In a celebratory moment, French President Emmanuel Macron is seen cutting a giant cake at the Elysee Palace, marking a special occasion.

French President Emmanuel Macron cuts a giant cake in Elysee Palace

More than 13 years after his death, the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will be at the center of a high-profile trial in Paris. This comes as former French President Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial over charges of receiving illegal financing from Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential election campaign. Watch in for more details!

France: Ex-Prez Nicolas Sarkozy On Trial Over Gaddafi Cash Scandal

Iran is set to hold the next round of nuclear talks with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. This comes two months after the first round of discussions between Iran and these three European nations. Media reports citing Iran's deputy foreign minister said that the new round of talks will be held in Geneva on January 13th. Watch in for more details!

Iran To Hold Next Round Of Talks With UK, France and Germany: Reports

The French president Emmanuel Macron looked back at a turbulent 2024 in his New Year's Eve address and took responsibility for the instability caused by dissolving Parliament. He also called for snap elections halfway through the year and took responsibility for that too. Watch in for more details!

France's Macron acknowledges that dissolving parliament in 2024 brought instability

In his traditional New Year's Eve address, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that his June decision to call snap elections had unintended consequences. He admitted the move deepened divisions in the National Assembly instead of offering solutions for the French people. Macron reflected on the months of political deadlock that followed, highlighting the challenges the decision posed for governance and national unity.

Macron's New Year's Eve Address On France's Political Turmoil

France: Macron Admits, Calling Snap Elections Created More Instability

Paris prosecutors opened an investigation after the internet sites of several major French cities were inaccessible on Tuesday following attacks by hackers claiming they were protesting against French support for Ukraine.
At 1600 GMT, the sites of the cities of Marseille and Tarbes were down, as was the site of the department of Haute-Garonne.&nbsp;
The attacks were claimed on X by a hackers group calling themselves NoName, a collective already known for other attacks and for defending Russian points of view.
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On their X account, the hackers claimed to have also attacked the sites of cities such as Nantes, Bordeaux, Poitiers, Pau, Nimes, Nice, Angers, Le Havre, and Montpellier, as well as the Department of Les Landes, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia. Nonetheless, all the sites were operational on Tuesday.
The Paris prosecutor's office said a total of 23 sites were targeted.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, confirmed on X that his city's website was one of those.&nbsp;
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Marseille's town hall told AFP that the servers that host the city's websites had been subject to attacks that required them to enact "protection mechanisms that had the consequence of making them inaccessible".
The cities of Pau and Angers, as well as the Landes department, said they had not noticed any incidents.&nbsp;
DDoS attacks, or "distributed denial of service", are frequently used by NoName in a technique that involves saturating sites with a huge number of automatic requests that render them inoperable.&nbsp;
The attacks generally do not involve stealing data.&nbsp;
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Benoit Grunemwald, a cybersecurity expert at ESET, said that the goal appears to be propaganda by "creating an impression of a climate of digital insecurity".
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World: The attacks were claimed on X by a hackers group calling themselves NoName, a collective already known for other attacks and for defending Russian points of view.

Paris prosecutors opened an investigation after the internet sites of several major French cities were inaccessible on Tuesday following attacks by hackers claiming they were protesting against French support for Ukraine. At 1600 GMT, the sites of the cities of Marseille and Tarbes were down, as was the site of the department of Haute-Garonne. The attacks were claimed on X by a hackers group calling themselves NoName, a collective already known for other attacks and for defending Russian points of view. Also read: Foxconn Executive in France for potential Nissan stake acquisition talks with Renault On their X account, the hackers claimed to have also attacked the sites of cities such as Nantes, Bordeaux, Poitiers, Pau, Nimes, Nice, Angers, Le Havre, and Montpellier, as well as the Department of Les Landes, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia. Nonetheless, all the sites were operational on Tuesday. The Paris prosecutor's office said a total of 23 sites were targeted. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, confirmed on X that his city's website was one of those. Also read: France's new PM faces criticism for chairing town hall meeting amid Mayotte cyclone tragedy Marseille's town hall told AFP that the servers that host the city's websites had been subject to attacks that required them to enact "protection mechanisms that had the consequence of making them inaccessible". The cities of Pau and Angers, as well as the Landes department, said they had not noticed any incidents. DDoS attacks, or "distributed denial of service", are frequently used by NoName in a technique that involves saturating sites with a huge number of automatic requests that render them inoperable. The attacks generally do not involve stealing data. Also read: Five killed in shooting in northern France, police probe suspect Benoit Grunemwald, a cybersecurity expert at ESET, said that the goal appears to be propaganda by "creating an impression of a climate of digital insecurity". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Internet sites of several French cities targeted by cyber attacks

