A picture showing Vorawan “Beaut” Ramwan and Anticha “An” Sangchai wearing wedding dresses in a Pride parade is seen at their house during an interview with Reuters. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Thailand’s Senate passed the final reading of a marriage equality law on June 18 , paving the way for it to become the first country in Southeast Asia to recognise same-sex couples.

The bill comes after more than two decades of effort from activists and politicians, after previous drafts did not reach parliament.

With the support of nearly all lawmakers in the Upper House, the law next needs royal approval. It will come into force 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette.

LGBT advocates called the move a “monumental step forward,” as Thailand would be the first nation in Southeast Asia to enact marriage equality legislation and the third territory in Asia, after Nepal and Taiwan.

“We are very proud to make history,” said Plaifah Kyoka Shodladd, member of a parliamentary committee on same-sex marriage.

“Today love triumphed prejudice,after fighting for more than 20 years, today we can say that this country has marriage equality.”

Lawmakers and activists were seen celebrating in Thailand’s parliament, waving rainbow flags and smiling, with some raising their fists in solidarity with the LGBT community.

Thailand, one of Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, is already known for its vibrant LGBT culture and tolerance.

At the start of June, thousands of revellers and activists paraded through the streets of Bangkok and were joined by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who wore a rainbow shirt to celebrate Pride Month.

“This would underscore Thailand’s leadership in the region in promoting human rights and gender equality,” the Civil Society Commission of marriage equality, activists and LGBTQI couples said in a statement.

Representational image of man standing on top of a skyscraper view of the Bangkok city skyline.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Thailand may have to consider relocating its capital Bangkok because of rising sea levels, a senior official in the country’s climate change office said on May 15.

Projections consistently show that low-lying Bangkok risks being inundated by the ocean before the end of the century.

Pavich Kesavawong, Deputy Director-general of the Government’s department of climate change and environment, warned that the city might not be able to adapt with the world on its current warming pathway.

“I think we are beyond the 1.5 (C) already,” he said, referring to the increase in global temperatures from pre-industrial levels.

“I imagine Bangkok will be under water already, if we stay in our (current) circumstance.”

Bangkok’s city Government is exploring measures that include building dikes, along the lines of those used in the Netherlands, he said.

But “we have been thinking about moving”, Mr. Pavich said, noting that the discussions were still hypothetical and the issue was “very complex”.

“Personally I think it’s a good choice, so we can separate the capital, the Government areas, and business areas,” he said.

“Bangkok (would) still be the Government capital, but move the business.”

While a move is still a long way from being adopted as policy, it would not be unprecedented in the region.

Indonesia will inaugurate this year its new capital Nusantara, which will replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as the country’s political centre.

A disgruntled British tourist in Thailand finds himself in hot water over alleged online revenge. 21-year-old Alexander was arrested for supposedly posting fake negative reviews about a Phuket restaurant, according to The Metro.

The trouble began when Alexander, according to reports, tried to use the restaurant as a shortcut to his home but was refused entry for not being a customer. Seeking payback, Alexander is accused of enlisting his friends to flood the restaurant with one-star reviews, causing its rating to plunge from a respectable 4.8 to a concerning 3.1 out of 5 stars, as per the news outlet.

The restaurant owner, understandably upset by the sudden influx of negativity and the potential impact on their business, filed a complaint. This led to Alexander’s arrest by the Central Investigation Bureau at his new Bangkok apartment. The arrest warrant, issued last August, accuses him of a crime with a surprising name: “entering false computer data likely to cause damage to the general public.”

Alexander maintains his innocence but is now facing legal proceedings in Phuket after being transferred to the Sakhu Police Station there.

This isn’t an isolated incident. In 2020, an American tourist in Phuket learned the hard way about Thailand’s strict defamation laws. He was arrested for a negative TripAdvisor review accusing a hotel of “modern-day slavery.” The tourist was eventually released after an apology, but the case serves as a cautionary tale for online critics visiting Thailand, where even seemingly harmless reviews can have serious consequences.

Defamation is a criminal offence in Thailand and carries a punishment of up to two years in prison.

Bangkok:

Stretching their fingertips to the reddening sky, hundreds of yoga devotees rolled out their mats on the runway of Bangkok’s main airport Saturday, practising their downward dog as early morning flights rumbled overhead.

The unusual event on the airport’s third runway — which is still under construction — saw the workout paired with beverages as participants were offered coconuts, iced teas and water to incorporate into their routines.

Some 500 yoga-goers and camera-ready influencers began arriving at 5:00 am, making their way in the dark to their mats on the runaway.

