International
In Chile, 6,281 couples have married after three years of the same-sex marriage law
Three years after the entry into force of the Equal Marriage Law in Chile, a total of 6,281 homosexual couples have married, the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (Movilh) reported on Tuesday, after obtaining figures from the Civil Registry.
55% of marriages have been between women (3,456) and 45% between men (2,825), and 56 divorces and 70 nullities have been recorded to date, whose sum corresponds to 1.1% of the total ceremonies held since the approval of the rule until December 2, 2024.
A total of 824 people have been registered as sons and daughters of same-gender couples, 710 as children of two mothers (86.2%), and 114 as children of two fathers (13.8%).
“This is not only a legal transformation, but also a profound cultural change,” said Movilh spokeswoman Javiera Zúñiga in the statement.
“In all regions there have been equal marriages and registrations of people as children of same-sex couples, which is good news, because it ends inequalities due to sexual orientation or gender identity of families,” he added.
The Metropolitan region concentrates 54.5% of marriages contracted (3,428), followed by Valparaíso (790), Biobío (308), Bernardo O’Higgins (262) and Antofagasta (247) as the territories where more couples have married.
Aysén (14), Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica (47), Arica and Parinacota (70), Los Ríos (79) and Ñuble (80), the least populated regions of the country, are the ones with the fewest marriages.
The registration of sons and daughters of homosexual couples also corresponds to the number of inhabitants of each region, being the Metropolitan the one that has registered the highest number (466, representing 56.5% of the total), followed by Valparaíso (102), Antofagasta (38) and Biobío (36).
Majority of marriages between women
In all territories, except in Aysén, the number of marriages between women is higher than that of men, and in all cases there have been more children recognized by female couples than male couples.
Equal marriage was legalized in Chile after in 2016 the Chilean State and Movilh signed an Amicable Settlement Agreement before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where the country committed to create, process and approve the rule.
Until then, homosexual couples could resort to the Civil Union Agreement, promulgated in April 2015, which allows the regularization of “the legal aspects of a common, stable and permanent affective life,” the law indicates.
Since its entry into force on December 10, 2021, this agreement has resulted in 12,830 links, 6,566 between women (51.1%) and 6,264 among men (48.9%).
The third anniversary of the publication of the Equal Marriage Law in the Official Journal of Chile coincides with International Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.
International
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.
Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.
The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.
“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.
While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.
Central America
El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program
The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.
Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.
The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.
According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.
In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.
International
Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela
Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.
“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.
For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.
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