41 h. ago Inside the 58 hours that saw French police free a crypto hostage whose finger was chopped off

Police tracked the gang to a house in the Essonne region south of Paris

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42 h. ago 'Jackpot!' How French police freed a cryptocurrency hostage whose finger was severed for ransom

A French police commander has detailed 58 hours of drama, terror and finally relief that marked the latest kidnapping of people working in the cryptocurrency business

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65 h. ago Kidnappers in France target cryptocurrency entrepreneurs for ransom

French police have rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom

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66 h. ago French police investigate spate of cryptocurrency millionaire kidnappings

Victims have had fingers chopped off by attackers in crimewave targeting online influencers and entrepreneursFrench police are investigating a series of kidnappings of investors linked to cryptocurrency after a 60-year-old man had a finger chopped off by attackers who demanded his crypto-millionaire son pay a ransom.In the latest of several kidnappings of cryptocurrency figures in France and western Europe, the man, who owned a cryptocurrency marketing company with his son, was freed from a house south of Paris on Saturday night. He had been held for more than two days. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago A notorious drug gang is in the crosshairs of a French police investigation of prison attacks

Anti-organized crime specialist investigators probing a wave of attacks on prisons and prison staff in France are looking at the possible involvement of a notorious drug cartel

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6 d. ago US GDP report to show if economy expanded in last quarter, after eurozone growth accelerates – business live

First estimate of US GDP for Q1 2025 will show whether tariffs hurt growthUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumption, and the savings rate is se...

Economics

6 d. ago France and Germany avoid recession as eurozone growth accelerates; Taiwan’s GDP boosted by pre

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Politics

6 d. ago France and Germany avoid recession as economies return to growth; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Economics

7 d. ago We have persuaded France to change rules to stop migrants reaching Britain, Cooper says

France has agreed to intervene to stop migrants boarding dinghies in French waters in change of policy, UK home secretary says

Events

8 d. ago French Muslims decry religious hatred as mosque stabbing suspect arrested

Man held in Italy over killing of worshipper in French mosque amid growing concerns over IslamophobiaEurope live – latest updatesFrench Muslim leaders have said more must be done to counter anti-Muslim hatred in France after a man was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a young worshipper to death inside a mosque in a southern village.Olivier A, 21, a French national born in Lyon, surrendered to police in Italy on Sunday after three days on the run, French prosecutors announced on Monday morning. Continue reading...

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1 week ago A French high school student is arrested after fatally stabbing another student and wounding 3

French police say a high school student stabbed four other students at his school, killing one and wounding three

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2 w. ago Essex Boys killer Michael Steele's conviction may have 'problems' as he's set to be freed

Michael Steele, 82, has always denied the notorious gangland execution of three drug rivals - claiming it was "organised by another criminal and a corrupt cop"

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2 w. ago Investigation launched after inmate at Forest Bank prison dies

An investigation is underway - it's the latest in a series of fatalities at the privately-run prison over recent years

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3 w. ago Cryotherapy horror as woman killed and another fighting for life after nitrogen leak inside chamber

A 20-year-old worker at a cryotherapy centre at an On Air gym in Paris, France, was killed in a suspected nitrogen leak as French police investigate the accident

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3 w. ago Italian police arrest 24 suspected mafiosi over Naples parking protection racket

Suspects charged for drug and weapon offences as well as scheme in which drivers felt compelled to pay feesItalian police have arrested 24 suspected members of the Camorra – the notorious Neapolitan mafia – on charges of drug trafficking, arms possession and running an illegal parking attendant scheme.According to investigators, several of those arrested on Monday were reportedly affiliated with well-known Camorra families operating in the Fuorigrotta and Chiaia districts of Naples. Some were already serving jail sentences. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Keir Starmer ‘appalled’ by attack on prison officers by Manchester bomb plotter and vows urgent investigation

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said ‘it is clear something went terribly wrong’ in the management of Hashem Abedi

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3 w. ago Starmer ‘appalled’ by attack on prison officers and pledges urgent investigation

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said ‘it is clear something went terribly wrong’ in the management of bomb plotter Hashem Abedi.

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3 w. ago Killer left unmonitored for two months after release from prison, investigation reveals

Serco has repeatedly come under fire for delays in fitting offenders with tags since it took over the Ministry of Justice’s tagging contract in 2023

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3 w. ago Manchester United investigate fan treatment after teargas incident in Lyon

French police used teargas at Europa League tieSupporter’ groups criticise response of authoritiesManchester United are investigating the treatment of their fans who attended Thursday’s 2-2 draw at Lyon. The local government admitted French police used teargas but said it was “proportionate” to restore calm.Posts on social media showed United fans feeling the effect of the spray at the Europa League quarter-final first leg. The Rhône prefecture said in a statement: “English fans were seated in the away section waiting to be allowed to join their bus. They attempted to force their way through the security measures deployed by the national police. Projectiles were also reported to be thrown at the police. The police therefore used moderate, proportionate and necessary force (tear gas) to restore calm. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Man Utd fans teargassed by French police as they tried to use toilet in Lyon stadium

Manchester United travelled to Lyon for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday but the game was marred by the heavy-handed tactics of the French police

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