International

The Pentagon reaches an agreement with LGTBIQ veterans discharged for their sexual orientation

The Pentagon announced on Monday that it reached an agreement with a group of five plaintiffs, representing more than 30,000 LGTBIQ veterans who unsubscribed because of their sexual orientation, according to US media reports.

Veterans who sued the Department of Defense were fired when a controversial measure was in force – known as ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ or ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ in English – that forced LGBTQ people to hide their sexuality in order to be military.

The agreement streamlines the process so that these veterans can eliminate references to their sexual orientation in the discharge documents and the Department of Defense records.

“When I was discharged because of my sexual orientation, I felt that my country was telling me that my service was worthless, that I was ‘less than’ for the person I loved,” Sherrill Farrell, a veteran of the US Navy and one of the five people who filed the lawsuit, said in a press release.

“Today, once again I feel proud to have served my country by defending veterans like me and ensuring that our honor is recognized,” she added.

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In the lawsuit, the veterans alleged that the Pentagon violated their rights by not granting them “honorable” casualties or removing references to their sexual orientation from their record after the discriminatory policy was removed in 2011.

The government tried to dismiss the lawsuit and a federal judge in California allowed the class action to take course in June, concluding that the army’s decision to leave the discharge documents of LGTBQ veterans unchanged “was motivated by a discriminatory intention.”

The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy came into effect in 1993 and allowed sexual orientation to be indicated as the main reason for the dismissal of the military.

Some of the veterans discharged under this restriction lost access to benefits such as military discounts, college tuition assistance, loan programs, and more.

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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.