramp up Asian Games preparations
DOHA: Qatar’s men’s basketball team is stepping up preparations for the upcoming Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026, with the team aiming for a strong showing in one of the continent’s biggest sporting events. The Games will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, but the men’s 5×5 basketball c»»»
Tour operators in Kyrgyzstan to be required to insure tourists - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved new rules making liability insurance mandatory for tour operators. The new rules were adopted in accordance with the laws «On Insurance and Insurance Activities» and «On Tourism.» Under the document, insurance liability limits will vary depending »»»
Two US sailors sent back to carrier after drunken brawl in Pattaya
Police say the sailors were drunk but committed no offence under Thai law Bangkok: Two sailors from the US aircraft carrier making a port call to Thailand were sent back to the ship after a drunken altercation, Thai police said Friday. Police were alerted to a "small scuffle" involving the sailors »»»
‘Fight through darkness, water’: Nepal survivor recounts escape from flood-hit tunnel
A Nepalese worker recounts his harrowing escape from a hydropower project tunnel after last week's devastating flood. Around 900 workers remain trapped in tunnels at six hydroelectric plants in Nepal as the number of missing in the Himalayan disaster rose to 5,624 on Thursday, according t»»»
Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit comes up short on achievements
It was a relatively subdued Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He departed the host city Bishkek having made few attention-grabbing headlines. There were no big announcements or the viral moments unlike at 2025’s SCO summit on Xi’s home turf in the C»»»
Putin seems peeved with Uzbekistan
A chill seems to be creeping into Uzbek-Russian relations at a time when the Kremlin needs all the friends it can keep. A major factor for the sudden frost in relations appears to be Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s tendency to react vindictively when developments aren’t to his liking. T»»»
Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit comes up short on achievements
It was a relatively subdued Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He departed the host city Bishkek having made few attention-grabbing headlines. There were no big announcements or the viral moments unlike at 2025’s SCO summit on Xi’s home turf in the C»»»
Putin seems peeved with Uzbekistan
A chill seems to be creeping into Uzbek-Russian relations at a time when the Kremlin needs all the friends it can keep. A major factor for the sudden frost in relations appears to be Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s tendency to react vindictively when developments aren’t to his liking. T»»»
Eduard Kubatov: Kyrgyzstan could see 30 million tourists after SCO and WNG - | 24.KG
The high-profile opening ceremonies of the World Nomad Games and the SCO summits, the state and official visits to Bishkek by the top leadership of two major nations—China and Pakistan—as well as the Games themselves, have captured the attention of the global community. Eduard Kubatov, head of the »»»
Volkswagen to cut another 50,000 jobs to counter tariffs and Chinese competition
Volkswagen announced Thursday that it will cut another 50,000 jobs worldwide under its biggest restructuring in the company's 89-year history, as the German carmaker faces pressure from US tariffs, overcapacity and fierce competition from Chinese rivals. The plan also sets out the future of four Ge»»»
Nvidia to buy Hugging Face for $12.93 billion in major AI expansion
Nvidia said Thursday it will buy AI developer platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, its latest major investment to expand its influence in open-source artificial intelligence. The deal would bring Nvidia closer to developers and broaden its customer base as tech giants develop chips to reduce r»»»
'We woke up to the reality': Marco Rubio assails 'fantasy' of globalisation
US foreign secretary decries 'de‑industrialised America' and push to rebuild manufacturing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt defence of the Trump administration’s “America First” economic agenda Thursday, arguing that decades of "globalisation" left the United States dangerously d»»»
Escaped monkeys attack three people after roaming streets in Syria’s Idlib
Three people taken to hospital after monkeys roam streets in Salqin city Dubai: Three escaped monkeys attacked and injured three people after roaming the streets of a city in northwestern Syria, local media reported, in the second such incident in the area in recent months. The animals bit three re»»»
Unit 731: Japan’s Human Experiment Lab and the US Deal That Shielded Its Doctors
“For the surgeons, it was a regular workday.” This is how, many years later, one of the doctors from Unit 731 recalled the autopsies performed on living humans in a Japanese military laboratory near Harbin during the Second World War. This is neither a mistake nor an exaggeration: human vivisection»»»
Zambia bonds shrug off election turmoil as Hichilema starts second term with rival facing treason charge
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second five-year term on September 1 after an election that delivered policy continuity but left a trail of disputed results, a contested attempt to challenge the outcome in court, and treason charges against his main rival. Zambians voted on »»»
China lambasts France’s ‘discriminatory’ fast-fashion law
China on Thursday called on France to abandon a new law on ultra-fast fashion that would impose fees of up to almost €20 per garment, calling it "clearly discriminatory". The law, which targets major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein and Temu, aims to curb the industry's environmental and »»»
Missile War Monitor: Russia cuts power to 350,000 families in Odesa
A massed Russian missile and drone attack on Odesa region's backbone energy assets cut power to more than 350,000 families, grid operator DTEK Odesa Grids said, on September 2. Ukrenergo said the attack was aimed at the region's energy infrastructure. DTEK Odesa Grids put restoration at 177,000 fam»»»
Palantir CEO Alex Karp says French restrictions on US software are ‘backfiring’
Palantir CEO Alex Karp said on Wednesday French restrictions limiting government use of US-made software were proving counterproductive. His comments followed France’s decision to replace Palantir with domestic provider ChapsVision at intelligence agency DGSI over data sovereignty concerns. Karp sa»»»
Europe wants less dependence on China, but imports continue to grow
Europe is trying to reduce its economic dependence on China, but trade data point in the opposite direction. The EU’s trade deficit with China reached a record EUR 196 bln, up more than 9% y/y, while imports rose over 5%. Cars and electric batteries accounted for one-third of the increase, supporte»»»
Direct Link Arctic—Pakistan's Southern Ports: Fantasy or Near Future?
