"Conflict lasts for 12 straight days, detailed in this week's 'Informe Semanal'"
Fresh Weekly Take:
Get the lowdown on the latest chaos in the Middle East and a fond look back at Spain's historic step in LGBTQ+ rights!
12 Days of War in the Middle East
The Middle East is always a ticking time bomb, but June 2023 saw it explode once again. Following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, the region has been on edge, with the current conflict escalating this past June. On June 13, Israel struck hard at Iran's most vital targets: their military leadership and nuclear program, which has long been a threat [3]. In response, Iran struggled to retaliate, with the U.S.'s unexpected intervention turning the tide weeks later.
Donald Trump, despite stating he'd avoid international conflicts, intervened in the Islamic Republic, targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities with bunker-buster bombs. This was the first U.S. president to attack another country's nuclear program, aligning with Israel's security concerns [3]. This move sent ripples worldwide and intensified ongoing hostilities, given the decades-long strife post-1979 Iranian Revolution and Iran's ongoing nuclear program [3].
From Shut Door to Open Arms: 20 Years of Progress
Unlike the tumultuous events in the Middle East, Spain made a significant leap forward in 2000 by recognizing same-sex marriage. With a minor tweak to the Civil Code, love became accessible for thousands of couples in Spain. This change opened doors to shared life plans and rights that had previously been denied to the LGBTQ+ community, despite fierce opposition from the conservative PP and the Church [4].
Days after the law's passing, Emilio and Carlos made history by starring in Spain's first same-sex wedding in Tres Cantos, despite initial resistance and limited guests. For Emilio, a widower, "nothing changed between us" but it marked the closing of an open wound [4]. Subsequent years saw thousands more couples have the opportunity to marry and build families with full legal protections.
While challenges remain, approximately 80,000 marriages have been celebrated in Spain since this historical change in 2000. In Campillo de Ranas, Francisco Maroto, the first mayor to officiate same-sex marriages, shares his conviction, "we felt obliged to take a step forward, putting us on the map." He was one of many who enabled love to cross traditional boundaries, setting a powerful example.
[1] Tentative signs of de-escalation have emerged in the Middle East, leading to a cease-fire between Israel and Iran as of mid-2025.[2] Sources on the US-Iran conflict: [1] https://www.brookings.org/research/the-united-states-intervention-in-the-middle-east-crisis-involving-iran-implications-and-options-for-moving-forward/ [2] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-iran-2023-conflict[3] U.S. intervention details: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57215047[4] Spain's legalization of same-sex marriage: https://www.history.com/news/same-sex-marriage-legalized-spain-2005
- The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as seen in the recent tensions between Israel and Iran, is a topic frequently reported in the general news, often with updates on war-and-conflicts and politics.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of crime-and-justice and general-news, Spain made strides in 2000 by legalizing same-sex marriage, a significant change in politics that has since been a subject of interest and celebration in reports.
