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Spanish Lottery Vendor Jailed for €4.7 Million Jackpot Fraud

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A Spanish court has sentenced a lottery vendor to three-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding the winner of a €4.7 million ($5.4 million) jackpot. According to court documents, the vendor discovered that a customer held the winning ticket in 2012 when asked to verify the numbers, but falsely claimed the ticket was not a winner.

The court found that the vendor then attempted to claim the jackpot for himself by alleging he had found the winning ticket in his lottery shop. However, lottery authorities withheld the payout and placed the ticket under custody while investigating its true ownership. Despite this, the vendor continued trying to obtain the prize over an eight-year period.

The legitimate ticket holder died in 2014 before receiving the winnings. The court ruled that the full jackpot should now be paid to the victim’s heirs and convicted the vendor of aggravated fraud. The judgment can still be appealed before Spain’s Supreme Court.

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French Government Faces Pressure After Child Murder Exposes Judicial Failures

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The French government is facing mounting public anger following the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna, a case that has sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of the country’s handling of child sexual abuse cases. The main suspect had previously been accused of raping a minor in 2025, but prosecutors had not questioned him before his arrest in connection with Lyhanna’s disappearance and death.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged a “terrible failure” by both the state and judiciary and ordered an investigation into how the case was handled. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has also called for stronger child protection measures, tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and reforms aimed at improving support for victims and case management.

Critics argue the tragedy reflects deeper systemic problems within France’s justice system, including staff shortages, underfunding, and overwhelming case backlogs. Children’s rights groups say thousands of abuse complaints are not processed quickly enough, leaving vulnerable minors at risk. As protests continue across the country, pressure is growing on President Emmanuel Macron and his government to deliver long-term reforms rather than focusing solely on individual accountability.

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Mango Tycoon’s Son Detained in Spain Over Father’s Death Investigation

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Police in Spain have detained Jonathan Andic, the son of the late Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, in connection with an ongoing investigation into his father’s death. Isak Andic died in December 2024 after falling more than 100 meters from a cliff during a family hiking trip near Barcelona. While initially treated as an accident, authorities in Catalonia have since shifted the probe to investigate the incident as a possible homicide.

A family spokesperson confirmed that Jonathan Andic—who currently serves as the vice-chairman of the board and previously worked in the company’s retail operations—is cooperating fully with investigators and maintains his innocence. The court handling the case noted last year that the investigation had not previously targeted any specific individual. The suspect remains in custody and is expected to testify before an investigating judge shortly, though the case details remain legally sealed.

Isak Andic, who moved from Istanbul to Catalonia in the 1960s, founded Mango in 1984 and built it into a global fashion powerhouse to rival retail giants like Zara. At the time of his death, he was serving as the company’s non-executive chairman with an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion. While Mango has declined to comment on the recent legal developments, the unlisted, Barcelona-based company recently reported annual sales of 3.8 billion euros ($4.41 billion) for 2025.

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Car Ploughs Into Pedestrians in Italy, Eight Injured

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A man drove a car at high speed into pedestrians in Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, including four seriously, according to Italian authorities. One woman suffered devastating injuries and had both legs amputated. The vehicle crashed into a shop window near the city’s cathedral before the driver emerged carrying a knife and attacked a passer-by who tried to stop him.

The suspect, a 31-year-old Italian national of Moroccan origin, was eventually restrained by bystanders after injuring a man who chased him. Witnesses said the car suddenly accelerated toward the pavement at speeds estimated around 100 km/h, sending people flying. Officials said the suspect had previously been referred to a mental health centre in 2022 for schizoid disorders but later disappeared from treatment monitoring.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as “extremely serious” and visited victims in hospital alongside President Sergio Mattarella. Meloni also praised passer-by Luca Signorelli for intervening to stop the suspect despite being attacked with a knife. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack.

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Car Ramming in Leipzig Leaves Two Dead, Dozens Injured

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A tragic incident unfolded in Leipzig, where a car drove into a crowd in the busy Grimmaische Straße area on Monday afternoon, leaving two people dead and at least 22 others injured. Authorities confirmed that three victims are in serious condition. Emergency services quickly responded as chaos spread through the central shopping district following the high-speed collision.

Mayor Burkhard Jung stated that the 33-year-old German suspect has been arrested, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Officials believe the act was carried out by a lone perpetrator, with no immediate indication of a broader threat to public safety. Michael Kretschmer noted that the suspect had a history of mental illness.

Prosecutors have identified the victims as a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, both German citizens, and confirmed that the suspect is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. Authorities emphasized that there is currently no evidence suggesting a political or religious motive. The incident has once again raised concerns, as Germany has witnessed similar car-ramming attacks in recent years.

