International
Crypto executives in France targeted by wave of violent kidnappings
After having cut off one of their hostage’s fingers, the kidnappers were preparing to drill into one of his knees, according to France’s Interior Minister. The swift action of French police saved the hostage — the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur — from the horrifying situation.
While the incident earlier this month ended with a police raid and the arrest of seven suspects, this and other abductions have shaken France’s cryptocurrency industry.
This week, following another attempted crypto-related kidnapping in the heart of Paris, the wave of violence has also become a political issue for President Emmanuel Macron’s government — and particularly for Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is maneuvering for a possible presidential bid in the 2027 election.
Retailleau held a private meeting on Friday with cryptocurrency business owners to discuss their safety and prevent further damage to his tough-on-crime image, as well as Macron’s broader efforts to brand France as a hub for cutting-edge tech and innovation. His ministry urged journalists not to film participants “for security reasons,” describing the meeting as “strictly confidential” — a sign of how months of extortion attempts have put the crypto sector on edge.
A Kidnapping Attempt in Broad Daylight
On Tuesday, several masked men attempted to drag the daughter of a crypto entrepreneur into a van during a brazen abduction attempt in Paris. In video footage taken by witnesses, the men can be seen struggling with the woman and her husband as they clung to each other on the ground, shouting “Help! Help!” A shopkeeper intervened by grabbing a fire extinguisher and hurling it at the attackers’ vehicle, prompting them to flee.
The woman’s father, Pierre Noizat, is the CEO and founder of Bitcoin exchange platform Paymium. Speaking to BFMTV on Friday, the businessman harshly criticized French politicians and judges for what he described as their “lack of action.” He said his son-in-law required stitches after being injured while resisting the attackers.
Noizat also expressed concern that wealthy businesspeople from other sectors could become targets next, saying: “I believe this is just the beginning if nothing is done.”
Éric Larchevêque, another crypto entrepreneur whose business partner and wife were kidnapped in January and who attended Friday’s meeting, warned: “All entrepreneurs — and the image of France — are at risk.”
International
Trump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday in Florida that he will make a decision in the coming weeks regarding exemptions from deportations for workers in the construction and agriculture sectors.
Trump made these remarks to the media during a visit to the new migrant detention center, ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ located in the middle of a wetland in Florida, the White House reported.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids have targeted many of these workers, sparking fear among them and threatening to slow down two sectors that are vital to the U.S. economy.
In construction, 25.7% of workers are immigrants, and 14.1% of the total workforce nationwide is undocumented, according to the American Immigration Council.
In agriculture, the percentage of undocumented employees rises to 42%, according to data from the Department of Agriculture cited by the New York Times.
International
IDB plans $11 billion in sustainable financing to support countries facing currency risks
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) aims to unlock at least $11 billion in sustainable financing to help countries address challenges including natural disasters that strain their currencies and hinder private sector investment.
As the United States and other wealthier countries reduce official development assistance, multilateral lenders face pressure to find new ways to tackle issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. During the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, IDB President Ilan Goldfajn stated that the measures adopted by the IDB are expected to inspire more private sector contributions, which is a key priority of the conference.
“We are not just announcing ideas; we are launching what the private sector is asking for: credible tools, scalable platforms, and real opportunities to invest with impact and confidence,” he added.
Support will include a new platform designed to help countries manage the risk of large swings in their national currencies that can deter international investors by making returns harder to predict. Based on a program in Brazil that has already attracted $8 billion from the private sector since its launch last year, the plan is to expand the concept to other regional economies over the next three years and at least double the amount mobilized.
Called FX EDGE, the platform will offer a credit line that activates if a currency drops sharply—a common problem during political or debt crises or after natural disasters—ensuring debtors can continue to service their loans in dollars or other foreign currencies.
The platform also aims to enable greater use of long-term currency hedging instruments, such as derivatives, through local banks and financial institutions, backed by the IDB’s credit rating.
International
Maduro’s government appeals to Vatican for help rescuing migrant children
Este lunes, durante su programa semanal ‘Con Maduro +’, el mandatario venezolano anunció que pediría al sumo pontífice su ayuda para rescatar a 18 niños migrantes.
“Yo sé que el papa es un hombre que comprende estos temas. Le pido ayuda a la Iglesia católica, apostólica y romana, al papa León, para que la Iglesia católica de Estados Unidos y la Iglesia católica de El Salvador proteja a los migrantes y nos ayude con sus gestiones para rescatar a estos niños y a estas niñas”, indicó Maduro en el espacio transmitido por VTV.
Más temprano, Rodríguez había pedido al alto comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos, Volker Türk, y al coordinador residente de la ONU en Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla, pronunciarse sobre este hecho y exigió a Washington devolver a los pequeños.
Trump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
IDB plans $11 billion in sustainable financing to support countries facing currency risks
Maduro’s government appeals to Vatican for help rescuing migrant children
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