Dozens of defendants in the Pelicot trial -- the men who visited the Pelicot family home to rape Gisele Pelicot who was unconscious after being drugged by her husband -- were handed terms of between three and fifteen years. Women's rights groups and the three Pelicot children expressed disappointment.

Paris

In a recent trial in Avignon, France, several defendants involved in the Pelicot case received sentences ranging from three to fifteen years. The case involved the drugging and sexual assault of Gisele Pelicot by her husband and other men. The light sentences have sparked outrage among women's rights groups and Gisele Pelicot's children, who feel justice has not been adequately served.

The courtroom atmosphere was contentious, with tensions escalating as some men involved in the crime were released following provisional detention. This development further fueled frustration and anger among feminist activists. Critics argue that the disparity in sentencing for similar offenses shows a flaw in the legal system, particularly regarding the definition and penalties for rape.

The case has drawn attention to the need for reform in French law, highlighting the absence of consent as a legal requirement in instances of sexual assault. In France, rape is currently defined by acts carried out with violence, coercion, threat, or surprise, without specific reference to consent. Recent debates in the EU to move towards a shared definition of rape based on affirmative consent have not been fully embraced by France, prompting calls for change.



Women's rights groups slam 'lenient' sentences for co-defendants

Outside the gates of the criminal court in Avignon, supporters chanted the words shame on justice as sentences were handed out in the Pellicourt trial. The atmosphere was tense as a lawyer for one of the condemned men in the mass rape trial taunted the crowd and called the activist knitters and hysterical. My client is free, my client is free. He boasted that his client was one of the six men walking out freely, having only been held in provisional detention. The scene added salt to the wound for many feminist activists who said they felt humiliated by the sentences. What bothers me is the notion of different penalties, while they're all the same offence under the penal code, that's rape. And for rape our penal code says 15 years, how is it that certain men who we recognise have committed rape can walk free after three years? For activists and observers, the Pellicourt trial has highlighted the need to update French law. In the absence of consent as a legal criterion in France, defence lawyers were able to argue that the aggressors thought they were taking part in a consensual fantasy. If we had in our French criminal law the obligation for the person who initiates sexual contact to ensure they have consent free of any coercion, the accused would not even have been able to plead a belief in consent since Mrs Pellicourt never said yes. The country's criminal code currently defines rape as a sexual act committed by violence, coercion, threat or surprise, but does not mention whether or not consent is necessary. France was one of a dozen countries that opposed the EU's recent effort to establish a shared definition of rape based on the notion of affirmative consent, namely the idea that only yes means yes.

Russia pummeled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia hits Kyiv with largest drone attack after Trump-Putin call

U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

Washington

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Jerusalem

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

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President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

Global Tariffs

Trump: Letters telling countries their tariff rate going out Friday

Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

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After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

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CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

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Madrid

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The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

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New York

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Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

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Madison

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President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

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Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

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Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.