International

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court paves the way for legal euthanasia with landmark ruling

With seven of its nine justices in favor, the Constitutional Court has opened the door for doctors to assist patients in dying without facing imprisonment.

“Homicide charges will not apply to the physician who performs an active euthanasia procedure with the aim of preserving the rights to a dignified life and the free development of the patient’s personality,” stated the highest constitutional tribunal in a press release.

The Court based its decision on the case of 43-year-old Paola Roldán, who has been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative and painful disease, for three years.

In August, Roldán filed a lawsuit against Article 144 of the Ecuadorian penal code, which considers the procedure as homicide and carries a prison sentence of 10 to 13 years.

The ruling agreed on the “unconstitutionality” of the section, though the Ministry of Health must still present a bill to Congress to regulate euthanasia.

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Farith Simon, one of Roldán’s lawyers, stated on the X network that “the sentence is to be complied with IMMEDIATELY.”

“I often thought I would not live to see the results of this lawsuit, like someone who plants a tree for others to sit in its shade,” said Roldán on Friday also via X, after it was announced that her request was in the final stage of analysis.

In Latin America, only Colombia has decriminalized euthanasia, in 1997. The parliaments of Uruguay and Chile are discussing bills on the matter, while Mexico has the so-called “good death” law, which allows the patient or their family to request that life not be prolonged by artificial means.

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.”