How fast can the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet really fly?

Did China ask its people 'not to respond to aliens'? Origin of bizarre claim on social media

MS Dhoni-CSK Fallout? Report claims failed stake sale talks triggered rift

Scientists reveal the SAFEST COUNTRY when catastrophe strikes the planet

Serial killer on the loose in South Korea's Jeju Island? Fourth body found in three days as more than a dozen people go missing

2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods

Trump once again claims without him there would be ‘no Israel right now’

Foreign espionage attacks against German companies surge to 37%, Bitkom report reveals

Blake Lively wins partial legal fee from Justin Baldoni after $8M request

Why is Pakistan deploying Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones near India border?

'OH MY GOD! We've found other agents!': Investigators discover not one or two, almost 700 OpenAI AI agents went rogue, hacked Hugging Face

Lunar eclipse 2026: India timings, places to see and more. August Blood moon factsheet

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on global outreach tour 

Both pilots killed as training aircraft crashes in Lucknow – What we know

16-year-old charged with preparing terror attack on kindergarten in Norway

How the S-400 protects itself from enemy attacks

Nepal floods: Over 165 dead, 400 missing; US, India, China, World Bank mobilise aid

India's multi-layered watch: The new surveillance war

5 doomsday planes spotted in US skies hours after CIA director's secret trip to Russia

9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to finally face trial in 2028, nearly 27 years after horrific attacks

Islamabad hospital fire: What we know about one of the biggest facility that housed Imran Khan

Workers run for life while filming Nepal flash flood: Scary new visuals emerge from Rasuwa

Russian military planes enter South Korean air defence zone amid rising tensions with North Korea: What's happening

Ron Weasley Is Back! Rupert Grint set to return to Harry Potter universe on Broadway

400-year-old 'vampire' grave in Poland reveals non-existent genetic lineage

Dolly Parton, global icon and queen of country music, dies at 80

Nepal flash floods: Kailash Mansarovar yatra affected, close to 400 pilgrims out of contact

'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate

Man arrested near US Capitol with guillotine in pickup truck: What happened?

Why the Su-30MKI cockpit is painted bright turquoise green

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

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-mass-rape-trial-gisele-pelicots-ex-husband-dominique-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-785347/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

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)

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

Holiday celebrations like Christmas and New Year have boosted the hospitality industry in many ways. Watch this report for more details!

Hospitality Industry's Bottom Lines Get A Boost

Georgia, United States
<meta content="uuidOih4Mm538M3W" name="uuid"/>
A Georgia appeals court ruled on Thursday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be disqualified from prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump and several of his allies for attempting to interfere in the 2020 election in the U.S. state.
The ruling throws into doubt the future of the case, which includes Trump and 14 allies. The appeals court in Atlanta, in a 2-1 ruling, found that a romantic relationship between Willis and a former top deputy, Nathan Wade, created "a significant appearance of impropriety."
"While we recognize that an appearance of impropriety generally is not enough to support disqualification, this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings," the court wrote in its opinion.
Willis' office said in a court filing that it intends to appeal the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court. A spokesperson for the office did not respond to a request for comment.
The case was one of four criminal prosecutions that Trump faced in the years since his 2020 presidential re-election loss. Just one — a New York case over a hush money payment to a porn star during his 2016 campaign — went to trial. He was found guilty in that case but has not yet been sentenced.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-elect-donald-trump-says-congress-should-get-rid-of-debt-ceiling-785376">US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling</a>
Trump criticised all four cases as politically motivated attempts to keep him from returning to power.
The Georgia court did not require that the case be tossed out, but its decision will require a new state prosecutor to take over in order for it to continue.
Steve Sadow, Trump's lead lawyer in the case, called it "a well-reasoned and just decision."
The case was already expected to be at least paused against Trump when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20. He has said it should be dismissed in its entirety.
"The American People have demanded an immediate end to the political weaponisation of our justice system," a Trump spokesperson said in a statement reacting to the ruling.
Trump has publicly discussed using the federal government, including the Justice Department, to investigate his political rivals when he returns to power.
"We are very pleased the court of appeals agreed with Mr. Roman and the other defendants that Ms. Willis should not have been allowed to prosecute this case," said Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, who initially sought Willis' removal from the case.
<h2>SPRAWLING CASE</h2>
Trump and 18 of his allies were initially charged in 2023 in what prosecutors alleged was a sprawling conspiracy to undo Trump's narrow defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election. The defendants include former Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Four people initially charged pleaded guilty to lesser offences.
Trump and 14 others pleaded not guilty.
Trump and eight co-defendants moved to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case early this year, alleging that Willis received a financial benefit from her relationship with Wade and had an improper motive to prolong the case.
Willis hired Wade, an Atlanta lawyer, to help run the investigation and prosecution of Trump and his allies.
Willis admitted to the relationship with Wade, but denied allegations of wrongdoing. She said she reimbursed Wade in cash for vacations the two took together.
After a multiday court hearing, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade stepped down, which he agreed to do.
But the appeals court found that McAfee's ruling did not address the appearance of wrongdoing that occurred earlier on, "when DA Willis was exercising her broad pretrial discretion about who to prosecute and what charges to bring."
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.

The ruling throws into doubt the future of the case, which includes Trump and 14 allies. The appeals court in Atlanta, in a 2-1 ruling, found that a romantic relationship between Willis and a former top deputy, Nathan Wade, created "a significant appearance of impropriety."



Georgia, United States A Georgia appeals court ruled on Thursday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be disqualified from prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump and several of his allies for attempting to interfere in the 2020 election in the U.S. state. The ruling throws into doubt the future of the case, which includes Trump and 14 allies. The appeals court in Atlanta, in a 2-1 ruling, found that a romantic relationship between Willis and a former top deputy, Nathan Wade, created "a significant appearance of impropriety." "While we recognize that an appearance of impropriety generally is not enough to support disqualification, this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings," the court wrote in its opinion. Willis' office said in a court filing that it intends to appeal the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court. A spokesperson for the office did not respond to a request for comment. The case was one of four criminal prosecutions that Trump faced in the years since his 2020 presidential re-election loss. Just one — a New York case over a hush money payment to a porn star during his 2016 campaign — went to trial. He was found guilty in that case but has not yet been sentenced. Also read: US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling Trump criticised all four cases as politically motivated attempts to keep him from returning to power. The Georgia court did not require that the case be tossed out, but its decision will require a new state prosecutor to take over in order for it to continue. Steve Sadow, Trump's lead lawyer in the case, called it "a well-reasoned and just decision." The case was already expected to be at least paused against Trump when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20. He has said it should be dismissed in its entirety. "The American People have demanded an immediate end to the political weaponisation of our justice system," a Trump spokesperson said in a statement reacting to the ruling. Trump has publicly discussed using the federal government, including the Justice Department, to investigate his political rivals when he returns to power. "We are very pleased the court of appeals agreed with Mr. Roman and the other defendants that Ms. Willis should not have been allowed to prosecute this case," said Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, who initially sought Willis' removal from the case. SPRAWLING CASE Trump and 18 of his allies were initially charged in 2023 in what prosecutors alleged was a sprawling conspiracy to undo Trump's narrow defeat in the battleground state in the 2020 election. The defendants include former Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Four people initially charged pleaded guilty to lesser offences. Trump and 14 others pleaded not guilty. Trump and eight co-defendants moved to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case early this year, alleging that Willis received a financial benefit from her relationship with Wade and had an improper motive to prolong the case. Willis hired Wade, an Atlanta lawyer, to help run the investigation and prosecution of Trump and his allies. Willis admitted to the relationship with Wade, but denied allegations of wrongdoing. She said she reimbursed Wade in cash for vacations the two took together. After a multiday court hearing, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade stepped down, which he agreed to do. But the appeals court found that McAfee's ruling did not address the appearance of wrongdoing that occurred earlier on, "when DA Willis was exercising her broad pretrial discretion about who to prosecute and what charges to bring." 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.

Georgia court disqualifies Fani Willis from Trump election case over alleged relationship scandal

Tbilisi, Georgia
<meta content="uuidOih4Mm538M3W" name="uuid"/>
A lawmaker in Abkhazia, a breakaway Georgian region supported by Russia, was shot dead at the parliament building, the press service of the region's presidency said.
Lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia died of wounds sustained in the shooting at the parliament building, the press office of the acting president, Badra Gunba, said in a post on Telegram. Another lawmaker was wounded in the arm.
Abkhazian state news agency Apsnypress said the interior ministry had identified another lawmaker, Adgur Kharazia, as the suspect in the shooting, and that he had fled the scene. Its report did not give any indication as to a motive.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-elect-donald-trump-says-congress-should-get-rid-of-debt-ceiling-785376" target="_blank">US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling</a>
A lush subtropical territory on the Black Sea coast, Abkhazia broke from Georgia's control in a war after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, during which hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians fled.
Russia has long supported Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia, and recognised them as independent after winning a five-day war against Georgia in 2008.
Abkhazia was plunged into crisis last month when protesters stormed the parliament in opposition to an investment agreement with Russia, forcing the region's president, Aslan Bzhania, to resign. His vice president, Gunba, became the interim leader.
Watch: US: China Has More Than 600 Operational Nuclear Warheads
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_G4_CHINA_9PM-1734628816-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_G4_CHINA_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=223&tags=US: China Has More Than 600 Operational" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Deputies voted against ratifying the agreement with Russia earlier this month.
Opposition leaders in Abkhazia had opposed the agreement over fears it would clear the way for wealthy Russians to buy up property, pricing out locals.
Moscow, which heavily finances Abkhazia's budget, wants Russian investors to be able to acquire property rights and to have the right to develop the region.
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.

Lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia died of wounds sustained in the shooting at the parliament building, the press office of the acting president, Badra Gunba, said in a post on Telegram. Another lawmaker was wounded in the arm.



Tbilisi, Georgia A lawmaker in Abkhazia, a breakaway Georgian region supported by Russia, was shot dead at the parliament building, the press service of the region's presidency said. Lawmaker Vakhtang Golandzia died of wounds sustained in the shooting at the parliament building, the press office of the acting president, Badra Gunba, said in a post on Telegram. Another lawmaker was wounded in the arm. Abkhazian state news agency Apsnypress said the interior ministry had identified another lawmaker, Adgur Kharazia, as the suspect in the shooting, and that he had fled the scene. Its report did not give any indication as to a motive. Also read: US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling A lush subtropical territory on the Black Sea coast, Abkhazia broke from Georgia's control in a war after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, during which hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians fled. Russia has long supported Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia, and recognised them as independent after winning a five-day war against Georgia in 2008. Abkhazia was plunged into crisis last month when protesters stormed the parliament in opposition to an investment agreement with Russia, forcing the region's president, Aslan Bzhania, to resign. His vice president, Gunba, became the interim leader. Watch: US: China Has More Than 600 Operational Nuclear Warheads Deputies voted against ratifying the agreement with Russia earlier this month. Opposition leaders in Abkhazia had opposed the agreement over fears it would clear the way for wealthy Russians to buy up property, pricing out locals. Moscow, which heavily finances Abkhazia's budget, wants Russian investors to be able to acquire property rights and to have the right to develop the region. 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.

