DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Thai prime minister says legalizing casinos is good for revenue and jobs, eyes entertainment project
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin seen during the Asian World Cup qualifying round, second round, Group C match between Thailand and South Korea at Rajamangala Stadium. Thailand's government is considering drafting a casino bill and if passed by parliament, it would generate more jobs and state revenue and allow for the creation of a mega entertainment project, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Friday. Casinos are illegal in Thailand and the only gambling allowed is on state-controlled horse races and the lottery, though illicit gambling is commonplace, with underground casinos and soccer betting rife. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy is considering allowing casinos as another means of drawing in investment and tourism, according to a study in parliament that was passed late on Thursday. "We can regulate the grey economy and collect taxes ... We do not want to promote gambling, but would rather supervise it and use the investment to create jobs," Srettha said in a post on X.

Persons: Thavisin, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha Organizations: Rajamangala, Casinos Locations: Thailand, South Korea, Macao, China

☆ Thailand’s lower house passes bill to legalize same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Kocha Olarn | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Thailand’s House of Representatives voted to legalize same-sex marriage on Wednesday, bringing the Southeast Asian nation a step closer to becoming the third territory in Asia to guarantee equal marital rights. The lower house of parliament passed the bill following a third and final reading, with 400 representatives voting in favor. It would also make the country only the third place in Asia to allow for marriage equality after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 and Nepal in 2023. Previous attempts to legalize marriage equality over the past decade have stalled. Nonetheless Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, of the Pheu Thai Party, had also promised to bring the marriage equality bill to parliament.

Persons: CNN —, Pita Limjaroenrat, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: CNN, CNN — Thailand’s, Party, Thailand’s, Pheu Thai Party Locations: Asia, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Nepal

☆ Debate heats up as Singapore prime minister says exclusive Taylor Swift deal isn't 'unfriendly'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour. The statement is the first confirmation from the city-state that the agreement for Swift to perform in Singapore contained exclusivity terms preventing her from performing in other countries. He also did not reveal the size of the grant to Swift, but stated the amount is "not anywhere as high as speculated." During her first three concerts in Singapore, Swift asked her audience to applaud — first the locals, then those who had traveled from overseas to come to the show. Edwin Tong Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and YouthSome liken the deal to how cities vie to host major sports events, such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Taylor Swift, Swift, Edwin Tong, Srettha Thavisin, Joey Salceda, Lee, Ashok Kumar, —, Selena Oh, de Boer, Irene Hoe, — haven't Organizations: Singapore, Reuters, Thai, Swift's, Philippine, Getty, Edwin Tong Singapore Minister, Culture ,, Super Bowl Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Bangkok, ASEAN, Tokyo, Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Asia — Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Philippines, Cambodia, what's, Edwin Tong Singapore

☆ Tesla is in talks to build a factory in Thailand, government official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kocha Olarn | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong/Bangkok CNN —Tesla is in talks with the Thai government to build a production facility in the country, the prime minister’s office told CNN on Tuesday. The government has offered Tesla (TSLA) a 100% green facility, according to Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary general to the prime minister, who added: “We are in talks with them.”According to Prommin, Tesla representatives last visited Thailand in November, the same month Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the electrical vehicle giant’s Gigafactory in Fremont, California. “It is my hope that this collaboration will cement Thailand as the hub for EV and renewable energy in the years to come,” he wrote. That factory is Tesla’s biggest car manufacturing plant outside the United States and accounted for the bulk of its global deliveries last year. Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled the name of the prime minister's general secretary.

Persons: Tesla, Prommin Lertsuridej, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, ”, Elon Musk, Narendra Modi Organizations: Bangkok CNN, CNN, EV, Indian Locations: Hong Kong, Bangkok, Thailand, Fremont , California, Asia, Shanghai, United States, India, New York

☆ Eras Tour: Singapore defends Taylor Swift’s exclusive Southeast Asia stop after neighbors cry foul
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Singapore is drawing fans from all over Southeast Asia and beyond to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, much to the annoyance of the city-state’s regional neighbors. “[Our] agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia,” Lee said at a press conference in Melbourne while on a state visit to Australia. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”“If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to more places in Southeast Asia? Southeast Asia fans dig deep to see SwiftThe Eras Tour is a multi-continent extravaganza that surged to become the highest-grossing tour of all time – and Swift is making Singapore a lot of money. I never really spent big like six-digit (Philippine peso) amounts for someone else, just Taylor Swift,” Suizo said.

