International News
French Court Hands 20-Year Sentence To Former Surgeon For Raping 299 Children
A French court delivered a landmark verdict on Wednesday, sentencing Joel Le Scouarnec, a retired surgeon, to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of rape and sexual assault against 299 victims.
Some assaults reportedly took place while the victims were under anesthesia, exposing a shocking pattern of abuse spanning over two decades.
Le Scranton, aged 74, acknowledged during the trial that he had committed “despicable acts” throughout his 25-year medical career in western France.
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Speaking at the start of the trial in February, he admitted, “I’m aware that the harm I’ve caused is beyond repair. I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they have endured and will keep having to endure all their lives.”
The accused faced charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault involving 299 victims, many of whom were children at the time. The case has been described as the worst pedocriminal trial in France’s history.
The extensive abuse was uncovered following Le Scouarnec’s arrest in 2017 over allegations of raping a six-year-old neighbor.
Authorities found electronic diaries detailing years of sexual offenses against young patients in regional hospitals, along with disturbing materials such as sex dolls, wigs, and child pornography.
This trial comes at a time when France is confronting a broader reckoning around sex crimes, following the conviction of Dominique Pelicot in December for drugging his wife and allowing multiple men to rape her.
Le Scouarnec is already serving a 15-year sentence from a previous conviction in 2020, which involved the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbor, two nieces, and a four-year-old patient.
The public has voiced outrage over how Le Scouarnec was permitted to continue practicing medicine despite a 2005 conviction for downloading child sexual abuse images, which resulted only in a suspended sentence.
This failure has led to calls for accountability from health authorities at both local and national levels.
Before the court announced its verdict, dozens of survivors and human rights advocates gathered outside the courthouse in Vannes, Brittany.
They displayed a banner made up of hundreds of white papers, each representing a victim—some labeled with names and ages, others marked “Anonymous.”
The local prosecutor’s office has initiated a separate inquiry to determine whether individuals or institutions responsible for overseeing healthcare could be held liable for failing to prevent the abuse.
Le Scouarnec’s case has laid bare troubling gaps in patient protection within France’s public healthcare system, sparking urgent demands for systemic reform.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.






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