Lawmaker shot dead in parliament shooting in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia

Sao Paulo, Brazil 
<meta content="uuidpjN20BeIKl8V" name="uuid"/>
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was to return to Brasilia on Thursday and resume his regular duties after getting the go-ahead from his doctors following emergency head surgery, officials said.
Lula "will return to the capital on Thursday after having received medical authorisation to take plane trips," the government said in an online statement on X.
The 79-year-old president had been convalescing in Sao Paulo, where he had his surgery last week to stop intracranial bleeding that was putting pressure on his brain.
He was seen leaving the Hospital Sirio-Libanes in Sao Paulo wearing a brimmed hat and giving a thumbs-up, but making no comment to the media.
A final medical check-up on Thursday "was extremely satisfactory -- he is well," Lula's doctor, Roberto Kalil, told journalists.
"Quite simply, the hematoma no longer exists," he said.
The doctor added that Lula had been instructed to avoid physical exercise but "obviously he will be able to do normal activities -- his cognition is perfect; he can work."
Another of Lula's doctors, Ana Helena Germoglio, said that Lula was going directly from the hospital to Brasilia, where he would spend Christmas.
Watch | UK Becoming The Western Capital For Sharia Courts
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_G8_UK_9PM-1734630016-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_G8_UK_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=160&tags=UK,sharia,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Lula had his emergency surgery, which involved drilling through his skull, on December 10, after coming down with a headache a day earlier that a scan determined was bleeding in intracranial membranes.
The haemorrhage was linked to a bad fall he suffered on October 19, when he slipped in the bathroom in his presidential residence in Brasilia.
After a follow-up procedure in the hospital on December 12 to prevent blood flow to the area, Lula posted an online video showing him walking through a corridor with Kalil.
On Sunday, Lula was discharged to continue his convalescence in his private Sao Paulo home, pending Thursday's final approval to travel.
<h2>Health issues</h2>
Even with the all-clear, Lula's health has been the subject of concern over the years.
He had successful treatment in 2011 for throat cancer, and a hip replacement operation last year.
In the weeks following his October fall, which required stitches to his head, the president skipped planned overseas trips. 
But from mid-November he resumed his active schedule, hosting leaders of the G20 grouping in Rio and attending a regional summit in Uruguay.
The succession of problems has cast a shadow over the possibility of Lula running for re-election in Brazil's next presidential polls in 2026.
Once back in Brasilia, Lula was to participate in a ministerial meeting on Friday.
The president's health scare and recovery come as his government seeks congressional approval of budget changes that have created unease in the market.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-putin-praises-jaishankars-brics-isnt-anti-western-stance-calls-modi-a-warm-ally-785405">Russia's Putin praises Jaishankar’s ‘BRICS isn’t anti-Western’ stance; calls Modi a ‘warm ally’</a>
The Brazilian currency, the real, has weakened considerably this year, losing more than a quarter of its value. 
Since late November it has been sharply losing ground against the US dollar, which on Thursday was fetching around 6.15 reais.
The depreciation was expected to continue despite Brazil's central bank last week raising its key rate to 12.25 per cent -- its third consecutive hike.
Those rate increases, which the bank signalled were likely to continue, are to counter persistently high inflation, which is running at an annualized rate of 4.87 per cent, according to the latest data in November. 
That is well above the bank's target of three per cent, and even above its upper tolerance threshold of 4.5 per cent.
But other indicators are doing well in the Brazilian economy -- Latin America's largest -- with growth expected to exceed three per cent this year and unemployment at a 12-year low of 6.2 per cent.
Nevertheless, investors are worried about the government's ability to impose fiscal discipline, especially in the face of creeping public expenditure.
At the end of November, Brasilia unveiled budget adjustments designed to cut around $11 billion in spending, but they also came with tax breaks for the country's middle class.
Lula's government is betting the lower tax take for that segment will be offset by the higher imposition on high earners -- but investors appear unconvinced.
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.

The doctor added that Lula had been instructed to avoid physical exercise but "obviously he will be able to do normal activities -- his cognition is perfect; he can work."



Sao Paulo, Brazil Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was to return to Brasilia on Thursday and resume his regular duties after getting the go-ahead from his doctors following emergency head surgery, officials said. Lula "will return to the capital on Thursday after having received medical authorisation to take plane trips," the government said in an online statement on X. The 79-year-old president had been convalescing in Sao Paulo, where he had his surgery last week to stop intracranial bleeding that was putting pressure on his brain. He was seen leaving the Hospital Sirio-Libanes in Sao Paulo wearing a brimmed hat and giving a thumbs-up, but making no comment to the media. A final medical check-up on Thursday "was extremely satisfactory -- he is well," Lula's doctor, Roberto Kalil, told journalists. "Quite simply, the hematoma no longer exists," he said. The doctor added that Lula had been instructed to avoid physical exercise but "obviously he will be able to do normal activities -- his cognition is perfect; he can work." Another of Lula's doctors, Ana Helena Germoglio, said that Lula was going directly from the hospital to Brasilia, where he would spend Christmas. Watch | UK Becoming The Western Capital For Sharia Courts Lula had his emergency surgery, which involved drilling through his skull, on December 10, after coming down with a headache a day earlier that a scan determined was bleeding in intracranial membranes. The haemorrhage was linked to a bad fall he suffered on October 19, when he slipped in the bathroom in his presidential residence in Brasilia. After a follow-up procedure in the hospital on December 12 to prevent blood flow to the area, Lula posted an online video showing him walking through a corridor with Kalil. On Sunday, Lula was discharged to continue his convalescence in his private Sao Paulo home, pending Thursday's final approval to travel. Health issues Even with the all-clear, Lula's health has been the subject of concern over the years. He had successful treatment in 2011 for throat cancer, and a hip replacement operation last year. In the weeks following his October fall, which required stitches to his head, the president skipped planned overseas trips. But from mid-November he resumed his active schedule, hosting leaders of the G20 grouping in Rio and attending a regional summit in Uruguay. The succession of problems has cast a shadow over the possibility of Lula running for re-election in Brazil's next presidential polls in 2026. Once back in Brasilia, Lula was to participate in a ministerial meeting on Friday. The president's health scare and recovery come as his government seeks congressional approval of budget changes that have created unease in the market. Also read | Russia's Putin praises Jaishankar’s ‘BRICS isn’t anti-Western’ stance; calls Modi a ‘warm ally’ The Brazilian currency, the real, has weakened considerably this year, losing more than a quarter of its value. Since late November it has been sharply losing ground against the US dollar, which on Thursday was fetching around 6.15 reais. The depreciation was expected to continue despite Brazil's central bank last week raising its key rate to 12.25 per cent -- its third consecutive hike. Those rate increases, which the bank signalled were likely to continue, are to counter persistently high inflation, which is running at an annualized rate of 4.87 per cent, according to the latest data in November. That is well above the bank's target of three per cent, and even above its upper tolerance threshold of 4.5 per cent. But other indicators are doing well in the Brazilian economy -- Latin America's largest -- with growth expected to exceed three per cent this year and unemployment at a 12-year low of 6.2 per cent. Nevertheless, investors are worried about the government's ability to impose fiscal discipline, especially in the face of creeping public expenditure. At the end of November, Brasilia unveiled budget adjustments designed to cut around $11 billion in spending, but they also came with tax breaks for the country's middle class. Lula's government is betting the lower tax take for that segment will be offset by the higher imposition on high earners -- but investors appear unconvinced. 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.

Brazil's Lula returns to regular duties after brain surgery

Moscow, Russia
<meta content="uuidOih4Mm538M3W" name="uuid"/>
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual press conference on Thursday (December 19), where he addressed both national and international media. For the second consecutive year, the event was combined with the "Direct Line" programme, allowing ordinary Russians to send in over 1.5 million questions.
During the conference, Putin agreed with India's perspective on BRICS, describing it as a "non-Western" group. He said that BRICS does not work against any country but instead focuses on the interests of its member nations.
Citing Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statement that "BRICS isn’t anti-Western. It’s just not Western," Putin called the statement "the best" and added that the group has no negative agenda.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-elect-donald-trump-says-congress-should-get-rid-of-debt-ceiling-785376" target="_blank">US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling</a>
Speaking about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin mentioned that he enjoys warm relations with the leader, reflecting the strong ties between Russia and India.
Jaishankar’s statement, which Putin referred to, was made during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on 17 February 2024. The panel included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
When asked about India’s ability to maintain relationships with diverse partners such as the US, Europe, and Russia, Jaishankar rejected the notion that BRICS, dominated by Beijing and Moscow, was “anti-Western”.
"I think it's important today to make a distinction between being 'non-West' and 'anti-West'," Jaishankar said. He added, "I’d not only characterise India as a country that is non-West but one which has extremely strong relations with Western countries, getting better by the day." He also added that this characterisation might not apply equally to other BRICS members.
Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Dares West With Invincible Mach-10 Oreshnik Missile
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_GRAVITAS_PUTIN_1_9PM-1734628214-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_GRAVITAS_PUTIN_1_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=389&tags=russia,Ukraine,Putin,Zelensky,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Jaishankar also addressed how India balances its relationship with Washington while continuing trade with Moscow. He said that India’s foreign policy is not purely transactional, saying, "We get along with people, we believe in things, we share things...but there are times when you are located in different places, different levels of development, different experiences, all of that gets."
Jaishankar concluded by saying that good partners offer choices, and smart partners take advantage of those choices.
(With inputs from agencies)

During the conference, Putin agreed with India's perspective on BRICS, describing it as a "non-Western" group. He said that BRICS does not work against any country but instead focuses on the interests of its member nations.



Moscow, Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual press conference on Thursday (December 19), where he addressed both national and international media. For the second consecutive year, the event was combined with the "Direct Line" programme, allowing ordinary Russians to send in over 1.5 million questions. During the conference, Putin agreed with India's perspective on BRICS, describing it as a "non-Western" group. He said that BRICS does not work against any country but instead focuses on the interests of its member nations. Citing Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statement that "BRICS isn’t anti-Western. It’s just not Western," Putin called the statement "the best" and added that the group has no negative agenda. Also read: US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling Speaking about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin mentioned that he enjoys warm relations with the leader, reflecting the strong ties between Russia and India. Jaishankar’s statement, which Putin referred to, was made during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on 17 February 2024. The panel included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. When asked about India’s ability to maintain relationships with diverse partners such as the US, Europe, and Russia, Jaishankar rejected the notion that BRICS, dominated by Beijing and Moscow, was “anti-Western”. "I think it's important today to make a distinction between being 'non-West' and 'anti-West'," Jaishankar said. He added, "I’d not only characterise India as a country that is non-West but one which has extremely strong relations with Western countries, getting better by the day." He also added that this characterisation might not apply equally to other BRICS members. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Dares West With Invincible Mach-10 Oreshnik Missile Jaishankar also addressed how India balances its relationship with Washington while continuing trade with Moscow. He said that India’s foreign policy is not purely transactional, saying, "We get along with people, we believe in things, we share things...but there are times when you are located in different places, different levels of development, different experiences, all of that gets." Jaishankar concluded by saying that good partners offer choices, and smart partners take advantage of those choices. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin praises Jaishankar’s ‘BRICS isn’t anti-Western’ stance; calls Modi a ‘warm ally’

Hanoi, Vietnam
Eleven people died in a fire at a cafe in Hanoi and police have arrested a man suspected of starting the blaze, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday (December 19).
Police said in a statement that the man had confessed to using gasoline to light a fire on the ground floor of the three-storey cafe on Wednesday (December 18) after an argument with staff.
Footage from the online newspaper VnExpress showed firemen working to put out the fire and the bodies of victims being removed.
“When I was opening my gate, I noticed a column of smoke from afar. I was so frightened that I had to urge my grandchild to go downstairs," one witness told VnExpress.
"The flame was so fierce. We saw the fire engulfing, but there was nothing else we could do.”
The state-run Tien Phong newspaper reported the suspect is aged in his early 50s. The police said the fire was first reported to them just after 11 pm (1600 GMT) on Wednesday.
Seven people were rescued from the fire, with two of them hospitalised, the police statement said.
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.

