Thailand Approve Bill To Legalise Same Sex Marriage

Mar 28 2024

Thailand’s lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly passed a marriage equality bill on Wednesday, positioning the country to potentially become the first in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage rights for individuals of any gender.

With 400 out of 415 attending members supporting the bill, this represents a significant advancement, despite Thailand’s longstanding struggle with such legislation due to conservative societal norms.

Despite Thailand’s reputation for tolerance, discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community persists in everyday life, reflecting societal conservatism deeply entrenched within government and state agencies.

Advocates have faced an uphill battle in convincing lawmakers and civil servants to embrace change.

The bill will now progress to the Senate and subsequently seek royal endorsement, with expectations of becoming law.

If enacted, Thailand would lead Southeast Asia and become the third Asian nation, after Taiwan and Nepal, to legalize same-sex marriage. The proposed amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code replaces gender-specific terms with gender-neutral language, granting LGBTQ+ couples access to legal, financial, and medical rights on par with heterosexual couples.

Danuphorn Punnakanta, representing the governing Pheu Thai party, emphasized that the amendment aims to restore fundamental rights to all individuals in Thailand while assuring that heterosexual couples will not lose any rights.

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Students Around Malta Celebrate Farewell With Touching Videos

Mar 28 2024

Students all around Malta and Gozo are celebrating the end of an era as they finish their final year in school.

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Hundreds of Form 5 students will now be moving on to the next phases of their lives – whether entering the job market or seeking higher education.

However one thing is for sure and that’s that they will deeply miss the experiences and friends they made throughout these formative 5 years!

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Puttinu Marathon Walk In Malta… And The UK!

Mar 28 2024

Joe Vella initiated the Great Friday Walk 21 years ago. The inaugural walk was undertaken by Joe Vella and his son-in-law, journeying from Mellieha to Isla with a significant offering. This year, the Great Friday Walk, in support of Puttinu Cares, will take place between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, commencing at midnight from Mellieha, where thousands will gather to uphold this tradition.

An exceptional aspect of this year’s event is the participation of Andrea Grech La Rosa from England, who will concurrently undertake the walk from the property acquired by Puttinu Cares in London’s Center to the Apartments in Sutton. The walk spans 14 miles and is anticipated to take 5 and a half hours to complete.

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Hundreds Of Families To Benefit From Interest Rate Reduction

Mar 28 2024

The Foundation for Affordable Housing, in collaboration with APS Bank, has introduced Loan-Up, an initiative aimed at reducing interest rates for hundreds of families looking to purchase property. Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, Roderick Galdes, described Loan-Up as a novel financial tool that will facilitate homeownership for many families. This initiative will enhance accessibility to loans for low- and middle-income families while significantly increasing their borrowing capacity. For example, families previously eligible for a €185,000 loan may now qualify for up to €203,000, broadening their housing options.

Minister Galdes emphasized the importance of homeownership in Malta’s socioeconomic landscape, citing the country’s impressive 82% homeownership rate. He reiterated the government’s commitment to launching new schemes and strengthening existing ones to address housing challenges and ensure tangible benefits for families.

This initiative, along with other recent schemes, reflects efforts to foster sustainable growth and redistribute resources to create more affordable housing solutions. Minister Galdes highlighted the significant transformation in the housing sector in recent years, with specific objectives aimed at improving affordability and support for homebuyers. This shift represents a positive and substantial change towards a more equitable and sustainable housing market.

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