EU states tighten borders, an electric Porsche and the smartest ways to network

A wave of EU member states followed Germany’s lead in imposing border controls in response to the mass migration of Middle Eastern refugees that has put the bloc’s free-movement area under increasing strain. Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands announced tighter border checks, while Hungary in effect closed at least one important crossing point with Serbia and Poland said it could also tighten border restrictions.

Meanwhile, efforts to agree a binding plan to share out 120,000 refugees fell apart after a minority of countries led by the Czech Republic and Hungary objected to a heavily watered down proposal. (FT)

In the news

Oil demand set to rise Opec expects stronger demand than previously forecast for its crude next year as low prices start to curb output from high-cost producers such as US shale companies. Demand for Opec crude is expected to top 30m barrels a day, up about 1m b/d from this year. (FT)

Cameron eyes Syria air strikes The UK prime minister is looking to ignore opposition from new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and push for parliamentary assent next month for British military strikes against jihadi targets in Syria. Speaking on a visit to Jordan and Lebanon, Mr Cameron indicated that the election of the anti-war Mr Corbyn was not an insuperable barrier. (FT)

An electric Porsche Volkswagen has unveiled a battery-powered Porsche capable of travelling 500km on a single charge and doing 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds. The new model is just one of 20 battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles that the German carmaker hopes torelease by 2020. (FT)

Sales speak louder than words Apple said it expected first-weekend sales of its new iPhone to surpass last year’s 10m-unit launch, citing “very strong” preorders since Saturday. The figures will send a message to those on Wall Street who doubted that the company could still increase smartphone sales after a bumper year. (FT)

Businesses back PM Turnbull Australia’s chamber of commerce and industry has thrown itsweight behind Malcolm Turnbull , who today became the country’s prime minister after deposing Tony Abbott as leader of the ruling Liberal party. “I think he has the capacity to get the country moving forward to position Australia for what will be significant challenges lying ahead,” said the chief executive of the chamber. (FT)

More Fifa arrests planned The US has warned it intends to make further arrests as its criminal investigation into world football’s governing body deepens. Loretta Lynch, the US attorney-general, declined to comment on whether Fifa president Sepp Blatter was a target but said “no individual is above the law”. (FT)

It’s a big day for

The Japanese economy, which “has continued to recover moderately,” according to the Bank of Japan. The central bank said it would continue to buy $663bn of bonds and other assets a year as it attempts to revive inflation and give room for policymakers to introduce structural changes. (fastFT)

Food for thought

The smartest ways to network For some people, it’s a joy. For others, an affliction. But at some point nearly everyone in business finds themselves having to network. Here are some of the best ways to read a room and make the most of those inevitable networking events. (WSJ)

India’s most expensive property Pharma mogul Cyrus Poonawalla has sealed the most expensive residential property deal in India’s history with the purchase of Lincoln House, a 50,000 sq ft heritage mansion in the heart of Mumbai that once housed the US consulate. (FT)

Double meteor strike Scientists in Sweden have uncovered evidence that the Earth wasstruck by two meteors at the same time more than 450 million years ago. “The meteors likely crashed to Earth following the collision of two large asteroids in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter some 470m years ago,” said the scientist behind the study. (NBC)

Modern furniture is killing firefighters Consumer goods are increasingly made of synthetic materials and coatings, which create a toxic soup of carcinogens when they burn. Could this be driving the high cancer rates among firefighters? (The Atlantic)

Crises that could unravel the EU For the first time in decades, some of the fundamental achievements of the EU are under threat. Rather than rising to the challenges posed by the refugee crisis and the single currency, the EU is creaking under the strain, says the FT’s Gideon Rachman. (FT)

Video of the day

Russia’s rouble troubles rumble on The strengthening dollar and weakening commodities prices have further undermined the Russian rouble and the country’s economy. Lex’s Alan Livsey and Jonathan Eley discuss whether exporters have brightened an otherwise bleak outlook for Russian stocks. (FT)

This article is published in collaboration with FirstFT. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: FirstFT is the Financial Times’ editors curated free daily email of the top global stories from the FT and the best of the rest of the web.

Image: European Union flags are seen. REUTERS/Thierry Roge.