Category: Life & Style

Thailand has officially launched the “Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival,” a month-long national celebration that coincides with Global Pride Month. The campaign reinforces Thailand’s reputation as an open, LGBTQIAN+-friendly location while also encouraging tourism and social peace. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai emphasised the festival’s significance, adding that it reflects Thailand’s commitment to human rights, gender equality, and the freedom to love.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong emphasised that Pride Month honours dignity, individuality, and inclusiveness. The festival also intends to enhance regional tourism and economic activities while strengthening Thailand’s global reputation as a top Pride destination. Marriage equality officially took effect on January 23, 2025, and the country has made a significant stride towards inclusivity. Following the revision to Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, LGBTQIA+ couples can now lawfully register their marriages.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), described the festival as a strong symbol of social progress. Events are being held across Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, and Khon Kaen. Parades and drag show finales draw both locals and tourists.

Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam have signed a joint development agreement to explore the potential import of offshore wind energy from Vietnam. The agreement represents a coordinated effort to promote cross-border renewable electricity trade and decarbonisation in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia’s MY Energy Consortium, which includes Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Petronas, will collaborate with PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd of Singapore. This partnership will aim to capitalise on Vietnam’s offshore wind potential and create infrastructure to provide clean power to Malaysia and Singapore.

This involves the proposed construction of a subsea transmission cable that connects to the Peninsular Malaysia National Grid. To maintain a consistent supply, the consortiums will also consider other requirements such as energy storage and increased renewable capacity. Authorities from all three nations will be involved throughout the development process to obtain the necessary approvals.

Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, is playing an important role in influencing the regional energy agenda. Vietnam hopes to establish itself as a vital renewable energy hub, with the Prime Minister emphasising offshore wind development.

Singapore’s 2035 objective of importing 6GW of low-carbon electricity emphasises the importance of such cooperation.

Thailand and the Republic of Maldives have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen public health cooperation. The agreement was signed on May 21, 2025, at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dej-is Khaothong, and the Maldives’ Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, signed the agreement on the sidelines of the global health event. This is a key step towards strengthening primary healthcare services and the Maldives’ health regulatory systems.

The MoU establishes a systematic framework for collaboration across multiple public health disciplines. It focuses on strengthening the Maldives Food and Drug Authority, developing health workforce training initiatives, and improving primary care systems. Both countries also committed to increasing research into health policy and system design, and boosting digital health data exchanges and technology use.

Other parts include collaborative academic workshops, seminars, expert exchanges, and ongoing technical assistance for health promotion. The collaboration indicates a common commitment to investing in sustainable healthcare infrastructure.

In addition to the MoU, Dej-is attended high-level bilateral meetings, including discussions with the WHO SEARO Director, to promote regional collaboration in noncommunicable disease control and cross-border disease surveillance, notably between Thailand and Myanmar.

Raj Mishra, the son of a farmer from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, has risen to a prominent civic post in the United Kingdom in an inspiring story of determination and desire. The 37-year-old has been elected Mayor of Wellingborough, a historic market town in Northamptonshire.

Mishra, representing the Conservative Party, was elected as a town councillor for Victoria Ward before being named the fifth mayor of Wellingborough Town Council at the Annual Town Meeting.

Mishra expressed sincere thanks, stating that serving as mayor is both an honour and a responsibility that he takes seriously. He promised to collaborate with all citizens to create a welcoming, prosperous, and thriving community. With years of local expertise and a dedication to public service, Mishra emphasised his vision for a more connected and responsive local government.

As mayor, Mishra will preside over council meetings and serve as a significant civic representative. He declared that the Veterans Community Network and Louisa Gregory’s Hospice Campaign will be his official charities for the 2025-26 term. He emphasised his leadership approach, saying he favours active listening, openness, and open contact with people. His journey from rural India to municipal leadership in England demonstrates his perseverance and commitment to public service.

The Miss World 2025 journey witnessed a vibrant cultural immersion as 35 contestants from European countries visited the Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district, Telangana and offered prayers. The 13th-century Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple—also known as Ramappa Temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—greeted the beauty queens with grandeur and tradition.

The candidates arrived on Wednesday evening, elegantly dressed in sarees, and were greeted with ceremonial Kommu Koya and other traditional dances organised by the district administration. Before entering the sanctum, they washed their feet and offered prayers, honouring the sanctity of the historic shrine.

Prior to the temple tour, the participants gathered for a scenic photo shoot at the serene Ramappa Lake. Some local women danced to Bathukamma songs during Telangana’s famous floral festival, Navaratri, which celebrates feminine strength and community spirit.

Officials and cultural experts praised the temple’s architectural magnificence, which includes delicate carvings, floating bricks, and carved pillars created during the Kakatiya dynasty. The temple, located approximately 200 kilometres from Hyderabad, is named after its chief architect, Ramappa.

The visit successfully combined spiritual reverence, cultural exchange, and heritage appreciation, showcasing India’s rich traditions to global cultural ambassadors ahead of the Miss World 2025 finale.

