EU Sanctions Deadlock: France has joined Slovakia in pushing to delist Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, adding fresh friction ahead of the Sept. 15 deadline to extend EU sanctions on more than 3,000 entities and individuals tied to Russia’s war effort. V4 Energy Push: Visegrád Four leaders in Bratislava agreed to coordinate against EU moves that could raise energy prices, with Poland’s Donald Tusk warning they will block climate policies that hurt competitiveness. Auto Industry Reshuffle: Volkswagen approved its “Future Plan 2030,” cutting another 50,000 jobs and reshaping European production as it faces weak demand and Chinese competition—another signal for Central Europe’s supply chain. Diesel Relief Plan: Hungary will compensate diesel owners (up to 150 hp) with 5,000 forints per month from September through December, aiming to cushion fuel-price pressure on households and farmers. Slovakia Water & Irrigation Funding: Slovakia is allocating €34.8m for irrigation expansion, modernization and water-retention measures, with calls opening Oct. 12. Industrial Tech Update: Uniksystem released Low-Code BPM/AI “Release 7 Touring,” aiming to speed up getting business processes into production. Security & Industry Risk: A Latvian suspect in a reported arson attempt on a drone factory in Slovakia told investigators he was recruited via Telegram, raising concerns for industrial security. Bitcoin Suisse Reorg: Bitcoin Suisse plans to cut up to 60 Swiss jobs and shift back-office and software work to Bratislava and Vietnam as it pivots to wealth management.