News in brief

By The Associated Press

Verdicts due in the historic French rape trial

AVIGNON, France | French judges plan to deliver hugely anticipated verdicts in a historic drugging-and-rape trial that has turned the victim, Gisèle Pelicot, into a feminist hero. The verdicts against the 51 defendants are expected on Thursday morning.

Everything about the trial in the southern French city of Avignon has been exceptional, most of all Pelicot herself. She has been the epitome of steely dignity and resilience through the more than three months of appalling testimony, including extracts from her now ex-husband’s sordid library of homemade abuse videos.

Campaigners against sexual violence are hoping for exemplary prison sentences and view the trial as a possible turning point in the fight against rape culture.

Bird flu: Louisiana patient is first severe case while California declares state of emergency

Health officials have confirmed the first case of severe illness in the U.S. caused by bird flu. And California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the virus rampages through dairy cattle in that state.

State health officials in Louisiana say a person there remains hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms caused by a bird flu infection. The person, who is over 65 and has underlying medical problems, had been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock.

Since March, more that 60 bird flu infections have been confirmed in people in the U.S.

—From AP reports