Police said in a statement that the man had confessed to using gasoline to light a fire on the ground floor of the three-storey cafe on Wednesday (December 18) after an argument with staff.



Hanoi, Vietnam Eleven people died in a fire at a cafe in Hanoi and police have arrested a man suspected of starting the blaze, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday (December 19). Police said in a statement that the man had confessed to using gasoline to light a fire on the ground floor of the three-storey cafe on Wednesday (December 18) after an argument with staff. Footage from the online newspaper VnExpress showed firemen working to put out the fire and the bodies of victims being removed. “When I was opening my gate, I noticed a column of smoke from afar. I was so frightened that I had to urge my grandchild to go downstairs," one witness told VnExpress. "The flame was so fierce. We saw the fire engulfing, but there was nothing else we could do.” The state-run Tien Phong newspaper reported the suspect is aged in his early 50s. The police said the fire was first reported to them just after 11 pm (1600 GMT) on Wednesday. Seven people were rescued from the fire, with two of them hospitalised, the police statement said. 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.

11 dead in fire at cafe in Vietnam's Hanoi, cops arrest suspect

The United States government has announced additional sanctions on four entities contributing to Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Program. Watch this report for more details!

Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Programme Hit With New US Sanctions

Former President Donald Trump's new demands have put immense pressure on Congress as they work to avert a potential government shutdown. Lawmakers are scrambling to reach an agreement amid growing concerns over funding and political negotiations.

Trump's New Demands Leave Congress Scrambling to Avoid Shutdown

New Delhi 

India has started a sector-wise analysis and is drawing multiple scenarios to cope with any possible increase in tariffs on Indian products in US President-elect Donald Trump's second term in the White House. 
"Ministries and departments are examining various scenarios, apprehending such a move by the US and possible remedies," said an Economic Times (ET) report on Thursday (Dec 19), citing a person familiar with the matter. 
Trump on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that the US will impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian products as India imposes high tariffs on American goods. 
An expert told ET that India will have to relook at some of the products on which tariffs could be tweaked to address the concerns of the US. 
Watch | Ukraine's Battle For Survival At Critical Crossroads
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_ukraine_830pm-1734627615-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_ukraine_830pm.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=542&tags=russia,Ukraine,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<h2>'They tax us, we tax them'</h2>
"If they tax us, we tax them the same amount," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday (Dec 16).
"The word reciprocal is important because if somebody charges us - India, we don't have to talk about our own - if India charges us 100 per cent, do we charge them nothing for the same? You know, they send in a bicycle, and we send them a bicycle. They charge us 100 and 200," he added. 
"India charges a lot. Brazil charges a lot. If they want to charge us, that's fine, but we're going to charge them the same thing," he further said. 
<h2>'The idea that...'</h2>
On November 30, Trump issued a stark warning to India and other BRICS nations, threatening them with a 100 per cent tariff if they continue to pursue other currencies to replace the US dollar for trade.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/luigi-mangione-suspect-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-murder-agrees-to-return-to-new-york-for-trial-785373">Luigi Mangione, suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder, agrees to return to New York for trial</a>
BRICS is a group of economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside recent additions like Iran, Egypt, and the UAE.
"The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER, "Trump said. 
(With inputs from agencies)

"Ministries and departments are examining various scenarios, apprehending such a move by the US and possible remedies," said an Economic Times (ET) report on Thursday (Dec 19), citing a person familiar with the matter. 



New Delhi India has started a sector-wise analysis and is drawing multiple scenarios to cope with any possible increase in tariffs on Indian products in US President-elect Donald Trump's second term in the White House. "Ministries and departments are examining various scenarios, apprehending such a move by the US and possible remedies," said an Economic Times (ET) report on Thursday (Dec 19), citing a person familiar with the matter. Trump on Tuesday (Dec 17) said that the US will impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian products as India imposes high tariffs on American goods. An expert told ET that India will have to relook at some of the products on which tariffs could be tweaked to address the concerns of the US. Watch | Ukraine's Battle For Survival At Critical Crossroads 'They tax us, we tax them' "If they tax us, we tax them the same amount," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday (Dec 16). "The word reciprocal is important because if somebody charges us - India, we don't have to talk about our own - if India charges us 100 per cent, do we charge them nothing for the same? You know, they send in a bicycle, and we send them a bicycle. They charge us 100 and 200," he added. "India charges a lot. Brazil charges a lot. If they want to charge us, that's fine, but we're going to charge them the same thing," he further said. 'The idea that...' On November 30, Trump issued a stark warning to India and other BRICS nations, threatening them with a 100 per cent tariff if they continue to pursue other currencies to replace the US dollar for trade. Also read | Luigi Mangione, suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder, agrees to return to New York for trial BRICS is a group of economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside recent additions like Iran, Egypt, and the UAE. "The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER, "Trump said. (With inputs from agencies)

India preparing to tackle Trump's likely tariff on export goods: Report

New Delhi, India
United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do.
In other news, with the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament coming to an end soon, lawmakers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc held protests, leading to a scuffle in which two BJP MPs were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-elect-donald-trump-says-congress-should-get-rid-of-debt-ceiling-785376">US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472143-untitled-5.png"/>
United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-parliament-scuffle-becomes-a-war-of-words-between-bjp-and-congress-who-said-what-785299">Indian Parliament scuffle becomes a war of words between BJP and Congress</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472086-untitled-2.png"/>
With the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament coming to an end soon, lawmakers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc held protests, leading to a scuffle in which two BJP MPs were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital.
<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>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472116-untitled-3.png"/>
Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, who was the victim of the mass drugging-and-rape case that was orchestrated by her former husband Dominique Pelicot, gave her first reaction on Thursday (Dec 19) after 51 men, including Dominique, were found guilty in the trial.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/luigi-mangione-suspect-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-murder-agrees-to-return-to-new-york-for-trial-785373">UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder suspect agrees to return to New York for trial</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/11/470609-succession-2024-12-11t094936621.jpg"/>
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has agreed to return to New York to face charges. Mangione consented to extradition during a court hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday (December 19), where he was arrested last week after running from authorities for five days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-doubts-israel-main-beneficiary-of-assad-regimes-fall-would-withdraw-troops-from-buffer-zone-785332">Doubt Israel will withdraw troops from Syria buffer zone, says Putin</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472111-wion-news-latest-3.png"/>
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has doubts that Israel would withdraw its troops from the Israel-Syria border buffer zone after the situation stabilises. In a press conference, Putin also said Israel is the main beneficiary of the Assad regime's downfall in Syria. He condemned Israel's seizure of territories in Syria. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-oppns-impeachment-notice-to-dismiss-vice-president-jagdeep-dhankhar-dismissed-785285">Indian oppn's impeachment notice against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar dismissed</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472078-untitled-1.png"/>
Rajya Sabha's Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Thursday (Dec 19) dismissed the impeachment notice given by Indian opposition lawmakers seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the news agency PTI reported citing sources.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vijay-mallya-refutes-fm-sitharamans-rs-14131bn-debt-recovery-claim-says-entitled-to-relief-785284">Vijay Mallya says he paid double of his debt amount, claims 'entitled to relief'</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472077-sitharaman-mallya.png"/>
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya claimed on Wednesday (Dec 18) that more than double the amount that Kingfisher was owing in the case involving its airlines has been recovered by the banks. 
<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>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/11/19/466824-wion-web-team-bugs-and-banners-70.jpg"/>
A French court has convicted all 51 defendants in a shocking mass rape trial that has drawn worldwide attention. The three-month trial exposed a case centred on Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, for nearly a decade, enabling dozens of men to assault her while she was unconscious. He also recorded the abuse.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-ashwin-shrugs-off-fathers-humiliation-remark-over-shock-retirement-says-he-isnt-media-trained-785340">BGT - Ashwin shrugs off father's ‘humiliation’ remark over shock retirement</a>
<img alt="main img" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472118-bgt-ashwin-shrugs-off-fathers-humiliation-remark-over-shock-retirement.jpg"/>
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his international retirement following the Gabba Test conclusion against Australia, with his father claiming ‘humiliation’ among the potential reasons behind his shock call. The ace spinner, however, quickly responded to his father’s comments, saying he is not media-trained and should be forgiven and left alone.
<section>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/yearender-2024-movie-binge-guide-top-7-picks-from-ott-content-785212">Yearender 2024 Movie Binge Guide: Top 6 Picks from OTT</a>
<img src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/472067-1713455597785.jpg"/>
As the year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to revisit some of the best content that OTT streamers had to offer us. 2024 had some amazing shows, and films that had a message, entertained us, and gave us something to ponder. Here’s our pick of some heartfelt films that were released on OTT. 
</section>

Here are the top 10 news stories from across the world.



New Delhi, India United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do. In other news, with the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament coming to an end soon, lawmakers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc held protests, leading to a scuffle in which two BJP MPs were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital. Click on the headlines to read more US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do. Indian Parliament scuffle becomes a war of words between BJP and Congress With the Winter Session of the Indian Parliament coming to an end soon, lawmakers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc held protests, leading to a scuffle in which two BJP MPs were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital. A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, who was the victim of the mass drugging-and-rape case that was orchestrated by her former husband Dominique Pelicot, gave her first reaction on Thursday (Dec 19) after 51 men, including Dominique, were found guilty in the trial. UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder suspect agrees to return to New York for trial Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has agreed to return to New York to face charges. Mangione consented to extradition during a court hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday (December 19), where he was arrested last week after running from authorities for five days. Doubt Israel will withdraw troops from Syria buffer zone, says Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has doubts that Israel would withdraw its troops from the Israel-Syria border buffer zone after the situation stabilises. In a press conference, Putin also said Israel is the main beneficiary of the Assad regime's downfall in Syria. He condemned Israel's seizure of territories in Syria. Indian oppn's impeachment notice against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar dismissed Rajya Sabha's Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Thursday (Dec 19) dismissed the impeachment notice given by Indian opposition lawmakers seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the news agency PTI reported citing sources. Vijay Mallya says he paid double of his debt amount, claims 'entitled to relief' Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya claimed on Wednesday (Dec 18) that more than double the amount that Kingfisher was owing in the case involving its airlines has been recovered by the banks. France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot? A French court has convicted all 51 defendants in a shocking mass rape trial that has drawn worldwide attention. The three-month trial exposed a case centred on Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, for nearly a decade, enabling dozens of men to assault her while she was unconscious. He also recorded the abuse. BGT - Ashwin shrugs off father's ‘humiliation’ remark over shock retirement Ravichandran Ashwin announced his international retirement following the Gabba Test conclusion against Australia, with his father claiming ‘humiliation’ among the potential reasons behind his shock call. The ace spinner, however, quickly responded to his father’s comments, saying he is not media-trained and should be forgiven and left alone. Yearender 2024 Movie Binge Guide: Top 6 Picks from OTT As the year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to revisit some of the best content that OTT streamers had to offer us. 2024 had some amazing shows, and films that had a message, entertained us, and gave us something to ponder. Here’s our pick of some heartfelt films that were released on OTT.

