Morning, everyone. To cheers from a large crowd of supporters, Gisèle Pelicot emerged from seeing her husband found guilty of drugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape her to say she hoped the case could change society. After the verdict was handed down, with crowds of supporters in the French city of Avignon cheering her on, Pelicot said: “I now have confidence in our capacity to find a better future where everyone, women and men alike, can live in harmony with respect and mutual understanding.”
We have full reports and analysis of the extraordinary case, plus warnings in Australia about the dangers of bird flu for pregnant women, the hard road to withdrawing from antidepressants and reasons to be cheerful about 2025.
Australia
‘Surrounded by loved ones’ | Michael Leunig, the cartoonist who drew for the Age for more than 50 years, has died aged 79, his studio announced, after spending his final days “surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” and listening to Bach and Beethoven.
Bird flu threat | Most pregnant women who contract bird flu will die, according to an Australian review of infections that found most unborn babies with the virus also die. Human cases tend to be mild but it comes as researchers have warned about the threat from the virus to zoo animals across the world.
‘Silent epidemic’ | Nineteen readers have told us about their experience of taking and withdrawing from antidepressants. Their stories reveal evidence of a “silent epidemic”, bringing urgent calls for reform.
‘It would deflate our world’ | The impact of NDIS cuts are highlighted by the story of a Gold Coast teenager who communicates with friends and family through music but would lose her weekly sessions if a review finds her therapy is not suitable for funding.
Deadlock breaker | The Olympic breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has “come to an agreement” with a comedian who wanted to tour a show based on her performance at the Paris Olympic Games.
World
‘Shame can change sides’ | Dominique Pelicot has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging his then wife, Gisèle, and his 50 accomplices were also found guilty of charges including rape, attempted rape and attempted assault. Pelicot’s conviction makes him one of the worst sex offenders in history, and he now faces further investigation over the rape and murder of a Paris estate agent. Speaking outside court, Gisèle Pelicot, who has become a hero for dropping her right to anonymity, was cheered by a crowd of supporters and said she was thinking of other victims who “share the same battle”. Her courage was also recognised by politicians across France.
‘President Musk’ | Bernie Sanders has criticised “President Elon Musk” over the billionaire’s efforts to derail a bipartisan spending deal that would keep the government running for three months.
Putin performs | Vladimir Putin says the war in Ukraine had made Russia “much stronger” as he held a year-end media conference and television call-in seeking to project confidence at home and abroad.
Pardon for asking | Joe Biden is reportedly considering issuing blanket pardons for leading critics of Donald Trump amid concern they could face legal retribution from the incoming president. But how could he do it?
Language barrier | A ticket inspector’s bilingual greeting to a Flemish train passenger has created a political war of words – and an official complaint – in language-divided Belgium.
Full Story
Newsroom Edition: why there’s still cause for hope in 2025
Bridie Jabour talks with Guardian Australia’s editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, and national news editor, Jo Tovey, about the highs and lows of 2024 and what to expect next year.
In-depth
Cait Kelly has been talking to members of Australia’s LGBTQ+ community after data released yesterday revealed that almost one in 10 young people aged 16 to 24 are LGBTQ+ – while it’s more like one in 20 (4.5% of people) aged 16 and over. For some, like Shayne Wilde, 67, it’s proof of society’s wider acceptance compared with her youth, while for Damien Nguyen, 22, the figures provide a basis to keep pushing for more rights.
Not the news
From the “unique claymation aesthetic” of Memoir of a Snail to Robbie Williams as a CGI chimp, and from the Brisbane-set horror of In the Room Where He Waits to Natalie Bailey’s bitterly funny comedy Audrey, Luke Buckmaster surveys the 10 best Australian films of 2024.
Sport
Cricket | Australia and India can both take positives from the drawn third Test in Brisbane but the sudden retirement of Ravi Ashwin leaves a surprising gap in the tourists’ squad.
A-league Men | David Squires casts his cartoonist’s eye over the A-League’s comings and goings, and reimagines each as a classic Christmas film.
Football | Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side face Manchester United in the final Carabao Cup quarter-final this morning.
Media roundup
The Australian stock market suffered its worst day in three months and the Aussie dollar plunged in what the Adelaide Advertiser calls a $50bn hit for the economy. It spells a big political risk for Australia in 2025, an opinion piece in the Financial Review argues. Microplastics are linked to lung and colon cancer, according to a study cited in the Sydney Morning Herald. Plans to turn Melbourne’s Spencer Street into a pedestrian zone could be undermined by an off-ramp for the new West Gate tunnel, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Sydney | The new Parramatta light rail service will open.
Politics | Victorian Liberals will hold a party room meeting at 9am.
Courts | There will be a post-trial mention for a couple charged with the murder of Amber Haigh.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