For France's wealthiest, 2024 was a year to forget. Even though they are among the richest individuals in the world, they may have shed a few tears this year. Their fortunes plummeted by a record amount in 2024, due to the nation's political instability and the sluggish market for luxury products. Watch in for more details!

French Billionaires' Combined Fortunes Slumped By A Record

The Georgian ruling party's threats against pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili are "unacceptable and incompatible" with European values, France said on Friday (Dec 27).
Georgia is gearing up for Sunday's inauguration of ruling party loyalist Mikheil Kavelashvili as president after his election was declared "illegitimate" by the outgoing leader and the pro-Western opposition.
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"The Georgian Dream's threats of imprisoning President Zurabishvili are unacceptable and incompatible with any European perspective," French European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad said on X.
"The violence and intimidation against demonstrators must stop. France supports European and democratic aspirations of the Georgian people," Haddad added.
Zurabishvili, a former French diplomat, has refused to step down until the government announces fresh parliamentary elections.&nbsp;
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said 72-year-old Zurabishvili's failure to leave the presidential palace "would constitute a criminal offence punishable by many years of imprisonment".
Zurabishvili is popular among protesters who see her as a beacon of Georgia's European aspirations and many have vowed to defend her against any attempted eviction from the presidential palace.
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Kavelashvili's inauguration is expected to further escalate the political crisis which has seen mass pro-EU demonstrations.
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Zurabishvili, a former French diplomat, has refused to step down until the government announces fresh parliamentary elections. 

The Georgian ruling party's threats against pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili are "unacceptable and incompatible" with European values, France said on Friday (Dec 27). Georgia is gearing up for Sunday's inauguration of ruling party loyalist Mikheil Kavelashvili as president after his election was declared "illegitimate" by the outgoing leader and the pro-Western opposition. Also read | Prominent World Leaders Who Died in 2024 "The Georgian Dream's threats of imprisoning President Zurabishvili are unacceptable and incompatible with any European perspective," French European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad said on X. "The violence and intimidation against demonstrators must stop. France supports European and democratic aspirations of the Georgian people," Haddad added. Zurabishvili, a former French diplomat, has refused to step down until the government announces fresh parliamentary elections. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said 72-year-old Zurabishvili's failure to leave the presidential palace "would constitute a criminal offence punishable by many years of imprisonment". Zurabishvili is popular among protesters who see her as a beacon of Georgia's European aspirations and many have vowed to defend her against any attempted eviction from the presidential palace. Also read | Prominent World Leaders Who Died in 2024 Kavelashvili's inauguration is expected to further escalate the political crisis which has seen mass pro-EU demonstrations. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Unacceptable and incompatible': France warns over threats against Georgia's pro-EU president

Paris, France 
Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported. 
Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out. 
Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran 
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A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail". 
"The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement. 
He further said that no visitors were put in danger. 
Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trying-civilians-lacks-transparency-us-uk-slams-pakistan-for-sentencing-civilians-786502">'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians</a>
Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported. 
(With inputs from agencies)

A fire broke out in Paris's most famous tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). Emergency services were reported on the scene, with thousands of visitors being evacuated. According to French media, a fire broke out in the elevator shaft between the first and second floors. 

