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HONG KONG, Dec 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Why would the world’s largest battery maker want to sell shares when it’s already flush with liquidity? It ended June with 102 billion yuan ($14 billion) in net cash, Moody’s calculates. CATL has just started production at a new facility in Germany and is building a plant in Hungary, its first forays West. The company’s long-term loans have increased more than tenfold to more than 70 billion yuan and its long-term bonds by around a third to nearly 20 billion yuan since 2020, per Visible Alpha. But as Zeng’s electric dreams accelerate, he’ll want to be sure CATL’s own batteries are fully charged.

Persons: it’s, CATL, Robin Zeng, Breakingviews, Tesla, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Thailand’s, Ford Motor, Technology, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Switzerland, CATL, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China, Europe, Germany, Hungary, Fitch, Indonesia, Swiss

☆ Thailand’s Hostage Crisis in Gaza Takes a Shocking Turn: ‘I’m Not Dead Yet!’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Joe Parkinson | Drew Hinshaw | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

NA PHO, Thailand—Four days after Hamas militants tore through southern Israel, a mournful procession of local officials here in Thailand’s bucolic east came to tell the family of Wichai Kalapat that the 28-year-old fruit farmer was among those killed. His girlfriend, Kittiya Thuengsaeng, hung a picture of him outside her front door. On Saturday, Wichai appeared, Lazarus-like, in footage from a prisoner exchange. Shortly before midnight, his bewildered siblings happened to glimpse him, smiling from the back of a white Red Cross landcruiser, in a picture on Facebook , reluctant to believe it was him until his face appeared on a video call hours later.

Persons: Kittiya Thuengsaeng, Wichai, Lazarus Organizations: Facebook Locations: PHO, Thailand, Israel

Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesCurrently:— Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes. So far, Hamas has released 69 hostages, including 51 Israelis, and Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty Israeli hostages have been freed under the terms of an initial four-day truce, which has been extended to Wednesday. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.

Persons: Israel, — Israel, — Freed, — Blinken, Israel —, “, Israel — Kfir Bibas, Ariel, Eylon, Kfir’s, ”, William Burns, David Barnea, Burns, Barnea, Isabel Debre, Jon Gambrell, Eli Cohen, Parnpree, Thais, ” Parnpree, Cohen, GAZA WASHINGTON —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Constantinos Letymbiotis, Nikos Christodoulides, Christodoulides, Qatar’s, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, ” Israel, ” Elad Levy, Levy’s, Roni Eshel, ” Levy, Antony Blinken, John Kirby, Jason J, Eaton, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Health Ministry, —, TEL, CIA, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Officials, U.S, The Washington Post, Shamir, Thais, GERMANY BERLIN, White, Israeli Defense Forces, Cyprus ’, Cypriot, AP, UNIT, Gaza Health Ministry, Shifa, World Health Organization, PARIS, Foreign, RTL, UN, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Palestinian, of Solidarity, AS US, FIRE BRUSSELS, State Department, NATO, Organization for Peace, Security, National Security, MEN, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON , Vermont —, University of Vermont, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, East, israel, ISRAEL, TEL AVIV, Israeli, Tel Aviv, QATAR, United Arab, Qatar, Egypt, ___, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, JERUSALEM, GERMANY, Germany, Berlin, GAZA WASHINGTON, CYPRUS, GAZA NICOSIA, Cyprus, CAIRO, Shifa, Europe, France, CANBERRA, Australia, Australia’s, Canberra, Ukraine, Brussels, Skopje, North Macedonia, UNIVERSITY, BURLINGTON , Vermont, Vermont, Burlington

Joseph Ataman/CNNAfter many foreign workers fled Israel following the October 7 attacks, farmers were forced to abandon crops or rely on volunteers for the harvest. Inbar’s remaining foreign workers quietly motor up and down the rows of zucchini. Hamas fighters torched the barns holding hay for the dairy cows on Kibbutz Alumim, riding unopposed into the settlement before massacring foreign workers and attendees of the nearby Nova music festival. “The foreign workers run the farm, they do all the milking,” farm manager Stevie Marcus said of the working of the farm before October 7. Joseph Ataman/CNNStanding among Inbar’s zucchini, tech worker Avi Leibovich - volunteering on a day off from his day job - said he came to help Israeli farms survive.

