Paris
CNN
–

French police rescued the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur from a lureman on Saturday night, but found out that one of his fingers had been cut off.

The victim, not publicly identified, was forced into the van Thursday morning by four men wearing ski masks on a street in Paris. He had been hostages from the southern French capital, 12 miles south of the French capital, before being rescued.

According to CNN affiliate BFM TV, the temptation contacted the victim’s son and sent a video of the mutilated victim with ransom money.

Five people, ages 23 to 27, were taken to police custody following the attack, according to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office.

The temptation shares remarkable similarities with other recent temptations related to cryptocurrencies in France and its surrounding countries.

In January 2025, David Balland, co-founder of Crypto Wallet Company Ledger, was invited to his wife from his home in central France.

Before the couple was released by the police, the assailant cut Ballands’ fingers and sent a video of the cut attachment to his business partner Eric Raschebek, demanding ransom money.

In December 2024, Crypto Investor’s wife and influencer Stéphane Winkel was invited from the Belgian couple’s home. She was rescued after her temptation crashed his car in a dramatic police chase, Winkel wrote in X’s post.

It is unknown whether they are connected like the recent cipher-tricking temptation.

“Obviously, there’s at least a link to the trick. Now, investigators say whether it’s the same team or not,” internal security expert Guillaume Farde said he was speaking on French television Sunday.

Police have launched an investigation into the latest inductions, including organized gangs and criminal conspiracy terror, the Paris prosecutor’s office told CNN.

CNN
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Like other rituals and traditions that accompany the emergence of the new pope, his newly chosen name has been ingrained in Catholic history over the centuries, and is analyzed for its many meanings.

Changing his name was one of the first actions the new Pope takes as head of the Roman Catholic Church, and could play a very symbolic role in setting the tone of his Pope.

It is a precedent set in the early Middle Ages, and although there is no doctrinal reason for the Pope to choose a new name, it has become part of the election process.

So how does this tradition mean, what is the meaning behind the names of the various popes, what names can the next pope choose, and how will it be announced?

Saint Peter, the first Pope and one of the 12 apostles, was renamed by Jesus from Simon’s birth name, before he became head of the church.

Another 500 years pass before Pope John II, the head of the church between the ages of 533 and 535, began the Pope tradition when he abandoned the name Mercurius.

The next pope who changed his name was Peter Canepanova in the 10th century. He became John XIV to avoid being called Peter II (more details below), said Liam Temple, an assistant professor of Catholic History at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University.

From the 10th century onwards, popes from countries such as France and Germany adopted more Italian names to mimic their predecessors, so taking another name made the pope more common practice when they were elected.

And it became a custom, and only a handful of Popes held the name of the baptism, including Marcellus II and Adrian VI, who headed the church in the 16th century.

Each name is ingrained in its own history and meaning, linked to the achievements and failures of the previous Popes and saints who carried it.

“It’s not always possible to overcome the crisis, influence reform, or link to the names of previous popes that were incredibly popular, but often play a role in name choice,” Temple told CNN.

Pope Francis, for example, chose his Pope name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi with his love for peace and nature, caring for the poor and focused on cooperation between various denominations in the Church. These associations established the priorities of Francis’s Pope See.

His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, chose his Pope name to show his commitment to peace and reconciliation by honouring St. Benedict and Pope Benedict XV, who were the church presidents during World War I, Temple said.

One name that the new Pope will undoubtedly adopt is because of a prophecy that centuries ago would be the last pope to serve, from respecting the first Pope, the Apostle St. Peter.

There are other names that are not necessarily off limits, but are unlikely to be chosen for their relationship with the latest Pope who gave birth to them, Temple said.

He identifies the city’s name as a candidate for the new Pope because he “started the trial of Galileo Galilei and fails to sit well in modern discussions about science, faith and religion.”

Similarly, the name Pius would evoke the memories of Pius XII, whose role during World War II is increasingly criticised, Temple added.

If the new Pope wants to continue the path of reform, Temple said that names like Leo are innocent referring to Leo XIII, known for their dedication to social justice, fair wages and safe working conditions, or to innocent XIII, who attempted to eradicate corruption.

Like Pope Francis, a new Pope elected from the Global South may choose names adopted by the early non-Italian gates such as Gerasius, Miltiades, and Victor, who were welcomed from the African continent, Temple added.

For centuries, the names of 44 popes have been used only once. Recently, Pope Francis himself was named.

His decision to choose a unique name stated that “large historical influence” has been “about a century or 100 years since he was last named the unique Pope in the form of the Pope Rand, which lasted less than a year in the 10th century.”

John is the most popular name, and 21 Popes have chosen to adopt it. However, the last Pope to take that name was John XXIII after the historian accidentally inhabited the Pope after John XIII.