As the sun rose, yoga instructors guided the group through two workouts, cheerily enthusiastic despite the pollution, industrial setting, and occasional flight roar.

“Today is going to be very special,” an instructor blared, before urging participants to “put your coconut in the air!”

“Feel like a beautiful bird,” she said, as a plane rumbled along the concrete and lifted into the air behind the participants.

While many present were influencers — and perhaps more focused on getting the perfect shot than the perfect lunge — most seemed to have come for a laugh.

“This was something fun, this was a nice event,” said lawyer Rugeradh Tungsupakul, attending with a friend.

“Right now, because of our jobs, we are too busy to go to a yoga studio,” she told AFP.

Although Rugeradh was worried about pollution — a perennial issue in smoggy Bangkok, which regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities — she said they had checked the air quality before arriving.

“Right now, it’s not too bad,” she explained.

Although there were a few men scattered in the crowd, the workout was dominated by women.

Most were clad in the ubiquitous yoga uniform of black leggings and cropped white t-shirts — in this instance emblazoned with the word “BREW” for Brew Yoga which organized the event.

‘Why not?!’

“This is a very special event for me,” said instructor Pavadee Komchokpaisan, 30, adding it was the first time yoga had been done on the runway.

“We have so many people come here to just join the yoga class, and take a picture on a runway,” she told AFP, praising Bangkok’s yoga community.

One of those receiving instruction was Precious, who has lived in Bangkok for the past four years, and said she was invited thanks to her Instagram-famous cat Ernest.

“He’s been to Switzerland, Botswana, South Africa, so obviously this seemed kind of appropriate,” she told AFP.

She figured she was unlikely to ever be asked to do yoga on an airport runway again.

“Why not?!” she asked.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The body of a Thailand model, who went missing a year ago, has been found in a morgue in Bahrain. According to China Times, 31-year-old Kaikan Kaennakam looked for opportunities outside her country after the work dried up. She found a job at a restaurant in Bahrain and moved there three years ago to support her family in northern Thailand, the outlet further said. She used to regularly post on social media and told her family that she had met and started living with her Bahraini boyfriend.

However, she suddenly stopped posting in April 2023, leaving her family concerned. They were not able to reach her on phone.

Kaikan’s family then sought help from the Thai embassy in January this year but they couldn’t find her.

On April 18, the Thai embassy told the family that the body of an unidentified Southeast Asian woman has been parked at in the morgue of the Salmaniya Medical Complex. A tattoo on her leg helped her family identify Kaikan Kaennakam, said China Times.

The cause of death was acute cardiopulmonary failure due to alcohol poisoning.

According to Daily Star, Kaikan’s family is now seeking help to repatriate her body and believes her death was suspicious.

As per the outlet, Kaikan’s sister Suthida Ngernthaworn said in an online post on April 19: “My sister started working in Bahrain around two or three years ago and found an Arab boyfriend there.”

“However, we have not been able to contact her since April last year. Our family contacted the Thai Embassy in Bahrain and learned on April 18 this month that she had passed away,” the post further said.

Millions of people across South and Southeast Asia sweltered through unusually hot weather on Thursday, as the Thai government said heatstroke has already killed at least 30 people this year.

A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted the region this week, prompting thousands of schools across the Philippines to suspend in-person classes.

Millions of people across South and Southeast Asia sweltered through unusually hot weather on Thursday, as the Thai government said heatstroke has already killed at least 30 people this year.

A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted the region this week, prompting thousands of schools across the Philippines to suspend in-person classes.

An Indian minister blamed hot weather after he fainted during an election campaign speech as the country’s weather bureau said severe heatwave conditions were expected in nine eastern and southern states in the coming days.

Even mountainous Nepal issued health warnings and put hospitals on alert on Thursday as temperatures soared in its southern plains.

Scientific research has shown climate change is causing heatwaves to be longer, more frequent and more intense.

The United Nations said this week Asia was the region most affected by climate and weather hazards in 2023, with floods and storms the chief causes of casualties and economic losses.

City authorities in Bangkok gave an extreme heat warning as the heat index was expected to rise above 52 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).

Temperatures in the concrete sprawl of the Thai capital hit 40.1C (104.2F) on Wednesday and similar levels were forecast for Thursday.

The heat index — a measure of what the temperature feels like taking into account humidity, wind speed and other factors — was at an “extremely dangerous” level in Bangkok, the city’s environment department warned.

‘Danger’ zone

Authorities in Udon Thani province, in the kingdom’s rural northeast, also warned of blazing temperatures on Thursday.

