"I am a rapist," declared Dominique Pelicot, a Frenchman accused of drugging his wife for sexual assault by himself and dozens of strangers, in his first testimony at a trial that has shocked France. The 71-year-old, using a cane, entered the courtroom in Avignon on Tuesday with his now ex-wife present for the harrowing testimony.

Mass Rape Trial: 'I Am A Rapist' Frenchman Dominique Pilot Admits Raping Wife

A 28-year-old Frenchman, Rémi Ouvrard has broken the world altitude record for standing on top of a hot-air balloon. It raised money for research and support into rare neuromuscular diseases.

Frenchman breaks world record for standing on hot air balloon

A Frenchman jailed for two years for rape in a scandal that led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize declared his innocence Monday at the opening of his appeal trial.

Once an influential figure in Stockholm's cultural scene, 72-year-old Jean-Claude Arnault was found guilty in October of raping a young woman in 2011 and sentenced to two years in prison.

The case was one of the first big trials to come out of the #MeToo movement, and has left the venerable Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Literature Prize, in tatters.

Arnault, who has been locked up since his conviction by a district court, has insisted the sex was consensual, according to his lawyer.

He was escorted by police to the Stockholm appeals court, which was hearing the case behind closed doors.

"Jean-Claude Arnault insists on his innocence and therefore hopes to be acquitted," his lawyer Bjorn Hurtig said.

The defence team has asked to call Arnault's wife Katarina Frostenson, a Swedish Academy member who has rarely spoken out since the scandal erupted, as a witness.

"Frostenson has no credibility," Elisabeth Massi Fritz, the lawyer for the victim, told journalists.

"She is a character witness and character witnesses have no place in Swedish courts."

The scandal erupted in November 2017, one month after rape and sexual abuse accusations surfaced against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

At the time, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by Arnault.

The Frenchman ran the Forum club, which he founded in 1989 as a meeting place for the cultural elite and which was popular among aspiring young authors hoping to make contact with publishers and writers.

The Swedish Academy, which funded his club for years, has 18 members and Arnault often referred to himself as its "19th member". He reportedly occasionally leaked the names of Nobel winners to friends.

The revelations have left the prestigious body deeply divided over how to manage its ties with Arnault and his wife, with some members quitting the Academy.

His accusers claim the Academy was aware of Arnault's behaviour but ensured that "a culture of silence" reigned in cultural circles.

Discredited and without a quorum to make key decisions, the Academy postponed the announcement of the 2018 Nobel Literature Prize for the first time in 70 years.

Several allegations against Arnault were dropped due to lack of evidence or because the statute of limitations had expired.

A Frenchman jailed for two years for rape in a scandal that led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize declared his innocence Monday at the opening of his appeal trial.

A Frenchman jailed for two years for rape in a scandal that led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize declared his innocence Monday at the opening of his appeal trial. Once an influential figure in Stockholm's cultural scene, 72-year-old Jean-Claude Arnault was found guilty in October of raping a young woman in 2011 and sentenced to two years in prison. The case was one of the first big trials to come out of the #MeToo movement, and has left the venerable Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Literature Prize, in tatters. Arnault, who has been locked up since his conviction by a district court, has insisted the sex was consensual, according to his lawyer. He was escorted by police to the Stockholm appeals court, which was hearing the case behind closed doors. "Jean-Claude Arnault insists on his innocence and therefore hopes to be acquitted," his lawyer Bjorn Hurtig said. The defence team has asked to call Arnault's wife Katarina Frostenson, a Swedish Academy member who has rarely spoken out since the scandal erupted, as a witness. "Frostenson has no credibility," Elisabeth Massi Fritz, the lawyer for the victim, told journalists. "She is a character witness and character witnesses have no place in Swedish courts." The scandal erupted in November 2017, one month after rape and sexual abuse accusations surfaced against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. At the time, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by Arnault. The Frenchman ran the Forum club, which he founded in 1989 as a meeting place for the cultural elite and which was popular among aspiring young authors hoping to make contact with publishers and writers. The Swedish Academy, which funded his club for years, has 18 members and Arnault often referred to himself as its "19th member". He reportedly occasionally leaked the names of Nobel winners to friends. The revelations have left the prestigious body deeply divided over how to manage its ties with Arnault and his wife, with some members quitting the Academy. His accusers claim the Academy was aware of Arnault's behaviour but ensured that "a culture of silence" reigned in cultural circles. Discredited and without a quorum to make key decisions, the Academy postponed the announcement of the 2018 Nobel Literature Prize for the first time in 70 years. Several allegations against Arnault were dropped due to lack of evidence or because the statute of limitations had expired.

Frenchman in Nobel rape scandal declares innocence at appeal

Former European football chief Michel Platini has said he has been cleared by Swiss authorities of any criminal wrongdoing over payments he received from FIFA that resulted in a ban for ethics violations and that he now plans to return to the game.

The Frenchman was banned from all soccer-related activities over a two million Swiss francs ($2.02 million) payment FIFA made to him in 2011, with former chief Sepp Blatter`s approval, for work done a decade earlier.

FIFA`s ethics committee said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing.

A criminal investigation was opened against Platini, but the former France captain said on Saturday he had been told by the Swiss authorities that had now been closed.&nbsp

"After (three) years of investigation, the Public Ministry of the (Swiss) Confederation has just restored the truth by officially confirming that no charge has been at any time or will be in the future held against me in connection with my activities for FIFA," Platini said in a statement.

"This official information from an authority of justice attests definitely of my innocence."

Platini was initially banned from all soccer-related activities for eight years. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the suspension to four years.

The 62-year-old added he and his family had been living a nightmare for the last three years.

"These years were difficult and painful," Platini said.&nbsp

"My honour and integrity have been tarnished. I was robbed for three years of professional life.

"I will come back: where, when, how? It is too early to tell. But I will come back to football."&nbsp

The Frenchman was banned from all soccer-related activities over a two million Swiss francs payment FIFA made to him in 2011,

Former European football chief Michel Platini has said he has been cleared by Swiss authorities of any criminal wrongdoing over payments he received from FIFA that resulted in a ban for ethics violations and that he now plans to return to the game. The Frenchman was banned from all soccer-related activities over a two million Swiss francs ($2.02 million) payment FIFA made to him in 2011, with former chief Sepp Blatter`s approval, for work done a decade earlier. FIFA`s ethics committee said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing. A criminal investigation was opened against Platini, but the former France captain said on Saturday he had been told by the Swiss authorities that had now been closed. "After (three) years of investigation, the Public Ministry of the (Swiss) Confederation has just restored the truth by officially confirming that no charge has been at any time or will be in the future held against me in connection with my activities for FIFA," Platini said in a statement. "This official information from an authority of justice attests definitely of my innocence." Platini was initially banned from all soccer-related activities for eight years. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the suspension to four years. The 62-year-old added he and his family had been living a nightmare for the last three years. "These years were difficult and painful," Platini said. "My honour and integrity have been tarnished. I was robbed for three years of professional life. "I will come back: where, when, how? It is too early to tell. But I will come back to football."

Michel Platini says cleared by Swiss authorities, plans return

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