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France Fines Boohoo €2.3 Million Over Fake Discounts

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France’s consumer watchdog has fined British fast-fashion retailer Boohoo €2.3 million for deceptive practices on its website. The DGCCRF said the company exaggerated discounts, giving shoppers a misleading impression of the savings they were receiving.

The regulator found that 40% of promotions reviewed were not genuine price reductions, while 7% offered smaller discounts than advertised. In 48% of cases, the prices were actually higher. Boohoo was also accused of using terms such as “leather” and “suede” for synthetic products, violating French product-labeling rules.

Boohoo said the issues occurred between October 2023 and February 2024 under its previous management and have since been resolved. The company said it cooperated with the regulator and continues to review its pricing and product-labeling practices. Shares in Boohoo parent Debenhams fell 2.4% on Thursday.

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France Bans Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls

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France has introduced a nationwide ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls, a move consumer advocates have described as a major victory for privacy. Businesses across all sectors can no longer make marketing calls without prior consent, except when contacting customers about an existing contract.

Consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble welcomed the change, saying people should have the right to peace and privacy without being treated as potential customers in their homes. A 2025 parliamentary report found that 97% of French people are annoyed by telemarketing calls, while 72% said they received such calls on their mobile phones at least once a week.

The restrictions have drawn criticism from business groups and raised concerns in Morocco, whose call-centre industry depends heavily on French clients. One Moroccan government minister estimated the changes could threaten up to 50,000 jobs. France now joins countries including Germany, Austria and Italy in imposing significant restrictions on unsolicited marketing calls.

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Heatwaves Worsen Europe’s Prison Overcrowding Crisis

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Europe’s intense summer heatwaves are exposing severe overcrowding and poor conditions in ageing prisons across France, Italy, and Belgium. Inmates, prison officials, and rights groups say extreme temperatures inside overcrowded cells have made living conditions increasingly unbearable, with many facilities lacking proper ventilation, air conditioning, or cooling equipment.

Prison occupancy rates have reached 141.3% in France, 139.7% in Italy, and 121% in Belgium, placing additional strain on ageing infrastructure. Authorities have introduced temporary measures such as increased access to water, extra showers, fans, and sun cream, while prison directors report rising tensions, more inmate clashes, and greater stress among staff during heatwaves.

Governments and prison rights groups say long-term solutions require reducing overcrowding and modernising prison facilities. Italy has pledged to expand prison capacity and introduced measures allowing some inmates with addiction issues to serve sentences under rehabilitation programmes, while officials across Europe acknowledge that ageing prison infrastructure remains a major challenge as climate change intensifies heatwaves.

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Europe Races to Build Next-Generation Water Bombers

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European startups are accelerating efforts to develop new firefighting aircraft as wildfires become more frequent and severe across the continent. With nearly 500,000 hectares burned in Europe this year, companies are designing new or converted water-bombing aircraft to reduce reliance on the ageing Canadair fleet that has dominated aerial firefighting for decades.

French startups Positive Aviation and Kepplair are leading the push by converting ATR-72 aircraft into firefighting planes, while other companies in France, Italy, and Belgium are working on entirely new amphibious aircraft. However, experts warn that designing, certifying, and manufacturing these specialised aircraft requires significant funding, technical expertise, and years of development.

The startups also face competition from De Havilland Canada’s new DHC-515 water bomber, expected to enter service in 2028. Despite the challenges, European innovators believe growing concerns over climate-driven wildfires and increasing political support could create opportunities for a new generation of firefighting aircraft.

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French Streamers Receive Suspended Jail Terms Over Livestreamed Death

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Two French livestreamers have been given suspended prison sentences after being convicted of assaulting and humiliating a man during a livestream that ended with his death. The victim, 46-year-old Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, was subjected to days of abuse on the streaming platform Kick before he died.

A court in Nice found the two men guilty of violence and incitement to hatred but did not convict them of causing Graven’s death, which prosecutors said was likely due to his poor health. The defendants argued that the acts had been scripted and carried out with the victim’s consent, though the court ruled that some conduct could not be justified by consent.

One streamer received an 18-month suspended sentence and a €5,000 fine, while the other was handed a two-year suspended sentence and fined €15,000. Both were also banned from posting on social media for six months. The case has intensified scrutiny of online streaming platforms, with Kick remaining under investigation by French authorities.