Top 10 world news: Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling; Indian Parliament scuffle, and more

Florida 
An Indian man was arrested in Florida for allegedly attempting to engage in sexual activities with a minor, a statement from the US Attorney's Office said on Thursday (Dec 19). The 24-year-old man named Kirtan Patel is originally from the Indian state of Gujarat and was nabbed in July this year. 
Patel is facing a minimum of 10 years in prison, and that may get extended to life imprisonment. The exact date of the sentence has not been decided yet. 
He was among 33 men of varied nationalities who were caught during a sting operation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) with the help of the Ocala Police Department, Chiefland Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Patel was arrested after he approached a girl who he thought to be a 13-year-old. It was, in reality, an undercover officer posing to be the minor and "seeking to engage in sexual activity”.
Watch | India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir During Encounter With Security Forces
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_KASHMIR_6PM-1734616821-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_KASHMIR_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=179&tags=India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
The accused allegedly engaged in “sexually explicit conversations and graphically described the sexual acts”.
As per the indictment, between May 22 and 24, Patel approached an individual thinking it was a minor girl to engage in sexual activity. On July 18, he travelled to a location in Marion County to do the act with the child when he was nabbed. It was revealed that, including Patel, 33 men had “actually travelled to have sex with minors” and were arrested. 
“Many of these (arrested) men arranged to meet with what they thought was a child between the ages of 13-15 years old. Some of them even travelled from outside of Florida to arrange meeting places. Deputies and detectives seized guns, drugs, cash, and vehicles from these offenders, and more arrests are expected as detectives follow up with various cases," the MCSO said in a statement. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vijay-mallya-refutes-fm-sitharamans-rs-14131bn-debt-recovery-claim-says-entitled-to-relief-785284">Vijay Mallya says he paid double of his debt amount, claims 'entitled to relief'</a>
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims,” it further added. 
(With inputs from agencies)

She was among 33 men of varied nationalities who were caught during a sting operation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) with the help of the Ocala Police Department, Chiefland Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.



Florida An Indian man was arrested in Florida for allegedly attempting to engage in sexual activities with a minor, a statement from the US Attorney's Office said on Thursday (Dec 19). The 24-year-old man named Kirtan Patel is originally from the Indian state of Gujarat and was nabbed in July this year. Patel is facing a minimum of 10 years in prison, and that may get extended to life imprisonment. The exact date of the sentence has not been decided yet. He was among 33 men of varied nationalities who were caught during a sting operation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) with the help of the Ocala Police Department, Chiefland Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. Patel was arrested after he approached a girl who he thought to be a 13-year-old. It was, in reality, an undercover officer posing to be the minor and "seeking to engage in sexual activity”. Watch | India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir During Encounter With Security Forces The accused allegedly engaged in “sexually explicit conversations and graphically described the sexual acts”. As per the indictment, between May 22 and 24, Patel approached an individual thinking it was a minor girl to engage in sexual activity. On July 18, he travelled to a location in Marion County to do the act with the child when he was nabbed. It was revealed that, including Patel, 33 men had “actually travelled to have sex with minors” and were arrested. “Many of these (arrested) men arranged to meet with what they thought was a child between the ages of 13-15 years old. Some of them even travelled from outside of Florida to arrange meeting places. Deputies and detectives seized guns, drugs, cash, and vehicles from these offenders, and more arrests are expected as detectives follow up with various cases," the MCSO said in a statement. Also read | Vijay Mallya says he paid double of his debt amount, claims 'entitled to relief' “This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims,” it further added. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian arrested in Florida for 'trying to engage in sexual activities with minor'

Washington
<meta content="uuidF7Tzx15Yg0c6" name="uuid"/>United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do.
“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” Trump added. 
In the US, the debt ceiling is the legislative limit on the amount of national debt that can be incurred by the Treasury, thus limiting how much money the government may pay by borrowing more money, on the debt it already borrowed.
<h2>'Debt ceiling is a meaningless concept'</h2>
Trump told NBC that the debt ceiling was a meaningless concept and that no one would know for sure what would happen if it were to someday be breached. 
“It doesn’t mean anything, except psychologically,” the president-elect added.
<h2>What did Trump say about the possibility of a shutdown?</h2>
Amid the possibility of a shutdown, which would occur at 12.01 am on Saturday if a funding deal wasn't reached, Trump told NBC, "If there’s going to be a shutdown, we’re going to start it with a Democratic president."
Congress had last raised the debt ceiling in June 2023, suspending it through January 1, 2025. Trump also said that he discussed his views on the short-term funding deal with Elon Musk.
“I told him (Musk) that if he agrees with me, that he could put out a statement,” he added. 
During his first term as president, Trump signed legislation three times to lift the ceilings. He had also floated the idea of eliminating the debt ceiling when he was in the White House.
(With inputs from agencies)

Trump told NBC News that the debt ceiling was a meaningless concept and that no one would know for sure what would happen if it were to someday be breached. 



Washington United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday (Dec 19) that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that getting rid of the debt ceiling would be the smartest thing that Congress would do. “The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” Trump added. In the US, the debt ceiling is the legislative limit on the amount of national debt that can be incurred by the Treasury, thus limiting how much money the government may pay by borrowing more money, on the debt it already borrowed. 'Debt ceiling is a meaningless concept' Trump told NBC that the debt ceiling was a meaningless concept and that no one would know for sure what would happen if it were to someday be breached. “It doesn’t mean anything, except psychologically,” the president-elect added. What did Trump say about the possibility of a shutdown? Amid the possibility of a shutdown, which would occur at 12.01 am on Saturday if a funding deal wasn't reached, Trump told NBC, "If there’s going to be a shutdown, we’re going to start it with a Democratic president." Congress had last raised the debt ceiling in June 2023, suspending it through January 1, 2025. Trump also said that he discussed his views on the short-term funding deal with Elon Musk. “I told him (Musk) that if he agrees with me, that he could put out a statement,” he added. During his first term as president, Trump signed legislation three times to lift the ceilings. He had also floated the idea of eliminating the debt ceiling when he was in the White House. (With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump says Congress should get rid of debt ceiling

Washington, United States
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has agreed to return to New York to face charges. Mangione consented to extradition during a court hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday (December 19), where he was arrested last week after running from authorities for five days.
Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/world/who-is-luigi-mangione-key-suspect-arrested-in-killing-of-unitedhealth-ceo-782840">Who is Luigi Mangione? Key suspect charged for murder, terrorism in killing of UnitedHealth CEO</a>
Mangione, aged 26, waived his preliminary hearing on charges in Pennsylvania in exchange for receiving a 20-page investigative report from Altoona police. Blair County Judge David Consiglio then ordered that Mangione be handed over to New York authorities. As per local media reports, there were at least a dozen uniformed NYPD officers present in the courtroom, ready to take Mangione to New York.
<h2>Luigi Mangione charged with act of terrorism</h2>
Earlier this week, US prosecutors formally charged Mangione with the murder of Brian Thompson. The charges include one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is classified as an act of terrorism, and several weapons-related offences related to the alleged use of a 3D-printed firearm.
“This was not an ordinary killing,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, explaining the terrorism charge. “In its most basic terms, this was a killing intended to evoke terror, and we’ve seen that reaction.”
If convicted, Mangione could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Watch | Luigi Mangione: Who Is The Man Accused Of Killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO?
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/11/470723-org-2-1.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1112_WION_CEO_SHOOTING_ORG_GK_WEB.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=190&tags=luigi mangione,unitedhealthcare ceo,murder,crime,nypd" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, is accused of shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on 4 December. At the time of the incident, Thompson, who was the CEO of the largest health insurer in the United States, was reportedly on his way to an investor conference.
Authorities claim Mangione travelled to New York on 24 November with the specific intent to kill Thompson. On the day of the murder, he allegedly waited outside the hotel for nearly an hour before carrying out the attack.
Investigators believe a "life-altering" back injury may have motivated Mangione, although there is no evidence to suggest he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare. When arrested, Mangione was found in possession of a handwritten, three-page manifesto criticising the US healthcare system.
(With inputs from agencies)

Mangione consented to extradition during a court hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday (December 19), where he was arrested last week after running from authorities for five days.



Washington, United States Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has agreed to return to New York to face charges. Mangione consented to extradition during a court hearing in Pennsylvania on Thursday (December 19), where he was arrested last week after running from authorities for five days. Also read: Who is Luigi Mangione? Key suspect charged for murder, terrorism in killing of UnitedHealth CEO Mangione, aged 26, waived his preliminary hearing on charges in Pennsylvania in exchange for receiving a 20-page investigative report from Altoona police. Blair County Judge David Consiglio then ordered that Mangione be handed over to New York authorities. As per local media reports, there were at least a dozen uniformed NYPD officers present in the courtroom, ready to take Mangione to New York. Luigi Mangione charged with act of terrorism Earlier this week, US prosecutors formally charged Mangione with the murder of Brian Thompson. The charges include one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is classified as an act of terrorism, and several weapons-related offences related to the alleged use of a 3D-printed firearm. “This was not an ordinary killing,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, explaining the terrorism charge. “In its most basic terms, this was a killing intended to evoke terror, and we’ve seen that reaction.” If convicted, Mangione could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Watch | Luigi Mangione: Who Is The Man Accused Of Killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO? Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, is accused of shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on 4 December. At the time of the incident, Thompson, who was the CEO of the largest health insurer in the United States, was reportedly on his way to an investor conference. Authorities claim Mangione travelled to New York on 24 November with the specific intent to kill Thompson. On the day of the murder, he allegedly waited outside the hotel for nearly an hour before carrying out the attack. Investigators believe a "life-altering" back injury may have motivated Mangione, although there is no evidence to suggest he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare. When arrested, Mangione was found in possession of a handwritten, three-page manifesto criticising the US healthcare system. (With inputs from agencies)

Luigi Mangione, suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder, agrees to return to New York for trial

Kampala, Uganda
<meta content="uuidFsNYcJcEOTQU" name="uuid"/>
An unusual illness known locally as 'Dinga Dinga,' meaning "shaking like dancing," has been reported in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, primarily affecting women and girls. The condition is characterised by fever and uncontrollable body tremors, which limit body movements, according to local media.
<h2>What are some symptoms of 'Dinga Dinga'?</h2>
Symptoms of the illness include severe shaking, high fever, extreme weakness, and in some extreme cases, paralysis. So far, approximately 300 cases have been recorded, but no deaths have been reported.
Reports indicate that those affected find it difficult to walk due to the constant trembling. The exact cause of the illness remains unclear, but health officials are investigating the outbreak.
Dr. Kiyita Christopher, the District Health Officer for Bundibugyo, told local media that the illness has not been observed outside the Bundibugyo region. Samples have been sent to Uganda’s Ministry of Health for further analysis.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/woman-demands-40000-back-after-cheating-on-boyfriend-with-his-nephew-court-says-no-785281" target="_blank">Woman demands $40,000 back after cheating on boyfriend with his nephew, court says no</a>
“There is no scientific evidence that herbal medicine can treat this disease,” Dr Christopher said as per the Daily Mail. “We are using specific treatments, and patients usually recover within a week. I urge locals to seek treatment from health facilities within the district,” he added.
The illness, which was first reported in early 2023, is being closely monitored by health laboratories. Dr Christopher told the public that it is generally treatable with antibiotics and that no fatalities have occurred so far.
Health officials have advised residents to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected individuals, and report new cases to health authorities to contain the spread of the disease.
The unusual symptoms of 'Dinga Dinga' have drawn comparisons to the historical “Dancing Plague” of 1518 in Strasbourg, France, where hundreds of people experienced uncontrollable dancing movements for days and some even died due to exhaustion. While there is no confirmed link between the two, the similarities in symptoms have sparked comparisons.
This outbreak follows a recent monkeypox crisis in Uganda and other East African countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the strain, also called mpox, a global public health emergency in August, citing international concern over outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring nations.
(With inputs from agencies)

Dr. Kiyita Christopher, the District Health Officer for Bundibugyo, told local media that the illness has not been observed outside the Bundibugyo region. Samples have been sent to the Uganda’s Ministry of Health for further analysis.



