today's other main headlines... and combating loneliness, we take a look at how one woman made 300 new friends in just six weeks using social media. hello from avignon, where verdicts — and sentences — have been delivered in the mass rape trial that has shocked france.

has fallen on this momentous day of work french law, and the plights of women who have been the subject of sexual violence. found guilty and sentenced to varying degrees. the sentences of spam from the three years for dominic for dragging his... from the very beginning she decided to waive her right to anonymity, therefore opening the door so she put herself to this case and making it the centre of attention for not only the french media but the world'smedia. hugh schofield has this report. it was the same walk she's made so often

to the avignon courthouse. but this time for the last time. maybe that's why gisele pelicot was smiling this morning. it's the end of three months of gruelling testimony that's tested her courage and made her an international symbol. with tv crews from around the world looking on, at 9:30, thejudge began reading the sentences on her husband dominique, who drugged her and invited in strangers to rape her. and then the 50 others — all guilty. 0utside, her supporters were waiting. the verdicts have come in. all guilty. and now the sentences are being read out by thejudge in the court behind me. dominique pelicot, as expected, 20 years, but for some of the others, five years, eight years, and among the activists here, there's a degree of anger at that, at sentences that they're saying are too low. it's very it's much too low. and women seek forjustice, we wantjustice. if we don't have justice,

we will make justice. feminist activists may be angered by the leniency of some of the sentences, but the impact of the pelicot trial is already being felt in the way it's forcing a reassessment of attitudes towards rape and male sexual behaviour. it is possibly one of the most shocking aspects of this case. how easily he found 50, maybe 100 men in the neighbouring area willing to participate in these scenarios. it's harrowing to think about. within the last hour, gisele pelicot emerged to give her first reaction. she thanked herfamily and her lawyers, and then all the people who'd expressed their support for her over the last three months. translation: finally, - i think of the unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows. i want you to know that we share the same fight. i would like to express my gratitude to all the people who supported me.

your testimonies have moved me, and i have drawn from them the strength to come back every day to face these long days of hearings. this landmark trial now over, gisele pelicot leaves the public stage. but the legacy of her bearing witness will not be forgotten. hugh schofield, bbc news, avignon. after the sentencing, gisele pelicot said she never regretted her decision to go public. you heard some of what she said after the report, let's listen to her statement in full. translation: it is with deep emotion that i stand - here before you today. this trial has been a very difficult ordeal, and at this moment i think first and foremost of my three children, david, caroline and florian. i also think of my grandchildren because they are the future, and it is also for them that i led this fight, as well as my daughters in law, aurore and celine. i also think of all

the otherfamilies affected by this tragedy. finally, i think of the unrecognised victims whose stories often remain in the shadows. i want you to know that we share the same fight. i would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who supported me throughout this ordeal. your support has overwhelmed me, and i drew my strength from this to come back every day to face these long days of hearings. i also thank the victim support associations. their unfailing support has been invaluable to me. to all the journalists who have followed this affairfrom the beginning, i would like to express my gratitude for the faithful, respectful and dignified treatment in which they reported these daily hearings. finally, to my lawyers, they know all the recognition and esteem i have for them for their work each stage of this painfuljourney. when the trial started last september, i wanted society to be able to follow the debates that were held. i have never regretted this decision. i now have confidence in our ability to collectively build a future in which each woman and man can live in harmony with respect

and mutual understanding. with me now is laura gozzi, a bbc reporter who has been following the case and was in the courtroom when the verdict was read out. cameras were not allowed in the newsroom, laura, what was it like in the newsroom with all those journalists? the like in the newsroom with all those journalists?— those “ournalists? the entire time those journalists? the entire time that _ those journalists? the entire time that the _ those journalists? the entire time that the court _ those journalists? the entire time that the court residentl time that the court resident was reading out the verdicts in sentencing, i think you could've heard a pin drop. we were hearing him spell out how many of these men that we've been hearing about for months now, how many years they get to spendin now, how many years they get to spend in prison at the end, we know quite a lot of these men, we heard what they've been through in their lives, what they did to giselle, their excuses and reasons for what they did, and it was really quite intense to hear them all