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easyJet France Cabin Crew File Strike Notice

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Cabin crew unions representing easyJet France have filed a strike notice covering the period from August 7 to September 2, citing worsening working conditions. While industrial action could take place at any time during this period, unions are required to provide 48 hours’ notice before specific strike dates.

The unions said they remain willing to negotiate and could withdraw the strike notice if management responds positively. They added that an earlier labour dispute had been suspended due to the recent wildfires in France’s Gironde region.

According to the unions, cabin crew have faced ongoing schedule instability, last-minute roster changes, demanding trip rotations, and insufficient workplace protections for nearly a year. easyJet expressed disappointment over the planned action, saying it had already proposed adjustments and urging unions to cancel the strike ahead of scheduled negotiations in September.

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French Coastguards Rescue 157 from Burning Migrant Boat in English Channel

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French coastguards rescued 157 migrants after a small boat caught fire in the English Channel near the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Three coastguard vessels responded to the emergency, safely bringing everyone on board to shore, according to French authorities.

The incident comes just days after three people died attempting the same crossing, highlighting the growing dangers faced by migrants using overcrowded boats to travel from France to the United Kingdom. Human traffickers are increasingly packing more people into fragile vessels, raising the risk of fatal accidents.

The English Channel remains one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, with strong currents making crossings especially hazardous. The latest rescue has renewed calls from both French and British authorities to curb dangerous small-boat crossings and combat human trafficking networks.

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France Orders Deportation of Russian Media Figure Xenia Fedorova

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France has issued a deportation order for Russian media personality Xenia Fedorova, the country’s Interior Ministry confirmed. Fedorova, the former head of RT France, has remained in the country since the Russian state-backed broadcaster was banned across the European Union in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

French officials have accused Fedorova of spreading Russian misinformation, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot among those criticising her public role. In recent years, she has become a regular figure on French media outlets CNews, Europe 1 and JDNews, all of which are owned by the CANAL+ and Lagardere groups.

The media companies said they were shocked by the deportation decision and pledged full support to Fedorova. According to reports, her lawyer plans to appeal the order. The case comes amid continued scrutiny of Russian-linked media activities in Europe and ongoing efforts by EU nations to counter disinformation.

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Thousands Return Home in Spain as Fresh Heatwave Fuels Wildfire Fears

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Thousands of residents across Spain have been allowed to return home after authorities lifted evacuation orders in parts of Madrid, Toledo, Ávila and Castellón following recent wildfires. More than 24,000 people in the Madrid region alone have returned, while restrictions affecting another 20,000 residents have also been removed. Despite the progress, emergency services remain on high alert as another intense heatwave approaches.

The massive wildfire near Burgohondo in Ávila, now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history, has burned more than 43,000 hectares and displaced around 40,000 people. Firefighters have managed to contain its spread, but officials warn that soaring temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds could quickly reignite the flames. Another wildfire near Vall d’Uixó, north-west of Valencia, remains out of control.

The wildfire threat extends beyond Spain, with France, Portugal and Greece also battling active blazes amid extreme summer temperatures. Authorities across southern Europe have increased emergency measures as climate change continues to fuel longer heatwaves, drier landscapes and more destructive wildfires, raising concerns over further damage in the coming days.

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Wildfires Spread Toward Bordeaux as Spain Battles Blazes

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Wildfires in southwestern France advanced closer to Bordeaux on Saturday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate from the city’s suburbs. Strong winds fueled the flames, leading authorities to close Bordeaux Airport, deploy armed forces to support firefighters, and warn people to avoid travel in the affected areas.

In neighboring Spain, firefighters continued battling three major wildfires, two of which merged near Madrid. The country declared its first national wildfire emergency and received firefighting aircraft from several European nations, with additional water-dumping planes arriving from Italy and Greece as part of the European Union’s emergency response.

More than 197,000 people have been evacuated in France, while over 63,000 people in Spain have either been evacuated or told to remain indoors. Officials warned that prolonged heatwaves, dry conditions, and strong winds have intensified the fires, with residents advised to avoid outdoor activities due to heavy smoke and poor air quality.

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