Persons: Thais, Nattaphong Duangchan, Matan, Yosi, Joseph Ataman, Avi Dichter, ”, Lior Simcha, Stevie Marcus, Yosi Inbar, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Inbar, “ We’re, Lisa Perlman, Inbar’s, Avi Leibovich, Danny Parizada, hadn’t, Mei –, Mei, “ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, Milk Producers Association, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, of Housing, Brothers, Sisters, Volunteers Locations: Thai, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Thailand, Thailand’s, Sri Lanka, Israel’s, Egypt, United States, Nova, Kibbutz Alumim, Gaza City, Tel Aviv

☆ '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

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

☆ Disney Rejected Her a Few Times. The ‘Wish’ Director Just Kept Trying.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ashley Spencer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At home, she and her younger siblings would watch the 1941 Disney animated film “Dumbo” on repeat. The movie’s fantastical nature and its message of persevering against the odds resonated with her as a young girl. And after graduating in 2000 with the expectation that she would pursue a practical, lucrative career in her home country, she enrolled in medical school. No one in Veerasunthorn’s family had pursued a career in the arts. “I was leaving behind something that, to a lot of people, family and friends, is a very solid career to do something that is unknown,” she said.

Persons: ”, Veerasunthorn, Veerasunthorn “, Ratanasirintrawoot, “ Organizations: Disney, Columbus College of Art & Design Locations: Thailand’s Chonburi Province, Bangkok, Ohio

☆ Crypto scam: Inside the billion-dollar ‘pig-butchering’ industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

Of that, at least $9.1 million came from a crypto wallet that U.S. blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs said was linked to pig-butchering scams. Neither did the Thai government, the Thai police or the Bangkok-based trade group Wang represented, the Thai-Asia Economic Exchange Trade Association. The crypto account registered to Wang was held at Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, according to three blockchain analysis firms. In April, the U.S. Department of Justice said it seized about $112 million worth of crypto linked to pig-butchering scams, without identifying suspects. The crypto account in Wang’s name was registered in November 2020, according to the financial records Reuters reviewed.

Persons: Wang Yicheng, Wang, Emma, Lisa Wolk, Erin West, Jessica Jung, West, “ I’ve, Jeremy Douglas, Binance, Bitmain, ” Organizations: Thai, Reuters, TRM Labs, Asia Economic Exchange Trade Association, U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, FBI, Secret, Global, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S . Treasury, United Nations Office, Drugs, Workers, KK Park, Commerce Company, Cultural Exchange Center, Overseas, United, Washington, Cultural Exchange Locations: California, Bangkok, Thai, Asia, Southeast Asia, U.S, Binance, United States, Thailand, China, Myanmar, KK, Ningbo, China’s, Xiamen

☆ Meet the Thai celebrities — and ‘boys love’ stars — becoming fashion’s newest power players
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Tiffany Ap | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

(CNN) — Back in February, Nattawin Wattanagitiphat’s fans spared no expense in marking the Thai actor’s 29th birthday. Local media reported his birthday haul totaled 50 million Thai baht, or around $1.4 million. But more often than not, the Thai stars who are able to build international fan bases tend to be actors. “K-pop stars dedicated their lives training (from a young age) to be idols,” but Thai stars, she said, can be more relaxed. We don’t really keep the talent in a box like Korean companies do.”Another advantage some Thai celebrities have is their ability to resonate among Chinese audiences.

Persons: Nattawin, Christian Dior, Lefty.io, Karla Otto, TikTok, Kylie Jenner, Zendaya, Pascal Le Segretain, Dior, Tontawan Tantivejakul, Lalisa Manobal, Lisa, Celine, There’s, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton, Davika Hoorne, Urassaya Sperbund, ‘, Calvin Klein, Bright’s, Metawin, ’, Nichapat, Sumettikul, “ KinnPorsche ”, Ralph Lauren, Kanawut, Suphap, It’s, “, ”, ” Suphap, Blackpink, Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, Evan Agostini, Dior womenswear, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Fatti, ” Laleh, ” Davika Hoorne, Michael Kors, Jamie McCarthy, Traipipattanapong, Gucci, Justin Shin, Krisda Witthayakhajorndet, Thais Organizations: The, Fashion, CNN, Thai, Rolex, Vogue, Mastercard, Bain & Company, American Vogue, Burberry, Prada, Venture Management, Gucci, MTV, Apo, South Locations: ’, Asia, India, Instagram, Thailand, North, South Asia, Thai, Southeast Asia, Pacific, Bangkok, Pee Mak, Norwegian, American, Vogue Thailand, Newark , New Jersey, Launchmetrics, Paris, Blackpink, Brooklyn , New York, Seoul, South Korea

