Fifty-one men are convicted in a mass rape case that shook France, Kiwis tell their stories of what Tuesday's devastating Vanuatu earthquake felt like, and 2024's quote of the year is revealed.
1 France mass rape case: 51 men convicted, Gisèle Pelicot thanks backers
Gisèle Pelicot spoke of her "very difficult ordeal" after 51 men were convicted overnight in the drugging-and-rape trial that riveted France and turned her into an icon, expressing support for other victims whose cases don't get such attention and "whose stories remain untold".
"I want you to know that we share the same fight," she said 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 spurred a national reckoning about the blight of rape culture.
Pelicot's ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and all but one of his co-defendants were convicted of sexually assaulting her over a period of nearly a decade after he'd knocked her unconscious by lacing her food and drink with drugs. The other co-defendant was convicted of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique Pelicot's help.
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2 Vanuatu quake: 'The whole ground started to wave'
Kiwi Jason Horan, who lives in Port Vila, told 1News it was "just chaos" in the aftermath of the quake.
"There [were] people lying on the ground everywhere, buildings falling down, so it was pretty scary," he said.
He said he watched road move "like a wave".
The 7.3 magnitude quake struck on Tuesday, and more than 200 people were injured. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from the Vanuatu government.
3 Liam Lawson on his big move to Red Bull - 'I'm just excited'
Liam Lawson said he can't stop smiling after confirmation he will partner world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula One season.
After two stints with Red Bull's sister team RB over the past two seasons, he finally gets the chance to line up from the start of a season with a full-time seat.
Lawson joined Red Bull Racing's Talking Bull podcast to discuss his move.
"I still can’t really believe it - I’m just excited," said Lawson.
4 Prince William, Princess Kate share annual family Christmas card
The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared their annual family Christmas card.
Prince William and his wife Catherine, both 42, took to their official Instagram account to share a picture of the sweet card, which features an informal picture of the royal couple with their three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis — in the countryside.
5 Tauranga's new rainbow crossing installed after six-year campaign
The installation of a rainbow crossing in Tauranga is bittersweet for the pride advocate who made it happen.
The new zebra crossing was installed on Devonport Rd in the city centre on Wednesday flanked by the progress pride flag.
LGBTQIA+ advocate Gordy Lockhart told Local Democracy Reporting he was unhappy that Tauranga City Council hadn’t held an opening ceremony for it.
ONE ICONIC QUOTE
A Wellington parrot and its signature phrase has beaten the Prime Minister and sporting stars to win the Quote of the Year competition.
The annual contest is run by Massey University and had 10 finalists, with the winner announced at midday today.
ONE ROUNDABOUT LEADING NOWHERE
The roundabout exit to nowhere. What was going to go there and why didn’t it? Local Democracy reporter Linda Hall takes a look.
There’s a roundabout in Hastings at the intersection of two busy arterial roads – Pakowhai and Evenden – which has an odd dead-end exit.
Over a fence, there are two blocks of land side by side, 1411 and 1403 Pakowhai Rd, a 3-hectare site that, if it could ever be developed upon, would be highly sought after by commercial tenants.
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