Persons: Taylor, Swift, Joey Salceda, Lee Hsien Loong, “, ” Lee, Edward Tong, ”, Srettha Thavisin, Taylor Swift, hasn’t, Edmund Ong, Yun Liu, Errol De Asis, Gilliane, Christel Kaye Kuan, Yedda Mendoza, ” Suizo, it’s, Granada, That’s Organizations: CNN, Southeast, Singapore –, ”, Singapore, Coldplay, World Bank Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, Philippines, Asia, Maybank, ASEAN, Gilliane Granada, China, Granada

Taylor Swift has descended on Southeast Asia, or one small part of it at least: All of her six sold-out shows are in Singapore, the region’s wealthiest nation. The shows — and the undisclosed price that Singapore paid to host them — have also generated diplomatic tension with two of its neighbors, Thailand and the Philippines. Last month, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand said publicly that Singapore had paid Ms. Swift up to $3 million per show on the condition that she play nowhere else in Southeast Asia. A lawmaker in the Philippines later said that was not “what good neighbors do.”

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift’s, Srettha, Swift, ” Organizations: Singapore Locations: Southeast Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines

☆ Taylor Swift is making Singapore a mountain of money, and some of the country's neighbors are salty about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Edwin Tong, Singapore's culture minister, told local outlet Mothership on February 28 that the amount of grant given "is not what is being speculated online." As Tong, the Singapore culture minister, told Mothership, the city-state is looking "beyond just the economic impact" of Swiftonimics. Economists estimate that Swift's concerts in Singapore could contribute up to 500 million Singapore dollars, or $372 million, in tourist receipts. AdvertisementIt's a different story for spending on experiences — and it's heightened because Singapore is Swift's only stop in Southeast Asia. Mann said the people who have money to pay for flight tickets, Swift's concert tickets, and a hotel are likely to keep spending at other tourist spots.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Srettha, Edwin Tong, Swift, it's, Yun Liu, Tong, Kevin Cheong, David Mann, Mann, Coldplay, Si Ying Toh, Cheong, Joey Salceda, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno Organizations: Service, Business, HSBC, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, Nomura, Philippine Star, Bloomberg, Vegas Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, British, Thailand, Bangkok, Indonesia, Sands

☆ Singapore brokered a deal with Taylor Swift, so she wouldn't take the Eras Tour to other Southeast Asian countries. Now, a Philippines lawmaker is calling it out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThere's a feud between Singapore and neighboring government officials — and it's all down to Taylor Swift. "Some $3 million in grants were allegedly given by the Singapore government to AEG to host the concert in Singapore. AdvertisementFans of US singer Taylor Swift arrive for the first of the pop star's six sold-out Eras Tour concerts at the National Stadium in Singapore on March 2, 2024. Taylor Swift performs at the National Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Singapore. He claimed he was told the Singapore government offered $2 million to $3 million per show in exchange for exclusivity.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Joey Salceda, Swift, Salceda, Rosland Rahman, Ashok Kumar, Srettha Thavisin, Angel Zhong Organizations: Service, Business, Philippines, Department of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, AEG, The Straits Times, Getty, GMA Network, Association of South East Asian Nations, Sky News, BBC News, CNA, Finance, RMIT University, Forbes Locations: Singapore, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangkok, Thailand

☆ Thaksin Shinawatra: Ousted Thai PM's Life in Politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's controversial billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday after serving six months in detention. 1998Thaksin founds the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party. In September, the military launches a coup against Thaksin while he is overseas, citing the need to end the protests. 2011New elections are won in a landslide by another new pro-Thaksin party, Pheu Thai. Thaksin applies for a royal pardon and his eight-year jail term is commuted to a year by the king.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Love Thais, Thais, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Srettha Thavisin, Nick Macfie, Martin Petty Organizations: Thai Rak Thai, Thaksin, People's Alliance for Democracy, Shin Corporation, Temasek, English Premier League, Manchester City, Power Party, United Front for Democracy, Democrat Party Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, Singapore, Thai Rak Thai, Britain, Bangkok, Thailand

☆ Factbox-Thailand's Polarising Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