Pakistan eyes Russia's Arctic route as a strategic trade alternative, but experts warn that tangible progress hinges on launching joint energy projects first. Shifting global logistics and mounting tensions in the Middle East are forcing nations to rethink traditional trade routes. Pakistan, whose »»»
US-Iran conflict: What UAE residents need to know tonight, September 3
US escorts 40 ships through Hormuz as Iran attacks Kuwait and Gulf tensions intensify The US-Iran conflict has entered another volatile phase, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks against US positions across the region following a major wave of American strikes on Iranian targets. Kuwait s»»»
Russia releases Soviet files on Japanese atrocities against Soviet citizens in Hailar in 1945
On August 9, 1945, a notorious Japanese army unit executed dozens of civilian prisoners in the city of Hailar, on the day the Soviet Union launched an offensive against the Imperial Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. To mark Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day), the Russian authorities published histo»»»
Is Germany's economic slump finally over?
BusinessGermanyIs Germany's economic slump finally over?Arthur SullivanDespite a slew of negative headlines, the German economy has posted its best figures in years. There are reasons for optimism but structural issues remain. https://p.dw.com/p/5KhUtThere are signs that Germany's economy may have »»»
Serbia launches Europe's first mass-production factory for humanoid robots
Serbia opened what the government described as Europe's first mass-production facility for humanoid robots on August 29, with President Aleksandar Vucic hailing the project as a step into a new technological era. The plant, operated by Minth Group in partnership with robotics company AGIBOT, is par»»»
Croatia's robotaxi project faces scrutiny over €89.7mn EU funding
Croatia's finance minister said the government would assess whether funds awarded to a robotaxi project backed by state and European Union financing could be recovered or redirected, after developer Verne offered to repay €89.7mn if it is found not to have met its contractual obligations. Verne, pa»»»
Central Europe seeks bigger role in shaping EU policy
Central European countries are becoming more assertive within the European Union and should use their growing economic and political weight to shape the bloc's future, the prime ministers of Croatia, Czechia and Slovenia said at the Bled Strategic Forum. The leaders argued that the region, once lar»»»
Media Review: September 3
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Media outlets discuss at length the October 25 presidential election. Interviewed by Bulgarian National Television (BNT), presidential candidate Andrey Gurov said he owed services to no one, stressing that his only responsibility was to Bulgarian citizens. He said he had many »»»
Highlights From Putin’s EEF Statements
Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2026) in Russia's Vladivostok on Thursday. Putin’s Key StatementsOn the conflict in Ukraine and relations with the US:There are chances for a settlement, but acts of state terrorism by Kiev complica»»»
Investment minister witnesses signing of MoU between Mansour, China’s Tianneng to explore battery manufacturing
China flag waving against clean blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid witnessed on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Mansour Group and China’s Tian»»»
Skywell EVs catch fire across Turkey, Chinese engineers arrive to investigate
A specialist technical delegation from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Skywell has arrived in Turkey to investigate a rash of thermal incidents involving the company's flagship ET5 model, local daily Hurriyet has reported. Eight documented vehicle fires over the past six months»»»
Leaders of Russia, China, India and middle powers holding face-to-face meetings at Bishkek SCO summit
The leaders of Russia, China and India arrived with other heads of state in Kyrgyzstan on August 31 for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The SCO is widely viewed as offering a forum at which members, as well as 15 “dialogue partners” that include some important middle power»»»
China urges France to 'halt' fast-fashion law, warns of countermeasures
Beijing urged France on Thursday to abandon its recently implemented law on ultra-fast fashion, lambasting the new measure targeting Chinese firms including Shein and Temu as "clearly discriminatory". "China urges France to immediately halt the implementation of the anti-ultra-fast fashion law," co»»»
Xi visits Egypt as China seeks deeper influence across the Mideast
On the surface, Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt this week is a run-of-the-mill opportunity for two countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties. But there is deep subtext to the meeting between Xi and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi: China, the United States' top global rival,»»»