International news with relevance to Thai and regional readers
Tokyo, Japan – Three Japanese government ministers tendered their resignations on Thursday over a major corruption scandal in the ruling party, media reports said. The scandal surrounds allegations of kickbacks of 500 million yen ($3.4 million) within the Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed the world’s third-largest economy almost uninterrupted for decades. Those resigning were Economy
The Thai government should expedite its efforts to retrieve Thai artefacts stolen from Si Thep historical park in Phetchabun province and currently held in the United States, said Phanombootra Chandrajoti, director general of the Fine Arts Department. “A major challenge facing Thailand, after Si Thep historical park was recognised as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
Cairo/Gaza – The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israel it was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate” bombing of civilians in its war against Hamas militants. After dire warnings by U.N. officials about a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the
Israel bombed southern Gaza’s main city on Monday after Hamas warned no Israeli hostages would leave the territory alive unless its demands for prisoner releases were met. Hamas triggered the conflict when the group carried out the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and taking about 240
Beijing, China – China on Thursday slammed what it called the “smearing” of its Belt and Road infrastructure project after Italy said it would withdraw four years after it became the only G7 nation to sign up. “China firmly opposes smearing and undermining of cooperation on the joint construction of the Belt and Road,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
The next release of Thai nationals from Hamas custody may have to wait for the next ceasefire in Gaza, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday. “There is no more good news on the matter. For the safety of the hostages to be freed, the fighting has to be suspended,” Srettha said, adding the Thai
Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara expressed concerns today that the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza may impact the release of more Thai hostages. Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip resumed last Friday, only minutes after a week-long truce expired. “I hope that Hamas will release more Thais. I am, however, worried
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will pay a five-day visit to Japan on December 14-18 that will include scheduled meetings with the Japanese and Asean leaders as well as leading private sectors, according to a highly placed source.The prime minister is scheduled to attend the Asean-Japan Summit in Tokyo, scheduled on December 16-18, to commemorate the
Many people, especially youth, perceive the use of condom as hindering the enjoyment of sex, despite the variety available, from extra slim to scented and fancy surfaces. Therefore, HIV infection rates among youth are alarmingly high, primarily due to unsafe sexual practices, said Dr Suchada Jiamsiri, Deputy Director of the Division of AIDS and STIs
Washington, United States – Henry Kissinger, the relentlessly ambitious US diplomat whose unapologetic promotion of raw American power helped shape the post-World War II world, died Wednesday, his consulting firm said. He was 100. Kissinger, arguably the most identifiable secretary of state in modern times, died at his home in Connecticut, announced Kissinger Associates, through which the late diplomat
The first group of 17 Thai hostages, released from Gaza by Hamas in last few days, are due back in Thailand this afternoon. The group will not, however, include the two Thai hostages who were released by Hamas late Tuesday night. So far, 19 of the 32 Thai nationals held captive by Hamas since the
Civic groups battling to eradicate HIV/Aids in Thailand are ready to “Let Communities Lead” – the theme of World Aids Day 2023 on December 1 – but say they need more support including funding from relevant authorities. “We have long supported Thai authorities and international organizations in efforts to end Aids. Yet we still face