 



Paris, France Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported. Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail". "The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement. He further said that no visitors were put in danger. Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames." Also read | 'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Fire breaks out in Eiffel Tower, thousands evacuated: Report

Paris, France 
Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial."
The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran
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"We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added.
The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court.
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process."
The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year.
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In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported.
Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion." 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial."



Paris, France Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial." The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran "We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added. The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process." The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year. Also read | Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported. Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slam Pakistan for sentencing civilians

French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year. Watch this report for more details!

France: Macron Announces Fourth Government of the Year

Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported.&nbsp;

Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran&nbsp;

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A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail".&nbsp;

"The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement.&nbsp;

He further said that no visitors were put in danger.&nbsp;

Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trying-civilians-lacks-transparency-us-uk-slams-pakistan-for-sentencing-civilians-786502">'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians</a>

Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24).

Around 1,200 people were evacuated after a fire alarm buzzed due to a short circuit in France's most attractive tourist place, the Eiffel Tower, on Tuesday (Dec 24). After the chaos, the tower's management company said it was not a fire but a short circuit, the British news agency Mirror reported. Emergency services were reported on the scene, and the evacuated people were taken away from the tower. It is currently closed, and maintenance is underway with an investigation being carried out. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran A spokesperson of the tower's management company SETE told the Mirror that the fire turned out to be "a short circuit in an elevator power rail". "The technical problem occurred between the second floor and the top of the monument, causing the fire alarm to be triggered at 10.50 am. By current safety procedures, we evacuated the monument," the spokesperson further added in their statement. He further said that no visitors were put in danger. Just after the news came out, wild speculations flooded social media, with one X user writing, "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames." Also read | 'Trying civilians lacks transparency': US, UK slams Pakistan for sentencing civilians Another social media user wrote, "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While another person said: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!" Mirror reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial."

The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Watch |&nbsp;Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran

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"We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added.

The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process."

The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ship-ursa-major-sinks-after-engine-explosion-14-crew-members-rescued-others-missing-786489">Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing</a>

In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported.

Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion."&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

&nbsp;

Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings.

Following the sentencing of 25 people by a military court in Pakistan's Islamabad, the UK expressed concerns and emphasised the lack of "independent scrutiny and transparency" in such proceedings. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson in a statement on Monday said, "While the UK respects Pakistan's sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial." The spokesperson also urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Watch | Israel Confirms Assassination Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Iran "We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," the spokesperson added. The United States also expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X on Monday wrote, "The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process." The military court sentenced 25 people to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for targeting military installations during protests which erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in May last year. Also read | Russia ship Ursa Major sinks after engine explosion, 14 crew members rescued, others missing In a statement, the Pakistan military stated that the country on May 9 saw tragic incidents of "politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan" when, building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were conducted at the army installations, The Express Tribune reported. Terming the action of protesters as "blatant acts of violence," the Pakistan military said, "These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also underscored the necessity of checking this unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose own perverted will through violence and coercion." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Cyclone Chido has left a trail of devastation across Mayotte and Mozambique. Mayotte was struck by the most powerful cyclone in nearly a century, leaving homes flattened, roads submerged, and 1,000 people feared dead. Why was the cyclone this deadly?

