International

Hospitalized accused of drugging his wife so that she was raped by other men

Dominique Pelicot, the man who is being tried in Avignon (southeast of France) for having drugged his wife for years so that others sexually abused her in a state of unconsciousness, has been hospitalized this Tuesday, leaving his statement and the continuity of the process suspended.

Her lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, told the press at a break from the trial that she had been informed that Pelicot, 71, had been hospitalized for medical care.

Zavarro explained that his client had begun to have the first symptoms last Friday of “a urinary infection, perhaps a nephritic colic” and implied that “he did not necessarily receive attention during the weekend.”

At the beginning of this morning’s hearing, the president of the Vaucluse Criminal Court, Roger Arata, had indicated that the main defendant would not be able to testify in the afternoon, as planned, due to a health problem, but a possible change in the program was not anticipated at that time.

On Monday, Pelicot was absent shortly after the session was started for the same reason. Arata decided to request an expert opinion this morning to know exactly his state of health and be able to decide.

20250509_dengue_728x90

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20250501_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250501_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

His lawyer considered the postponement of the process “indispensable” if it is intended to continue in his absence, and above all, she rejected the speculations that there were this morning about an alleged maneuver by his client not to testify.

He said that he “will answer all the questions,” but said that this medical problem “that he had not scheduled” has arisen.

The process, which also puts 50 other men on the bench accused of having abused his wife, Gisèle – from whom he has been divorced since August – began on the 2nd and must end one or two weeks before Christmas.

International

Habeas Corpus at risk as Trump team eyes drastic border policy shift

The White House is reportedly considering suspending habeas corpus, the legal principle that protects individuals against arbitrary detention, as part of its efforts to escalate anti-immigration measures in the United States.

In remarks to reporters, Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, argued that the U.S. Constitution allows the suspension of habeas corpus “in times of invasion.”

“It’s an option we are actively considering, and it all depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller stated.

The Trump administration has frequently invoked the notion of a “migrant invasion” to justify actions such as the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and the deportation of foreign nationals—primarily Venezuelans—to El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison.

International

Maduro to Xi: Venezuela is a loyal friend to China

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assured his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, during a meeting held in Moscow on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory in World War II, that China has “loyal friends” in the Caribbean nation.

“You know that in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela you have loyal friends and people willing to continue working for a new world,” said the South American leader, according to footage aired Friday by Venezuelan state broadcaster VTV.

Maduro, accompanied by several of his ministers including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, highlighted the “great results” of a 2023 agreement between China and Venezuela called the “All-Weather and All-Round Strategic Partnership.”

“I believe we can multiply the great results we’re already seeing, and I’m sure that strong and clear guidelines will emerge from this meeting to keep moving forward together,” Maduro added.

International

Iberojet reaffirms commitment to Honduras as Central American Hub

Spanish airline Iberojet and Palmerola International Airport, located in central Honduras, signed a three-year renewal of their exclusive agreement to operate direct flights between the Honduran terminal and the cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

With this renewal, Iberojet—part of the Spanish tourism group Ávoris Corporación Empresarial—reaffirms its commitment to Honduras as its main gateway to Central America from Europe.

The agreement was signed by Iberojet’s Commercial Director, Mario Domínguez, and Erick Spears, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Palmerola.

The signing ceremony took place at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Honduras, Diego Nuño García, who served as an honorary witness.