Gregory and Benedict are also popular pontyphical names with 16 and 15 uses, respectively. Meanwhile, Innocent and Leo are lagging behind with 13 use each. (There is a contradiction of Benedict’s numbering after that, as Benedict X was declared anti-pope and exiled from the Pope’s throne.)

After white smoke rises from the chimney of Sistine Chapel and the bell of St. Peter, the newly elected Pope’s name is conveyed to the world in a Latin declaration.

The Senior Cardinal, accompanied by two priests, steps into the central balcony of St. Peter’s Cathedral, conveys the iconic announcement “Havem Spapam” (“We Have a Pope”).

The new Pope’s name and his baptismal name will be translated into Latin in the announcement, but his previous surname will remain in his native language.

For example, when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, the given name of “Jorge Mario” was distributed as “Giorgio Marium”, but his surname “Bergolio” remained the same.

His Pope’s name was published as “Francisco” and, as customarily, was the final word in the declaration.

CNN
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Ukraine claims it was the first time using the Seabone drone to fire down a Russian SU-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea.

“This is the first time in the world that a fighter has been destroyed by a marine drone,” Ukraine’s defense information said in a statement on Saturday, adding that “it was burned into the air and eventually fell into the sea.”

The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said one of its units destroyed fighter jets on Friday, and was a key Russian city in Ukrainian Magra drone near Novorossk port, claiming that Ukraine is a remnant of the Russian Black Sea fleet.

CNN could not independently verify Ukrainian claims.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the incident, but the claims were supported by Russian military bloggers.

“The Ukrainians brought over 30 sea drones to the Noborossk region… After the jet was attacked, the crew were enveloped in water surrounded by enemy sea drones,” Fighter Bomber said on Saturday.

Ukrainian military intelligence claimed that in December it used a Seaborn Magra V5 missile drone created by Ukrainian military forces and engineers to destroy two Russian helicopters “the world’s first time”;

Kyiv is increasingly turning its eyes to drones to level the arena with Russia, which boasts outstanding talent and resources. Since Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, and following further losses after Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine no longer has a navy functioning in the Black Sea.

The drones have proven effective against some of the toughest ships in Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet. They are controlled from afar via Starlink connections and can be pre-programmed for long journeys across the Black Sea.

Last February, Ukraine said it had sunk Ivanovets, a Russian guided missile ship in the Black Sea. Its most notable strike was against Mosqueba in April 2022.

After the attack on Ibanobet, CNN interviewed Ukrainian secret sea drone unit behind a strike at a location near the Ukrainian coastal city of Odesa. One of the drone pilots behind the attack told CNN that 10 Magra drones were used in the attack, six of which were hit and ultimately sank the Russian warship.

One Ukrainian drone pilot told CNN that drones are extremely difficult to see in the open seas and that Russians are difficult to target.

CNN
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US President Donald Trump posted his own image of AI as Pope, prompting accusations of bad taste in the Roman Catholic community.

A few days ago, joking that he wanted to be Pope, Trump raised his index finger late Friday to post an image of his digital doctor wearing a white cassock and a pope headdress. It was then re-shared by the White House on the official X account.

Last month, Trump, who is not a Catholic, came less than a week later. The period of official mourning for the Pope is still observed by the Vatican.

While this image does not suggest that it is a serious distraction from the challenge of choosing the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to comment on the issue.

“Not funny, teacher,” wrote 66-year-old Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David in a Facebook post.

New York archbishop Timothy Dolan was also important when journalists were questioned before delivering Mass in Rome on Sunday.

When asked if he was angry at the image, Cardinal Dolan suggested Trump’s favor with the next Pope – “Well, that wasn’t good.”

Similarly, Father Gerald Murray, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York who attended the Mass of Cardinal Dolan Church on Sunday, said Trump’s post was “silly… you won’t.”

Matteo Renzi, the former Italian prime minister, condemned the image as an attack on people of Catholicism. “This is an image that angers followers, humiliates the institutions, and shows that right-wing world leaders enjoy clowns,” he writes in X.

Trump’s post attracted attention from Italian media. “Infant” was the term that Italy’s Daily La Republica condemned as “pathological exaggeration.”

In St. Peter’s Square, CNN asked several groups of American tourists what they thought, and no one asked them if they wanted to give their name, but their reaction ranged from “absurd” to “typical.”

The office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump’s international ally, said they would not comment on the issue.

The image also spurred backlash among American Catholic groups. The New York State Catholic Conference explains itself to represent the Bishop of New York, which he states in his post X. “There’s nothing smart or interesting about this image, President.

“We have just buried our beloved Pope Francis and Cardinals are about to enter a strict conclave to elect a new successor to St. Peter. Don’t laugh at us.”

However, the White House defended Trump as a professional Catholic.