sentenced one and one —— one by one, what was remarkable as well when we stepped into the main hall and we were waiting for her to come out, you could hear the various feminist groups that were waiting outside the courthouse chanting her name, waiting for her and on occasion you would even hear them heckling or booing the defendants that came out. it defendants that came out. it was really quite something. i heard that too, being outside as well. tell me about what stayed with you. you've covered this case for the bbc throughout the whole thing, what are the parts of it that have really stood out for you? i think for me, it really was the dignity of this woman. when she first arrived at the court here in avenue on in september, michel barnier, describes this case is avenue.hed michel barnier, describes this case is avenue ond michel barnier, describes this case is avenue on in september, she was an ordinary mother, here in avenue on in september, she was an ordinary mother, grandmother, she was basically grandmother, she was basically anonymous. and today when she anonymous. and today when she left court, she was a feminist left court, she was a feminist icon. she had become a symbol icon. she had become a symbol of something that she never of something that she never wanted become a symbol of in wanted become a symbol of in the first place so the dignity the first place so the dignity

with which she carried that with which she carried that task, or dignity, her pores, task, or dignity, her pores, that was really incredible. that was really incredible. looking ahead, it's made a big looking ahead, it's made a big difference in the way french difference in the way french society views itself. i society views _ difference in the way french society views itself.- society views itself. i think so. it society views itself. i think society views itself. i think so. it society views itself. i think s0- it will— society views itself. i think so. it will take _ society views itself. i think so. it will take time - society views itself. i think so. it will take time for - society views itself. i think| so. it will take time for the s0- it will— society views itself. i think so. it will take _ society views itself. i think so. it will take time - society views itself. i think so. it will take time for - society views itself. i think| so. it will take time for the dust to settle and for french dust to been said society to really digest everything that has been said and has happened over the last everything that has been said and has happened over the last few months, but as giselle few months, but as giselle herself said, it one victim herself said, one victim that one morning will remember herself said, it one victim that one morning will remember what she's been through, which he said to the court and that herself said, it one victim that one morning will rerr which�* what she's been through, which he said to the court and that will make them either go to the will make them either police or lift there on an he said to the court and that will make tt there her he said to the court and that will make tt there on' he said to the court and that will make tt there on an amenity, it will have been police or lift there on an amenity, it will have been worth something.- amenity, it will have been worth something. laura, thank thank ou so worth something. laura, thank you so much — worth something. laura, thank worth something. laura, thank ou so worth something. laura, thank you so much — worth something. laura, thank you so much for— worth something. laura, thank you so much for that, - worth something. laura, thank you so much for that, for - you so much for that, for joining and talking to me. laura who was inside that overflow courtroom. and at the moment, as laura said, there is a feeling and a hope that france can now hold a mirror up to itself, matthew, and really you so much for— try to implement those changes that so many activists and politicians have been talking about over the last few weeks. michel barnier, describes this

case is a watershed

he pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces, he is accused of the murder of carol hunt and her two daughters, hannah and louise. many will remember they are the wife and daughters of the bbc racing commentatorjohn hunt. they were found fatally injured at their home in bushy and hard for chairand injured at their home in bushy and hard for chair and july earlier this year, an inquest laterfound earlier this year, an inquest later found that earlier this year, an inquest laterfound that mrs earlier this year, an inquest later found that mrs hunt had died following stab wounds and her two daughters died due to crossbow injuries. kyle clifford also faces charges of false imprisonment and two charges of possession with an offensive weapon, namely a crossbow. and a ten inch knife. again, charges he denies. in addition to those charges, today he faced one further charge which is the rape of louise hunt. because that was an additional charge today, he