Deadly Cyclone Chido Wreaks Havoc In France's Mayotte

Paris, France
Caroline Darian, the daughter of French rape survivor Gisèle Pélicot and convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot on Tuesday (Dec 17) yelled at her father saying he would "die in lies" as the biggest rape trial ended with the conviction of 51 defendants.  
The trial lasted three months and was widely covered by global media. Details of the abuse Gisele bore at the hands of her former spouse shocked the world by its sheer depravity.
Darian, who has previously told the court that she feels like a "forgotten victim" as there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted on her, yelled at her father, "You will die in lies".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-very-difficult-ordeal-gisele-pelicots-first-words-after-verdict-in-france-mass-rape-trial-785338">A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial</a>
<h2>Did Dominique Pelicot abuse Caroline Darian?</h2>
In spite of some damning photos that were discovered on his computer, Dominique Pélicot continues to insist that he had never abused his daughter Caroline.
He is accused of drugging Caroline Darian when she was 20 years old and clicking semi-naked photos of her in lingerie on a bed. These images were found years later on his computer.
Dominique, however, insists he "did nothing" to his daughter. 
Watch | France Mass Rape Trial: Gisèle Pelicot's Ex-Husband Dominique Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison
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In court, during the close statements, Dominique said that he is not going to "try to convince" his daughter with "perverse answers" and claimed he didn't remember taking the photos.
"I tell her straight in the eyes that I never touched her," he insisted.
Turning to Caroline, he reiterated "I have never done anything to you," but was interrupted by her saying, "You lie, you don't have the courage to tell the truth! Even about your ex-wife!" 
"You will die in lies! Alone, alone in lies Dominique Pélicot!" she exclaimed.
Previously, in November, she had yelled at Dominique, "I'll never see you again! You’ll die alone like a dog".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-mass-rape-trial-who-are-the-51-men-accused-of-raping-gisele-pelicot-785329">France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot?</a>
<h2>Dominique Pelicot's perverse crimes</h2>
For almost a decade starting in 2011, Dominique drugged his wife and recruited dozens of men online to have sex with her while unconscious. In the closing statements, accepting his crimes, Dominique Pélicot said that his "motive" behind the disturbing crimes was wanting to satisfy a "fantasy".
"I came to do what I did through people who willingly accepted what I proposed," he told the court.
(With inputs from agencies)

Darian, who has previously told the court that she feels like a "forgotten victim" yelled at her father, "You will die in lies".



Paris, France Caroline Darian, the daughter of French rape survivor Gisèle Pélicot and convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot on Tuesday (Dec 17) yelled at her father saying he would "die in lies" as the biggest rape trial ended with the conviction of 51 defendants. The trial lasted three months and was widely covered by global media. Details of the abuse Gisele bore at the hands of her former spouse shocked the world by its sheer depravity. Darian, who has previously told the court that she feels like a "forgotten victim" as there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted on her, yelled at her father, "You will die in lies". Also read | A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial Did Dominique Pelicot abuse Caroline Darian? In spite of some damning photos that were discovered on his computer, Dominique Pélicot continues to insist that he had never abused his daughter Caroline. He is accused of drugging Caroline Darian when she was 20 years old and clicking semi-naked photos of her in lingerie on a bed. These images were found years later on his computer. Dominique, however, insists he "did nothing" to his daughter. Watch | France Mass Rape Trial: Gisèle Pelicot's Ex-Husband Dominique Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison × In court, during the close statements, Dominique said that he is not going to "try to convince" his daughter with "perverse answers" and claimed he didn't remember taking the photos. "I tell her straight in the eyes that I never touched her," he insisted. Turning to Caroline, he reiterated "I have never done anything to you," but was interrupted by her saying, "You lie, you don't have the courage to tell the truth! Even about your ex-wife!" "You will die in lies! Alone, alone in lies Dominique Pélicot!" she exclaimed. Previously, in November, she had yelled at Dominique, "I'll never see you again! You’ll die alone like a dog". Also read | France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot? Dominique Pelicot's perverse crimes For almost a decade starting in 2011, Dominique drugged his wife and recruited dozens of men online to have sex with her while unconscious. In the closing statements, accepting his crimes, Dominique Pélicot said that his "motive" behind the disturbing crimes was wanting to satisfy a "fantasy". "I came to do what I did through people who willingly accepted what I proposed," he told the court. (With inputs from agencies)

France mass rape: 'You’ll die alone like a dog,' daughter Caroline tells convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot

French President Emmanuel Macron visited Mayotte on Thursday to assess the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido. Watch this report for more details!

French President Emmanuel Macron Visits Cyclone-Ravaged Mayotte

Dominique Pelicot was found guilty by a French court of five judges on Thursday (Dec 19) of drugging and the mass rape of his then-wife Gisele Pelicot. The 72-year-old man has been handed the maximum sentence for his charges, 20 years in prison.

