Jackie Leonard

I introduced you by saying that the case had been thrown into disarray, but where does this actually leave things?

I introduced you by saying that the case had been thrown into disarray, but where does this actually leave things?

Rowan Bridge in Washington. The French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, has praised the courage of Gisèle Pellicot following a mass rape trial in which her ex-husband and 50 other defendants were found guilty. Dominique Pellicot was jailed for 20 years for organising the repeated drugging and rape of his former wife by dozens of strangers over a decade.

Rowan Bridge in Washington. The French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, has praised the courage of Gisèle Pellicot following a mass rape trial in which her ex-husband and 50 other defendants were found guilty. Dominique Pellicot was jailed for 20 years for organising the repeated drugging and rape of his former wife by dozens of strangers over a decade.

The Prime Minister said everyone in society should take up the struggle of Giselle Pellicot to eradicate violence against women. Ms Pellicot says she does not regret making the trial public and throughout she has received widespread support. Our Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield sent us this report on the last day of proceedings.

The Prime Minister said everyone in society should take up the struggle of Giselle Pellicot to eradicate violence against women. Ms Pellicot says she does not regret making the trial public and throughout she has received widespread support. Our Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield sent us this report on the last day of proceedings.

It lasted about four and a half hours. In Moscow, President Putin used his end-of-year news conference and phone-in, as he always does, to try to reinforce his authority. He said Russia had become much stronger since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, and there had been progress in what the Kremlin always calls the special military operation.

It lasted about four and a half hours. In Moscow, President Putin used his end-of-year news conference and phone-in, as he always does, to try to reinforce his authority. He said Russia had become much stronger since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, and there had been progress in what the Kremlin always calls the special military operation.

Our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg gave us this assessment from Moscow.

Our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg gave us this assessment from Moscow.

He also spoke about the killing of a senior Russian general in Moscow, didn't he?

He also spoke about the killing of a senior Russian general in Moscow, didn't he?

Now, obviously, you were there, Steve, and you've seen many of his speeches over the years. What's your assessment? Do you pick out anything that's changed?

Now, obviously, you were there, Steve, and you've seen many of his speeches over the years. What's your assessment? Do you pick out anything that's changed?

That was Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. In November, there were two mysterious acts of vandalism under the Baltic Sea. Two fibre-optic cables were severed, one linking Finland with Germany, the other connecting Sweden and Lithuania. The German defence minister declared it must have been an act of sabotage and quickly suspicion zeroed in on a Chinese ship, a bulk carrier, which had been in the area.

That was Steve Rosenberg in Moscow. In November, there were two mysterious acts of vandalism under the Baltic Sea. Two fibre-optic cables were severed, one linking Finland with Germany, the other connecting Sweden and Lithuania. The German defence minister declared it must have been an act of sabotage and quickly suspicion zeroed in on a Chinese ship, a bulk carrier, which had been in the area.

On Thursday, the Chinese authorities, who said they're conducting their own investigations on the vessel, invited officials from four of the affected European countries on board to observe those investigations. Torsten Benner is the director of the Berlin-based think tank the Global Public Policy Institute and has been looking into the security of submarine cables.

On Thursday, the Chinese authorities, who said they're conducting their own investigations on the vessel, invited officials from four of the affected European countries on board to observe those investigations. Torsten Benner is the director of the Berlin-based think tank the Global Public Policy Institute and has been looking into the security of submarine cables.

Tim Franks asked him first, what does he make of the visit to the Chinese ship?

Tim Franks asked him first, what does he make of the visit to the Chinese ship?