International

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court examines legalizing euthanasia

Photo: El Universo

November 23 |

The Constitutional Court of Ecuador held a hearing to discuss the eventual legalization of euthanasia in the country, at the request of Paola Roldan, a 42-year-old woman who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and who demands that the State guarantee her a dignified death.

During the hearing, held last Monday, the nine judges that make up the Court received the arguments for and against Roldan’s request. She did so by telematic means, from the bed where she is bedridden, accompanied by her husband. She explained that she has suffered from ALS since 2020 and that since then she has come close to death many times.

She noted that the disease has caused her physical and emotional suffering. “It is humiliating and painful to ask this of you. I understand leaving with dignity. I want to rest in dignity and peace,” she said.

“This is not the struggle to die, I know I am dying, it is a struggle of how to do it (…) in hiding or I can do it held in my husband’s arms,” she said.

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At this moment, Roldán only has control of the muscles of her face and is assisted by a tube that supplies her with oxygen. For two years she has been fed parenterally and receives nutrients directly to her heart through a catheter.

The patient’s defense asked the Court to declare unconstitutional article 144 of the Integral Penal Code, which states that “the person who kills another person will be punished with a prison sentence of 10 to 13 years”. According to the norm, euthanasia would be considered homicide.

In the opinion of her lawyer, Farith Simón, the Ecuadorian Constitution establishes the right to live, but not the obligation to do so. He considered that forcing her to live in her condition, under intense pain, violates her rights.

Among the 16 interventions made during the hearing, 12 supported euthanasia, among them the psychologist who evaluated Roldan, Carlos Reyes, who assured that she does not suffer from any psychological disorder and made her decision in full capacity.

According to press reports, it is now up to the judge in charge of the case, Enrique Herrería, to present a draft sentence for the Court to approve it or not. This process will take a few days.

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ALS is considered a rare disease with no cure. It destroys the nerve cells that control the muscles that execute voluntary movements.

Colombia decriminalized euthanasia in 1997. The Chilean and Uruguayan parliaments are currently studying bills on the subject.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”