(Reuters) - Thailand's billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from detention on Sunday, enjoying freedom in his country for the first time since fleeing into exile nearly 16 years ago to avoid jail. - Thaksin ran several failed businesses with his wife before getting his break in the 1980s leasing computers to the police. In 2010, a court seized $1.4 billion worth of Shinawatra assets, concluding Thaksin had concealed his Shin Corp shareholdings and tailored policy to benefit his business. - Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also prime minister and suffered an almost identical fate as him. - Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, is Pheu Thai party leader and eligible to become prime minister.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Chiang Mai, Thaksin, Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin, Martin Petty, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Fried, Thailand's, Shin Corporation, Shin Corp, English Premier League football, Fulham, Manchester City, Forbes, Thai Rak, Thai Rak Thai, People Power Party, Srettha Locations: Thai, Chiang, Kentucky, Singapore, Thailand, Liverpool, Dubai, Britain, Montenegro, Thai Rak Thai, Thai Rak, Bangkok

☆ Thailand's Ex-PM Thaksin Seen Leaving Hospital on Day of Parole
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Napat Wesshasartar and Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's jailed billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was seen early on Sunday in a vehicle leaving a hospital where he has been in detention for the past six months, according to Reuters witnesses. Thaksin, 74, had been scheduled to be released on parole on Sunday, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Thailand's best-known and most polarising premier, Thaksin has loomed large over politics for two decades, despite 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. Thaksin made a dramatic return from exile in August to cheering crowds and was taken to prison to serve an eight-year sentence. (Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar Napat Wesshasartar Athit Perawongmetha and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

Persons: Napat Wesshasartar, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Mercedes van, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Martin Petty, Nick Zieminski Locations: Athit, BANGKOK

☆ Jailed Former Thai Premier Thaksin to Be Released on Feb 18, PM Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Jailed former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra will be released on Feb. 18, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday. Thaksin has been in hospital detention since August, after making a dramatic homcoming from living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid prison for a conflict of interest. He had his eight-year jail term commuted to a year by the King after his return and has served six months in hospital detention due to an undisclosed health condition. Feb. 18 is the first day of his parole eligibility. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Persons: Premier Thaksin, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin, King, Panu, Stephen Coates Organizations: Premier Locations: BANGKOK

☆ Convicted Thai Ex-PM Thaksin Facing Possible Royal Insults Charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's attorney general is considering prosecuting convicted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra over an alleged insult of the powerful monarchy, an official said on Tuesday, just weeks away from his possible release on parole. The lese-majeste law is among the world's strictest, with each perceived offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The influential Thaksin, prime minister from 2001-2006, made a dramatic homecoming last August from 15 years in self-imposed exile to serve an eight-year jail sentence for abuse of power, later commuted to one year by the king. Prayut Petchkhun, spokesperson for the attorney-general's office, told reporters the seven-year delay in acting on the royal insults complaint was because Thaksin had been abroad. Thailand current government is backed by the Shinawatra family, with Thaksin's return coinciding with ally and real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin becoming prime minister that same day.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin's, Thaksin, Prayut Petchkhun, Prayut, Srettha Thavisin, Panu, Martin Petty Organizations: Thaksin Locations: BANGKOK, Thai, South Korea, Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — Senior U.S. and Chinese representatives are expected to meet in Bangkok, Thailand as the two countries seek to cool tensions. Officials from both sides said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would meet. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesChinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin confirmed that Wang Yi plans to meet with Sullivan. Sullivan, whose visit is scheduled to end Saturday, paid a courtesy call Friday on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and later held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the Thai foreign ministry said. The Thai foreign ministry announced that Wang Yi will meet with his counterpart on Saturday to sign an agreement exempting Thai nationals from requiring visas to visit China, and on Monday will meet with the prime minister.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Adrienne Watson, “, Biden, Xi, Wang Wenbin, Sullivan, Wang, Srettha Thavisin, Parnpree Bahiddha, ” Organizations: — Senior, National, Foreign, Thai, National Security, Foreign Ministry, Washington Locations: BANGKOK, Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, Suez, China, Iran, Beijing, Chinese, North Korea, Washington, Myanmar, Ukraine

☆ Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai court dismisses media shares case against popular progressive politician
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a case against Pita Limjaroenrat, 43, that alleged he violated election rules by running for office while holding shares in a media company – the long-defunct broadcaster iTV. Thai law bans members of parliament from owning or holding shares in media companies. Ahead of Wednesday’s verdict, Pita expressed confidence outside the court in Bangkok. Move Forward won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in the May election. And most recently, Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, won the third most seats in the 2019 election.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, ”, “, Thais, turfing, Srettha Thavisin, Samak Sundaravej, Thaksin Shinawatra, – Organizations: Thailand CNN, Constitutional, iTV, Party, Thai Stock Exchange, CNN, National Institute of Development Administration, Reuters, Lawmakers, Forward Party Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, “

