September 8, 2026

A roundup of national and international news.

Newsroom, 08.09.2026, 13:55

GERMANY – Almost half of Germans oppose the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) forming a government in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt with the support of other parties, despite its victory in Sunday’s election, according to a poll published by dpa. Some 36% of respondents said the AfD should “under no circumstances” form a government with the support of other parties, while 11% said they were “rather opposed” to the idea. The AfD, an anti-immigration, pro-Russia and pro-Trump party, won the election with 43.8% of the vote, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) secured just 17.2%. The Left, Greens and Social Democrats each received around 9%. No German state has been governed by a far-right party in the post-war period.

ECONOMY – Romania’s economy stagnated in the second quarter of this year compared with the first three months, but contracted compared with the same period last year. Data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) show that the country avoided, at least statistically, a technical recession in the first half of the year. However, economists warn that the engine of the economy is unbalanced, as investment has risen sharply while household consumption has fallen dramatically. The data broadly confirm the estimate published in August, but now also show where the weakness in the economy is coming from. Trade, transport, hotels and restaurants made the largest negative contribution to GDP growth, followed by industry and real estate transactions. Construction was among the sectors making a positive contribution.

WAR – Ukraine has said Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on its territory overnight from Monday into Tuesday. The attack came after a temporary ceasefire between the sides expired the previous day, amid visits by US negotiators to Moscow and Kyiv. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented a peace proposal from President Donald Trump. Following the visits by the US envoys, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was preparing the next stages of negotiations, while President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Ukraine must give up sovereignty over a substantial part of its territory. The talks took place as Russian forces have made only insignificant gains on the ground this year.

DEFENCE – A meeting of Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defence was held in Bucharest on Monday, chaired by President Nicuşor Dan. According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda included measures to strengthen the Romanian Army’s operational capabilities and adapt strategic planning to the new geopolitical realities. The council approved Romania’s Army procurement plan for the next ten years. It also approved a programme for the transformation, development and equipping of the Romanian Army up to 2044. The council also approved an analysis document on the implementation of the SAFE programme. Strengthening the United States’ military posture in Romania represents a strategic investment in Romania’s security, the Presidential Administration said.

ST MARY – Around 2.6 million Romanians celebrate their name day today, marking the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The popular Romanian name for the feast is Sfânta Maria Mică, or Little Saint Mary. Unlike other saints, who are generally commemorated on the day of their death, Saint Mary has four major feast days in the Christian calendar: her Nativity, the Presentation in the Temple, the Annunciation and the Dormition.

MUSIC – Swiss cellist Samuel Niederhauser has won first prize in the Cello Section of the prestigious George Enescu International Competition, following the final held in Bucharest. Second prize went to American cellist Joshua Kovac, while third prize was awarded to South Korean cellist Sanghyeok Park. The George Enescu International Competition, now in its 20th edition, continues until 19 September, with the rounds dedicated to the Violin and Piano sections. This year’s edition, themed “In Pursuit of Excellence”, attracted a record 819 entries from 58 countries. (EE)