Thailand

On 23 January, the first day of legal same-sex marriages following the introduction of the Marriage Equality Bill, mass weddings were held across the country, in a celebration of a historic date for Southeast Asia

Thailand may soon restart negotiations with Cambodia on overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand; the talks would aim to resolve disputes over resource-rich maritime areas, with both nations seeking mutual economic and diplomatic benefits

In Bangkok, public transport will be free for a week to try to counteract the heavy smog enveloping the city these days; pollution has also led the local government to close 352 of the 437 schools in the metropolitan city

Phuket faces a growing garbage crisis, with over 1.000 tonnes of daily waste overwhelming its landfill; authorities plan to cut waste by 15%, expand the landfill, and build an incinerator, stressing the need for better waste separation

e-cigarettes and e-baraku (electronic hookahs) have been added to prohibited items for students, like traditional cigarettes; Ministry of Education enforced penalties, including warnings, probation, and behavioral interventions, to curb rising student use

The BMA launched Sarawat Choey AI, an AI-upgraded traffic police figure to detect violations like illegal parking, helmetless riding, wrong-way driving; it records data for officer review and was first deployed near a major shopping mall in Bangkok

A recent meeting of Thailand’s tripartite wage committee failed to reach a quorum, delaying discussions on raising the daily minimum wage to 400 baht, or $12.15; the meeting has been rescheduled amid concerns about the impact on small and medium companies

Iconic Tom Yum Kung prawn soup is set to be recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Thailand’s fourth such listing with Khon masked dance (2018), Nuad Thai massage (2019), and Nora dance (2021)

Event “Trip Nam Mai Arb”, literally Trip Without Shower, drew 6.000 motorcyclists to Phetchabun for a ride to Phu Thap Boek and Khao Kho National Park; police intervened to manage traffic congestion and ensure safety amid the overwhelming influx of riders

In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives

Six Thai airports, including Hat Yai International, have announced the rollout of facial recognition technology to streamline travel: passengers will show ID only once during check-in, eliminating boarding passes from baggage drop to gate

King and Queen led a 52 royal barge procession along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River presenting traditional Kathin robes to monks at the Temple of Dawn; over 2.000 rowers and thousands spectators from across the country celebrated His Majesty’s 72nd birthday

Chiang Mai University is set to develop blue hydrogen technology, endorsed by the government; the process extracts hydrogen from coal through coal gasification and produces cleaner energy while enhancing the efficiency of coal use