SOFIA
The Russian embassy in Bulgaria reacted sharply against criticism by a US diplomat in Sofia about corruption in the country. Read more.
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EU PRESIDENCY
Minister: Detachment from NATO would widen divisions in the EU. Any attempt to distance the European Union from NATO would only deepen the divisions among EU member states, Portugal’s defence minister, João Gomes Cravinho, has said, arguing instead that the mechanisms of cooperation between the two partners should be improved. Read the full story.
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BERLIN
German state leaders, local officials demand clearer vaccination plan. German state leaders and local officials called for a better-defined vaccination plan ahead of a meeting on Monday between EU, national, and state leaders, as well as members of the pharmaceutical industry. The so-called ‘vaccination summit’ was called to address a rocky immunisation rollout in the country. Read more.
By Lisa Zengarini
Portuguese Bishops have expressed “sorrow and outrage” over the approval of a new law that legalises the practice of euthanasia in certain cases and under strict rules. The law passed on January 29 with a 136 -78 vote and four abstentions, in spite of the strong opposition voiced by the Church and Catholic organizations.
According to the legislative text, people aged over 18 will be allowed to request assistance in dying if they are terminally ill and suffering from lasting and unbearable pain, unless they are deemed not to be mentally fit to make such a decision. The process will only be open to citizens and legal residents in order to prevent people from travelling to Portugal to get medical help to end their life.
Could Portugal be The Fourth State in Europe to Legalize Euthanasia? albawaba.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from albawaba.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Portugal votes in favour of euthanasia
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must decide in coming weeks whether to approve the law, veto it or send it to the Constitutional Court for review
PIC: Pixabay
Portugal s parliament approved Friday the final wording of legislation allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill and gravely injured people.
The law now goes to the country s president, who could try to block it.
Lawmakers voted 136-78, with four abstentions, in favor of the law that combined five right-to-die bills passed last February.
After their passage, and in accordance with parliamentary procedure, the bills went through committees where administrative procedures and other details of the euthanasia process were set out and merged into a single piece of legislation.