☆ Philippines' Marcos says Myanmar a difficult problem for ASEAN
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking at a forum in Hawaii streamed live in the Philippines on Monday, Marcos said there was commitment from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but the issue was complex, including the humanitarian impact. "There is a great deal of impetus for ASEAN to solve this problem. But it is a very, very difficult problem," Marcos said. The Philippines will chair ASEAN in 2026 after it replaced Myanmar as host that year. Marcos, citing analyses of the recent escalation, said the junta had already lost support from its own military.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Vivian Balakrishnan, Sarun Charoensuwan, Pham Minh Chinh, Antonio Guterres, Joko Widodo, Marcos, upending, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Singapore's, Vietnam's, UN, Southeast, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Laos, MANILA, Myanmar, Hawaii

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were higher Monday after Wall Street closed its third straight winning week with a tiny gain. U.S. futures were lower while oil prices gained as investors looking ahead to OPEC plus meetings. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher to 7,058.40. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up less than 0.1% to 34,947.28 and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1% to 14,125.48. It had been trading near 152 yen to the dollar last week, but analysts said expectations for lower U.S. interest rates are driving sales of dollars, pushing the yen higher.

Persons: Australia’s, Taiex, what’s, Jerome Powell, it’s, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, China, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Wall, Ross, BJ’s Wholesale, Companies, Federal Reserve, Fed, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok

☆ Fact Check: Image shows child in Halloween costume, not crisis actor in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An image of a child dressed in a Halloween costume that dates to at least October 2022 has been shared miscaptioned as showing a crisis actor in Gaza pretending to be a corpse amid the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. An Oct. 25 post on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shared the image with the caption, “One of Gaza's crisis actors got bored pretending to be a dead child killed by Israel. The photograph depicts a child dressed in a Halloween costume for a contest held in Thailand’s Central Korat mall. The image can be found in a Facebook post from Oct. 29, 2022, which shared photographs of two children dressed in Halloween costumes. The image does not show a crisis actor in Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Read Organizations: Twitter, Facebook, Thailand’s Central, Central, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Thailand’s, Thailand’s Central Korat, Central Korat

After the violent struggle with his attacker, Kunwong was left for dead, heavily bleeding from the wound in his throat. He was eventually found and cared for by other migrant workers. ‘Business as usual’ for Thai workers, aid groups sayThe Thai government has called for the release of all remaining citizens being held in Gaza. So far at least 33 Thai nationals have been killed, according to figures shared by Thai authorities with CNN – with 18 Thai nationals still being held hostage as of October 26. Families told CNN that, despite the conflict in Israel, Thai migrant workers were under pressure to honor contracts specifying minimum five years of labor – a heavy price to pay to support their families back home.

Persons: Kunwong, “, ”, has, Thais, Yahel Kurlander, Kurlander, ” Kurlander, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Benjamin Netanyahu, Parnpree Bahiddha, Nukara, Zohar Shvartzberg, AAW, Manee Jirachart, CNN Kunwong, Manee, Chumporn Organizations: Thailand CNN, CNN, Israeli Government Press Office, Hamas, Hai, Getty, UN, Thai, Jobs, Families, Agricultural Workers Locations: Udon Thani, Thailand, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Nepal, Philippines, Israel’s, Thai, Tel, Bangkok, AFP, Tel Aviv

For the second year in a row, U.S. shoppers are seeing double-digit inflation in the candy aisle. That’s on top of a 14% increase in candy and gum prices in October 2022. “The price of candy has gotten to be outrageous,” said Jessica Weathers, a small business owner in Shiloh, Illinois. Meanwhile, global sugar prices are at 12-year highs, Goughary said. Buck said Hershey is trying to meet consumers’ needs with offerings in value stores and pack sizes at various price points.