France Mass Rape Trial: Court Convicts Husband Dominique Pelicot

Dominique Pelicot was found guilty by a French court of five judges on Thursday (Dec 19) of drugging and the mass rape of his then-wife Gisele Pelicot. The 72-year-old man has been handed the maximum sentence for his charges, 20 years in prison. 

Caroline Darian, the daughter of French rape survivor Gisèle Pélicot and convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot on Tuesday (Dec 17) yelled at her father saying he would "die in lies" as the biggest rape trial ended with the conviction of 51 defendants. &nbsp;

The trial&nbsp;lasted three months and was widely covered by global media. Details of the abuse Gisele bore at the hands of her former spouse shocked the world by its sheer depravity.

Darian, who has previously told the court that she feels like a "forgotten victim" as there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted on her, yelled at her father, "You will die in lies".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-very-difficult-ordeal-gisele-pelicots-first-words-after-verdict-in-france-mass-rape-trial-785338">A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial</a>

<h2>Did Dominique Pelicot abuse Caroline Darian?</h2>

In spite of some damning photos that were discovered on his computer, Dominique Pélicot continues to insist that he had never abused his daughter Caroline.

He is accused of drugging Caroline Darian when she was 20 years old and clicking semi-naked photos of her in lingerie on a bed. These images were found years later on his computer.

Dominique, however, insists he "did nothing" to his daughter.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;France Mass Rape Trial: Gisèle Pelicot's Ex-Husband Dominique Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

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In court, during the close statements, Dominique said that he is not going to "try to convince" his daughter with "perverse answers" and claimed he didn't remember taking the photos.

"I tell her straight in the eyes that I never touched her," he insisted.

Turning to Caroline, he reiterated "I have never done anything to you," but was interrupted by her saying, "You lie, you don't have the courage to tell the truth! Even about your ex-wife!"&nbsp;

"You will die in lies! Alone, alone in lies Dominique Pélicot!" she exclaimed.

Previously, in November, she had yelled at Dominique, "I'll never see you again! You’ll die alone like a dog".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-mass-rape-trial-who-are-the-51-men-accused-of-raping-gisele-pelicot-785329">France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot?</a>

<h2>Dominique Pelicot's perverse crimes</h2>

For almost a decade starting in 2011, Dominique drugged his wife and recruited dozens of men online to have sex with her while unconscious. In the closing statements, accepting his crimes, Dominique Pélicot said that his "motive" behind the disturbing crimes was wanting to satisfy a "fantasy".

"I came to do what I did through people who willingly accepted what I proposed," he told the court.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Caroline Darian, the daughter of French rape survivor Gisèle Pélicot and convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot on Tuesday (Dec 17) yelled at her father saying he would "die in lies" as the biggest rape trial ended with the conviction of 51 defendants.

Caroline Darian, the daughter of French rape survivor Gisèle Pélicot and convicted rapist Dominique Pélicot on Tuesday (Dec 17) yelled at her father saying he would "die in lies" as the biggest rape trial ended with the conviction of 51 defendants. The trial lasted three months and was widely covered by global media. Details of the abuse Gisele bore at the hands of her former spouse shocked the world by its sheer depravity. Darian, who has previously told the court that she feels like a "forgotten victim" as there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted on her, yelled at her father, "You will die in lies". Also read | A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial Did Dominique Pelicot abuse Caroline Darian? In spite of some damning photos that were discovered on his computer, Dominique Pélicot continues to insist that he had never abused his daughter Caroline. He is accused of drugging Caroline Darian when she was 20 years old and clicking semi-naked photos of her in lingerie on a bed. These images were found years later on his computer. Dominique, however, insists he "did nothing" to his daughter. Watch | France Mass Rape Trial: Gisèle Pelicot's Ex-Husband Dominique Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison × In court, during the close statements, Dominique said that he is not going to "try to convince" his daughter with "perverse answers" and claimed he didn't remember taking the photos. "I tell her straight in the eyes that I never touched her," he insisted. Turning to Caroline, he reiterated "I have never done anything to you," but was interrupted by her saying, "You lie, you don't have the courage to tell the truth! Even about your ex-wife!" "You will die in lies! Alone, alone in lies Dominique Pélicot!" she exclaimed. Previously, in November, she had yelled at Dominique, "I'll never see you again! You’ll die alone like a dog". Also read | France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot? Dominique Pelicot's perverse crimes For almost a decade starting in 2011, Dominique drugged his wife and recruited dozens of men online to have sex with her while unconscious. In the closing statements, accepting his crimes, Dominique Pélicot said that his "motive" behind the disturbing crimes was wanting to satisfy a "fantasy". "I came to do what I did through people who willingly accepted what I proposed," he told the court. (With inputs from agencies)

