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Dutch Health Institute Issues Red Alert Over Trump-Shaped Ecstasy Pills

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A Dutch health institute has issued a red alert over ecstasy pills shaped like US President Donald Trump after several tablets were submitted to testing centres in August. The Trimbos Institute said the pills contained a very high amount of PMMA, a substance that can cause potentially fatal overheating, and warned people not to take them.

PMMA is chemically similar to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, but its effects can take longer to appear and may lack the typical stimulating sensation associated with MDMA. The delay can increase the risk of overdose, with users potentially experiencing nausea, a rapid heart rate and convulsions hours after taking the drug. No deaths or serious illnesses linked to the pills have been reported so far.

The pills feature an image of Trump on one side, while the other is marked with “Trump” and “NL”. Although ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, it remains a popular recreational drug. The Trump-shaped design is also not new: German police seized around 5,000 similarly shaped ecstasy tablets in 2017.

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Iceland Votes on EU Membership Talks

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Icelanders voted on Saturday in a closely contested referendum on whether to reopen negotiations to join the European Union. The vote has divided the country, with polls showing supporters and opponents of renewed talks almost evenly matched. Key issues include the cost of living, high interest rates, national sovereignty and control over fishing waters.

Supporters argue that closer ties with the EU could strengthen Iceland’s economy, potentially ease borrowing costs and provide greater security amid geopolitical tensions. Opponents say EU membership could weaken Iceland’s independence and threaten its control over its valuable fishing industry.

A “yes” vote would only restart negotiations with Brussels, not guarantee EU membership. Iceland would hold a second referendum on any eventual accession agreement. Polling stations close at 2200 GMT, with results expected in the early hours of Sunday. Reuters reports that negotiations could begin by the end of 2026 and take 18 to 24 months.

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Forced Contraception in Greenland Violated Women’s Rights, Experts Say

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A forced contraception programme carried out in Greenland mainly during the 1960s and 1970s violated women’s human rights but did not meet the legal definition of genocide, according to two expert reports released on Friday. More than 4,000 Greenlandic women and girls, some as young as 12, were given intrauterine devices or contraceptive injections between 1966 and 1991, often without their knowledge or consent.

The reports found that administering contraception without valid consent violated women’s rights to private and family life and, in some cases, subjected them to degrading treatment. While one report found no evidence that authorities or healthcare professionals intended to destroy Greenland’s population, another said Denmark may have breached the UN Genocide Convention by failing to act after becoming aware of the serious risk posed by the programme. The experts said proving genocide would require establishing specific intent to destroy a protected group.

The findings have renewed calls for accountability and reconciliation between Greenland and Denmark. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen proposed a reconciliation commission, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the two countries must confront the painful parts of their shared history. Denmark has also passed a compensation law providing 300,000 Danish crowns to each affected woman. Survivors have described lasting physical and emotional consequences, including infertility and other serious health complications.

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Icelanders Narrowly Oppose Talks on EU Membership

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A new poll shows Icelanders narrowly divided over whether the country should reopen negotiations with the European Union. The August 24-27 survey of 4,583 people found 51.6% opposed talks on EU membership, while 48.4% supported them.

Iceland ended its previous EU accession talks in 2013 after a Eurosceptic government came to power. However, rising living costs and the war in Ukraine have renewed public interest in reconsidering membership, with the government describing the issue as a “now or never” moment.

EU membership would give Iceland a direct role in European decision-making and access to the bloc’s customs union, while also providing the option of adopting the euro. The latest polling highlights how closely divided voters remain ahead of the referendum.

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UN Refugee Agency Plans 2027 Budget and Staff Cuts

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The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is planning to reduce its 2027 budget by 16% to $7.14 billion and lower its budgeted workforce by around 3,500 posts, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. The cuts come as the agency faces continued financial pressure from declining foreign aid contributions.

UNHCR said the scale of the planned workforce reduction does not necessarily represent actual job losses, as many positions listed in previous budgets were never filled. The agency said it would focus its limited resources on emergency refugee assistance, protection, voluntary returns and helping displaced people become more self-reliant.

The reductions come as global displacement is expected to reach a record 131.2 million people in 2027, according to UNHCR projections. Budgets are expected to fall across all regions, with the Americas facing the largest reduction. The agency’s preliminary 2027 budget is expected to be considered for approval in October.

