International

Paraguayan President announces anti-corruption plan to fight corruption

Photo: ABC Color

November 25 |

On his 100th day in office, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña signed on Thursday at the Government Palace with other authorities a document called “National Strategy to Combat Corruption”.

It is a 68-page “road map” with deadlines for the execution of various projects and its content was revealed in the middle of a ceremony held at the Government Palace, where other authorities of the three branches of government participated in the signing of the strategy.

The document was signed by President Santiago Peña, Vice President Pedro Alliana, Comptroller General Camilo Benítez, Attorney General Emiliano Rolón, the President of the Court, César Diesel, the head of Congress, Senator Silvio Ovelar, and the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre.

According to the Paraguayan president, “we are seeking for this strategy to be a road map with measurable tasks, commitments and objectives that involve and involve society for execution and control”.

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The President thanked the signatory authorities for fighting against corruption, respecting what he called the balance of powers. “All the authorities agree that corruption is a scourge that requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary and transversal action by the State in order to defeat its institutions”, he said.

He insisted that through this strategy a dialogue table is installed in the fight against this scourge, in “search of a better future”.

He also described that “the strategy contains four axes, 16 sub-themes and 42 initiatives. It is the most complete strategy I have ever seen in my life”.

He added that the plan “covers a series of issues that are transcendental” for the country, in relation to public health and education.

On the other hand, he announced the processing of the bill that establishes the “National Regime of Integrity, Transparency and Prevention of Corruption in Paraguay”. The norm foresees “to establish a new regime for the prevention of corruption in our country, assigning this relevant function to a constitutional body with functional autonomy and independence such as the Comptroller General of the Republic”.

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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.”