Tonight's coronavirus figures from Santé Publique France. Note: the health minister warned if the situation did not improve in Paris there would be further restrictions including bar and possibly restaurant closures.
French president Emmanuel Macron has given a 15 minute televised address. Some quotes from it.
On Ukraine "The United States, our ally, has changed its position on this war, with less support for Ukraine and allowing some doubt as to the rest...our prosperity and security ..1/x
"...have become more uncertain. It's true to say, we are entering a new era...the Russian menace is there and affects the countries of Europe, affects us. Russia has already made the Ukrainian conflict a world conflict." 2/x
Emmanuel Macron said Russia was "testing our limits...in the air, at sea, in space and on our screens."
He said Russia had already interfered in elections and mentioned France's health service network. He added that Russian aggression appeared to "know no borders".
Gisèle Pelicot has made a statement leaving the court:
Her voice did break at a couple of moments but she was clear and composed. Apologies for clumsy translation:
"It is with profound emotion that I speak to you today. It was a very difficult ordeal...
"My first thought is for my three children David, Caroline and Florian and my grandchildren...it is also for them that I have fought this battle as well as for my daughters-in-law....
"My thoughts are also for all the other families affected by this drama.. and those women whose stories are not recognised. We share the same battle.
"I have a deep grattitude for all those who have supported me during this ordeal....
Avignon. Mass rape trial. Gisèle Pelicot takes the stand for the last time: "This is a trial of cowardice. It is a trial of Dominique Pelicot and a trial of cowardice. It is time that this machist society stops banalising rape". #Mazan #Pelicot
Gisèle Pelicot: "Since the beginning of this trial, I've heard a lot of things that I were hard to hear, and I've become aware of that. I knew what I was exposing myself to by not going agreeing for the trial to be behind closed doors."
Gisèle Pelicot: "I feel like telling them at what point when you enter this bed room at what point did Madame Pelicot give you consent when you saw this inert body at what point?"
Today, Gisèle Pelicot will address the court where 51 men are on trial accused of raping her for only the second time. Crowds of people at Avignon court to hear her speak. #Mazan #massrape
She had been asked if she wanted to take the stand by the president of the five panel of judges Roger Arata. She agreed. #mazan #massrape.
She says she cannot look at her husband but wants to address him. Says for her, Dominique Pelicot was perfect and she does not understand how any of this happened.
The courageous Gisèle Pélicot whose husband drugged her and invited men to rape her over a period of ten years, has taken the stand again to slap down claims by several accused that she knew what was going on. "Since I arrived at this court, I have felt humiliated...1/x
"I've been called an alcoholic that I got myself into such an alcoholic state that I'm an accomplice to Monsieur Pélicot. It is so humiliating and degrading to hear that," she told the court. 2/x
The president of the court asked her if she had consented to the sexual "partners". She said the question was "shocking".
"Absolutely not. I did not for one second give them my consent," she said. "In the state I was I couldn't say anything as the videos show". 3/x
To sum up the main points from the International Boxing Association press conference in Paris. I am reporting what was said, not commenting on it or making any claim about the veracity of it. 1/?
*Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were among 4 boxers who underwent blood test carried out by a laboratory in Istanbul at a championship in May 2022 after questions from boxers, coaches and medics. Two boxers’ results were clear. Khelif and Yu-ting’s results were “inconsistent”. 2/?
*A second blood test was carried out on Khelif and Yu-ting by another laboratory before another championship in March 2023.
*Based on the results of the second tests, Khelif and Yu-ting were told they were disqualified from the 2023 competition and had the chance to appeal. 3/?