Slovakia heat wave ends as storms roll in, EU adds 3 € Temu duty on low‑value parcels

Intense heat that set record temperatures across Slovakia was abruptly broken by severe thunderstorms, causing temperatures to fall by up to ten degrees Celsius within an hour. Lightning strikes were widespread and meteorologists warned of flash‑flood risks in mountainous areas.

At the same time, the European Union activated a new tariff, known as the “Temu duty”, imposing a three‑euro charge on parcels valued under 150 € that enter from outside the EU. The measure primarily targets low‑value shipments from Chinese e‑commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.