ELLE

Prices for wheat, corn and sugar are rising sharply on commodity exchanges, yet German supermarkets have so far seen little of the increase. Experts warn it is only a matter of time before higher raw material costs reach consumers, raising fears that food inflation could pick up again in Germany. The report by Angela Göpfert examines whether shoppers should brace for a new inflationary wave.

A new poll on France's 2027 presidential election suggests no candidate currently manages to unite French voters ahead of a potential second round. The survey is drawing attention as political parties begin positioning themselves well ahead of the vote, with none of the likely contenders commanding broad national support.

France's pharmacists' union is warning about an early resurgence of Covid-19 and is calling on the government to move forward the vaccination campaign scheduled for mid-October. Hospitals are already feeling the strain: emergency room visits are reported to have jumped 67% among adults and 16% among children. The union's appeal puts pressure on health authorities to speed up autumn booster plans as infections climb sooner than expected.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is pushing for Frontex, the EU's border protection agency, to build a rapid intervention force capable of responding quickly to mass arrivals of migrants, citing the 2021 situation in Ceuta as an example. He also wants the agency's powers expanded, a proposal that is certain to fuel debate over migration policy and the militarisation of EU borders.

Attention in France is turning to the 2027 presidential election, with early polls pointing to a possible face-off between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Commentary is focusing on the political dynamics behind such a duel, including the strength of each camp's electorate and what it would mean for the country's future direction.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has received the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, per Deutsche Welle. Sotoudeh, long imprisoned for defending women's rights activists and opponents of Iran's compulsory veiling laws, is one of the country's most prominent rights defenders. The award honors individuals who defend human rights at great personal risk, and news of the honor is being reported across international outlets.

Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, has promised to tone down criticism of Jean-Luc Mélenchon during the presidential campaign. His campaign director, senator Ian Brossat, told La Tribune that 'we will not fall into aggression.' The pledge comes as left-wing rivals position themselves for the election, with lingering tensions between the PCF and La France Insoumise.

Almost half of home sellers in the United States are now offering incentives to close deals, ranging from cash concessions of up to $20,000 to perks like free cruises. The trend points to a cooling housing market, with buyers gaining leverage as high mortgage rates and elevated prices leave many properties sitting longer. Commenters are treating the report as a sign the seller-friendly era may be ending.

The Trump administration cancelled a $7 billion solar energy grant program, but a federal judge in Rhode Island has now ordered the program restored. The ruling is a setback for the administration's effort to roll back renewable energy funding and a win for states and organizations relying on those solar grants. Supporters of clean energy are highlighting the decision as a check on executive power over congressionally funded climate programs.

US Representative Joaquin Castro, along with Sigrid Gonzalez and Rochelle Garza, took part in a discussion about immigration detention centers operated by ICE in Texas, as aired by San Antonio station KSAT. The conversation focused on conditions and oversight at facilities across the state, which remains central to the national immigration debate.

New software tools are making it easier for United States e-commerce sellers to enter European markets, according to an E-Commerce Times report. The tools are said to lower barriers such as logistics, compliance and cross-border payments, letting smaller merchants sell to European customers. Details on which tools and companies are involved were not provided.

Radio-Canada reports on new research suggesting the brain may have evolved from the fusion of two ancestral organs. The idea, tied to studies of embryonic cells, challenges the classic view of how the brain developed over evolutionary time and is drawing attention among French-speaking science and neuroscience audiences discussing its implications for biology and evolution.

French prosecutors' office (PNF) has laid out the stakes in its requisitions against Rachida Dati: a conviction would cost her her elective mandate as mayor, her status as a serving magistrate, and even her work as a business lawyer, with five years of ineligibility and professional bans under consideration. Commenters are highlighting how sweeping the consequences of a guilty verdict would be for the Justice Minister.

Sellers across the European Union will have to display guarantee notices both in physical shops and online within a seven-day deadline, under new EU requirements. The rule obliges retailers to inform consumers clearly about their legal warranty rights at the point of sale, whether in-store or on e-commerce platforms. Consumer groups are expected to welcome the move, while sellers face quick compliance work.

Mortgage rates climbing above 7% are once again in focus for the US housing market. Marquesa Hobbs of FOX21 News Colorado breaks down what the higher borrowing costs mean for buyers facing steeper monthly payments and sellers contending with reduced demand and pricing pressure.

Canada has updated its travel advisory for the United States, and insurance specialists point out it carries a coverage trigger most travellers don't know exists. Travellers may be unaware that their travel insurance terms can be affected by a government advisory change, potentially leaving trips to the US with gaps in protection.

Opponents of a planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, organised their own public forum after an official public hearing on the project was cancelled. Local media report that residents critical of the facility used the gathering to voice opposition and discuss concerns. The cancelled hearing has fuelled frustration among critics, who say they lost a formal channel to raise objections about the detention centre.

Beyoncé is not attending the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, extending her absence from the show to a full decade. Outlets including ELLE are reporting on her continued no-show at the ceremony, prompting fans to speculate about whether she will return to the VMAs stage in future years.

The release of F-Droid 2.0 is being discussed in French-speaking free software circles as a reminder that the fight for software freedom on smartphones goes beyond interface design. Commenters frame the update as part of a broader defence of the fundamental right to run code of one's choosing on one's own device, in the face of pressure from dominant tech giants.

Daisy Jelley and Connor Simos have joined the cast of Netflix's series adaptation of 'Icebreaker', taking on the roles of Stassie and Nate. The casting news, reported by Deadline, gives fans of the popular romance novel new faces to attach to its supporting characters as anticipation builds around the show's development.