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From historic milestones to political power plays, the start of 2025 has been nothing short of eventful. Thailand celebrates a victory for love, Trump wastes no time making headlines, and Hollywood eyes an Indian short film for Oscar glory. Here’s everything you need to know right now.

Love wins in Siam 

Congratulations are in order for LGBTQIA+ couples in Thailand and their allies everywhere. The Marriage Equality Bill, which was passed in June of last year, came into effect on January 23. Naturally, hundreds of couples tied the knot in Thailand, as the kingdom becomes the first in Southeast Asia—and third in Asia—to legalise same-sex marriage, after Taiwan and Nepal. “The rainbow flag is flying high over Thailand,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote in a Facebook post. We’re not crying, you are.

Second time’s a charm? 

US President Donald Trump wasted no time flexing his authority after reclaiming presidency. In a whirlwind of executive orders, he pardoned 1,500 Capitol rioters, declared a national emergency at the US—Mexico border, and axed programmes promoting diversity, immigration, and environmental protections. He pulled the US out of the Paris climate deal, again. Trump also declared Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations, and floated renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. All while announcing, “We’re erasing Biden’s cancer”.

Rising to the top 

Philosopher-turned-filmmaker Adam J Graves’ Anuja (2024) has been nominated in the ‘Best Live Action Short Film’ category for the 97th Academy Awards, which is supposed to be held on March 2. Backed by big names—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Guneet Monga, and Mindy Kaling, to name a few—the movie revolves around Anuja, a nine-year-old working in a garment factory with her older sister Palak, and a life-changing decision she must make. *Added to Letterboxd*

Filters off 

Every time we think Meta couldn’t get more messy, we are proved wrong. Like the latest Instagram on Ozempic? Atrocious! Mark Zuckerberg recently announced major changes to content moderation—good thing or bad? Only time will tell. In a post on Threads and a Facebook video, the Meta founder and CEO said, “We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship”, and unveiled a plan to dial back restrictions for some freedom of expression. So what’s changing? The US will be saying goodbye to fact-checkers and hello to “community notes” (à la Twitter). Content policies will be getting a makeover, easing restrictions on topics like immigration and gender “that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse”. Oh, and political content will be back on everyone’s feeds!

What’s in a name? 

Ask Beyoncé. The 43-year-old American singer-songwriter has won a 12-year legal battle to trademark her daughter Blue Ivy’s name. It began back in 2009, when a small Wisconsin boutique claimed the trademark. Blue Ivy, now 12, apart from having a trademarked name, also happens to be the “most famous baby in the world” according to Time and the “New Princess of Pop” according to Rolling Stone. We can only wish to be her.

Can I just say thank God? 

I think I speak for everyone when I say The White Lotus might be one of the best—if not the best—show’s of our time. And it’s going to remain so for a while, since the show has been renewed for a fourth season, with HBO giving the green signal for a 2026 release! Sources say that the show’s creator, Mike White, has already started pitching ideas for the plot and the setting. And this news for renewal comes just ahead of The White Lotus season 3 premiere on February 16.

All images: Gettyimages.com, Shutterstock.com and Instagram/guneetmong

This article originally appeared in the January-February 2025 print edition of Cosmopolitan India.

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