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.

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.

Israeli cybersecurity firm Dream has raised $100 million (€105 million) in a Series B funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.1 billion (€1.05 billion). The company, which specializes in AI-driven cyber defense solutions for governments, aims to detect and neutralize cyber threats before they materialize.

The funding round, announced on Monday, was led by Bain Capital Ventures, with additional backing from Group 11, Tru Arrow, Tau Capital, and Aleph. The fresh capital injection will accelerate the company’s expansion into new markets and enhance the development of its Cyber Language Model (CLM), a next-generation AI tool designed to counter evolving cyber threats.

Cybersecurity in an Age of Increasing Threats

Founded in January 2023, Dream has quickly established itself as a key player in the cybersecurity sector, particularly in government and national security contracts. In 2024 alone, the company generated more than $130 million (€124 million) in sales to governments and national cybersecurity organizations.

Sebastian Kurz, co-founder and President of Dream, emphasized the urgency of robust cyber defense strategies.

“Sophisticated cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure are increasing in both prevalence and complexity,” Kurz said in a statement.

“During my time as Prime Minister, I saw firsthand how these attacks can cause real human damage and have the potential to disrupt entire societies. By founding Dream, we are on a mission to empower nations against what I believe is the defining national security threat of our era.”

Kurz, the former Austrian Chancellor, founded Dream alongside entrepreneur Shalev Hulio and cyber expert Gil Dolev. The venture marks a major shift in Kurz’s career, following his resignation from government in 2021 amid corruption allegations.

A New Chapter for Sebastian Kurz

Kurz stepped down as Austria’s Chancellor in 2021 after facing accusations of misusing public funds for favorable media coverage. In February 2024, he was found guilty of lying under oath to parliament and received an eight-month suspended sentence. Kurz has called the ruling “very unfair” and has since launched an appeal.

Despite his controversial political exit, Kurz has rebranded himself in the tech and cybersecurity industry, leveraging his experience in governance to address national security threats in the digital age.

The Growing Demand for AI-Driven Cyber Defense

With cybercriminals increasingly deploying AI-powered attacks, experts stress that AI-based defenses are essential to counter deepfake scams, phishing campaigns, and sophisticated cyber espionage.

According to industry data cited by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the total cost of cybercrime has skyrocketed from $3 trillion (€2.9 trillion) in 2015 to $6 trillion (€5.7 trillion) in 2021. Analysts predict this figure will soar to $15.6 trillion (€14.9 trillion) by 2029.

The cybersecurity market is expanding in response. A McKinsey report estimates that global spending on cybersecurity products and services reached approximately $200 billion (€191 billion) in 2024.

Dream’s latest funding round will also bring in new board members, including Enrique Salem of Bain Capital Ventures and Shlomo Yanai, a board member at Philip Morris. They will join existing board members Dovi Frances, Michael Eisenberg, and Dream’s founding team.

As the AI arms race in cyber warfare intensifies, Dream aims to position itself as a key player in protecting national security interests worldwide.