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Sweden to Deploy Gripen Jets and Warships to Finland

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Sweden will deploy Gripen fighter jets and a corvette warship to help monitor and protect Finnish territory until at least the end of 2026, Finland’s Defence Forces said on Friday. The deployment comes as security concerns rise along NATO’s northern borders with Russia.

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said Finland had requested stronger air-defence support because of the deteriorating security situation. Sweden may also provide vessels equipped with drone-fighting capabilities and ground-based anti-drone systems, while its forces could assist Finland in responding to violations of Finnish territory if necessary.

Sweden and Finland, which are both among NATO’s newest members, have close defence ties. Finland shares a 1,340-km border with Russia, while recent drone incidents across the Baltic region have increased concerns about the Ukraine war spilling over into neighbouring NATO countries. Separately, Swedish defence company Saab secured a 1.2 billion crown ($126 million) order from Finland for RBS 70 NG portable air-defence systems.

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Norway’s King Harald V Dies at 89 After 35 Years on the Throne

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Norway’s King Harald V has died aged 89 after being treated for a rare blood condition. He passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo. The royal flag was lowered to half-mast as the country entered a period of mourning. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has succeeded him as king.

Harald, who became king in 1991, was widely regarded as a popular and modernising monarch. He broke royal tradition by marrying commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 and became known for his emotional, down-to-earth approach. He also played a unifying role following the 2011 Oslo and Utøya attacks and publicly supported diversity, including different religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations.

His final years were marked by declining health and challenges within the royal family, including controversies surrounding his daughter-in-law Mette-Marit and her son Marius Borg Høiby. Despite these difficulties, Harald remained personally popular among Norwegians, with royal observers describing him as the “People’s king.” He is survived by Queen Sonja, their children and six grandchildren.

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King Harald’s Condition Turns Critical

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Norwegians have gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to lay flowers and express their support for King Harald V after the Norwegian royal household said his condition had become “extremely serious.” The 89-year-old monarch has been receiving treatment at Oslo University Hospital for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood disorder, and has been in hospital for 10 days.

Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and other members of the royal family cancelled their engagements to remain at the king’s bedside. Crown Prince Haakon, 53, who is next in line to the throne, has been serving as regent while his father is on leave. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also cancelled a planned trip to Germany, saying the entire nation was sending warm thoughts to the king and his family.

King Harald, who has been on the throne since 1991, is Europe’s oldest head of state and has faced several health problems in recent years. He received a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill during a holiday in Malaysia. The royal family has also faced other challenges this year, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s lung transplant and the conviction of her son Marius Borg Høiby.

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Two Frankfurt Airport Workers Die of Malaria in Rare Outbreak

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Two workers at Frankfurt Airport in Germany have died from malaria following a rare outbreak that has infected six employees, according to local public health officials. Authorities believe malaria-carrying mosquitoes may have arrived at the airport aboard a plane, with the outbreak first detected in July.

The affected workers were employed in different roles and areas of the airport. Mosquito traps have now been installed, and captured insects are being examined to determine their species and possible origin. Officials are also analysing blood samples to establish whether the infections were caused by a single mosquito or multiple mosquitoes.

Authorities stressed that the risk to the wider population remains very low, as malaria is not transmitted directly between people and requires mosquito transmission. Germany rarely sees locally acquired malaria, which is usually associated with travellers returning from malaria-endemic regions. Health officials warned that delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of severe illness, particularly when there is no recent travel history.

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Demolition of Tbilisi’s Modernist Arts Complex Sparks Public Outcry

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The planned demolition of Tbilisi’s iconic Rike Tubes arts complex has sparked criticism from residents and the Italian architects who designed the building. The Rike Park Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall was built between 2011 and 2012 under Georgia’s previous pro-Western government but was never fully completed or put into regular use.

The complex, known for its distinctive tubular design, has been a striking feature of Tbilisi’s historic skyline. While Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has described the building as unsuitable for the capital, some residents argue that demolition is a waste of public resources and that the site should instead be developed or repurposed. Demolition began in late July and is expected to finish by December 25.

Architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, whose studio designed the structure, expressed disappointment over its destruction, saying they had received thousands of messages supporting the building. As demolition continues, tourists have also been visiting the site to photograph the distinctive structure before it disappears, adding to the debate over Tbilisi’s architectural heritage and future skyline.

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