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Azerbaijan Pardons French National After EU Drops Sanctions on Usmanov

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French national Martin Ryan on Wednesday, shortly after the European Union lifted sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. Ryan had been serving a 10-year prison sentence in Azerbaijan after being convicted of espionage in March. It was not immediately clear whether he had been released.

European diplomats told Reuters that France had privately indicated concerns that Azerbaijan was using Usmanov’s sanctions case to pressure Paris over French citizens detained in the country. Azerbaijan rejected the suggestion, saying its support for removing sanctions against Usmanov was based on its view that the measures were unjust. Relations between France and Azerbaijan have been strained for years, partly over France’s support for Armenia.

The EU’s decision to remove sanctions on Usmanov and fellow Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman has also exposed differences among EU governments over policy toward Moscow. Ukraine has criticized the move and said it would seek to have sanctions reinstated. Ryan was among 19 people pardoned by Aliyev on Wednesday, including Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian-Israeli and Pakistani citizens.

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Airtel Money Plans One of London’s Largest IPOs in Years

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Airtel Money, the mobile money business of Airtel Africa, is preparing to file for a London IPO that could become one of the city’s largest listings in recent years. The offering could raise around $800 million and value the company at approximately $8 billion to $9 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. Details including the indicative price range and number of shares are expected in early October.

The IPO will be conducted through a secondary share offering, meaning existing shareholders will sell shares rather than the company issuing new ones. Airtel Money is expected to have a free float of at least 10% following the listing. The deal could provide a boost to London’s stock market, which has experienced a prolonged slowdown in major new listings.

Airtel Money CEO Ian Ferrao said the company sees relatively favourable market conditions and remains confident in London as its listing destination. The business operates across Sub-Saharan Africa and reported 38% revenue growth to £399 million in the quarter ended June 30, with around 53 million monthly active users. Airtel Africa is expected to remain a long-term investor after the IPO.

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Catalonia’s Far-Right Rise Reshapes Independence Politics as Migration Concerns Grow

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A growing focus on immigration, crime and housing is reshaping politics in Catalonia, with the separatist Aliança Catalana gaining support ahead of the region’s 2028 election. The party, led by Silvia Orriols, is polling behind Spain’s ruling Socialists and has made restricting migration and improving public safety central to its message.

Aliança’s rise is creating divisions within the broader independence movement. Traditional pro-independence parties have ruled out governing agreements with the party, while some have adopted more conservative positions on migration. A July Catalan government survey found that the party was attracting voters who had previously supported both the separatist Junts and the anti-independence Vox.

The shift comes as voters’ priorities change. Affordable housing, migration and crime topped concerns in a July survey, while support for Catalan independence stood at 45%. Aliança’s support has risen from 3.8% to 16.7% in voter intentions, according to an El Mundo poll cited by Reuters, highlighting the changing political landscape ahead of the next regional election.

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Pope Leo Urges Global Action to Protect Child Migrants

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Pope Leo on Wednesday called for greater global efforts to protect migrant and refugee children fleeing their homes in search of safety. Speaking to thousands of pilgrims at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, he highlighted the severe conditions faced by many young migrants.

The pope said migrant children can experience violence, torture, exploitation and other traumatic circumstances. He appealed to individuals and governments to take responsibility for protecting and assisting children affected by migration.

Leo made the remarks ahead of the Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be observed on Sunday. He did not name any specific countries in his appeal, but has previously spoken publicly about the treatment of migrants and immigration policies.

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Wheat Prices Rise as Black Sea Supply Disruptions Deepen

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Global wheat buyers are facing higher costs as disruptions to grain shipments from Russia and Ukraine tighten supplies. Chicago wheat futures have climbed around 40% from their June lows to a three-and-a-half-year high, while attacks on vessels and port infrastructure have severely reduced Black Sea cargo movements.

Importers across Asia, the Middle East and Africa are increasingly looking to alternative suppliers such as Australia, Argentina and France. Indonesian millers, for example, are paying around 20%–25% more for Australian wheat than previous Black Sea purchases. October shipments of Australian wheat are being quoted at about $345 per tonne, compared with around $340 for Romanian Black Sea wheat.

