International
Equal marriage comes into force in Thailand
Equal marriage came into force this Thursday in Thailand, the first country in Southeast Asia that allows same-sex unions and only the third in Asia to do so, after Nepal and Taiwan, a milestone that will be celebrated today with hundreds of links.
It has taken 120 days since the law was published in the Royal Gazette on September 24, after being approved by Parliament in June, so that it could become effective and begin this Thursday to allow equal marriages in tourist Thailand.
The records will receive today for 10 hours the couples who wish to formalize their links, and the first to do so were the women Ployanapat Jirasukorn, 33, and Kwanporn Kongphet, 32, who sealed their marriage in a ceremony for hundreds of couples convened in the Bangkok Siam Paragon shopping center.
Around 300 couples are expected to be part of that collective wedding today in the Thai capital, a symbol of the step achieved in the Asian country that will accompany a speech by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, while in parallel a multitude of events will be held in provinces throughout the country.
A festive atmosphere to applaud the advances of the LGBTI collective in Thailand, stagnated for years by the two military coups since 2006 that restricted civil liberties, and that now place the country at the head of the entire Southeast Asian region, and most of Asia.
While homosexual couples in Thailand will from today have the same rights as heterosexual ones, including those related to the inheritance and adoption of children, the setbacks are palpable in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Brunei, with a Muslim majority, which criminalize same-sex relationships.
Modern Singapore did not repeal until November 2022 the law that penalizes homosexual sex – section 377A, inheritance of the British colonial period -, in parallel approving a constitutional amendment to shield marriage as an exclusively heterosexual union.
In China, homosexuality has been legal since 1997, although the collective still faces numerous prejudices and challenges. Although India decriminalized in 2018 as Singapore the colonial law that criminalized homosexuality, marriage is only for couples of opposite sex.
Japan, for its part, is the only member of the G7 that does not recognize same-sex marriage, although in recent years its courts and local authorities have taken a series of steps that pave the way for future legalization.
Thailand thus joins the few places in Asia that recognize equal marriage, following Nepal, which legalized it last year, and Taiwan, which was a pioneer in approving it in 2019
International
Iran Rejects Negotiations With U.S. as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Amid New Attack
Tensions remained high in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after a vessel was hit by a projectile, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that negotiations with Iran were moving forward and that the strategic maritime route could reopen as early as Tuesday.
Tehran denied that direct talks were taking place, but Trump insisted that discussions were underway and described the situation as a final opportunity for Iran to reach an agreement.
“This is the last chance they have to sign a good document,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could happen “literally tomorrow” Tuesday.
The comments came after another escalation in rhetoric from Washington. Last week, Trump threatened Iran with military strikes before unexpectedly changing course on Sunday and announcing that negotiations with Tehran would resume.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai rejected the U.S. president’s version of events, stating that Tehran was not holding negotiations with Washington.
“At this moment, we are not negotiating with the United States. We are negotiating with Oman to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baqai said.
Earlier, the Iranian official said that Tehran was close to reaching an agreement with Oman, which lies across the Strait of Hormuz, to reopen the crucial waterway that plays a key role in global energy trade.
The maritime route has remained blocked by Iran since the outbreak of hostilities following U.S. and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced Tuesday that they had launched an attack against an airport in Saudi Arabia. The Iran-backed group had previously disrupted the passage of Saudi vessels through the Red Sea, an alternative route used for crude exports by the world’s largest oil producer.
The continued instability in the region has raised concerns over global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important chokepoints for international oil shipments.
International
Lula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to be officially nominated for re-election by his Workers’ Party (PT), marking the start of his campaign for a fourth presidential term.
The nomination takes place during the party’s national convention in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic hub, where around 3,000 supporters gathered to back the veteran leftist leader.
“Today I’m here because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we finally own a home after eight generations without one,” said Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker attending the event dressed in the PT’s signature red.
Seeking the presidency for the seventh time in his political career, Lula is expected to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in next year’s election.
The 45-year-old senator is the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been jailed over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 election.
The party convention opened with videos highlighting Lula’s social initiatives and speeches by four women praising his leadership, while supporters waved PT flags and held signs reading “We Want Lula as President” and “Brazil Is Not for Sale.”
The campaign begins amid growing tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump, a close ally of the Bolsonaro family who has openly backed several conservative candidates across Latin America.
Last week, Lula warned against foreign interference, declaring, “In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products, accusing the country of unfair trade practices. The measures followed earlier restrictions introduced in 2025, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, in response to legal proceedings against the former president.
Lula has vowed to wage what he called a “war of truth against lies” in response to Washington’s pressure and accused Flávio Bolsonaro of undermining Brazil’s interests by allegedly helping the United States damage the country’s economy. The senator has denied the accusations.
The Brazilian president also claims Washington is attempting to influence the country’s political landscape in an effort to prevent his re-election.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
Iran Rejects Negotiations With U.S. as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Amid New Attack
U.S. Defense Secretary to Close Multinational Military Exercises in Panama to Protect Canal
Lula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International4 days agoEU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
-
International5 days agoChuck Schumer Unveils Proposal to Strengthen Oversight of the U.S. Presidency
-
International2 hours agoIran Rejects Negotiations With U.S. as Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked Amid New Attack
-
International5 days agoTrump Administration Urges Latin America to Increase Defense Spending Against Organized Crime
-
International5 days agoFAO and WFP Seek $42 Million to Prepare Southern Africa for Unprecedented El Niño
-
International17 hours agoLula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
-
International2 days agoTruck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
-
Central America2 hours agoU.S. Defense Secretary to Close Multinational Military Exercises in Panama to Protect Canal