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.

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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

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International

Arsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals

Arsenal enjoyed a “historic night” on Wednesday after defeating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, knocking them out of the Champions League quarterfinals, midfielder Declan Rice said.

“It’s such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club,” said Rice, who scored twice in the first leg in London, speaking to TNT Sports.

The English international was named Man of the Match in both legs — the 3-0 win in London and the second leg in Madrid.

“It’s amazing. I knew we were on an upward trajectory and we’ve done incredibly well in this competition. We deserve it and we have full confidence in our coach. Reaching the semifinals is unbelievable,” Rice added.

International

DeSantis’ immigration crackdown sparks alarm in Venezuelan Communities in Doral

Florida, the U.S. state with the third-largest immigrant population, has become the most aggressive in targeting undocumented immigrants, largely due to pressure from Governor Ron DeSantis. This shift has led Latino-majority cities like Orlando and Doral to authorize their police forces to assist in immigration enforcement.

In Doral — part of the greater Miami area where 70.7% of residents are immigrants and 48% are of Venezuelan origin — the City Council is expected to approve a measure this Wednesday allowing local police to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite opposition from neighborhood groups and human rights activists.

“It’s yet another betrayal,” said Susana Ríos, a 57-year-old Venezuelan woman currently under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), whose extension was denied by the White House and is now being challenged in court.

Meanwhile, José González, a 21-year-old immigrant, said he feels “abandoned.” He can’t stop thinking about the images of Venezuelans deported to El Salvador without due process. “We’re all in danger,” he warned.

International

Bogotá residents line up for yellow fever vaccine amid national alert

David Suárez went to a public health center in Bogotá on Wednesday to get vaccinated against yellow fever. It wasn’t originally in his plans, but he responded to a call made just hours earlier by President Gustavo Petro, who announced he will declare a health and economic emergency due to a new outbreak of the disease that has already left more than 30 people dead, mostly in the central-western region of the country.

“I got vaccinated for two reasons: first, for my own health because I’m traveling, and second, for a social reason — simply to follow the president’s guidance and be aware that this is a problem for all of us,” said Suárez, a 39-year-old teacher, to The Associated Press.

Like Suárez, dozens of people were waiting in line for the vaccine at Bogotá’s main intercity bus terminal, a key transportation hub especially crowded during travel seasons like Holy Week.

The teacher is traveling with his family to the department of Huila, which has activated a contingency plan due to its proximity to Tolima — the epicenter of the yellow fever outbreak — where a state of public calamity has been declared.