International

Orsi inaugurated as Uruguay’s leader, vows to tackle crime and inequality

Yamandú Orsi was sworn in as Uruguay’s President this Saturday, outlining his top priorities for his administration: the economy, security, poverty, and the search for those disappeared during the dictatorship.

The former presidential candidate from the Frente Amplio delivered a 25-minute speech before the Uruguayan General Assembly, laying out the broad guidelines of his policies while signaling openness to dialogue with the political opposition.

At the beginning of his address, he acknowledged 40 years of democracy in Uruguay but emphasized that the scars of the dictatorship remain.

“This is why it is both fair and essential to uphold our commitment to freedom, truth, and justice,” he stated, drawing applause from the audience.

His commitment to finding those who disappeared during the dictatorship resurfaced at the end of his speech:
“Our democracy will be healthier the day every Uruguayan family knows where their missing loved ones are.”

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On the economic front, Orsi emphasized Uruguay’s legal security and macroeconomic stability.

“The positive accumulation of past efforts has made Uruguay a country with stable rules, where contracts are honored, where the state fulfills its commitments, and where macroeconomic stability is a state policy,” he highlighted.

He acknowledged differences in economic policy approaches, stating:
“We may disagree on the tools to achieve a fairer distribution of national wealth—something we deeply value—but we will not ignore the economic principles Uruguay has upheld since the restoration of democracy.”

Regarding security, Orsi took a firm stance:
“There will be no leniency toward crime or its repression,” he declared, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

However, he also warned that a purely repressive approach would be insufficient:
“We know well that any solution will be incomplete—and even demagogic—if we fail to address the many root causes of violence.”

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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.”