Just days ago, President Emmanuel Macron appointed a new Prime Minister, and now his own job seems to be under threat. On Wednesday, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen said that she is preparing to contest for an early Presidential election in the country. Now, the National Rally leader has slammed Emmanuel Macron, saying that his era as President will be over sooner than scheduled. The Presidential elections are not due until 2027; however, the incumbent has been pressured to resign over political instability in the country. Watch in for more details!

2024 French Political Crisis: Far-Right Leader Le Pen prepares For Early Presidential Polls

The former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been indicted for corruption and influence peddling. France's highest court has passed a judgment ordering Nicolas Sarkozy to wear an electronic tag for a period of a year. Watch in for more details!

France: Ex-Prez Nicolas Sarkozy Indicted For Bribery & Influence Peddling

Dominique Pelicot was found guilty by a French court of five judges on Thursday (Dec 19) of drugging and the mass rape of his then-wife Gisèle Pelicot. The 72-year-old man has been handed the maximum sentence for his charges, 20 years in prison. He had been accused of repeatedly raping, and enlisting strangers to abuse, his heavily sedated wife for over a decade. Watch in for more details!



France Mass Rape Trial: Gisèle Pelicot's Ex-Husband Dominique Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

Dominique Pelicot was found guilty by a French court of five judges on Thursday (Dec 19) of drugging and the mass rape of his then-wife Gisèle Pelicot. The 72-year-old man has been handed the maximum sentence for his charges, 20 years in prison. He had been accused of repeatedly raping, and enlisting strangers to abuse, his heavily sedated wife for over a decade. Watch in for more details!

France Mass Rape Trial: Dominique Pelicot Faces 20 Years In Prison; All Defendants Convicted

France’s highest court upheld on Wednesday former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for corruption and influence peddling. Watch this report for more details!

France: Sarkozy First Former Head of State Ordered to Wear Electronic Tag

Bitcoin’s soaring value has caught the attention of high-end fashion brands and retailers, prompting further interest in offering cryptocurrencies as a means of payment to tap into fresh pockets of wealth and build loyalty with crypto investors.&nbsp;

Until recently, only a handful of luxury brands including LVMH watch labels Hublot and Tag Heuer as well as Kering-owned fashion brands Gucci and Balenciaga have experimented with crypto payment offers.

In recent weeks, upscale French luxury department store Printemps announced it was teaming up with the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, and French financial tech company Lyzi to accept cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and ethereum in its stores in France – becoming the first European department store to do so. The move, coming as bitcoin rises, has been noticed by other brands and retailers who are showing interest in joining in.

“There have been quite a few calls – it’s generated interest,” said David Princay, president of Binance France, who said the company is in talks with other luxury labels.

Luxury lighter and pen maker S.T. Dupont told Reuters it aims to accept cryptocurrency payments in two Paris stores before the holidays.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bitcoin-hits-106000-amid-trumps-pro-crypto-push-784305">Also read:&nbsp;Bitcoin hits $106,000 amid Trump’s pro-crypto push</a>

In the realm of experiences, cruise company Virgin Voyages began this month offering its first product accepting Bitcoin as a payment option – a $120,000 annual pass for up to a year of sailing on its cruise ships.

Regulators have long warned that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are high-risk assets, with limited uses in the real world. High volatility has been another barrier to wide adoption as a means of payment.