The health ministry said late Wednesday that 30 people had died from heatstroke between January 1 and April 17, compared with 37 in the whole of 2023.

Direk Khampaen, deputy director-general of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, told AFP that officials were urging elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions including obesity to stay indoors and drink water regularly.

The Philippines’ state weather service said the heat index in 38 cities and municipalities, including Manila, would be in the “danger” zone on Thursday — feeling like 42-51C (108-124F).

“Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” in such conditions, the service said, and “heat stroke is probable with continued exposure”, the service said.

India’s Roads Minister Nitin Gadkari fainted during a speech on Wednesday as he campaigned for the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

“I felt uncomfortable due to the heat during the rally,” Gadkari wrote on social media platform X, adding that he had recovered and would continue campaigning.

India is in the middle of a marathon election staggered across six weeks, with large outdoor campaign rallies being staged across the country.

The election commission said this week that it was reviewing the impact of heatwaves and humidity before each round of voting with a view to “mitigatory measures” that would still allow people to cast their ballots.

– Nepal hospital alert –

In Nepal, temperatures were forecast to soar above 40C (104F) in two southern provinces, and the government ordered officials to prepare.

“We have already circulated messages to local bodies to be alert and asked hospitals to be on standby to serve more patients,” Roshan Pokhrel, a secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, told AFP.

Krishna Kumar Gupta, an official in southern Lumbini province, said incidences of wildfires have also gone up.

“Yesterday it was 43 degrees Celsius and people have also started to feel sick. We are getting complaints of diarrhoea, dehydration and headaches,” he said.

April is typically the hottest time of the year in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia but conditions this year have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern.

There were record levels of heat stress across the globe last year, with the United Nations weather and climate agency saying Asia was warming at a particularly rapid pace.

Thailand has sweltered through a heatwave this week, with a temperature of 44.2C (111.6F) recorded in the northern province of Lampang on Monday — just shy of the all-time national record of 44.6C (112.3F) hit last year.

Across the border in Myanmar, the temperature reached a blazing 45.9C (114.6F) on Wednesday, with more of the same expected Thursday.

The chaos and conflict unleashed by the military’s 2021 coup has led to rolling power blackouts in much of the country, hampering people’s ability to keep cool with fans and air-conditioning.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A night ferry carrying over 100 passengers narrowly escaped disaster on Thursday morning after a fire broke out near Koh Tao Island, southern Thailand. Thankfully, all passengers and crew onboard were safely evacuated, with no reported injuries, according to a report by The Bangkok Post.

The incident involved the Ko Jaroen 2 ferry, operating the Surat Thani-Koh Tao route. The fire erupted approximately two to three nautical miles off the coast of Koh Phangan district, around 7 am, as per the news report. The overnight ferry, carrying 97 passengers, 11 crew members, and cargo, had departed Surat Thani around 11 pm the previous night. As it approached Koh Tao pier, flames engulfed the engine room, causing panic onboard.

Prompt action by boat operators and island officials ensured a swift rescue operation. Upon receiving the alert at 6:40 am, authorities immediately dispatched boats from Koh Tao to assist those onboard. All passengers and crew were safely brought to shore, although some reportedly experienced minor smoke inhalation.

Discrepancies exist regarding the exact number of people onboard. The Marine Department reported 90 passengers and eight crew members, while Koh Tao police placed the figures at 97 passengers and 11 crew members. A fact-finding committee has been established to investigate the cause of the fire and determine the exact number of individuals involved.

Fortunately, this incident resulted in no casualties, highlighting the effectiveness of the rescue efforts. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A Canadian tourist in Thailand died on Wednesday after falling from a moving train en route to “Death Island”. According to The Independent, 24-year-old Ryan Joseph Ralph was travelling with his British girlfriend Shona Morgan, 22, when he fell from the overnight locomotive from Bangkok on March 20. Ms Morgan had flown to Thailand to be with his boyfriend, who had been travelling in the country for just over a month, to celebrate his birthday. The couple were trying to reach Koh Tao island in the south of Thailand when the tragedy struck. 

A couple of hours into the journey, Mr Ralph had left his girlfriend sleeping while he went for a cigarette at the end of the carriage, many of which have no doors or barriers. As per The Independent, the tourist is believed to have been injured after falling off the train before being pulled briefly along the tracks. 

Ms Morgan said she raised the alarm when she woke up an hour later and he was missing. Nearly 200 police officers and rescuers then joined a search for the 24-year-old. Police believe that the tourist lost his footing while the train was still moving, before dragging himself underneath to escape the wheels. However, he later passed out and died from blood loss, the outlet reported. 