India is set to replace all passports with biometric e-passports with electronic chips, a significant step forward in digital travel infrastructure. This move brings India in line with over 120 countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Australia. The initiative’s goal is to increase security, prevent identity fraud, and make immigration procedures faster and more efficient.

The Passport Seva Programme 2.0 initiative kicked off in April 2024. Pilot testing was successfully completed in cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Amritsar, and Panaji. A full statewide rollout is expected by mid-2025.

Each e-passport comes with a secure RFID chip and an antenna integrated in the back cover. This chip saves important biometric and personal information such as fingerprints, facial recognition data, date of birth, and passport number. International encryption technologies such as BAC, PA, and EAC ensure that this sensitive data is secured.

Thanks to automated e-gates, Indian travellers would benefit from faster and more frictionless clearance at immigration counters. The India Security Press prints all e-passports in Nashik, supporting the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ensuring data sovereignty.

On May 14, 2025, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as India’s 52nd Chief Justice, marking an important milestone in the country’s judicial history. The President of India administered the oath of office on April 16, 2025, as the outgoing Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, recommended. On April 29, 2025, the Ministry of Law and Justice officially approved the appointment.

Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist to hold this important position, and only the second Chief Justice from the Scheduled Caste community after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. His time as CJI will span six months, concluding with his retirement on November 23, 2025.

Justice Gavai was born in Amravati in 1960 and hails from a family that values social justice. He began his legal career in 1985 and has successfully practised constitutional and administrative law. His judicial career has included positions as Government Pleader, Public Prosecutor, and ultimately Judge of the Bombay High Court.

Justice Gavai was appointed to the Supreme Court in May 2019. He has written about 300 major decisions and sat on over 700 benches. His decisions have emphasised the importance of individual rights, environmental conservation, and constitutional fairness.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Singapore on May 20, his first international trip since his re-election. This journey comes just after Mr. Albanese was re-elected as Australia’s Prime Minister in the May 3 elections.

Singapore will be the final stop on a week-long overseas tour that also includes visits to Indonesia and the Vatican. Mr. Albanese is slated to visit Indonesia from May 14 to 16 before travelling to Vatican City to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration on May 18.

During his visit to Singapore, the Australian leader plans to meet with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Mr. Wong, who was elected Singapore’s prime minister for the first time on May 3, will talk with Mr. Albanese about boosting bilateral ties. The two presidents are anticipated to prioritise collaboration within the context of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which will mark its tenth anniversary in 2025. This milestone also marks the 60th anniversary of Australia-Singapore diplomatic relations.

In a statement issued on May 14, Mr. Albanese emphasised the importance of the two countries’ alliance. He emphasised the shared goal of keeping the region open, stable, and affluent.

The Thailand Tourism Forum 2025, held on May 7 in Bangkok, established a new standard for the future of global travel with its forward-thinking agenda. The forum, organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in collaboration with UN Tourism and international stakeholders, was titled “Navigating Global Tourism Trends: Strengthening Thailand’s Tourism Industry.”

The event attracted over 500 people, both in person and online. Mr. Sorawong Thienthong, Minister of Tourism and Sports, and Mr. Jakraphon Tangsutthitham, Vice Minister, were among the key figures, as were leaders from the public and commercial sectors, as well as global tourist bodies.

Mr. Harry Hwang of UN Tourism issued congratulations, confirming the organisation’s close engagement with Thailand. Ms. Sandra Carvao’s keynote address offered insight into the evolving tourism trends that will shape the world till 2030.

A panel titled “Shaping the Future of Tourism Platforms” looked at how artificial intelligence is driving transformational changes in travel services and worldwide policy.

Mr. Thienthong emphasised the need for Thailand to be ahead of the curve by implementing policies that prioritise sustainability, inclusion, and resilience. He used Borsuak Village’s accreditation as a Best Tourism Village 2024 by UN Tourism as an example of success.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) achieved a historic milestone by conducting its first official flight operation with a female pilot on board. The mission, titled “First Flight with Nanticha,” was carried out by a Royal Thai Survey Department Beechcraft King Air 350.

The crew included Major Watcharaphat Buranachai as pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Nanticha Suphachai as co-pilot, and Lieutenant Wisut Suktawee as mechanic. RTARF Chief General Songwit Noonpackdee also accompanied the mission.

General Songwit hailed the occasion as extremely memorable and special, emphasising its significance in RTARF’s quest for equality. He emphasised that this occasion demonstrated the organisation’s dedication to providing equal opportunities regardless of gender, age, or rank. He praised the entire crew for participating in a flight that represents growth and unity within the armed services.

Nanticha, 29, has a degree in architecture from Assumption University. She received flying training at the Bangkok Air Flying Academy in Sukhothai province. She and 26-year-old Sub-Lieutenant Yosanant Amasuwan are the Royal Thai Survey Department’s most recent pilots, having been appointed formally in February. Their agency is primarily responsible for conducting aerial ordnance surveys around Thailand to support both military and civilian operations.