But pledges of support from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to bring in more friendly e-currency regulation, have fueled record-breaking rises for Bitcoin. S&amp;P analysts say the narrative is starting to shift, noting that blockchain innovation in financial markets could increase predictability for cryptocurrencies.

<h2>Seeking innovative branding</h2>

Luxury labels have long sought to cater to affluent shoppers from the tech industry by opening stores in upscale Silicon Valley malls and issuing products like the Hermes Apple Watch, for example, which combines signature, stitched leather straps of the French Birkin bag maker with tech giant Apple’s connected timepiece.&nbsp;

Now, the new wealth generated by Bitcoin’s recent highs – topping $107,000 on Monday – comes as the luxury industry faces its biggest slump in years and searches for new sources of growth.

Offering cryptocurrency payments can be a way for companies to brand themselves as innovative rather than “a stuffy old brand that’s only selling to the boomers,” said Andrew O’Neill, digital assets lead analyst at S&amp;P Global Ratings.

The payment option remains largely symbolic. Retailers usually reconvert the funds to euros or dollars to offset risks of volatility, while for most shoppers, payment methods are seen overall as “something that’s been solved” already by such transaction platforms as PayPal or Venmo, said O’Neill.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Bitcoin Smashes Records as Trump Signals Strategic Reserve Plans

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But for bitcoin investors who have seen a strong rise in the value of their investment, luxury goods – a designer handbag or high-end watch – are an obvious choice for diversifying one’s portfolio, analysts say.

In a sign of growing interest from designer labels, Balenciaga recently issued a leather card holder designed to hold “Stax” hardware from crypto wallet company Ledger. The black leather accessory, which retails for 350 euros ($368), includes a keychain and Eiffel Tower charm, and an NFC chip fitted underneath the brand logo. Ledger’s Stax Crypto hardware, its recently developed higher-end hardware with a curved touch screen, sells for $399 at Best Buy . The company’s “Flex” hardware, which resembles a mini Amazon Kindle, sells for $249 while the “Nano” version, which looks like a USB key, sells for $79.&nbsp;

Gregory Boutte, chief client and digital officer for luxury conglomerate Kering, has described the group’s strategy when it comes to technology as “test and learn” rather than “wait and see.” He emphasized the embrace of new technologies as key to reaching younger and Asian clientele.

Kering’s star label, Gucci, has since 2022 made purchases available through 10 cryptocurrencies for most of its products in the United States.&nbsp;

Printemps is working to expand its crypto payments service to New York City, where it plans to open a multibrand retailer in the Wall Street district in March.

Bitcoin’s rise in late 2021 prompted an initial flurry of interest from luxury brands with Tag Heuer, headed at the time by LVMH luxury scion Frederic Arnault, as well as Gucci, accepting payments in cryptocurrency the following year for some purchases in the United States.&nbsp;

One crypto advocate who recently used digital assets to make luxury purchases is Eunice Wong, an investor and influencer known as “Eunicorn.”

Wong said she used cryptocurrency to buy several high-end watches this year including an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model. However she is not interested in being drawn in by high-end brands seeking to build a closer client relationship, preferring to bypass traditional retail stores and sales routines. That takes too much time, in her view. “If I will buy, I’ll buy on the secondary market, not through them,” she told Reuters. “I want it now.”

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Bitcoin’s soaring value has caught the attention of high-end fashion brands and retailers, prompting further interest in offering cryptocurrencies as a means of payment to tap into fresh pockets of wealth and build loyalty with crypto investors.