Persons: ”, Jessica Weathers, ” Weathers, Dan Sadler, Kelly Goughary, Goughary, —, Michele Buck, Buck, Hershey Organizations: Gro Intelligence, Aldi, Mars Inc, Hershey Co Locations: Shiloh , Illinois, West Africa, El, Ivory, India, Brazil

U.S. futures rose while oil prices fell back. A barrel of benchmark U.S. oil fell 97 cents to $87.11 per barrel. Chinese stocks fell to a 1-year low early Monday as foreign investors sold off holdings. High yields make borrowing more expensive for everyone, and they slow the economy while dragging on prices for stocks and other investments. But higher oil prices threaten to add upward pressure.

Persons: Brent, Taiwan’s Taiex, Fumio, Australia’s, ” Stephen Innes, It’s Organizations: Israel, Foxconn Technology, Fortune, Apple, Nikkei, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Management, Federal, Fed, Enphase Energy, Regions Financial, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Shanghai, Hong, Taiwan, Seoul, Europe, U.S

☆ Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport: Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport opens to commercial flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport opened to commercial operations in the province of Siem Reap in the country’s northwest this week. The China-funded Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is now the main gateway to one of the country’s most popular tourist sites, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Complex. Using the International Air Transport Association-designated code SAI, it replaces Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which first opened in 1932 and is only a few kilometers away from the Angkor complex. Located in Siem Reap province, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park is one of Cambodia's most famous sites. The country is on track to receive approximately 4.5 to five million international tourists by the end of this year, says the ministry.

Persons: Ashit Desai, Angkor Thom Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Thailand’s Bangkok Airways, International Air Transport Association, SAI, Initiative, REP, Economic, Office, Embassy, Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group, Construction, Getty, Cambodia’s Ministry, Tourism Locations: Siem Reap, China, Angkor, Siem, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, Khmer, Angkor Wat

☆ Bangkok shooting: Attack in Thailand shopping mall kills at least one person
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Bangkok, Thailand CNN —Police in Thailand arrested a 14-year-old boy, after a shooting at a luxury shopping mall in the capital Bangkok on Tuesday left at least one person and five others injured, the Metropolitan Police Bureau said. ET) at the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok, Police Colonel Noppadol Thiammekha, Pathum Wan Police Chief told CNN on Tuesday. Bangkok Emergency Center revised an earlier death toll, which stated that three people were killed in the shooting. Siam Paragon shopping mall is seen empty, after people were evacuated from the scene of the shooting. “We saw all the people run, run, run, we didn’t understand what was happening,” Yahav said.

Persons: Noppadol Thiammekha, Pathum, Yutthana Setthanan, Yutthana, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Jack Taylor, Shir Yahav, “, ” Yahav, ” Susinee, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: Thailand CNN — Police, Metropolitan Police Bureau, Local, Thailand’s, Investigation Bureau, Siam Paragon, Pathum Wan Police, CNN, Bangkok Emergency, Bangkok Emergency Center, Getty, People, Reuters, Survey, SAS, Institute for Health Metrics, University of Washington’s, Twitter Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Siam, Chinese, AFP, Thai, Switzerland, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Nong Bua Lamphu

☆ NASA’s next stop: An asteroid named for the Egyptian god of chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After a nearly 4 billion-mile round trip, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully delivered NASA’s first asteroid sample to Earth. Across the universeAn artist's rendering shows OSIRIS-APEX kicking up dust so it can study Apophis. The space rock — named for the Egyptian god of chaos and darkness — was once considered to be one of the most potentially hazardous asteroid threats to Earth. Courtesy Narin ChomphuphuangA newly described tarantula species looks like it would be right at home slinging webs alongside Spider-Man. The electric blue tarantula, named Taksinus bambus, was found living in tree hollows in southern Thailand last year.