☆ Thai economy in 'crisis' prime minister says, pledges more stimulus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attends a session of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting at the Hotel Okura Tokyo in Tokyo on December 17, 2023. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday he believes the country's economy is in crisis, adding the government would roll out stimulus measures in addition to handouts to boost growth. "I confirm that the economy is not doing well and is in crisis," he told reporters, adding it was fine if the central bank disagreed with him. Srettha's comments come after the central bank governor told Reuters on Tuesday that government stimulus measures would not fix structural issues plaguing Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy. The government this week slashed 2024's growth projections to 2.8% from an earlier forecast of 3.2% on weaker exports and foreign tourist arrivals.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Kazuhiro, KAZUHIRO Organizations: Thailand's, ASEAN, Japan, Getty Images, Thai, Reuters Locations: Tokyo

☆ Thai firework factory explosion: Around 10 killed in blast, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —At least 10 people have died following an explosion at a fireworks depot in central Thailand, according to officials. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion, which happened at around 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Wednesday in Suphan Buri province, north of Thailand’s capital Bangkok, local police said. At least 12 people were killed and 121 injured in an explosion in July last year at a fireworks warehouse in the southern village of Mu No. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was briefed on the explosion while he was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and ordered an urgent investigation to see if the explosion was caused by negligence, Reuters reported.

Persons: “, Peerapoj Rawangbarn, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: Thailand CNN, ”, CNN, Police, Economic, Reuters Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Suphan Buri, Thailand’s, Mu, Davos, Switzerland

☆ Thailand to allow clubs, bars to stay open longer to boost tourism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Entertainment venues, clubs and karaoke bars in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattya, Chiang Mai and Samui, popular tourist destinations, will be allowed stay open two extra hours until 4 AM, Traisulee Traisaranakul said. The decision to allow entertainment venues to stay open longer is the latest step taken by the government to boost foreign arrivals after the government in September waived visa requirements for Chinese visitors, a key source of tourists for Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy. Thailand has so far welcomed 24.5 million foreign tourists this year and is forecasting 28 million arrivals for the full year. Before the pandemic, Thailand booked a record 39.9 million arrivals, with 11 million from China. This year, the government expects just 3.5 million arrivals from China.

Persons: Chalinee, Chiang Mai, Traisulee Traisaranakul, Srettha Thavisin, Paarat Thepgumpanat, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Entertainment, Thailand's, Southeast Asia's, Thomson Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Phuket, Pattya, Southeast, China

☆ Three Thai hostages released from Gaza in good health, Thai PM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Thai citizens who were released from the Gaza Strip after being taken hostage by gunmen from Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel, stand together during a visit by Ambassador of Thailand in Israel Pannabha Chandraramya to Shamir Medical Center... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreBANGKOK, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The latest three Thai hostages released from Gaza after being held by Hamas militants were in good health, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted on the social media platform X on Monday. "I'm happy," Srettha said, adding the three were healthy and not in need of urgent medical attention. So far, 17 Thai hostages have been released after being kidnapped during Hamas raids into Israel in early October and would be brought back to Thailand as soon as possible, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "For the remaining 15 Thai hostages, the Royal Thai Government continues to exert all efforts towards their safe release at the earliest opportunity," the statement said. Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Israel Pannabha Chandraramya, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Tom Hogue Organizations: Hamas, Shamir, Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Government, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Thailand, BANGKOK, Lincoln

"The released hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they will re-unite with their families," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israel released 39 Palestinians - six women and 33 minors - from two prisons, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Saturday's swap follows the previous day's initial release of 13 Israeli hostages, including children and the elderly, by Hamas in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and young people from Israeli prisons. On Friday Hamas also released a Philippine national and 10 Thai farm workers. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continued to release at least 10 hostages a day.