Also Read | UK Woman, 33, Scarred For Life And Left Wheelchair Bound After Hot Water Bottle Explodes

The couple had been planning to celebrate Mr Ralph’s birthday at Koh Island, which has been dubbed “Death Island” following the 2014 murders of two British tourists. He was found dead on Thursday, under a newly built platform at a station in the Ratchaburi province. Cops said that he was found with severe injuries on both legs. 

“He had in his pocket a wallet containing various documents and Thai banknotes,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Rathnont Kasemchaisit said. “From the preliminary investigation, there were no traces of assault,” he added. 

Separately, a rail worker said he was shocked when he found the 24-year-old dead. 

Meanwhile, there have been a series of deaths on Thailand’s trains which are often blamed for poor safety standards. In 2014, a 19-year-old died when he fell from a train on the same route, as per the outlet. In 2017, a 20-year-old British tourist was also left in intensive care after falling from a moving train on the same journey. 

An EVA Air flight (BR67) from Bangkok to London was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport on Friday after a passenger attempted suicide inside the airplane bathroom, according to The Metro.

Cabin crew discovered the passenger during the plane’s descent when they noticed someone was still in the restroom. Upon checking on the passenger, they found them in a condition that suggested a possible suicide attempt, as per news report.

The identity of the passenger and the reason behind the attempt remain unknown. Crew members and a doctor onboard provided first aid to the passenger.

The plane landed at around 7:30 pm local time, where medical personnel awaited to transport the passenger to a hospital. There are currently no updates on the passenger’s condition.

EVA Air confirmed the incident but has not provided any further details or responded to requests for comment.

Earlier this year, another incident caused a flight to divert. In January, a Ryanair flight from the UK to Spain was forced to land unexpectedly in Portugal due to a fight among passengers.

According to news report, a group of possibly intoxicated men were harassing female passengers on the flight. The situation escalated when a flight attendant tried to intervene, but was allegedly knocked unconscious by the unruly passengers. This prompted the captain to issue a warning and ultimately divert the plane.

The passenger added that the group didn’t pay any heed to the captain’s warning, and the brawl continued for 20 minutes. Just after it all, in the next 20 minutes, the flight landed in Portugal.

American singer Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has sparked a diplomatic row as she is performing six sold-out shows in Singapore, which have disappointed the country’s neighbours, as per a report in the Independent. The exclusivity clause negotiated by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which forbids Ms Swift from performing anywhere else in Southeast Asia, has led to a backlash among the city-state’s neighbours over the arrangement, which is estimated to be worth about 14 million pounds.

The ‘Lover’ singer is performing six shows in Singapore from March 2 to 9. Thailand and the Philippines have criticised the same and have branded the deal “unfriendly”. They have expressed that they are being deprived of the increase in tourism linked to her concerts.

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that he was informed of the agreement that Ms Swift will not do any other shows in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Citing a concert promoter, he said that Singapore offered Ms Swift up to US$3 million per concert if she did not play anywhere else in Southeast Asia, according to Sky News.

“The Singapore government is astute. If she came to Thailand, it would have been cheaper to organise it here, and I believe she would be able to attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand. Even though we would have to subsidise at least 500m baht, it would be worth it,” he said.

The Thai PM said in a keynote speech at the iBusiness Forum 2024 in Bangkok, “If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand. Concerts can generate added value for the economy.”

Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda said that the deal  “isn’t what good neighbours do”. “Our countries are good friends. That’s why actions like that hurt.” Although he mentioned that it boosted Singapore’s economy, it was done “at the expense of neighbouring countries, which could not attract their own foreign concertgoers, and whose fans had to go to Singapore.” He further said that the Philippines should not “just let things like these pass.”

Meanwhile, the Singapore PM confirmed that Ms Swift was provided with “certain incentives” from a government fund created to revive Singapore’s tourism sector following the Covid-19 outbreak. “It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly. Sometimes one country makes a deal, sometimes another country does. I don’t explicitly say ‘you will come here only on condition that you’ll not go to other places,” he added.

Additionally, he suggested that when Ms Swift performed shows in Sydney and Melbourne before her performance in Singapore, Australia may have come to similar “mutually acceptable, sensible arrangements.” “If that’s what’s needed to be done to get an outcome which is mutually beneficial and which, from Singapore’s point of view, serves not just to grow the economy but also to bring in visitors and goodwill from all over the region, I don’t see why not,” Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong said.

He stated, “If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to someplace else in southeast Asia or more places in southeast Asia? Maybe, maybe not. These are things that she will decide.”