Kampala, Uganda An unusual illness known locally as 'Dinga Dinga,' meaning "shaking like dancing," has been reported in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, primarily affecting women and girls. The condition is characterised by fever and uncontrollable body tremors, which limit body movements, according to local media. What are some symptoms of 'Dinga Dinga'? Symptoms of the illness include severe shaking, high fever, extreme weakness, and in some extreme cases, paralysis. So far, approximately 300 cases have been recorded, but no deaths have been reported. Reports indicate that those affected find it difficult to walk due to the constant trembling. The exact cause of the illness remains unclear, but health officials are investigating the outbreak. Dr. Kiyita Christopher, the District Health Officer for Bundibugyo, told local media that the illness has not been observed outside the Bundibugyo region. Samples have been sent to Uganda’s Ministry of Health for further analysis. Also read: Woman demands $40,000 back after cheating on boyfriend with his nephew, court says no “There is no scientific evidence that herbal medicine can treat this disease,” Dr Christopher said as per the Daily Mail. “We are using specific treatments, and patients usually recover within a week. I urge locals to seek treatment from health facilities within the district,” he added. The illness, which was first reported in early 2023, is being closely monitored by health laboratories. Dr Christopher told the public that it is generally treatable with antibiotics and that no fatalities have occurred so far. Health officials have advised residents to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected individuals, and report new cases to health authorities to contain the spread of the disease. The unusual symptoms of 'Dinga Dinga' have drawn comparisons to the historical “Dancing Plague” of 1518 in Strasbourg, France, where hundreds of people experienced uncontrollable dancing movements for days and some even died due to exhaustion. While there is no confirmed link between the two, the similarities in symptoms have sparked comparisons. This outbreak follows a recent monkeypox crisis in Uganda and other East African countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the strain, also called mpox, a global public health emergency in August, citing international concern over outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring nations. (With inputs from agencies)

Mystery illness 'Dinga Dinga' leaves 300 in Uganda shaking uncontrollably

Kabul 
<meta content="uuidpjN20BeIKl8V" name="uuid"/>
Two bus accidents involving a fuel tanker and a truck on a highway in central Afghanistan killed at least 52 people and injured 68, a provincial official said Thursday (Dec 19).
The accidents happened in Ghazni province on the same highway between the capital Kabul and southern Kandahar city late Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said on X, without specifying how many people were killed and injured in each accident.
"There is a possibility the numbers could rise," Nisar told reporters outside a hospital in Ghazni city where victims had been sent.
He noted that some of the injured were in a "critical condition" and had been sent to Kabul for treatment. "Among the injured and dead were children, women, and elderly people," he added.
One bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni, while the other hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said.
Watch | India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir During Encounter With Security Forces
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_KASHMIR_6PM-1734616821-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_KASHMIR_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=179&tags=India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the authorities had "great regret" over the accidents and that an investigation would be launched.
Teams worked to clear debris at the sites into the morning, with hunks of metal and broken glass strewn across the area in Andar along with the clothes and meals of bus passengers, an AFP journalist saw.
One of the injured in the accident in Shahbaz, Khadim, said he was jolted awake by the noise of the accident but then lost consciousness.
When he came to and pulled himself from the wreck, he "saw there were a lot of people under the vehicle and on the ground around us, there was crying and blood everywhere". 
The two destroyed buses were transported to a lot in Ghazni city, their crushed and twisted frames and seats splattered with blood.
The vehicles "were badly damaged" and the bus had been "bashed around" said Rahim, who was at the site in Shahbaz not long after the accident.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italys-giorgia-meloni-speaks-on-her-friendship-with-musk-says-dont-take-orders-from-anyone-785310">Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone'</a>
"We were gathering the stuff from the site, and there were human legs, I buried them there, it was a very intense accident," he told AFP.
Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways, and a lack of regulation. 
In March, more than 20 people were killed and 38 injured when a bus collided with a fuel tanker and burst into flames in southern Helmand province.
Another serious accident involving a fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistan's high-altitude Salang Pass, killing 31 people.
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.

He noted that some of the injured were in a "critical condition" and had been sent to Kabul for treatment. "Among the injured and dead were children, women and elderly people," he added.



Kabul Two bus accidents involving a fuel tanker and a truck on a highway in central Afghanistan killed at least 52 people and injured 68, a provincial official said Thursday (Dec 19). The accidents happened in Ghazni province on the same highway between the capital Kabul and southern Kandahar city late Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said on X, without specifying how many people were killed and injured in each accident. "There is a possibility the numbers could rise," Nisar told reporters outside a hospital in Ghazni city where victims had been sent. He noted that some of the injured were in a "critical condition" and had been sent to Kabul for treatment. "Among the injured and dead were children, women, and elderly people," he added. One bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni, while the other hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said. Watch | India: 5 Terrorists Killed In South Kashmir During Encounter With Security Forces Chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the authorities had "great regret" over the accidents and that an investigation would be launched. Teams worked to clear debris at the sites into the morning, with hunks of metal and broken glass strewn across the area in Andar along with the clothes and meals of bus passengers, an AFP journalist saw. One of the injured in the accident in Shahbaz, Khadim, said he was jolted awake by the noise of the accident but then lost consciousness. When he came to and pulled himself from the wreck, he "saw there were a lot of people under the vehicle and on the ground around us, there was crying and blood everywhere". The two destroyed buses were transported to a lot in Ghazni city, their crushed and twisted frames and seats splattered with blood. The vehicles "were badly damaged" and the bus had been "bashed around" said Rahim, who was at the site in Shahbaz not long after the accident. Also read | Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone' "We were gathering the stuff from the site, and there were human legs, I buried them there, it was a very intense accident," he told AFP. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways, and a lack of regulation. In March, more than 20 people were killed and 38 injured when a bus collided with a fuel tanker and burst into flames in southern Helmand province. Another serious accident involving a fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistan's high-altitude Salang Pass, killing 31 people. 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.

52 killed in two bus accidents in central Afghanistan

Moscow
<meta content="uuidpjN20BeIKl8V" name="uuid"/>
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready for talks "anytime" with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal  within hours of coming to office.
Trump, who will return to the White House in January, has stoked fears in Kyiv that he could force Ukraine to accept peace on terms favourable to Moscow.
Holding his annual end-of-year press conference, the Kremlin leader said his troops held the upper hand across the battlefield but was forced to admit he does not know when Russia will take back the western Kursk region where Ukrainian troops launched an incursion in August.
The traditional annual question and answer sessions, often lasting hours, are largely a televised show while also being a rare setting in which he is put on the spot and answers some uncomfortable questions.
Asked about Trump's overtures regarding a possible peace deal, Putin, 72, said he would welcome a meeting with the incoming Republican.
"I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it. I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time," Putin said.
Watch | IDF Confirms Intercepting Missiles Fired By Houthis
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_ISRAEL_6PM-1734616215-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_ISRAEL_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=181&tags=israel,Houthis,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
"If we ever have a meeting with President-elect Trump, I am sure we'll have a lot to talk about," he said, adding that Russia was ready for "negotiations and compromises".
<h2>Kursk offensive </h2>
Russia's troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for months, with Putin repeatedly touting their prowess on the battlefield.
But asked by a woman from the Kursk region when residents would be able to return to their homes there after thousands were evacuated from frontline areas amid the Ukrainian assault, Putin said he could not name a date.
"We will kick them out. Absolutely. It can't be any other way. But the question of a specific date, I'm sorry, I cannot say right now," he admitted.
Putin was also pressed on economic headwinds facing Russia—the fallout from a huge ramp-up in military spending and deep labour shortages caused by the conflict.
He insisted that the situation is "stable, despite external threats", citing low unemployment and industrial growth.
Asked about soaring inflation, Putin said that "inflation is a worrying signal," and that price rises for foods such as butter and meat are "unpleasant".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-doubts-israel-main-beneficiary-of-assad-regimes-fall-would-withdraw-troops-from-buffer-zone-785332">Putin doubts Israel, 'main beneficiary of Assad regime's fall', would withdraw troops from buffer zone</a>
He acknowledged that Western sanctions were also a factor—"while"they do not have key significance"—and" criticised the central bank, saying it should have taken measures beyond raising rates to lower inflation.
<h2>Oreshnik 'duel'</h2>
Putin appeared to repeat his threat to strike Kyiv with Russia's new hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik.
Asked by a military journalist if the weapon had any flaws, Putin suggested a "hi-tech duel" between the West and Russia to test his claims that it is impervious to air defences.
"Let them set some target to be hit, let's say in Kyiv. They will concentrate there all their air defences. And we will launch an Oreshnik strike there and see what happens," Putin  proposed.
Putin also called the killing of a senior Russian army general in a brazen assassination in Moscow two days earlier "terrorism", in his first comments on the attack, while also slamming failings by security services.
Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian military's chemical weapons unit, was killed by a bomb planted in a scooter outside a residential block in Moscow, the boldest assassination claimed by Kyiv since the start of the conflict. Russia has since arrested the suspected perpetrator.
"Our special services are missing these hits," the former KGB agent said in a rare admission of failures by the security services, listing other recent killings.
"We must not allow such very serious blunders to happen," he said.
<h2>Assad's fall not a 'defeat'</h2>
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>
In his first public comments since the fall of ex-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin  rejected claims that his toppling was a "defeat" for Russia.
"You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia. I assure you it is not," Putin said in response to a question from a journalist.
"We came to Syria 10 years ago so that a terrorist enclave would not be created there like in Afghanistan. On the whole, we have achieved our goal," Putin said.
Putin said he has not yet met Assad, who fled to Moscow as rebels closed in on Damascus, but plans to soon.
The Kremlin chief said Israel was the "main beneficiary" of events in Syria and called for it to withdraw troops from the "territory of Syria".
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.

The traditional annual question and answer sessions, often lasting hours, are largely a televised show while also being a rare setting in which he is put on the spot and answers some uncomfortable questions.



Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready for talks "anytime" with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal within hours of coming to office. Trump, who will return to the White House in January, has stoked fears in Kyiv that he could force Ukraine to accept peace on terms favourable to Moscow. Holding his annual end-of-year press conference, the Kremlin leader said his troops held the upper hand across the battlefield but was forced to admit he does not know when Russia will take back the western Kursk region where Ukrainian troops launched an incursion in August. The traditional annual question and answer sessions, often lasting hours, are largely a televised show while also being a rare setting in which he is put on the spot and answers some uncomfortable questions. Asked about Trump's overtures regarding a possible peace deal, Putin, 72, said he would welcome a meeting with the incoming Republican. "I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it. I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Any time," Putin said. Watch | IDF Confirms Intercepting Missiles Fired By Houthis "If we ever have a meeting with President-elect Trump, I am sure we'll have a lot to talk about," he said, adding that Russia was ready for "negotiations and compromises". Kursk offensive Russia's troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for months, with Putin repeatedly touting their prowess on the battlefield. But asked by a woman from the Kursk region when residents would be able to return to their homes there after thousands were evacuated from frontline areas amid the Ukrainian assault, Putin said he could not name a date. "We will kick them out. Absolutely. It can't be any other way. But the question of a specific date, I'm sorry, I cannot say right now," he admitted. Putin was also pressed on economic headwinds facing Russia—the fallout from a huge ramp-up in military spending and deep labour shortages caused by the conflict. He insisted that the situation is "stable, despite external threats", citing low unemployment and industrial growth. Asked about soaring inflation, Putin said that "inflation is a worrying signal," and that price rises for foods such as butter and meat are "unpleasant". Also read | Putin doubts Israel, 'main beneficiary of Assad regime's fall', would withdraw troops from buffer zone He acknowledged that Western sanctions were also a factor—"while"they do not have key significance"—and" criticised the central bank, saying it should have taken measures beyond raising rates to lower inflation. Oreshnik 'duel' Putin appeared to repeat his threat to strike Kyiv with Russia's new hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik. Asked by a military journalist if the weapon had any flaws, Putin suggested a "hi-tech duel" between the West and Russia to test his claims that it is impervious to air defences. "Let them set some target to be hit, let's say in Kyiv. They will concentrate there all their air defences. And we will launch an Oreshnik strike there and see what happens," Putin proposed. Putin also called the killing of a senior Russian army general in a brazen assassination in Moscow two days earlier "terrorism", in his first comments on the attack, while also slamming failings by security services. Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian military's chemical weapons unit, was killed by a bomb planted in a scooter outside a residential block in Moscow, the boldest assassination claimed by Kyiv since the start of the conflict. Russia has since arrested the suspected perpetrator. "Our special services are missing these hits," the former KGB agent said in a rare admission of failures by the security services, listing other recent killings. "We must not allow such very serious blunders to happen," he said. Assad's fall not a 'defeat' Also read | France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot? In his first public comments since the fall of ex-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin rejected claims that his toppling was a "defeat" for Russia. "You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia. I assure you it is not," Putin said in response to a question from a journalist. "We came to Syria 10 years ago so that a terrorist enclave would not be created there like in Afghanistan. On the whole, we have achieved our goal," Putin said. Putin said he has not yet met Assad, who fled to Moscow as rebels closed in on Damascus, but plans to soon. The Kremlin chief said Israel was the "main beneficiary" of events in Syria and called for it to withdraw troops from the "territory of Syria". 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.

Putin ready to meet Trump 'anytime' to talk Ukraine deal

US says that China’s military power is growing at an unprecedented rate...

The pentagon's annual report says that Beijing is making its most ambitious move yet ... A massive expansion of its nuclear arsenal...

Our  story details how the American assessment says that china is rapidly working on its goal to expanding its long-range missiles which can hit deep within the US.



China Accelerates Nuclear Expansion

Paris
<meta content="uuidF7Tzx15Yg0c6" name="uuid"/>
Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, who was the victim of the mass drugging-and-rape case that was orchestrated by her former husband Dominique Pelicot, gave her first reaction on Thursday (Dec 19) after 51 men, including Dominique, were found guilty in the trial.
“I want you to know that we share the same fight,” the 72-year-old Gisele told reporters in her first words after the court in the southern French city of Avignon handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years in the shocking case that stunned France and spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture.
Also watch | <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 Gisele Pelicot?</a>
Gisele expressed gratitude towards the people who supported her. “Your messages moved me deeply, and they gave me the strength to come back, every day, and survive through these long daily hearings,” she added.
<h2>The case and the court's verdict</h2>
On Thursday, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison over drugging Gisele and allowing a mass rape (of the woman) by strangers recruited online. The crime went on for almost a decade.
Apart from Pelicot, 50 other men were found guilty. 
The dozens of other defendants were handed terms of up to 15 years, which women's rights groups and the three Pelicot children, according to a source, condemned as too lenient, a report by the news agency AFP said.
They received jail terms of between three and 15 years, but this was in all cases less than what prosecutors had demanded and, in some cases, even half. Two of the defendants had their jail terms suspended. 
Also watch | WION Dispatch- France mass rape trial: All defendants convicted
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_FRANCE_6PM-1734615914-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_FRANCE_6PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=269&tags=France,rape trial,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Under the terms of the sentencing, six accused were allowed to walk free from the court. Only the sentence given to Dominique Pelicot was fully in line with what the prosecutors demanded. 
A family member told AFP that the three Pelicot children "are disappointed by these low sentences." There was "no question" of any of the children wanting to speak to their father after the conviction, the family member said.
<h2>Gisele becomes a feminist hero at home</h2>
The trial garnered immense interest in the wake of Giesele's decision to allow the trial to be open to the public from the outset and waive her right to anonymity.
She has become a feminist hero at home and abroad for refusing to be ashamed, waiving her right to a closed trial, and standing up to her aggressors in court.
(With inputs from agencies)

On Thursday, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison over drugging his former wife Gisele and allowing her mass rape by strangers recruited online. The crime went on for almost a decade.



Paris Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, who was the victim of the mass drugging-and-rape case that was orchestrated by her former husband Dominique Pelicot, gave her first reaction on Thursday (Dec 19) after 51 men, including Dominique, were found guilty in the trial. “I want you to know that we share the same fight,” the 72-year-old Gisele told reporters in her first words after the court in the southern French city of Avignon handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years in the shocking case that stunned France and spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture. Also watch | France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisele Pelicot? Gisele expressed gratitude towards the people who supported her. “Your messages moved me deeply, and they gave me the strength to come back, every day, and survive through these long daily hearings,” she added. The case and the court's verdict On Thursday, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison over drugging Gisele and allowing a mass rape (of the woman) by strangers recruited online. The crime went on for almost a decade. Apart from Pelicot, 50 other men were found guilty. The dozens of other defendants were handed terms of up to 15 years, which women's rights groups and the three Pelicot children, according to a source, condemned as too lenient, a report by the news agency AFP said. They received jail terms of between three and 15 years, but this was in all cases less than what prosecutors had demanded and, in some cases, even half. Two of the defendants had their jail terms suspended. Also watch | WION Dispatch- France mass rape trial: All defendants convicted Under the terms of the sentencing, six accused were allowed to walk free from the court. Only the sentence given to Dominique Pelicot was fully in line with what the prosecutors demanded. A family member told AFP that the three Pelicot children "are disappointed by these low sentences." There was "no question" of any of the children wanting to speak to their father after the conviction, the family member said. Gisele becomes a feminist hero at home The trial garnered immense interest in the wake of Giesele's decision to allow the trial to be open to the public from the outset and waive her right to anonymity. She has become a feminist hero at home and abroad for refusing to be ashamed, waiving her right to a closed trial, and standing up to her aggressors in court. (With inputs from agencies)

A very difficult ordeal: Gisele Pelicot's first words after verdict in France mass rape trial

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

The US has reported its first severe human case of bird flu ..A resident in Louisiana was hospitalised in a critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock.

US Confirms First Severe Human Case Of Bird Flu

Moscow 
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has doubts that Israel would withdraw its troops from the Israel-Syria border buffer zone after the situation stabilises. In a press conference, Putin also said Israel is the main beneficiary of the Assad regime's downfall in Syria. He condemned Israel's seizure of territories in Syria. 
“We hope that Israel will at some point leave the territory of Syria. But now it is bringing in additional troops,” Putin said. 
<h2>'A defensive measure'</h2>
On December 8, Netanyahu said that he had ordered the Israeli military to seize a buffer zone on the border with Syria after Bashar al-Assad fled Syria. 
Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv Could Receive Nuclear Weapons After Major Drone Attack
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/12/1212_UKRAINE_830PM-1734021611-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1212_UKRAINE_830PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=429&tags=russia,Ukraine,russia ukraine war,russia vs ukraine,ukraine war" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Netanyahu said a 50-year-old "disengagement agreement" between the two countries had collapsed and "Syrian forces have abandoned their positions".
 "I directed the IDF (military) yesterday to seize the buffer zone and the commanding positions nearby. We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," he further said. 
However, IDF said its deployment in the buffer zone is just a defensive and temporary measure amid the chaos in the country.
Netanyahu's announcement came after the IDF said it had deployed forces to the area.
<h2>'A direct result of...'</h2>
Furthermore, Netanyahu even claimed credit for starting the events that eventually led to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-reservist-charged-in-netanyahus-office-leak-scandal-asks-for-pardon-785322">IDF reservist charged in Netanyahu's office leak scandal asks for pardon</a>
During a visit to Mount Bental on Israel’s border with Syria, Netanyahu said, "This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil—this regime has fallen." 
“This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” he said. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's seizure of territories in Syria and said, “We hope that Israel will at some point leave the territory of Syria. But now it is bringing in additional troops.” 



Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has doubts that Israel would withdraw its troops from the Israel-Syria border buffer zone after the situation stabilises. In a press conference, Putin also said Israel is the main beneficiary of the Assad regime's downfall in Syria. He condemned Israel's seizure of territories in Syria. “We hope that Israel will at some point leave the territory of Syria. But now it is bringing in additional troops,” Putin said. 'A defensive measure' On December 8, Netanyahu said that he had ordered the Israeli military to seize a buffer zone on the border with Syria after Bashar al-Assad fled Syria. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv Could Receive Nuclear Weapons After Major Drone Attack Netanyahu said a 50-year-old "disengagement agreement" between the two countries had collapsed and "Syrian forces have abandoned their positions". "I directed the IDF (military) yesterday to seize the buffer zone and the commanding positions nearby. We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," he further said. However, IDF said its deployment in the buffer zone is just a defensive and temporary measure amid the chaos in the country. Netanyahu's announcement came after the IDF said it had deployed forces to the area. 'A direct result of...' Furthermore, Netanyahu even claimed credit for starting the events that eventually led to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Also read | IDF reservist charged in Netanyahu's office leak scandal asks for pardon During a visit to Mount Bental on Israel’s border with Syria, Netanyahu said, "This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil—this regime has fallen." “This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin doubts Israel, 'main beneficiary of Assad regime's fall', would withdraw troops from buffer zone

Tel Aviv
The reservist at the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), who was charged for the leak of security documents at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, has asked the president for a pardon. 
The officer, whose name has not been revealed due to a gag order, was charged along with Eli Feldstein, an aide to Netanyahu. He was charged with transferring classified information, which is a punishable act in Israel with seven years in prison. He was also charged with theft by an authorised person and obstruction of justice.
The officer's lawyer wrote a letter to the president saying the officer “understood that his acts were forbidden and would not repeat them". 
The letter further added, “If the criminal proceedings taken against him, within the framework of an indictment full of errors, distortions and distortions, a procedure that should never have happened, are not enough, he was ordered detained until the end of the proceedings by the Supreme Court’s decision, which, with all due respect, is a fundamental mistake."
Watch | Ukraine Losing Ground to Relentless Russian Attacks
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/12/1212_UKRAINE_830PM-1734021611-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1212_UKRAINE_830PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=429&tags=russia,Ukraine,russia ukraine war,russia vs ukraine,ukraine war" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
The leaked document to the German tabloid Bild in September was said to be highly classified. The document, according to reports, had details regarding Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations.
<h2>'Serious security leaks case'</h2>
In November, Eli Feldstein, an official from Netanyahu’s office, was revealed as the main suspect in the “serious security leaks case”.
Four Israelis, including the official, have been arrested in connection with the serious security leaks case.
According to a ruling published Sunday (Nov 3) by Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court head Menahem Mizrahi, Feldstein, who has served as a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office, is accused of divulging top-secret information with national security implications to European media outlets. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italys-giorgia-meloni-speaks-on-her-friendship-with-musk-says-dont-take-orders-from-anyone-785310">Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone'</a>
Netanyahu had sought to distance himself from the case, as he claims no one from his office was arrested or was under investigation. 
(With inputs from agencies)

The document leaked to the German tabloid Bild in September has details regarding Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations.