“President Trump paid tribute to Pope Francis and flew to Italy to attend the funeral. He was a solid champion for Catholics and religious freedom,” spokesperson Carolyn Leavitt said when asked to respond to criticism.

Others in Trump’s circle emphasized that it was a joke.

“I’m Catholic. We’ve all been joking about the future Pope’s choices for the whole week. It’s called a sense of humor.”

This is not the first time Trump has sparked a controversy with AI-generated images. He faced backlash after posting footage imagining war-torn Gaza as a resort like a Gulf state with his golden statue.

Jerusalem
CNN
–

The failed intercept of missiles fired from Yemen forced Israel to temporarily close major international airports on Sunday, exposing the continued ability of the Hauti rebels to attack distant targets despite the persistent US military campaign.

Following Israeli forces said it was “some attempts” during intercept, flights stopped for about 30 minutes at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday morning. “The results of the intercept are under review,” the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said.

The military fired long-range arrow interceptors with incoming missiles, an IDF spokesperson said. The US also has advanced THAAD anti-missile systems deployed in Israel.

The Iran-backed Hooti rebel group in Yemen argued responsibility for the attack and said it was carried out “in denial of (Israel) genocide” against the people of Gaza.

This strike appears to be the first time an Israeli international airport has successfully targeted a group’s target.

“The US and Israeli defense systems have failed to intercept missiles intended for Ben Gurion Airport,” group spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement, adding that the airport targeted “hypersensitive ballistic missiles.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to further attacks on the Houtis.

“We’ve acted before, we’ll act in the future too. I can’t elaborate all of that. The US works with us to work against them.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz warned that the response would be “seven times more.”

Israeli officials say the Israeli security cabinet will convened on Sunday afternoon to discuss the incident.

The incident marks a major security breaches at one of the country’s most heavily protected sites, and despite its exaggerated missile defense system, it could raise questions about Israel’s ability to intercept such attacks.

Trains with the airport have also been stopped, and police have asked the public to refrain from arriving in the area.

Photos from the scene showed missiles impacting the airport site, scattering the road towards the main terminal. Videos shared on social media appeared to show the effects of missiles at the airport and clouds of black smoke rising from the strike.

A spokesman for the Lufthansa Group told CNN that Lufthansa, Switzerland, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings have suspended flights until Tuesday, May 6th.

Amir Bah Shalom, a military analyst for Israeli Army Radio, said the missiles demonstrated both incredible accuracy and their ability to penetrate Israeli air defenses.

“They are impressive because they are very accurate and are very accurate when they are on sale from 2,000 kilometres,” Barshalom told CNN. “And you have to take this threat seriously. We need to see if it’s our mistake, or if there’s a new kind of threat here.”

Iran is developing long-range missiles that can be piloted to avoid air defense, Bar Shalom said, but it remains unclear whether such advanced technology has been transferred to the Housys. He added that the troops will analyze all aspects of the failed intercept attempt, including when the sensor detects an incoming projectile, when it identifies it, and how the interceptors came close to the missile.

“There are so many parameters that can be related to the outcome that needs to be analyzed,” he said.

Hamas, a Palestinian extremist group, praised the attack, calling Yemen “the Palestinian twins “continually ignore the most cruel forces of oppression and continue to refuse submission or defeat despite the face of the attack.”

The strike on Sunday marks the third day in a row, with the missile launch from Yemen to Israel from Yemen, according to the IDF.

Houthis claims their irritating missiles have stealth technology, 2,150 km (1,335 miles) range, high maneuverability, and can travel to Mach 16 speeds.

Since the Israeli war with Hamas in Gaza began in October 2023, the country has been fired from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah, Lebanon, and Houtis, Yemen, who claim to attack Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. Almost all projectiles are intercepted by Israeli air defense.

However, in December, the Houthi missile collided with Israeli commercial capital Tel Aviv after a failed intercept, causing more than dozens of injuries. Houthis said it had fired a polar ballistic missile labelled “Palestine 2” at Israeli forces’ targets in the Jaffa region. And in July, Houthis claimed responsibility for a fatal drone attack in Tel Aviv. This is the first such strike by the group against the city.

Israel launched several strikes against Yemen’s Houtsis in January, including targets at power plants and sea ports.

However, the US military has been implementing much broader strikes against Yemen’s targets in recent weeks, aiming to undermine groups whose attacks on transport in the Red Sea have significantly disrupted global trade.

The campaign also aims to halt launches targeted at Israel. It is also intended for commercial and US Navy vessels operating in the Middle East. Earlier last month, our costs were approaching $1 billion in just three weeks, including the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers and the use of hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end ammunition.

However, disrupting the ability of the Houtis to launch ballistic missiles against Israel has largely failed. The country’s proud missile defense system regularly intercepts launches, but some have passed through.