Persons: Israel, WAFA, Srettha Thavisin, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn Onkaew, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Osama Hamdan, Majed Al, Ansari, Maya Regev, Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily, Raya Rotem, Shorouk Dwayyat, Emily Rose, Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary, Nidal, Moaz Abd, Ali Sawafta, Sybille de La Hamaide, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Leslie Adler, Clarence Fernandez, William Mallard Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Brigades, IDF, United Nations, CNN, Al, Thomson Locations: Israel Egypt, Qatar, West Bank GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, Rafah, Al, Bireh, Ramallah, Philippine, U.S, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Jazeera, Nantucket , Massachusetts

☆ Thai Mother Danced With Joy After Daughter Released From Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Napat WesshasartarBAN KHOK SAMRAN (Reuters) - When Natthawaree Mulkan's mother saw that her daughter was among the Thai hostages released by Hamas, she was so happy she danced with her 8-year-old granddaughter outside their home in northeastern Thailand. I came out and danced," Bunyarin Srijan, 56, said pointing to her patio. Natthawaree, a mother of two, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. Bunyarin said her daughter had planned to marry her boyfriend, Boonthom Phankhong, who was also abducted by Hamas and released on Friday. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday that the government was still trying to secure the release of 20 Thai citizens who remain captive.

Persons: Napat, KHOK SAMRAN, Natthawaree, Bunyarin, clasped, Boonthom Phankhong, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Christina Fincher Organizations: Hamas, Thai Locations: Thailand, Israel

☆ 'That's My Son!' Thai Family Overjoyed as Second Group of Hostages Freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Napat Wesshasartar and Chayut SetboonsarngBANGKOK (Reuters) -The mother of a Thai hostage freed from Gaza late on Saturday said she was indescribably happy her son was among the four most recent Thai nationals confirmed as freed from Hamas captivity. A first group of 10 Thai hostages were on freed Friday along with 13 Israelis, in return 39 Palestinians from Israel's prisons. More than 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, mostly as farm workers, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. Thailand's foreign ministry estimated 18 Thai nationals remained captive after Israel told it the number abducted had increased by two from the previous tally. "The Thai government will continue to make every effort towards the safe release and return of those remaining Thai nationals," the ministry said in a statement.

Persons: Napat Wesshasartar, Thongkoon Onkaew, Srettha Thavisin, Thongkoon, Poppy McPherson, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Sunday, Thai Locations: Chayut, BANGKOK, Gaza, Thai, Palestinian, Israel

☆ 'I'm not dead,' Thai hostage says after 'miracle' release in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"He told me not to cry, to tell mother I’m coming back," Roongarun Wichagern told Reuters of her younger brother after an emotional reunion on a video call. "He said, ‘I’m not dead, I’m not dead,’" Roongarun said, calling his survival a "miracle". The freed Thai hostages will return home after 48 hours in hospital, Thailand’s foreign ministry said in a statement. He called for the release of the remaining "innocent Thai hostages as soon as possible". Photographs from the Thai foreign ministry showed them meeting doctors at a medical centre in Israel.

Persons: I’m, Roongarun Wichagern, ‘ I’m, Roongarun, Srettha Thavisin, Vetoon, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn, Chayut Setboonsarng, Napat Wesshasartar, Poppy McPherson, William Mallard Organizations: Hamas, Foreign Affairs, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, Shamir Medical, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thai, International Committee, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv, Foreign Affairs Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai, Gaza, Thailand, Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Malaysia

☆ BREAKING: 25 hostages have been released by Hamas, the first since a four-day truce was called
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( William Edwards | Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

25 hostages were released to Eygpt, the first release since a 4-day cease-fire was called. The released hostages include 12 Thai citizens and 13 other women and children. AdvertisementTwenty-five hostages were released by Hamas on Friday, the latest sign that the conflict between Israel and the militant group is cooling. The deal for the 12 Thai hostages was brokered by the Egyptian government, the country's media office said on Friday. According to the Israeli government's press office, 12 Thai hostages are in Israel now.

Persons: —, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: Service, Thailand's Locations: Israel, Assaf

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara wrote online that he was “overjoyed.”He had traveled more than three weeks ago to Egypt and Qatar to seek their help in obtaining the hostages’ freedom. “It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity,” the Thai Foreign Ministry said. The spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, Majed al-Ansari, posted on X that the number was 10. Prof. Hagai Levine, head of the medical team at the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, said that getting medical information about the Thai hostages' pre-existing conditions has been trickier than with released Israelis. According to Thailand's foreign ministry, 39 were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, and 26 abducted.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, Nukara, ”, Thais, Srettha Thavisin, Majed al, Ansari, farmhands, Hagai Levine, Ratana, “, Parnpree Organizations: Thai, International Committee, Thai Foreign Ministry, Qatari, Shamir, Center, Facebook, Hamas, Government, Trade, Labor Ministry Locations: Egypt, Qatar, Thailand, Israel, Iran, Malaysia, Thai, Udon Thani, Tehran, Persia

Search resuls for: "Srettha Thavisin"

25 mentions found