Tel Aviv The reservist at the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), who was charged for the leak of security documents at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, has asked the president for a pardon. The officer, whose name has not been revealed due to a gag order, was charged along with Eli Feldstein, an aide to Netanyahu. He was charged with transferring classified information, which is a punishable act in Israel with seven years in prison. He was also charged with theft by an authorised person and obstruction of justice. The officer's lawyer wrote a letter to the president saying the officer “understood that his acts were forbidden and would not repeat them". The letter further added, “If the criminal proceedings taken against him, within the framework of an indictment full of errors, distortions and distortions, a procedure that should never have happened, are not enough, he was ordered detained until the end of the proceedings by the Supreme Court’s decision, which, with all due respect, is a fundamental mistake." Watch | Ukraine Losing Ground to Relentless Russian Attacks The leaked document to the German tabloid Bild in September was said to be highly classified. The document, according to reports, had details regarding Hamas’s priorities and tactics in hostage negotiations. 'Serious security leaks case' In November, Eli Feldstein, an official from Netanyahu’s office, was revealed as the main suspect in the “serious security leaks case”. Four Israelis, including the official, have been arrested in connection with the serious security leaks case. According to a ruling published Sunday (Nov 3) by Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court head Menahem Mizrahi, Feldstein, who has served as a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office, is accused of divulging top-secret information with national security implications to European media outlets. Also read | Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone' Netanyahu had sought to distance himself from the case, as he claims no one from his office was arrested or was under investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

IDF reservist charged in Netanyahu's office leak scandal, asks for pardon

Paris, France
Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
A French court has convicted all 51 defendants in a shocking mass rape trial that has drawn worldwide attention. The three-month trial exposed a case centred on Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, for nearly a decade, enabling dozens of men to assault her while she was unconscious. He also recorded the abuse.
Dominique Pelicot was convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison—the maximum penalty. The other 50 men, aged between 26 and 74, were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, with sentences of up to 20 years. The group included individuals from a wide range of professions, such as a soldier, a journalist, a prison warden, a nurse, and farm workers.
Here's a list of all the men convicted in the case:
Cyrille D (54): A trained butcher, Cyrille raped Gisèle in her home in September 2019 while his partner was on holiday. He said he turned to an online chatroom due to dissatisfaction in his relationship.
Lionel R (44): A supermarket employee and married father of three, Lionel admitted to raping Gisèle in December 2018 but claimed he did not intend to commit rape.
Jacques C (72): A retired firefighter and former truck driver, Jacques denied rape, saying he touched Gisèle but there was no penetration.
Watch: France Mass Rape Trial: French Court Convicts Husband Dominique Pelicot
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_Manav_TRIAL_5PM-1734611411-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_Manav_TRIAL_5PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=545&tags=france mass rape trial" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Jean-Pierre M (63): A former lorry driver, Jean-Pierre was accused of using the same method to drug and rape his own wife. He also invited Dominique Pelicot to join in the abuse.
Joan K (26): A soldier and the youngest man on trial, Joan raped Gisèle twice between 2019 and 2020. He claimed he did not understand consent at the time.
Hugues M (39): A tiller and father of two, Hugues was accused of attempted rape in October 2019. He denied the charge, saying he did not realise Gisèle was drugged.
Husamettin D (43): A father who cared for his disabled son, Husamettin denied raping Gisèle in June 2019, saying, “I’m not a rapist.”
Fabien S (39): With 16 prior convictions, Fabien admitted to raping Gisèle in August 2018 but said he did not plan the crime.
Mathieu D (53): A baker for 25 years, Mathieu raped Gisèle in October 2020 while under the influence of MDMA, thinking it was part of a consensual game.
Andy R (37): An agricultural labourer and father of two, Andy raped Gisèle on New Year’s Eve 2018, believing her husband’s permission meant she had consented.
Simone M (42): A builder and former soldier, Simone raped Gisèle in November 2018. He claimed she was pretending to sleep.
Thierry Po (61): A refrigeration specialist and father of three, Thierry admitted to possessing child abuse images but denied raping Gisèle in August 2020.
Jérôme V (46): A former grocery store worker and father of three, Jérôme admitted to knowing Gisèle had been drugged when he raped her.
Thierry Pa (54): A former builder, Thierry raped Gisèle in 2020. He was identified while undergoing psychiatric treatment for depression.
Adrien L (34): Already serving a 14-year sentence for other rapes, Adrien denied raping Gisèle in 2014, claiming he thought it was a consensual game.
Jean T (52): A former roofer, Jean drove hours to rape Gisèle in 2018. He denied the charge, claiming he was drugged.
Redouan E (55): A nurse, Redouan denied raping Gisèle in 2020, saying he was manipulated by Dominique.
Patrick A (60): A former factory worker, Patrick admitted to raping Gisèle but said he participated reluctantly because he is gay.
Didier S (68): A former lorry driver, Didier denied raping Gisèle in 2019, claiming she pretended to sleep.
Karim S (40): A computer expert, Karim denied raping Gisèle in 2020.
Vincent C (42): Convicted of domestic violence in 2021, Vincent is accused of raping Gisèle in 2019 and 2020.
Jean-Marc L (74): The oldest defendant, Jean-Marc denied rape, saying he thought it was a “game.”
Dominique D (45): Accused of raping Gisèle six times, Dominique claimed he did not intend to commit rape.
Mohamed R (70): Previously jailed for raping his daughter, Mohamed raped Gisèle in 2019.
Ahmed T (54): A plumber and former boxer, Ahmed denied rape, saying he would not choose “an older woman.”
Redouane A (40): Convicted of domestic violence, Redouane raped Gisèle twice in 2019.
Mahdi D (36): A transport worker, Mahdi denied raping Gisèle in 2018, claiming Dominique misled him.
Cyril B (47): A lorry driver, Cyril denied rape despite video evidence.
Cyprien C (43): A former lorry driver, Cyprien admitted to a sexual encounter but denied rape.
Quentin H (34): A prison warden, Quentin raped Gisèle in 2019.
Grégory S (31): A decorator with prior convictions, Grégory denied raping Gisèle in 2017.
Florian R (32): A delivery driver, Florian denied raping Gisèle in 2019.
Jean-Luc L (46): Jean-Luc admitted to raping Gisèle twice in 2018, believing her husband’s consent was sufficient.
Patrice N (55): An electrician, Patrice claimed the assaults were part of a game.
Abdelali D (47): Admitting to rape, Abdelali said Dominique assured him Gisèle “wouldn’t wake up.”
Romain V (63): Romain raped Gisèle six times in 2019 and 2020. He denied wrongdoing, saying her husband’s consent sufficed.
Cédric G (50): A software technician, Cédric admitted to both rape and possession of child abuse images.
Hassan O (30): Tried in absentia, Hassan raped Gisèle in 2018.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-mass-rape-trial-dominique-pelicot-found-guilty-of-drugging-raping-wife-785232">France mass rape trial: Dominique Pelicot found guilty, gets 20 years in jail</a>
Cendric V (44): A former soldier, Cendric was accused of raping Gisèle in 2016 and 2018.
Ludovick B (39): A warehouse worker, Ludovick raped Gisèle in 2019.
Omar D (36): Omar raped Gisèle in 2017 but denied the charge.
Paul G (31): Paul raped Gisèle in 2016 after she was drugged at breakfast.
Saifeddine G (37): A lorry driver, Saifeddine raped Gisèle in 2019.
Charly A (30): Charly raped Gisèle six times between 2016 and 2020.
Christian L (56): A firefighter, Christian denied rape despite video evidence.
Nizar H (41): A builder, Nizar denied raping Gisèle in 2020.
Nicolas F (42): A journalist, Nicolas denied raping Gisèle in 2018 and possessing child abuse images.
Joseph C (69): Accused of sexual assault, Joseph denied wrongdoing during an encounter in 2020.
Boris M (37): Boris denied raping Gisèle in 2020, saying he was misled by Dominique.
Philippe L (62): A gardener, Philippe denied rape but admitted replying to Dominique’s online posts.
(With inputs from agencies)

Dominique Pelicot was convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison—the maximum penalty. The other 50 men, aged between 26 and 74, were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, with sentences of up to 20 years.



Paris, France Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. A French court has convicted all 51 defendants in a shocking mass rape trial that has drawn worldwide attention. The three-month trial exposed a case centred on Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, for nearly a decade, enabling dozens of men to assault her while she was unconscious. He also recorded the abuse. Dominique Pelicot was convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison—the maximum penalty. The other 50 men, aged between 26 and 74, were also found guilty of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault, with sentences of up to 20 years. The group included individuals from a wide range of professions, such as a soldier, a journalist, a prison warden, a nurse, and farm workers. Here's a list of all the men convicted in the case: Cyrille D (54): A trained butcher, Cyrille raped Gisèle in her home in September 2019 while his partner was on holiday. He said he turned to an online chatroom due to dissatisfaction in his relationship. Lionel R (44): A supermarket employee and married father of three, Lionel admitted to raping Gisèle in December 2018 but claimed he did not intend to commit rape. Jacques C (72): A retired firefighter and former truck driver, Jacques denied rape, saying he touched Gisèle but there was no penetration. Watch: France Mass Rape Trial: French Court Convicts Husband Dominique Pelicot Jean-Pierre M (63): A former lorry driver, Jean-Pierre was accused of using the same method to drug and rape his own wife. He also invited Dominique Pelicot to join in the abuse. Joan K (26): A soldier and the youngest man on trial, Joan raped Gisèle twice between 2019 and 2020. He claimed he did not understand consent at the time. Hugues M (39): A tiller and father of two, Hugues was accused of attempted rape in October 2019. He denied the charge, saying he did not realise Gisèle was drugged. Husamettin D (43): A father who cared for his disabled son, Husamettin denied raping Gisèle in June 2019, saying, “I’m not a rapist.” Fabien S (39): With 16 prior convictions, Fabien admitted to raping Gisèle in August 2018 but said he did not plan the crime. Mathieu D (53): A baker for 25 years, Mathieu raped Gisèle in October 2020 while under the influence of MDMA, thinking it was part of a consensual game. Andy R (37): An agricultural labourer and father of two, Andy raped Gisèle on New Year’s Eve 2018, believing her husband’s permission meant she had consented. Simone M (42): A builder and former soldier, Simone raped Gisèle in November 2018. He claimed she was pretending to sleep. Thierry Po (61): A refrigeration specialist and father of three, Thierry admitted to possessing child abuse images but denied raping Gisèle in August 2020. Jérôme V (46): A former grocery store worker and father of three, Jérôme admitted to knowing Gisèle had been drugged when he raped her. Thierry Pa (54): A former builder, Thierry raped Gisèle in 2020. He was identified while undergoing psychiatric treatment for depression. Adrien L (34): Already serving a 14-year sentence for other rapes, Adrien denied raping Gisèle in 2014, claiming he thought it was a consensual game. Jean T (52): A former roofer, Jean drove hours to rape Gisèle in 2018. He denied the charge, claiming he was drugged. Redouan E (55): A nurse, Redouan denied raping Gisèle in 2020, saying he was manipulated by Dominique. Patrick A (60): A former factory worker, Patrick admitted to raping Gisèle but said he participated reluctantly because he is gay. Didier S (68): A former lorry driver, Didier denied raping Gisèle in 2019, claiming she pretended to sleep. Karim S (40): A computer expert, Karim denied raping Gisèle in 2020. Vincent C (42): Convicted of domestic violence in 2021, Vincent is accused of raping Gisèle in 2019 and 2020. Jean-Marc L (74): The oldest defendant, Jean-Marc denied rape, saying he thought it was a “game.” Dominique D (45): Accused of raping Gisèle six times, Dominique claimed he did not intend to commit rape. Mohamed R (70): Previously jailed for raping his daughter, Mohamed raped Gisèle in 2019. Ahmed T (54): A plumber and former boxer, Ahmed denied rape, saying he would not choose “an older woman.” Redouane A (40): Convicted of domestic violence, Redouane raped Gisèle twice in 2019. Mahdi D (36): A transport worker, Mahdi denied raping Gisèle in 2018, claiming Dominique misled him. Cyril B (47): A lorry driver, Cyril denied rape despite video evidence. Cyprien C (43): A former lorry driver, Cyprien admitted to a sexual encounter but denied rape. Quentin H (34): A prison warden, Quentin raped Gisèle in 2019. Grégory S (31): A decorator with prior convictions, Grégory denied raping Gisèle in 2017. Florian R (32): A delivery driver, Florian denied raping Gisèle in 2019. Jean-Luc L (46): Jean-Luc admitted to raping Gisèle twice in 2018, believing her husband’s consent was sufficient. Patrice N (55): An electrician, Patrice claimed the assaults were part of a game. Abdelali D (47): Admitting to rape, Abdelali said Dominique assured him Gisèle “wouldn’t wake up.” Romain V (63): Romain raped Gisèle six times in 2019 and 2020. He denied wrongdoing, saying her husband’s consent sufficed. Cédric G (50): A software technician, Cédric admitted to both rape and possession of child abuse images. Hassan O (30): Tried in absentia, Hassan raped Gisèle in 2018. Also read: France mass rape trial: Dominique Pelicot found guilty, gets 20 years in jail Cendric V (44): A former soldier, Cendric was accused of raping Gisèle in 2016 and 2018. Ludovick B (39): A warehouse worker, Ludovick raped Gisèle in 2019. Omar D (36): Omar raped Gisèle in 2017 but denied the charge. Paul G (31): Paul raped Gisèle in 2016 after she was drugged at breakfast. Saifeddine G (37): A lorry driver, Saifeddine raped Gisèle in 2019. Charly A (30): Charly raped Gisèle six times between 2016 and 2020. Christian L (56): A firefighter, Christian denied rape despite video evidence. Nizar H (41): A builder, Nizar denied raping Gisèle in 2020. Nicolas F (42): A journalist, Nicolas denied raping Gisèle in 2018 and possessing child abuse images. Joseph C (69): Accused of sexual assault, Joseph denied wrongdoing during an encounter in 2020. Boris M (37): Boris denied raping Gisèle in 2020, saying he was misled by Dominique. Philippe L (62): A gardener, Philippe denied rape but admitted replying to Dominique’s online posts. (With inputs from agencies)