Persons: REx, NASA’s, Brian May, OSIRIS, —, Thomas Dressler, Frank Rubio, Rubio, Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin, readjusting, “, ”, José Hernández, Taksinus bambus, Narin Chomphuphuang, James Webb, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Space Center, APEX, University of Arizona, Western, Soyuz, Space Station, NASA, Kaen University, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Houston, Israel, Greece, Namibia, Southern, Spain, Thailand

☆ Mid-Autumn Festival holidays: Millions of Chinese tourists are going on holiday again -- many headed for Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo Kocha Olarn Berry Wang Carina Cheng | Kathleen Magramo | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Only 2.2 million Chinese travelers arrived between January and September 10 this year, according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin greeted travelers on the first day of the government's visa-free scheme for Chinese tourists. “Competition is really intensifying in the region to attract Chinese tourists amongst all countries, and you have to make it as easy as possible,” said Bowerman. Chinese tourists pray in front of Thai dancers at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand on September 22, 2023. Rumors, film complicate efforts to lure back touristsPrior to the announcement of the visa-free policy this month, Chinese tourists had been slow to return to Thailand.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, It’s, ” Sretta, “, Chiang, Wang Wenbin, Peerapon Boonyakiat, pare, Gary Bowerman, ”, Bowerman, Huang, “ I’ve, coronavirus, Trip.com, Jin Junhao, Joanna Lu, Anusak, Wolfgang Georg Arlt, “ There’s, Thailand ”, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn Organizations: CNN, China’s, Tourism Authority of, Thai, Civil Aviation Administration, China Railway, Asia, Tourism Research Institute, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Thai Travel Agents Association Locations: China, Shanghai, Bangkok’s, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, ”, Beijing, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Asia, Sichuan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, Erawan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Weibo

☆ Why Thailand's having second thoughts about decriminalizing cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Little more than a year after cannabis decriminalization, following an election that saw a more conservative coalition government come into power, there are signs Thailand’s laws on cannabis could be rewritten once again. Most cannabis dispensaries like his he says, have been responsible and diligent from the start in checking buyers’ IDs and educating customers about cannabis rules. “Thousands of cafes, stores, and other cannabis businesses have sprouted and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by tourists in a short amount of time,” Zaytsev said. The debate comes just as the quality of domestically produced cannabis in the country was improving, she added. “The quality of Thai cannabis has gotten better and better.

Persons: “, ” Iemvijan, –, Nitikrist Attakrist, ” Attakrist, Chiang Mai, Srettha Thavisin, ” Thavisin, Iemvijan, Cannabis, ”, Wisawa Mcintyre, Anutin Charnvirakul, Athit Perawongmetha, hasn’t, Ley Singdam, Ley, ” Ley, Kitty Chopaka, Chopaka, Michael Zaytsev, LIM, ” Zaytsev, Gloria Lai, ” Lai, ” “, Thavisin, Manan Vatsyayana Organizations: CNN, Thai, Bloomberg, Thailand’s Public, Thai Health, Staff, Reuters Observers, ” Farmers, Thais, International Drug Policy Consortium, Bhumjaithai Party, Getty Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, San, Thonglor, Phuket, ‘, ”, Athit, New York, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, AFP

☆ Thailand's new PM says committed to attracting major foreign investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO-Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday said his government was committed to introducing the necessary changes to make the country a major destination for foreign investment, including pursuing more free trade agreements. He stressed foreign policy would be neutral and not taking sides between the United States and China, adding that Japan was a major power that Thailand was committed to, given its long history as the country's top investor. He opened the address stating the country's constitution needed to be amended to address political divisions and chronic economic disparities. Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, Brendan McDermid, Srettha, Sretta, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Michael Perry Organizations: Thailand’s, General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights BANGKOK, Thailand, United States, China, Japan

☆ Asian Games: South Korea's Esports stars target medal success -- and a military exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

For South Korean male participants, winning a gold medal in the Asian Games or Olympic Games not only brings honor but also grants them a military exemption. However, the mandatory duty can be waived for some athletes, in particular those who win an Olympic medal or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Seven games will be featured as official medal events at the 19th Asian Games, building on the success of the pilot event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The venue for the Asian Games esports competitions is state-of-the-art and an impressive sight to see. With its inclusion as an official Asian Games medal event, the possibility of esports becoming a part of the Olympic Games is a topic of growing debate.

