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France Introduces Fees Targeting Ultra-Fast Fashion

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France has introduced new fees on ultra-fast fashion products, with charges potentially reaching nearly €20 per item by 2030. The measure, which came into effect on Tuesday, follows legislation passed in June targeting major e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, which French officials have criticised for encouraging high-volume consumption of inexpensive clothing.

The fees will vary depending on the type of garment and its environmental impact. In 2026, charges range from €0.50 for underwear and €2 for T-shirts to €9 for jeans and €12 for jackets. The levy could rise to €19.50 per item by 2030, although it will remain capped at 50% of the product’s pre-tax price. Retailers such as H&M and Zara are not currently covered by the measure.

French officials say the policy aims to address the environmental and economic impact of ultra-fast fashion. However, China’s commerce ministry has criticised the legislation as discriminatory and potentially inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules. Shein has warned that the fees could hurt French consumers’ purchasing power, while Temu has argued that, as a marketplace rather than a manufacturer, it should not be classified as a fast-fashion company.

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German Police Investigate Unexploded Incendiary Device at Power Substation

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German police are investigating an incident involving an unexploded incendiary device found Tuesday at a power substation in Brandenburg, eastern Germany. Police said officers were deployed to the facility in Turnow-Preilack after receiving information about the incident at around 8 a.m. local time.

Grid operator 50Hertz said unidentified perpetrators are believed to have caused damage to several power lines in its transmission network. The company did not specify how the damage occurred, while the incendiary device remained unexploded.

There was a brief power outage, but all affected lines have since returned to operation and Germany’s wider electricity supply was not disrupted. Police said there was no danger to the public, while Brandenburg’s state criminal police office has taken over the investigation.

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Serbia Rethinks Forests as Wildfires Intensify in a Warmer Climate

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Serbia’s Deliblatska Pescara reserve is facing difficult choices after a major wildfire damaged large areas of its unique dunes and woodlands. Foresters are now working on a long-term restoration plan, while considering how to make the landscape more resilient as hotter and drier conditions increase the risk of future fires.

Experts say the recovery could take decades. Damaged trees must be gradually removed to prevent them from fuelling new fires or attracting bark beetles, while foresters consider replacing highly flammable conifers with species such as birch, poplar, ash and oak. Some experts have advised waiting three to five years in areas without immediate erosion risks before undertaking large-scale replanting.

The challenge reflects a broader shift in Serbia’s fire patterns. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System shows that 2023–2025 was the country’s worst three-year period for fires this century. Forestry experts are increasingly looking toward methods used in traditionally drier regions, including techniques to retain soil moisture and improve the survival of newly planted trees.

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Poland Boosts Domestic Defence Production as It Builds Europe’s Largest Army

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Poland is increasingly turning to domestic and Central European defence companies as it builds what officials describe as Europe’s largest army. Defence procurement from Polish and regional firms has nearly quadrupled since 2022, reaching 30.4 billion zlotys ($8.15 billion) last year. The shift is aimed at reducing reliance on distant suppliers and strengthening supply-chain security.

Poland is expected to spend about €53 billion on core defence this year, equivalent to around 4.7% of GDP. While major U.S.-made systems such as Patriot missile batteries, Abrams tanks and F-35 fighter jets remain important, Warsaw is prioritising greater local production of drones, ammunition and other frequently used equipment. The strategy reflects a wider European effort to rebuild defence manufacturing capacity following the war in Ukraine.

Companies from across Central Europe are responding to the opportunity. Czech defence group CSG has agreed to expand production in Poland, including projects involving drones, missiles, ammunition and armoured vehicles, while other firms are developing ammunition and air-defence manufacturing facilities. Poland’s armed forces have surpassed 220,000 personnel, and officials say foreign companies seeking access to the Polish market will increasingly be expected to invest locally, transfer technology and participate in joint projects.

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Meloni Nears Italy’s Stability Record, But 2027 Election Could Disrupt It

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to lead Italy’s longest-lasting government since World War Two, surpassing a record previously held by Silvio Berlusconi. Her government has benefited from political stability and improved investor confidence, particularly through tighter control of Italy’s public finances.

However, analysts warn that the stability may not last beyond the 2027 parliamentary elections. While Meloni’s government has strengthened employment and reduced irregular migration, critics say it has made limited progress on deeper reforms to public administration, healthcare and education. A failed judicial reform referendum and strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump have also weakened her political standing.

The rise of a new far-right party led by former general Roberto Vannacci is adding further uncertainty. Recent polling suggests Meloni’s conservative coalition could struggle to reach the 42% threshold linked to proposed electoral reforms, while Vannacci’s support has risen to around 8%. Analysts say Italy could once again face a fragmented parliament and unstable coalition politics after the election.

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German Union Warns of Major Resistance to Volkswagen Restructuring

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Germany’s largest union, IG Metall, has warned of strong opposition if Volkswagen attempts to revise a restructuring agreement reached less than two years ago. Union leader Thorsten Groeger said workers across Volkswagen’s sites would resist any move to reopen the deal, as the automaker considers major changes including plant closures, business carve-outs and up to 50,000 additional job cuts.

Volkswagen’s supervisory board is scheduled to meet on Friday to vote on three competing restructuring proposals. The decision could intensify the dispute between management and workers and potentially lead to an extraordinary shareholder meeting. The latest restructuring push comes as Volkswagen faces pressure from tariffs, growing competition from Asian automakers and weakness in the Chinese market.

Volkswagen finance chief Arno Antlitz said the company would do everything possible to protect jobs but warned that there are currently no viable production plans for plants in Hanover, Emden, Neckarsulm and Zwickau. He said maintaining current production levels without reducing excess capacity could leave Volkswagen with a permanent cost disadvantage of around €1.5 billion ($1.74 billion) annually.

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Germany Finalising Response to Suspected Leipzig Drone Attack

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that Germany is finalising its response to the suspected drone attack near Leipzig/Halle airport earlier this month. He said the government was coordinating its actions with European Union and NATO partners, with an announcement expected in the coming days.

The incident took place on August 4, when a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used to transport military supplies. Germany has not officially identified those responsible, although Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a potential “hybrid attack scenario” and raised the possibility of foreign involvement.

German media have reported that Berlin could publicly blame Russia and introduce sanctions in coordination with EU partners. Merz did not comment on the suspected perpetrator but said Germany’s response had been agreed in principle and that its European and NATO allies would be involved in the final decision.

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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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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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