The trial of Joël Le Scouarnec, accused of sexually abusing 299 victims—mostly minors—over three decades, commenced on Monday in the Morbihan criminal court, marking what officials call the largest paedophilia case in France’s history. The 74-year-old former surgeon faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.

Le Scouarnec has admitted to most of the charges, which include 111 cases of rape and 189 of sexual assault, often committed while abusing his position as a doctor. His prior convictions include a 2005 suspended sentence for possessing child pornography and a 2020 15-year sentence for sexually abusing four minors.

The trial, expected to last four months, takes place in a specially adapted courtroom due to its scale. With 202 civil parties involved, the proceedings will feature testimonies from victims—whose average age during the abuse was 11—and medical experts. A legal support team and therapy dog will be available to assist victims during their testimonies.

Investigators discovered extensive evidence at Le Scouarnec’s home in 2017, following allegations from a six-year-old girl. Authorities found hundreds of thousands of illicit images, disturbing photomontages, and handwritten diaries documenting decades of abuse. His crimes spanned 15 hospitals across France, with most victims identified at Vannes’ Sacré-Coeur clinic.

The first two weeks of the trial focus on Le Scouarnec’s background, with testimonies from relatives, including his ex-wife, who claims she was unaware of his actions. The trial will proceed chronologically through the incidents, with medical and hospital officials expected to testify about their knowledge of the surgeon’s 2005 conviction. Despite early warnings, Le Scouarnec continued practicing until his arrest in 2017.

The court will hear psychiatric evaluations on May 20, followed by closing arguments from victims’ lawyers from May 22 to 28. The prosecution will present its case on June 2, and the defense on June 3. Le Scouarnec will have the opportunity to address the court before deliberations begin on June 4, with a verdict expected on June 7.

The French Ministry of Justice has allocated approximately €3 million for trial expenses, including courtroom modifications, equipment, and victim support. Strict measures, such as colored necklaces, will help victims indicate whether they wish to be approached by the media.

This landmark case has reignited debates on safeguarding children within medical settings, as well as the need for stronger oversight of professionals with prior offenses.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, raising doubts over the future of the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. The decision, announced early Sunday, came after six Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas on Saturday as part of the truce’s first phase.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the prisoner release is postponed until Israel is assured of the next hostage release and the cessation of what Israel describes as “humiliating ceremonies” during hostage handovers in Gaza. Military vehicles that typically escort prisoner transport buses initially left Ofer prison but later returned, signaling the abrupt halt.

More than 600 Palestinian prisoners were set to be released after Saturday’s hostage handover, marking the largest one-day exchange since the ceasefire began. However, images of masked Hamas militants escorting five of the six freed hostages before large crowds drew criticism from international organizations such as the United Nations and the Red Cross, who condemned the scenes as cruel and exploitative.

Israel’s statement cited these displays as one reason for delaying the release, saying that using hostages for propaganda undermines their dignity. The six hostages freed on Saturday are believed to be the last living captives expected to be released under the ceasefire’s initial phase, which was brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Talks on the next phase have yet to begin.

Uncertainty Over Ceasefire’s Next Phase

The ceasefire has paused weeks of deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas, but concerns are growing that hostilities could resume if negotiations stall. Hamas has pledged to release four bodies next week to fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire’s first phase. The group still holds more than 60 hostages, with roughly half believed to be alive.

The second phase of the truce aims to secure the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds of additional Palestinian prisoners. This phase is also expected to include a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and the potential for a permanent end to hostilities. Hamas has signaled its willingness to proceed but insists it needs assurances that Israel will uphold its end of the agreement.

Netanyahu, with support from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, remains committed to dismantling Hamas’ military and governing capabilities while ensuring the safe return of all hostages. An Israeli official told the Associated Press that Netanyahu is set to meet with security advisers to assess the ceasefire’s future.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has resulted in more than 48,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The offensive has also displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents and devastated much of the enclave’s infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza will take decades.

The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people. Since then, both sides have faced mounting international pressure to reach a sustainable ceasefire and prevent further humanitarian crises.

The United States has officially designated two gangs and six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, marking a significant step in its fight against transnational crime. The announcement, made Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, fulfills a long-standing goal from former President Donald Trump’s first term.

The designated groups include Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, El Salvador’s MS-13, and Mexican cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Cárteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana. These organizations now join groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and Hamas on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Tren de Aragua, which originated as a prison gang in Venezuela, is known for human smuggling and targeting migrants. The group has expanded its presence across Latin America and became a focal point during Trump’s presidential campaign after an alleged gang-related kidnapping in Aurora, Colorado.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, has deep roots in both El Salvador and the United States. Founded by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles during the 1980s, the gang is notorious for its violence. While its power has waned in El Salvador due to President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown, its influence remains a concern in the U.S.

Among the Mexican cartels named, the Sinaloa Cartel is particularly infamous, previously led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The group is heavily involved in fentanyl trafficking, which U.S. officials say has fueled the opioid crisis. CJNG, led by former police officer Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, uses a franchise model to dominate smuggling routes, importing chemical precursors from China.

Cárteles Unidos formed in 2019 to combat CJNG’s expansion in Michoacán, while Cartel del Noreste, a splinter of Los Zetas, operates near the U.S.-Mexico border and engages in migrant smuggling. Cartel del Golfo, responsible for the 2023 kidnapping of American tourists in Matamoros, dates back to the Prohibition era. La Nueva Familia Michoacana, led by the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers, is involved in drug trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The U.S. government’s designation aims to enhance efforts to dismantle these organizations, with Rubio stating that combating their influence is critical for national security and border control.