Persons: Suga, Oh, Wang Zhao, Son Heung, ” Shin, ”, esports, ” Kim Sa, “, ” Lee Kyung, Kwak, hyouk, it’d, ” Kwak, Thailand’s Teedech, Lee Sang, –, Michael Chow, Yoonjung Seo, Michael Jordan, ” Chow, Faker, JUNG YEON, Philip Fong, Rowan Crothers, “ I’m, I’ll, ” Crothers, Jess Bolden, Chow, Niko, Young Organizations: CNN, Gaming, Hangzhou Asian Games, Asian Games, Games, BTS, Asian, Getty, Premier League soccer, Tottenham Hotspur, Marine Corps, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, “ Times, CNN Sport, FIFA, Hangzhou, South Korea, Believer Company, Riot, South, Team Korea, League, “ League, SK Telecom, Riot Games, Microsoft Studios, Xbox, Studios, International Federation of, Phonographic Industry, EA Sports FC Online, PUBG, of Valor, of, Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Maekyung Media, Paralympic, IOC, Kodikara, International Federations, Niko Partners Locations: South Korea, Hangzhou, AFP, Seogwipo, Jeju, Republic of, Seoul, esports, Jakarta, South, . South Korea, Palembang, Asia

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin handed out gifts and posed for pictures as his tourism minister and other VIPs greeted about 300 travelers from Shanghai. He said that the government plans to promote Thailand’s smaller cities as destinations for Chinese tourists to encourage them to stay longer and spend more. Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said there has been about a 30% surge in accommodation and flight bookings since the policy was announced. Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, earlier said that Thailand received 15 million international visitors in the first seven months. He said the government aims to draw 28 million tourists and generate 1.4 trillion baht ($39.2 billion) in revenue in 2023.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, ” Srettha, Srettha, Dai, Chiang Mai, Peng, Wan Yi, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Chai Wacharonke Organizations: Bangkok’s, Central, Tourism, Tourism Authority of, Ministry of Tourism Locations: BANGKOK, Shanghai, Thai, Thailand, Bangkok, Phuket, Wan, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Central Asian, Kazakhstan, China, Tourism Authority of Thailand

☆ Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse: Thai King's son signals willingness to talk about lese majeste as he attends exhibition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, the King’s second-oldest son, who lives in New York, confirmed that he went to see the exhibition on his official Facebook page Monday. “The King can do wrong.”Nonetheless lese majeste prosecutions continued in the last decade of his reign, and increased dramatically when the military seized power in a 2014 coup. An unprecedented demand was royal reform to ensure the King is answerable to the constitution and amendments to the royal insult law. A political toolFor years, human rights organizations and free speech campaigners have said lese majeste has been used as a political tool to silence critics of the Thai government. At least 253 people have been charged with lese majeste during that time, the group said.

Persons: Thailand’s, Maha Vajiralongkorn, King, LeRoy Neiman, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, lese, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, “, ’, ” Vacharaesorn, Vacharaesorn, Thais –, Thais, ”, Pavin, ” Pavin, King Vajiralongkorn, Bhumibol Adulyadej, Bhumibol, Srettha Thavisin, lese majeste, majeste, King Bhumibol, Prayut Chan Organizations: CNN, LeRoy, New York’s Columbia University, Kyoto University’s Center, Southeast Asian Studies, Elections, Thai, YouTube, Facebook, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Thai Prime Locations: New York, Thailand, Thai, Local

LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. Thailand doesn't keep figures on LGBTQ+ tourists. But through mid-August, it has counted 2.2 million Chinese tourists out of an overall 16 million. But LGBTQ+ people in China face other pressures to conform that can make the free expression of their identities difficult. Another draw for tourists, inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community, is Thailand’s loose enforcement of prostitution laws and renowned nightclub shows.

Persons: Xinyu Wen, Wen, “, ”, ” “, hasn't, Apichai Chatchalermkit, Owen Zhu, Jade Yang, Yang, Adisak Wongwaikankha, Eros Li, Li Organizations: Thailand Tourism Authority, The Nation Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok's, Thai, China, Bangkok, “, Beijing, Malaysia, Asia, asia

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