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Sweden Secures $4 Billion French Frigate Deal to Boost Baltic Defence

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Sweden has announced a $4.25 billion deal to purchase four Defence and Intervention (FDI) navy frigates from France’s Naval Group, marking the country’s largest military investment since the 1980s. The acquisition is a direct response to heightened security threats in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Sweden’s subsequent entry into NATO. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that the Baltic Sea is currently more contested than at any point in the modern era, and these new vessels will triple Sweden’s naval air defence capabilities.

The new frigates will become the largest ships in the Swedish navy, with the first delivery scheduled for 2030. Beyond strengthening Sweden’s domestic defense, Navy Chief Johan Norlen highlighted that the vessels will play a crucial role alongside NATO allies in maintaining open civilian and military transport routes to Finland and the Baltic states during potential conflicts. To integrate domestic technology, Defence Minister Pal Jonson noted that the government has requested the integration of Swedish-developed weapons systems, including tech from Saab, onto the French-built platforms.

The selection of France’s Naval Group comes after a competitive bidding process that included rival proposals from Spain’s Navantia and a joint British-Swedish bid by Babcock and Saab. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the deal as a symbol of mutual trust, noting a reciprocal defense relationship where France is purchasing Saab’s GlobalEye early warning systems. Driven by current geopolitical tensions, Sweden has accelerated its military build-up and now expects to reach a NATO military spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2030.

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Global Central Banks Wary as New Fed Nominee Suggests Policy Shifts

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Incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has unsettled global central bankers by suggesting that the Fed’s independence may not fully extend to its international crisis-fighting duties. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Warsh proposed that outside of setting interest rates, the Fed should coordinate closely with the White House and Congress. This has sparked concerns among international peers that political interference could delay vital dollar liquidity facilities during future financial crises.

While policymakers expect no immediate policy overhauls due to Warsh’s deep institutional experience, they warn that a less reliable U.S. central bank could backfire. The Fed’s standing liquidity tools protect the American economy by preventing foreign banks from dumping U.S. Treasury bonds during market stress. Restricting access to these critical dollar lifelines could trigger severe market turbulence and ultimately harm the U.S. financial system itself.

A retreat from the Fed’s role as a global backstop could also accelerate the U.S. dollar’s 15-year decline in global market share. While a less dependable greenback might theoretically boost the euro, financial experts note that Europe’s current financial architecture is not yet equipped to absorb such a shift. Ultimately, analysts and peers emphasize that despite contingency planning, there is no viable alternative to the Fed as the world’s dollar lender of last resort.

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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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Two Killed, Four Injured in Spain Mass Shooting

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Spanish police have arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting in the southern town of El Ejido near Almería. Authorities said the attack happened late Monday night and left two people dead, believed to be the suspect’s parents, while four others were seriously injured.

Among the injured were two young children, including a seven-month-old baby believed to be the suspect’s son, according to local media reports. An 18-month-old child and a 60-year-old man were also reportedly wounded in the incident and rushed to hospital for treatment.

Spain’s Guardia Civil said the suspect briefly fled before surrendering at a nearby police station. Investigators are continuing to examine the motive behind the shooting, which is considered rare in Spain, where mass shootings remain uncommon compared with other parts of the world.

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Shakira Wins €55m Tax Refund in Spain Case

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A Spanish high court has ruled in favor of Colombian pop star Shakira, ordering the country’s tax authority to refund €55 million (£48 million) after determining the money was wrongly collected. The court said authorities failed to prove that the singer spent the required 183 days in Spain during 2011, meaning she could not legally be treated as a Spanish tax resident for that year.

The refund includes €24 million in income tax payments and nearly €25 million in penalties previously imposed for what tax officials had described as a serious infringement. Shakira welcomed the verdict, saying the decision “finally set the record straight” after years of public scrutiny, legal pressure, and personal stress affecting both her health and family.

