International

Denmark will raise the limit for abortion from 12 to 18 weeks

The Danish center-left government announced this Friday an agreement with four more parties to raise the limit for abortion from 12 to 18 weeks, so this country would be among those with the latest deadlines in Europe, along with Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands.

The seven signatory parties – which total 124 of the 179 seats in Parliament – justified the decision by the need to give women “more time and possibilities to act according to the knowledge they acquire after the first examinations of the fetus and thus reinforce their right to decide for themselves,” according to a statement.

The text also alludes to the fact that medical techniques, technological possibilities and the diagnosis of the fetus have evolved in a “colossal” way in recent decades and that the current legislation on the subject – which dates back to 1973, when abortion was allowed in Denmark – has been “outdated.”

“After 50 years, it’s time for the rules of abortion to be adapted to their time. We reinforce women’s right to decide. There is no basis for the current limit from a medical point of view and nothing indicates that there will be many more or later abortions to extend the limit,” said the Minister of Health, Sophie Løhde.

Løhde alluded to the case of Sweden, where the 18-week limit applies since 1996 and abortions have not increased or changed when they are done.

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The motion will be presented in Parliament this year or the following and is expected to enter into force on June 1, 2025.

The agreement follows the recommendations made last year by the so-called Ethical Council, an advisory body of the Danish Parliament.

In addition to raising the pregnancy limit, the Government announced two other agreements: one to allow young women from 15 to 17 years old to have an abortion without needing the consent of the parents or a special commission; and another to unify the five existing regional commissions into a single national level.

Several non-governmental organizations, in addition to gynecologists and obstetricians, have long been lobbying for Denmark to modify the regulations on abortion.

“It’s a very good agreement, it’s an essential extension of women’s ability to decide,” said today the president of the Danish College of Physicians, Camilla Rathcke.

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International

German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.

“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.

Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.

“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.

He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”

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“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.

Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.

International

Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.

In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.

During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.

France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

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Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.

Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.

International

Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate

The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.

In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.

The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.

Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.