Promising to uphold the “firewall” against the far-right AfD, the conservative CDU faces difficult coalition talks after state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where it will be forced to work with left-wing newcomer BSW to form a majority coalition.

The far-right AfD party won the state elections in the eastern German state of Thuringia with 30.5% of the vote on Sunday (1 September), according to exit polls, marking the party's first win in a state election.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy increased pressure on the United States to let Kyiv strike military targets deep inside Russian territory after his representatives met senior US officials in Washington on Saturday (30 August).

Clashes broke out between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters in the occupied West Bank on Saturday (31 August) as Israel pushed ahead with a military operation in the flashpoint city of Jenin.

Russians who still share Western values are being told to choose sides and support their warring homeland or risk being victimised by the West, in the same way that Telegram boss Pavel Durov was supposedly victimised by being arrested in France.

Brazil's telecommunications regulator said on Friday (30 August) it was suspending access to Elon Musk's X social network in the country to comply with an order from a judge who has been locked in a months-long feud with the billionaire entrepreneur.

Germany said it resumed flying convicted criminals of Afghan nationality to their home country on Friday (30 August), days before German regional elections in which migration is a campaign issue.

The UN will start vaccinating some 640,000 children in the Gaza Strip against polio on 1 September, a campaign that relies on daily eight-hour pauses in fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in specific areas of the besieged enclave.

Ukraine's armed forces commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday (30 August) his troops had advanced up to 2 km in Russia's Kursk region in the past day, pressing on with the cross-border incursion it started more than three weeks ago.

Irish pharmacists are set to gain new prescribing roles following an expert report recommending they should prescribe for a range of common conditions. Ireland’s leading pharmacy union is supportive, conditional on the resolution of a pay dispute.

Ireland’s Minister for Health has published a public consultation to evaluate a push for new, tougher tobacco and vaping regulations. Ireland is one of 12 EU countries advocating for stricter vaping rules.

More Ukrainian soldiers are expected to be trained by EU armies in the coming months, as ministers look into reviewing the mandate for the next two years.

As global investors look beyond traditional markets, Kazakhstan is emerging as a compelling destination. Its strategic advantages, rich natural resources, and business-friendly environment are attracting investor interest worldwide.

WHO (World Health Organisation) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed yesterday (29 August) that a polio vaccination campaign will begin in Gaza on 1 September.

The conservative CDU is pulling a risky experiment this week, in a bid to defeat the far-right in two state elections in East Germany this Sunday (1 September). But at least they’re trying.

Italian Minister for European Affairs and head of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Raffaele Fitto, has been nominated by his government to his country’s new European Commissioner.

As the conflict between Gaza and Israel approaches the one year mark and attacks continue, the UN under-secretary general for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, calls on the Europeans to stay alert of potential future escalations.

Bulgaria submitted to Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, two candidates for Commissioner, reportedly becoming the only country to answer her request of proposing one male and one female applicant, on Friday (30 August).

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