was not asked to enter a plea. the court was adjourned at a trial date has been set for march next year. the suspect — accused of shooting dead health care ceo, brian thompson in new york has dropped his legal challenge against being extradited to the city to face murder charges. let's speak to our correspondent nada tawfik. tell us more about why the change of tactics.— change of tactics. well, matthew. _ change of tactics. well, matthew, luigi - change of tactics. well, . matthew, luigi mangione's lawyer in court today it says he has retained a lawyer here in new york they no longer want to fight the extradition. luigi mangione answered yes when he was asked by the judge if that's what he wants to do. notably, he was much calmer than he has been in the past in court, matthew, even smiling at times when he spoke with his attorney and took notes

throughout the court hearing and no other outbursts like we've seen in the past from luigi mangione. so it was a relatively quick court hearing because after that, he was directly put in the custody of the nypd and they transported him from that pennsylvania courthouse by black van to an airport in pennsylvania and he was put on a plane and he is on his way here now to new york. but he may land here facing additional charges. we are hearing that federal prosecutors now also want to charge him in the killing of brian thompson. he was already facing 11 counts here by new york prosecutors, including first—degree murder and furtherance of terrorism, and second—degree murder as an act of terrorism, so very serious charges that if convicted, would see him potentially face life in prison without parole. we are hearing from his lawyer in new york, karen freeman, she

has concerns about double jeopardy if the federal government does charge him in this case. but for now, we wait to see if he will be brought directly into court when he arrives in new york, or if he will be taken to a jail until that court proceeding. thanks very much _ that court proceeding. thanks very much for— that court proceeding. thanks very much for that, _ that court proceeding. thanks very much for that, thank - that court proceeding. thanks| very much for that, thank you. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. today has seen an annual pre—christmas tradition in moscow — an hours—long marathon news conference staged by vladimir putin at which he takes questions from journalists, tv viewers and invited guests. during the event, president putin said russia had no preconditions for starting talks with ukraine on a possible peace deal. he insisted he was ready to conduct negotiations with volodymyr zelensky, but that the ukrainian president would need to be re—elected first.

during president putin's press conference, our russia correspondent steve rosenberg was able to put a question to the russian leader. translation: exactly 25 years ago boris yeltsin who retired i resigned office and handed over the power and you told him stay on guard. 25 years later, would you say you have succeeded in it? because from our part we have seen significant losses during the so—called special military operation that you have declared with ukraine soldiers in the kursk region, you criticised the nato expansion and enlargement. but there is now a great nato presence at the russian border line, i mean, sweden and finland. we have demographic and economic problems. what do you think? have you succeeded? putin: yes, i believe i have. i believe we have moved away from the brink of an abyss.

because what happened to russia before that and after that was leading us to a complete and total loss of our sovereignty. and without sovereignty, russia cannot exist as an independent state. i would like to draw attention to what you said about boris yeltsin. it looked good, patted him on his shoulder, noticed when he drank a little bit more than he should, and he was warmly received in all western circles, but when he raised his voice to protect yugoslavia, when he said it contradicts international law and the un charter, as soon as he said that it was unacceptable and

wanted europe to check the trade, the capitalfor wanted europe to check the trade, the capital for european state was sanctions proposed by the un security council, immediately was he persecuted and immediately criticised, and he don't remember it. and i've done my utmost to make sure russia is sovereign and independent power that is capable of taking decisions and not not in the interest of those states that tapped on the shoulder in order to use it for their own purposes. that's why i could stop my answer. i understand that he tried many arguments to associate your point of view. you mentioned inflation, yes we have inflation, yes we have inflation, we are going to fight against it. but we have good economic growth, we rank numberfour good economic growth, we rank number four worldwide good economic growth, we rank numberfour worldwide in good economic growth, we rank

number four worldwide in terms of power imperative. please share it with your audience. we rank number one in europe. we have left the uk behind, but we are ready to work with the uk if the uk wants to work with us. but if it's not the case, we can do without it. we can do without our former allies. fascinating exchange between steve rosenberg and vladimir putin. listening to that press conference was washington post journalist — and author of putin's people — catherine belton. she gave me her assessment. the biggest takeaway from me was at the beginning where he was facing a lot of questions about the economy. it is clear citizens and people are worried about rising prices. inflation has been soaring. it is now at 9%, essentially as a result of sanctions and putin's wartime spending spree on the military.