Egypt, one of the world’s largest wheat importers, has also seen a sharp decline in shipments from Russia and Ukraine and is diversifying its purchases toward European suppliers. With some mills operating at reduced capacity and importers waiting for potential improvements in Black Sea shipping, competition for alternative supplies could remain strong until the Southern Hemisphere harvest arrives later in the year.

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Spain Faces Growing Climate Change Challenges

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Spain is facing mounting climate-related pressures, with severe wildfires, rising temperatures, droughts and floods affecting communities and the economy. Around 300,000 hectares of land have been burned in Spain this year, while farmers in affected regions have suffered major losses to livestock, crops and pasture.

Rising temperatures are also affecting Spain’s tourism sector. The country experienced 61 days of heatwaves this year, with cities such as Toledo recording temperatures above 40°C on several occasions. Tourism workers are adapting by changing tour schedules, providing more water and shade, while some visitors are increasingly choosing cooler destinations and travelling during spring and autumn.

Drought and extreme rainfall are adding further challenges. Catalonia introduced water-use restrictions after years of low rainfall, while devastating floods in Valencia in 2024 caused 237 deaths and an estimated €4.5 billion in direct damage. Economists say climate change could weigh on economic activity, although investment in a greener economy could also create new jobs and opportunities.

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British Man Missing After Rescue Attempt in Lake Como

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Italian authorities are searching for a British man in his late 30s who disappeared after entering Lake Como to help rescue a 16-year-old boy and his father. The man was on a boating trip with the family near the lake’s western shore when he noticed the pair struggling in the water and jumped in to help.

The father and son were rescued by a passing boat and treated for hypothermia. The man, who was a friend of the family, was last seen sinking beneath the water. Italy’s coastguard, fire department and police have deployed boats, divers and a helicopter in the search.

Because parts of the lake in the search area are more than 250 metres deep, authorities are preparing to use two underwater robots to scan the lake bed. The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting the missing man’s family and remains in contact with Italian authorities.

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Privacy Concerns Challenge AI Wearables

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Tech companies are betting on smart glasses, AI pins and other wearable devices as potential successors to smartphones, but growing privacy concerns could slow their adoption. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have faced particular scrutiny over the possibility of people being recorded without their knowledge, with some UK venues restricting their use.

Companies are exploring different approaches to address these concerns. Samsung plans to enter the smart-glasses market through partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, while some startups are developing camera-free glasses and devices that require users to deliberately activate recording. Businesses are also showing interest in AI wearables for workplace applications.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has argued that future always-on AI devices should process more information locally rather than continuously sending data to cloud servers. Experts say the challenge is balancing usefulness with privacy, since AI devices become more capable as they collect more information about users and their surroundings.

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Venice Considers Raising Tourist Entry Fee to $34

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Venice is considering extending its tourist entry fee and increasing the daily charge to as much as €30 ($34) from 2027, according to city government official Michele Zuin. The current fee ranges from €5 to €10 and applies only to day-trippers on selected days.

Zuin said the existing charge may no longer be enough to discourage overcrowding, while noting that the proposed 2027 rate would need to be discussed and approved with the Italian government. He also said officials had discussed a possible €50 fee but could settle on a maximum of €30.

Venice introduced the entry fee in 2024 as a measure to manage overtourism. In 2026, it operated on selected days between April and July and generated more than €5.2 million from nearly 680,000 tickets. The scheme is designed to encourage visitors to avoid the city’s busiest periods.

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Pope Leo Heads to France as Church Faces Fallout From Abuse Crisis

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Pope Leo will travel to France on Friday for a four-day, three-city visit, marking the first formal papal visit to the country in nearly 20 years. The trip comes five years after a major French report on child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, which found that about 330,000 children had been abused by clergy and lay Church officials over seven decades.

During his visit, Leo is expected to meet seven survivors of abuse in Lourdes and address the Church’s response to the scandal. He will also celebrate an outdoor Mass near Paris, where around 600,000 people have registered, and visit the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The first US-born pope is also expected to discuss artificial intelligence, Europe’s future and peace. His itinerary includes meetings with French leaders, an address at UNESCO and a speech in Metz focused on Europe’s roots, peace and unity. The visit to Lourdes will also draw attention to allegations surrounding priest and artist Marko Rupnik, whose mosaics at the sanctuary have been ordered covered during the pope’s visit.

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