France mass rape trial: Who are the 51 men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot?

New Delhi, India 
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday (Dec 18) took a defensive stance on her friendship with billionaire Elon Musk and informed Italian lawmakers it will not influence her in areas in which the latter has economic interests.
“I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,’’ said Meloni, while replying to questions in a customary parliamentary discussion held before the European Union summit scheduled for this week in Brussels. 
Meloni took a jibe at her predecessors and said that previous Italian leaders “who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader, they had to slavishly follow what the others did.”
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-surpasses-the-net-worth-of-bezos-and-zuckerberg-combined-785218">Elon Musk surpasses the net worth of Bezos and Zuckerberg combined</a>
She said that she shared good relationships “with many people” but “I don’t take orders from anyone and you should be happy about this."
<h2>Meloni and Musk's friendship</h2>
Meloni was frequently seen with Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk after coming to power in 2022. 
This year, Meloni’s government approved a framework which paved the way for foreign space companies to operate in the country. It is expected that this will generate $7.7 billion in investments by 2026.
Watch: Elon Musk's Philanthropic Donations Fail to Meet Minimum Threshold
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_wion_musk_930am-1734585011-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_wion_musk_930am.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=184&tags=Elon Musk,donations,elon musk's charitable foundation" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amid this, the friendship between Meloni and Musk also garnered a lot of attention. Musk refuted reports of having any kind of romantic relationship with Meloni after a photo of them looking at each other went viral last September. 
The two also attended a black-tie event in New York where Meloni was presented an award by Musk.
A year ago, Musk was also seen at an event organised for the ruling party's youth members in Italy. 
(With inputs from agencies)

A picture of Musk and Meloni from an event in September went viral and left social media users speculating if the two were "dating"

 



New Delhi, India Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday (Dec 18) took a defensive stance on her friendship with billionaire Elon Musk and informed Italian lawmakers it will not influence her in areas in which the latter has economic interests. “I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,’’ said Meloni, while replying to questions in a customary parliamentary discussion held before the European Union summit scheduled for this week in Brussels. Meloni took a jibe at her predecessors and said that previous Italian leaders “who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader, they had to slavishly follow what the others did.” Also Read: Elon Musk surpasses the net worth of Bezos and Zuckerberg combined She said that she shared good relationships “with many people” but “I don’t take orders from anyone and you should be happy about this." Meloni and Musk's friendship Meloni was frequently seen with Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk after coming to power in 2022. This year, Meloni’s government approved a framework which paved the way for foreign space companies to operate in the country. It is expected that this will generate $7.7 billion in investments by 2026. Watch: Elon Musk's Philanthropic Donations Fail to Meet Minimum Threshold Amid this, the friendship between Meloni and Musk also garnered a lot of attention. Musk refuted reports of having any kind of romantic relationship with Meloni after a photo of them looking at each other went viral last September. The two also attended a black-tie event in New York where Meloni was presented an award by Musk. A year ago, Musk was also seen at an event organised for the ruling party's youth members in Italy. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone'

Moscow, Russia
<meta content="uuidFsNYcJcEOTQU" name="uuid"/>
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on Thursday (December 19). Known for covering various issues during these marathon events, Putin spoke on the economy, and the war in Ukraine.
Talking about US-president elect Donald Trump, Putin said that he hasn't spoken to him in over four years and is not sure when he will meet or speak with him next. "I am ready to meet him if he wants it," he said.
Addressing a question about Syria's former president, Bashar al-Assad, Putin said that he hasn't "seen President Assad yet" - but plans to do so. "And I will have a conversation with him. We're adults. We understand," Putin said.
<h2>Russia’s economy remains a focus</h2>
Putin began by discussing the state of the Russian economy, saying, "Everything stands and falls with the economy." Despite inflation running at 9.3%, he claimed the Russian economy is performing well, pointing to growth in wages and real disposable income.  
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-targets-pakistans-ballistic-missile-programme-slaps-sanctions-on-four-entities-785188">US targets Pakistan’s missile programme, slaps sanctions on four entities</a>
However, he acknowledged challenges, with inflation being a major concern. "Inflation, however, is a worrying sign," he said, though he described the situation overall as "stable." He also mentioned that the unemployment rate was record-low at 2.3%.
When asked how the economy continues to function amid challenges, Putin said, "When everything is stable, we are bored, but when something major happens, when bullets are flying around — we are scared."
<h2>Putin on the war in Ukraine: “Victory is nearer”</h2>
On the war in Ukraine, referred to by the Kremlin as a "special military operation", Putin was asked if victory was closer. In response, he had two individuals hold up a banner behind him, reportedly signed by a Russian marine brigade.
He said that the situation in Ukraine is "changing drastically" and claimed Russian forces are "regaining territory" daily. "Warfare is complicated," he said, "but we are getting closer to solving our primary tasks of the special operation."
Putin said he could not predict when his forces would regain full control of the western Kursk region, the area where Ukraine launched a shock offensive in August. "We will absolutely kick them out. Absolutely. It can't be any other way. But the question of a specific date, I'm sorry, I cannot say right now," he said.
Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine's Zelensky Held Talks With NATO Chief
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_wion_nato_730am-1734579316-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_wion_nato_730am.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=193&tags=WION,wion news,World News,world news latest,viral" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Putin also addressed questions from the audience regarding the rebuilding of areas affected by fighting. Viewers asked when the region (Kursk) would be "liberated," when residents could return, and whether infrastructure and homes would be reconstructed.
"It makes no military sense for Ukraine to enter the Kursk region," he said, adding, "For sure, we will get rid of them." However, he avoided giving a specific timeline, adding that announcing a date could pressure troops to take unnecessary risks.
He told the audience that once the situation stabilises, all infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, and roads, would be rebuilt. "There is no shadow of a doubt about it," Putin said, adding that citizens who lost homes during the fighting would receive compensation.
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Putin said that the situation in Ukraine is "changing drastically" and claimed Russian forces are "regaining territory" daily. "Warfare is complicated," he said, "but we are getting closer to solving our primary tasks of the special operation."



Moscow, Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow on Thursday (December 19). Known for covering various issues during these marathon events, Putin spoke on the economy, and the war in Ukraine. Talking about US-president elect Donald Trump, Putin said that he hasn't spoken to him in over four years and is not sure when he will meet or speak with him next. "I am ready to meet him if he wants it," he said. Addressing a question about Syria's former president, Bashar al-Assad, Putin said that he hasn't "seen President Assad yet" - but plans to do so. "And I will have a conversation with him. We're adults. We understand," Putin said. Russia’s economy remains a focus Putin began by discussing the state of the Russian economy, saying, "Everything stands and falls with the economy." Despite inflation running at 9.3%, he claimed the Russian economy is performing well, pointing to growth in wages and real disposable income. Also read: US targets Pakistan’s missile programme, slaps sanctions on four entities However, he acknowledged challenges, with inflation being a major concern. "Inflation, however, is a worrying sign," he said, though he described the situation overall as "stable." He also mentioned that the unemployment rate was record-low at 2.3%. When asked how the economy continues to function amid challenges, Putin said, "When everything is stable, we are bored, but when something major happens, when bullets are flying around — we are scared." Putin on the war in Ukraine: “Victory is nearer” On the war in Ukraine, referred to by the Kremlin as a "special military operation", Putin was asked if victory was closer. In response, he had two individuals hold up a banner behind him, reportedly signed by a Russian marine brigade. He said that the situation in Ukraine is "changing drastically" and claimed Russian forces are "regaining territory" daily. "Warfare is complicated," he said, "but we are getting closer to solving our primary tasks of the special operation." Putin said he could not predict when his forces would regain full control of the western Kursk region, the area where Ukraine launched a shock offensive in August. "We will absolutely kick them out. Absolutely. It can't be any other way. But the question of a specific date, I'm sorry, I cannot say right now," he said. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine's Zelensky Held Talks With NATO Chief Putin also addressed questions from the audience regarding the rebuilding of areas affected by fighting. Viewers asked when the region (Kursk) would be "liberated," when residents could return, and whether infrastructure and homes would be reconstructed. "It makes no military sense for Ukraine to enter the Kursk region," he said, adding, "For sure, we will get rid of them." However, he avoided giving a specific timeline, adding that announcing a date could pressure troops to take unnecessary risks. He told the audience that once the situation stabilises, all infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, and roads, would be rebuilt. "There is no shadow of a doubt about it," Putin said, adding that citizens who lost homes during the fighting would receive compensation. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russian President Putin says he 'will have a conversation' with ousted Syrian President Assad soon

world

World, News on World, stories on World, articles on World, World stories at Wion, World news, World latest news