and this is involving basic foodstuffs such as potatoes which are now up nearly 80% on the year. and putin, though he is trying to project this image, as he was to your correspondence just now of everything being fine and everything being stable, he did admit that inflation is now alarming and he is facing growing pressure is on the economy. interest rates are at 21%. how big a problem is this likely to be into 2025 for the economy? i think it's the biggest risk he is facing. yes, he is facing growing losses on the battlefield. i think you had president—elect trump's nominated special envoy for ukraine saying russia is facing losses of 1.2 thousand men per day on the battlefield. the economy is the biggest risk for him. we have even seen his closest

allies, members of his inner circle, his best friends from st petersburg essentially, claim that interest rates are so sky—high that he could be facing bankruptcy is in the economy next year will start russia has very high corporate debt levels. and at some point this isn't going to be sustainable for him. right now he thinks he is winning, and he is, because ukraine is undermined, and are supplied with weapons and undersupplied with weapons and hasn't been able to get an adequate amount of weapons and they think trump is going to cut aid. but if western aid is sustained for another year then putin is going to face a much trickier position. i went to take you live to new york, we were talking to our correspondent a little while ago, these are pictures as we

continue to watch the transfer of luigi mangione after that news that he had dropped his fight to be extradited to new york. sorry if these pictures are swinging around a little, they're coming to us live at they're coming to us live at the bbc, but of course he was in pennsylvania a little earlier. there was that court appearance, he then waved his right to continue to fight that extradition request, then the transfer began immediately. this is the latest leg of that, the camera just buzzing around a bit. we hope we are able to see him but of course, things moving relatively quickly because he now is employed to counsel in new york, but as she was saying, there could be additionalfederal was saying, there could be additional federal charges lodged today, so that transfer continuing their with luigi mangione arriving there in new york. we'll keep an eye on that

story and bring you more as we get it. 0ne one more story before we close this part of the programme. it is a story all about loneliness because a little earlier in the day we were hearing that laura cooper posted a message on social media saying she was looking for friends and she had no idea just how much response and how her life was about to change. the first reply came within an hourand change. the first reply came within an hour and message arriving. 0ur reporter simon spark has been to their christmas party. a christmas party in full swing. festive outfits with all the trimmings. it seems like everyone here has known each other forever. but actually, what we're seeing here are new friendships because none of these ladies knew each other at alljust a month ago. in fact, most were lonely and on their own. i don't go out.

well, i didn't go out. um, i just sit at home and i'm quite lonely. i have very few friends, and ijust recognised that i needed to get out there for my mental health. i needed to get out there. well, it'sjust actually getting up, getting a shower, washing your hair, putting your makeup on. it's feeling better like that ratherthan thinking, "0h, i'lljust get myjama on, you know, because that's what i do". ijust sit there and think, "oh, i might just get myjammies on. i'm not off anywhere". and that's me for like 12, 13 hours. during the week especially, you get home, sit on my sofa and that would be it. so just trying to get out and meet new people. it was laura who started everything. i think we should put it on the only fella in the room. why did you look at me? i was quite lonely because i was quite poorly. and i was in hospital for some time. i've got fnd, which is a functional neurological disorder.

