Bangkok: fire at a nightclub, at least 27 dead
Today’s headlines: the former Emir of Qatar has died; tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and the United States continue; Barisan Nasional has won the elections in Johor, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s party suffering a crushing defeat; Over 37 per cent of South Korean minors who are victims of sexual offences do not report the crime;Hanoi has arrested the captain of the capsized boat that killed at least 15 Indian tourists.
THAILAND
A massive fire ravaged a nightclub in Bangkok late yesterday evening, killing at least 27 people and leaving another eight seriously injured. The blaze broke out near the bar’s stage in the popular Chatuchak district, then spread rapidly, filling the rooms with smoke, according to witnesses. Footage shared online shows panicked customers screaming as they tried to escape, some with their clothes on fire, in a scene reminiscent of the New Year’s Eve tragedy in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Firefighters recovered most of the bodies in the toilets, where people had sought refuge.
QATAR – IRAN – THE GULF
The former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a moderniser who came to power in 1995 and broke with tradition by handing over power to his son 18 years later, died yesterday morning at the age of 74. The announcement was made by Qatar’s highest governing body, the Amiri Diwan, which did not disclose the cause of death. Meanwhile, cross-fire between the United States and Iran continues in the Gulf. The Pasdaran are reported to have launched missile and drone strikes on US targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. They are calling for a cessation of military operations and respect for the sovereignty of coastal states in order for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened. The new violence casts further doubt on the future of the provisional ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia’s former ruling party, Barisan Nasional, has strengthened its grip on the state with the country’s fastest growth figures in the local elections held on 11 July, dealing a severe blow to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan coalition. BN – the pre-election favourite – won 48 of the 56 seats in the Johor State Assembly, according to the Electoral Commission’s results. This is an increase on the 40 seats it won in the last state election. Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) won eight seats, down from 12 in the previous election. Around 68 per cent of eligible voters turned out at polling stations to cast their votes.
SOUTH KOREA
Around 37.3 per cent of South Korean children who were victims of sexual offences did not tell anyone, keeping silent. This is according to recent research conducted by a local civic group working to combat the sexual exploitation of children. Tacteen Naeil, a South Korean member of ECPAT International, revealed the findings during a public discussion on gender equality in Seoul on 10 July. In the survey of minors, including teenagers, 27 per cent of victims stated they did not speak out because it was “not manly” and seeking help “made them seem weak”.
VIETNAM
Police have arrested the captain of a speedboat that capsized near the southern island of Phu Quoc, killing 15 Indian tourists, according to authorities in Hanoi. The accident occurred on 11 July when the boat, carrying 32 Indian tourists, three Vietnamese crew members and a tour guide, capsized due to rough seas.
INDIA
Fearing a water shortage, the authorities in India’s technology capital, Bengaluru, have banned the use of drinking water for non-essential activities, including washing vehicles and watering gardens. The bans also extend to construction work, cleaning roads and pavements, and filling swimming pools. The restrictions do not apply to swimming pools used to train athletes for state and national-level competitions, subject to prior approval. Anyone caught breaching the order could face a fine of 5,000 rupees (US$50). Repeated violations could lead to further penalties and cuts to water supplies. India has experienced its driest June in the last decade. Monsoon rainfall in the south-west has remained below normal and has affected harvests, particularly in the western and southern regions.
RUSSIA – INDONESIA
The Indonesian island of Karimun, located near Singapore, has become a new Asian hub for shipments of Russian petroleum products, according to Bloomberg. At least $1.6 billion worth of Russian oil products passed through this terminal between July 2024 and May 2026, carrying goods from seven ports, three of which are subject to European Union (EU) sanctions. Prior to 2024, there were no recorded shipments from these ports to the island, but Indonesian operators deny having breached the sanctions.
GEORGIA – AZERBAIJAN – ARMENIA
The Georgian Roads Department has launched an international tender for the construction of a four-lane motorway to the border with Azerbaijan, at an estimated cost of 250 million euros, financed by a loan from the European Investment Bank. The plan involves the construction of a new road linking the city of Rustavi to the Red Bridge or Tsiteli Khidi border crossing with Azerbaijan, as well as to the village of Sadakhlo on the border with Armenia, covering a total length of 61.3 km.
