Today's agenda: migration tensions in Spain, a series of measures affecting housing, prices and taxes, as well as a transportation update to watch in Paris.
【Ceuta: clashes after anti-migrant protests】
According to Le Parisien, the situation in Ceuta remains tense: anti-migrant protests have escalated into clashes, and "tensions remain very high" on the ground. The Spanish enclave north of Morocco regularly witnesses tensions related to migrant crossings.
【Housing: revised DPE will remove 300,000 homes from "thermal leaks"】
Le Monde reveals that a decree will improve, starting January 1, 2027, the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) for electrically heated homes. Direct consequence: more than 300,000 homes will lose their "thermal leak" status.
This means fewer properties subject to rent freezes and rental bans — good news for landlords, but which risks, according to Le Monde, slowing down the overall energy renovation efforts of the housing stock.
【A Russian CNews columnist on the run after an expulsion order】
Le Monde traces the path of Xenia Fedorova, star columnist for the Bolloré group, who passed through Nice in late July before disappearing after being targeted by a French expulsion order.
This French move has political repercussions in Germany: her candidacy for the leadership of the Russian House in Berlin, an institution closely linked to the Kremlin, has triggered a cascade of political reactions across the Rhine.
【Pope Leo XIV's visit: hotels fully booked and prices rising in Lourdes】
According to France Info, Pope Leo XIV will arrive in France in a month, and fervor is already immense. In Paris, the faithful are organizing a large gathering at Place de la Concorde. In Lourdes, hotels are already fully booked, with some not hesitating to significantly raise their prices as the event approaches.
Those living near the places the Pope will visit (Paris, Lourdes) should expect increased crowds and rising accommodation prices in the coming weeks.
【Online shopping: tax on Chinese parcels causes imports to drop 30 to 40%】
France Info reports that the European tax on small parcels, which came into effect on July 1 and targets Chinese platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, is beginning to show its effects. It amounts to 3 euros per product category contained in each parcel.
According to the Ministry of Economy, this tax is causing imports to drop by 30 to 40% throughout the European Union. Information worth knowing for the many consumers accustomed to shopping on these platforms.
【Transportation: Montparnasse station still disrupted after power outage】
According to the SNCF, cited by France Info, traffic at Paris-Montparnasse station is gradually resuming after an interruption caused by an electrical installation failure, but remains heavily disrupted. Many trains are experiencing more than an hour of delay, both on departures and arrivals, and several have been canceled.
Passengers using this station in the coming days are advised to check the traffic status before traveling.
【Taxes: property tax jumps 80% in an Alsatian village】
According to France Info, the first property tax notices were released online on Thursday, August 27. Overall, the tax remains relatively stable, but not everywhere: in a municipality in Lower Alsace, residents had the unpleasant surprise of seeing their property tax jump 80%, a problem attributed to "a budgeting oversight".
A helpful reminder for property owners: it is advised to check your notice as soon as it is released online.
【Heat wave: new record of heat-related deaths in Germany】
Le Parisien reports that in Germany, the summer was marked by a new record of heat-related deaths: approximately 15,800 deaths. A figure that highlights the intensity of the heat waves that struck Europe this summer and reminds us of the importance of taking precautions during heat waves.