it's where my brain doesn't communicate well with my body. yeah, it's stress—related. stress—related. a few of these on here, then. yeah, that'll be lovely. but her appealfor friendship on social media changed everything. it was about five in the afternoon and i posted "i would like to create a ladies�* group, a friends group." and then the numbers just kept going up and up and up, and i wasjust like, "oh, this is real. i can't believe it. it's just like happening". within the same night, a hundred women had responded, and so the scunthorpe lovely ladies group was born, meeting every wednesday, now with over 300 members on their social media group. let's just get together, chat. don't chat if you don't want to. just be with people. you know, you canjust talk to them like you've known them for years and enjoy life again. i watched them on wednesday evening and ijust stepped back and everyone's talking and it's lovely. it really is.

itjust made me a bit upset, but in a nice way. a lovely heart—warming story. that's it for today's section of today's verified life, we'll see you next time. hello there. the festive forecast into next week does look fairly mild, so a very slim chance, i think, that any of us will see a white christmas. but before we get there, the weather really changeable in the run up to christmas. some rain around on friday, some very strong winds through the weekend, could cause some disruption, and then temperatures will be on the rise as we look towards christmas. now, to start friday, we're going to be seeing a weather front that starts in the west, pushes its way slowly east through the course of the day. another frontal system waiting in the wings for the weekend. now, through saturday, that brings some milder air and some strong winds. by sunday, the air coming in from the north west, so a colder day on the cards. now, for the rest of thursday evening overnight into friday,

then, we keep the clearer skies for central, southern and eastern parts of england and wales. but more cloud and outbreaks of rain across the north west. and that means milder weather here, so 6—7 degrees actually at six in the morning. but we could still see a touch of frost for some central and southeastern areas in particular. bit of sunshine for east anglia in the southeast lasting through the morning. we've got that rain initially for scotland and northern ireland, that tracks into parts of northern england, wales, the south west of england, tpp, one or two heavy bursts, followed by some too, one or two heavy bursts, followed by some sunshine and showers moving in from the northwest. temperatures a couple of degrees warmer than thursday, between about 8—11 degrees, but you've got the breeze and the showers, so it's not going to feel particularly warm at all. into saturday then, low pressure sitting to the north of the uk, lots of isobars on that map. the winds are wrapping around that low pressure bringing blustery showers. strongest of the winds for the western isles could reach around 80 miles an hour. further south, we've got this cloud across central and southern england and wales, some patchy outbreaks of rain. more sunshine further north, but those blustery showers, and temperatures only 8—9 for parts of scotland, but 11—13 for the rest of the uk.

so it's looking mild, but then turns colder again into sunday because the winds come in from the northwest, bringing a mix of some sunshine and some heavy showers. some of these showers on sunday a little bit wintry, could be some hail, some sleet, even some snow over the highest ground of scotland. really gusty winds, 60mph or so, in the west. so it is going to be a windy, cold, wintry—feeling day. i think, with top temperatures between about 6—9 degrees. and then looking ahead towards the christmas week, and you'll notice those temperatures on the rise. 13—14 degrees for christmas eve, christmas day and stays mild into boxing day. some rain in the northwest, but drier towards the south. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... gisele pelicot thanks her supporters, after her former husband is jailed for aggravated rape —— and praises other women who have survived similar trauma. water bills will go up by an average 86 pounds next year in england and wales, despite companies being criticised for leaks and sewage spills. hospices in england will receive more than 120 million pounds to boost end of life care, as the sector struggles with rising costs. we'll be speaking to the ceo

of hospice uk live on the programme. and with the countdown to 2025, we take a look back at some of the best films released this year. here's a round up of all your sports news. hello from the bbc sport centre. tyson fury says "theres going to be a lot of hurt and pain" in his heavyweight rematch against 0leskander usyk on saturday. they — as well as their teams — have been speaking to media ahead of the title fight in saudi arabia. they did this forjust over nine minutes — just staring at each other.. before fury eventually broke the silence. the pair are going head to head again, seven months on from their first fight, which the ukrainian edged on points. tysons promoter frank warren says this time there will be a very different outcome: i know these guys have been in the rain, they shared the ring together for 12 rounds. they know each

other�*s