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Mail Blunder and Mistrust Stall Italy’s Fight Against Chinese Crime Networks

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A bureaucratic mishap in Italy has highlighted deeper issues hampering cooperation with China in tackling organized crime. Documents sent by Chinese authorities in response to an Italian legal assistance request were mistakenly rejected by Italy’s Justice Ministry after staff refused to pay a delivery charge, unaware of their importance. The error forced Rome to request the materials again, but they have yet to be resent, delaying progress in a case tied to an attempted murder involving Chinese nationals.

Italian prosecutors say such setbacks are worsening an already fragile relationship with Beijing, limiting efforts to combat Chinese criminal networks operating across Italy. Investigations over the past decade have uncovered activities ranging from money laundering and illegal immigration to drug trafficking and labor exploitation, yet few cases have reached court. Authorities argue that cooperation from China is essential, as many of these networks operate transnationally, but internal disagreements and political caution in Italy have slowed engagement.

Despite initial signs of collaboration—including outreach from Chinese officials and meetings in the city of Prato—progress has stalled due to concerns over jurisdiction, security risks, and cybersecurity threats. Italian officials remain wary of deeper ties, especially following alleged cyberattacks linked to China. While some see cooperation as a critical opportunity to curb organized crime, divisions within Italy’s legal and political system continue to hinder a unified approach.

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Naples Bank Robbers Take Hostages And Escape Through Tunnel

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Armed robbers carried out a dramatic daytime bank heist in Naples, taking around 25 people hostage inside a Crédit Agricole branch before escaping through a tunnel. The incident began around midday, prompting a swift police response that saw the building surrounded as negotiations unfolded to secure the hostages’ release.

After roughly two hours, all hostages were freed without serious injuries, though several were left shaken and required medical attention. Witnesses said the robbers, while armed, did not use violence and had confined people inside a room. Firefighters assisted in the evacuation by breaking windows, with scenes showing emotional reunions as people emerged from the bank.

Authorities later stormed the building using special forces and stun grenades, but the suspects had already fled, reportedly through a tunnel possibly connected to the sewer system. Investigators are still assessing the extent of the theft, as the robbers targeted safety deposit boxes rather than cash, making the total value of the loot unclear.

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French Man Charged After Child Found Locked in Van

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A 43-year-old man in Hagenbach has been charged after his nine-year-old son was discovered locked inside a van for over a year. The child was found by authorities after neighbours reported hearing unusual sounds coming from the vehicle parked near their apartment block. Police said the boy was severely malnourished, unable to walk, and living in extremely unhygienic conditions.

According to prosecutors, the father admitted to confining the child since November 2024, claiming he was trying to protect him from his partner, who he alleged wanted to place the boy in psychiatric care. The child reportedly received limited food and water and had no access to basic sanitation, relying on bottles and bags for waste. Neighbours had earlier been told the boy was in care, despite occasionally hearing noises from the van.

The father has been charged with unlawful detention and neglect, and remains in custody. His partner faces charges of failing to assist a child in danger and not reporting abuse, though she has been released on conditional bail. All three children in the family have been placed in temporary care, with a court set to decide their future.

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Paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse Stolen from Italian Museum

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Three paintings by renowned French artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse have been stolen from a museum in northern Italy, police confirmed on Monday. The artworks, estimated to be worth around $10 million in total, were taken from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca near the city of Parma during the night of March 22–23.

According to Italy’s Carabinieri police, thieves forced entry through the museum’s main entrance and stole Cézanne’s Tasse et Plat de Cerises, Renoir’s Les Poissons, and Matisse’s Odalisque sur la Terrasse. Italian broadcaster Rai reported the value of the stolen works at about 9 million euros, though authorities have not officially confirmed the figure.

Museum officials said the robbery was completed in less than three minutes, suggesting a highly planned operation. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca houses a prestigious private collection assembled by late musicologist Luigi Magnani, featuring masterpieces by artists including Titian, Francisco Goya, Claude Monet, Peter Paul Rubens and Giorgio Morandi.

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Prosecutors Seek Long Jail Term in Norway Royal-Linked Trial

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Norwegian prosecutors have called for a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, who is on trial over multiple serious charges including rape and assault. They argued he should be convicted on 39 out of 40 charges, stressing the gravity of the allegations. Høiby denies the most serious accusations, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual.

The case, heard at the Oslo district court, has drawn intense public and media attention due to Høiby’s connection to the royal family through Mette-Marit. While he is not a formal royal, he grew up within the royal household. During the trial, he admitted to some lesser offences such as drug possession, traffic violations, and breaching a restraining order, but rejected key accusations including multiple rape charges.

Prosecutors emphasized that several alleged victims were asleep or otherwise unable to consent, and said prior consensual relations were irrelevant to the charges. The defence is expected to argue against the most serious claims, with a verdict pending after judges review the case. The trial has lasted several weeks and is expected to conclude shortly.

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