Bitcoin’s soaring value has caught the attention of high-end fashion brands and retailers, prompting further interest in offering cryptocurrencies as a means of payment to tap into fresh pockets of wealth and build loyalty with crypto investors. Until recently, only a handful of luxury brands including LVMH watch labels Hublot and Tag Heuer as well as Kering-owned fashion brands Gucci and Balenciaga have experimented with crypto payment offers. In recent weeks, upscale French luxury department store Printemps announced it was teaming up with the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, and French financial tech company Lyzi to accept cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and ethereum in its stores in France – becoming the first European department store to do so. The move, coming as bitcoin rises, has been noticed by other brands and retailers who are showing interest in joining in. “There have been quite a few calls – it’s generated interest,” said David Princay, president of Binance France, who said the company is in talks with other luxury labels. Luxury lighter and pen maker S.T. Dupont told Reuters it aims to accept cryptocurrency payments in two Paris stores before the holidays. Also read: Bitcoin hits $106,000 amid Trump’s pro-crypto push In the realm of experiences, cruise company Virgin Voyages began this month offering its first product accepting Bitcoin as a payment option – a $120,000 annual pass for up to a year of sailing on its cruise ships. Regulators have long warned that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are high-risk assets, with limited uses in the real world. High volatility has been another barrier to wide adoption as a means of payment. But pledges of support from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to bring in more friendly e-currency regulation, have fueled record-breaking rises for Bitcoin. S&P analysts say the narrative is starting to shift, noting that blockchain innovation in financial markets could increase predictability for cryptocurrencies. Seeking innovative branding Luxury labels have long sought to cater to affluent shoppers from the tech industry by opening stores in upscale Silicon Valley malls and issuing products like the Hermes Apple Watch, for example, which combines signature, stitched leather straps of the French Birkin bag maker with tech giant Apple’s connected timepiece. Now, the new wealth generated by Bitcoin’s recent highs – topping $107,000 on Monday – comes as the luxury industry faces its biggest slump in years and searches for new sources of growth. Offering cryptocurrency payments can be a way for companies to brand themselves as innovative rather than “a stuffy old brand that’s only selling to the boomers,” said Andrew O’Neill, digital assets lead analyst at S&P Global Ratings. The payment option remains largely symbolic. Retailers usually reconvert the funds to euros or dollars to offset risks of volatility, while for most shoppers, payment methods are seen overall as “something that’s been solved” already by such transaction platforms as PayPal or Venmo, said O’Neill. Watch | Bitcoin Smashes Records as Trump Signals Strategic Reserve Plans × But for bitcoin investors who have seen a strong rise in the value of their investment, luxury goods – a designer handbag or high-end watch – are an obvious choice for diversifying one’s portfolio, analysts say. In a sign of growing interest from designer labels, Balenciaga recently issued a leather card holder designed to hold “Stax” hardware from crypto wallet company Ledger. The black leather accessory, which retails for 350 euros ($368), includes a keychain and Eiffel Tower charm, and an NFC chip fitted underneath the brand logo. Ledger’s Stax Crypto hardware, its recently developed higher-end hardware with a curved touch screen, sells for $399 at Best Buy . The company’s “Flex” hardware, which resembles a mini Amazon Kindle, sells for $249 while the “Nano” version, which looks like a USB key, sells for $79. Gregory Boutte, chief client and digital officer for luxury conglomerate Kering, has described the group’s strategy when it comes to technology as “test and learn” rather than “wait and see.” He emphasized the embrace of new technologies as key to reaching younger and Asian clientele. Kering’s star label, Gucci, has since 2022 made purchases available through 10 cryptocurrencies for most of its products in the United States. Printemps is working to expand its crypto payments service to New York City, where it plans to open a multibrand retailer in the Wall Street district in March. Bitcoin’s rise in late 2021 prompted an initial flurry of interest from luxury brands with Tag Heuer, headed at the time by LVMH luxury scion Frederic Arnault, as well as Gucci, accepting payments in cryptocurrency the following year for some purchases in the United States. One crypto advocate who recently used digital assets to make luxury purchases is Eunice Wong, an investor and influencer known as “Eunicorn.” Wong said she used cryptocurrency to buy several high-end watches this year including an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model. However she is not interested in being drawn in by high-end brands seeking to build a closer client relationship, preferring to bypass traditional retail stores and sales routines. That takes too much time, in her view. “If I will buy, I’ll buy on the secondary market, not through them,” she told Reuters. “I want it now.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Luxury brands to consider accepting crypto payments as bitcoin soars

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