The case is separate from Shakira’s earlier 2023 settlement with Spanish prosecutors over tax issues between 2012 and 2014, where she agreed to pay a fine while denying wrongdoing. The latest ruling comes as the global music star prepares to conclude her Women Don’t Cry Anymore world tour with a Madrid residency and upcoming performances linked to the FIFA Men’s World Cup final.

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Shakira Cleared of Tax Fraud Charges in Spain

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Shakira has been acquitted of tax fraud in Spain after the country’s High Court overturned a 55 million euro fine imposed in 2021. The ruling found that Spanish authorities failed to prove the singer spent more than 183 days in Spain during 2011, the threshold required to classify her as a tax resident under Spanish law. Her legal team said she will now receive more than 60 million euros, including interest, from the Spanish Treasury.

Spanish tax authorities had argued Shakira was effectively living in Spain due to her relationship with former Gerard Piqué and her professional activities in the country. However, the court ruled the penalties were unlawful because the claim that she was a Spanish tax resident in 2011 was not sufficiently proven. The decision can still be challenged before Spain’s Supreme Court and only applies to the 2011 fiscal year.

Shakira’s lawyer described the ruling as the end of an “eight-year ordeal” caused by flawed administrative practices. In a statement, the singer said she hoped the judgment would help ordinary people facing unfair treatment from authorities. The ruling is separate from another tax case in which Shakira reached a settlement with prosecutors in 2023 over unpaid taxes between 2012 and 2014, accepting charges and paying a fine exceeding 7.3 million euros to avoid trial.

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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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Bulgaria Wins Eurovision Amid Gaza Boycott Controversy

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Bulgaria won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest for the first time with singer Dara and her upbeat dance track “Bangaranga.” The final, held in Vienna, was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Israel’s participation during the Gaza conflict. Five countries — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotted the competition in protest, reducing the contest to 35 entries, the fewest since 2003.

Despite political tensions, Bulgaria’s energetic and non-political performance captured both juries and audiences. Dara described “Bangaranga” as a feeling of love, harmony and fearlessness after securing the country’s first Eurovision trophy. Meanwhile, Israel once again finished second after receiving a massive public vote boost, echoing a similar result in 2025. Some boos were heard in the arena when Israel’s televote points were announced, though the performance itself passed without major disruptions.

This year’s contest took place amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Gaza war following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Organisers faced criticism and boycott calls throughout the week, while protests in Vienna remained relatively small and peaceful. Favorites Finland and Australia ultimately finished sixth and fourth respectively, as Bulgaria emerged with a surprise victory in one of Eurovision’s most politically charged editions.

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Pope Leo to Visit UNESCO in France Amid Budget Struggles After U.S. Exit

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Pope Leo XIV will travel to France from September 25 to 28, with a key stop planned at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. The visit comes as UNESCO faces financial pressure following the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from the agency, resulting in a significant budget shortfall.

The Vatican said the pope is also expected to visit the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, which reopened in 2024 after restoration work following the devastating 2019 fire. Pope Leo may also meet French President Emmanuel Macron and could address the French parliament during the trip. The detailed itinerary will be announced later.

The France visit will be Pope Leo’s fourth international trip of the year and comes amid growing global attention on his leadership style and political comments, including criticism of the Iran conflict that reportedly angered Trump. The pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American-born pope and also has French ancestry through immigrant roots in the United States.

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French Judge Opens Inquiry Into Jamal Khashoggi Killing

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A French judge has been appointed to lead an investigation into the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a Paris appeals court ruled complaints filed by human rights organizations admissible. France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said the inquiry will focus on allegations including torture and enforced disappearance.

The case was brought forward by TRIAL International and Reporters Without Borders, while a separate complaint by DAWN was ruled inadmissible. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 by Saudi agents in an operation that U.S. intelligence believed was linked to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The new French inquiry opens another legal front in a case that has seen limited international judicial action in recent years. A Turkish court transferred its trial involving Saudi suspects to Saudi Arabia in 2022, while a U.S. court dismissed a civil lawsuit after the Biden administration granted immunity to bin Salman following his appointment as prime minister. Under French law, prosecutions for crimes committed abroad generally require suspects to be present in France.

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