France, UK Granted Ukraine Permission to Strike Russia, but Later Recanted

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France and the UK initially allowed Ukraine to use Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles to strike Russian territory, following the US's move to authorise American ATACMS missile strikes. However, they later changed their statement. The UK is now pushing the US to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles, especially since Russia has reportedly deployed North Korean soldiers. The EU has confirmed that the US has authorised Ukraine to strike 300 kilometres deep into Russian territory.

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Ukraine Defends Against Intense Russian Attacks on Multiple Fronts

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As of 5 January, the majority of combat clashes are taking place in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, with 42 battles recorded and 12 ongoing. Ukrainian forces are holding their positions and repelling numerous Russian attacks on multiple fronts, including in Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kupiansk, Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Vremivka, Orikhiv and Kursk Oblast. Russian forces have conducted airstrikes, launched artillery shells and unguided rockets, and made numerous attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions. Ukrainian defenders have repelled many of these attacks and are still holding their positions.

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Ukraine's Air Defenses Repel Massive Russian Attack

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Ukraine's Air Defenses Repel Massive Russian Attack
In a massive attack on Christmas Eve, Russian forces launched 184 aerial targets at Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure.*
Ukraine's Air Force detected and tracked all the targets.*
Out of 184 targets, 113 were destroyed, including 55 cruise missiles, 4 guided missiles, and 54 drones.*
Another 52 attack UAVs failed to reach their targets.*
The Russians targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure in several oblasts, causing damages.*
Ukraine's Air Force is ready to repel any further attacks.*

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Slovakian Prime Minister Set to Meet Putin Amid Gas Talks

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Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is visiting Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.** This comes after Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić revealed that Fico would meet Putin on Monday, 23 December, to discuss gas supplies after 2024.

Fico's visit is significant as he is the third European leader to visit Moscow since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Slovak prime minister has been pushing for an extension of the gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which expires in 2024.

Slovakia is willing to transport gas through its natural gas transmission system if it is not from Russia. However, Ukraine opposes the continuation of the transit deal with Russian Gazprom.

Stay tuned for updates on the outcome of Fico and Putin's meeting.

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Russian Aggression in Ukraine: Civilians Killed and Injured in Donetsk and Kherson Oblasts

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Russian forces continue to wreak havoc in Ukraine**, killing three civilians and injuring 19 others in Donetsk and Kherson oblasts on December 20. The Russians targeted critical and social infrastructure, as well as residential areas of various settlements in Kherson Oblast, damaging 34 high-rise buildings, 29 houses, gas pipelines, utility buildings, garages, a warehouse, and cars. An elderly man was killed during an attack on the village of Tomyna Balka in Kherson Oblast on December 21, and Russian occupation forces attacked a medical facility in the city of Kherson, heavily damaging the building. **The international community must take action to stop Russia's aggression and protect innocent civilians.

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French Rape Trial Turns Grandmother into Feminist Hero

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In a shocking case, a 72-year-old French grandmother, Gisèle Pelicot, became a feminist hero after 51 men were convicted in a drugging-and-rape trial that she turned into a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture. The men, including her ex-husband, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 20 years for drugging and raping Pelicot and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious. Pelicot, who had faced the defendants during the trial, expressed her gratitude to the people who supported her and said she was thinking of her grandchildren. The trial has galvanized campaigners against sexual violence and spurred calls for tougher measures to stamp out rape culture.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Ordered to Wear Electronic Ankle Tag

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France Shocked by Mass Rape Case: Husband Faces 20 Years, 50 Accomplices on Trial

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Dominique Pelicot**, a 72-year-old retired electrician and estate agent in France, admitted to drugging his ex-wife, Gisèle, and inviting strangers to rape her. Pelicot is expected to receive the maximum 20-year jail term, while 50 other men face sentences ranging from 4 to 18 years for aggravated rape and sexual aggression. One man is on the run and being tried in his absence. The trial has sparked global outrage, with Gisèle bravely insisting on an open trial to show the 'attack on human dignity' in the videos Pelicot made of the rapes. Verdicts are expected this week.

Ukraine's Defenders Holding Strong Against Russian Offensives

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Ukrainian forces have been busy defending their territory against numerous Russian attacks, with over 100 assaults on the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Vremivka fronts. The Russians have also been trying to break through Ukrainian defenses in Kursk Oblast. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces have successfully repelled most of the attacks, showcasing their resilience and determination. The operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast is still ongoing, with Ukrainian forces successfully repelling 21 Russian attacks. Meanwhile, there is no evidence of any offensive Russian groups being formed on the Volyn and Polissia fronts. The Russians are maintaining their military presence, conducting reconnaissance activities, and shelling on the border with Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.

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Zelenskyy Meets with Macron and Trump in Paris

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, recently had a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump in Paris. The meeting took place at the Élysée Palace on the evening of Saturday, 7th December. The leaders were in Paris to attend the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been rebuilt after a fire. Due to bad weather, all the celebrations marking the reopening of the cathedral took place indoors.

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Ukraine's Forces Deal Heavy Blows to Russia: Over 1,500 Soldiers Killed and Wounded in Just One Day

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President Macron Visits Notre-Dame Ahead of Reopening

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President Macron Visits Notre-Dame Ahead of Reopening: After a devastating fire in 2019, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is set to reopen in December. Parisians wept as they saw fire rip through the landmark, but reconstruction efforts have been hailed as a symbol of national unity and French can-do spirit. The renovation cost around €700m and took over five years to complete. While entry to the cathedral will remain free, visitors will need to book a dedicated time slot through an online ticketing system.

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French Mass Rape Trial: Prosecutors Seek Up to 12-Year Terms for Defendants

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The Pelicot Mass Rape Trial in France** has shocked the world, as French prosecutors seek up to 12-year terms for 49 men accused of organizing the rapes and sexual abuse of Gisele Pelicot. Gisele, who has become a feminist icon, has been praised for her courage and dignity in allowing the hearings to be held in public. The trial has sparked protests and a debate about male violence in France. The verdicts and sentencing are expected by December 20th. **Trigger warning: this article contains disturbing content about sexual abuse and violence.

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In a shocking trial that has gripped France, a woman named Gisele Pelicot is testifying against 51 men accused of sexually abusing her over many years. Pelicot's ex-husband, who is also on trial, is charged with drugging and raping her. The case has sparked protests and a debate about male violence in French society. Pelicot has become a feminist icon for rejecting the idea that rape victims should be ashamed and calling for a trial that is open to the public.

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