International news with relevance to Thai and regional readers
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted an X message today, expressing his thanks to all parties concerned for their help in securing the release on Wednesday night of four more Thai hostages held by Hamas. He wrote that the four arrived at Hatzerim Airbase at about 2am local time today. They have been identified as Paibul
Two more Thai nationals have been released by Hamas, raising the number of Thai hostages freed from captivity to 19. The two – Pattanayuth Tonsokree and Owas Suriyasri – have been admitted to a hospital in Israel for a health examination. They are the fourth batch of Thais freed by Hamas since the October 7
Silkyara Tunnel , India – After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong. “We were really scared, every moment felt that death was standing nearby,” rescued worker Deepak Kumar told AFP on Wednesday. “We were not
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to improve transportation networks to boost bilateral border trade, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He made the statement after a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, at the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla province on Monday. “The Thai government has selected the Sadao border checkpoint to introduce
Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara has left for Israel to accompany 17 Thai nationals, recently freed by Hamas, back to Thailand, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday. Parnpree left Bangkok at about 3am, Srettha said before chairing his Cabinet weekly meeting. The Thai government believes that 35 Thais were taken hostage by Hamas
A Beijing court on Monday began hearing compensation cases filed by the families of dozens of Chinese people who died on board a Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared almost 10 years ago. The MH370 jet vanished on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people — mostly from China — en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
Hamas have released three more Thais, bringing to 17 the number of Thai nationals freed since they were taken hostage during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. Fifteen more Thais are, however, still being held captive. The latest three hostages to be released are Vichien Temthong, Surin
The Thai Foreign Ministry has released the names of the second group of Thai nationals freed from captivity by Hamas. They are all male, namely Nattaporn Onkaew, Komkrit Chombua, Anucha Angkaew, and Manee Jirachart. They have already arrived at a hospital in Israel for medical check-ups and will stay in the same area as the
Twelve Thai nationals who were held hostage by Hamas have been freed, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday night. The Thai Foreign Ministry has confirmed the news, and Thai diplomats will be picking them up, Srettha said in his X. The names of the freed individuals will be disclosed in the near future, he
Kittiya Thuengsaeng thought her 28-year-old boyfriend was among the almost 40 Thais killed in Hamas’s deadly assault on Israel last month. But on Friday night Thai officials shocked her with news so good it seemed impossible. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she told AFP, describing the moment she saw a photograph of Wichai Kalapat after
Thailand welcomes the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued today. It said that the temporary ceasefire, between the Israelis and Hamas, represents important progress in the efforts over the past several weeks by all parties concerned. It said
Two Thai tourists were killed in Turkey when their tour bus slammed into a roadside sign on Thursday (local time), according to Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke today. The victims, whose names were not revealed, were part of a tour group of 26 Thais. A number of Thais were injured and admitted to nearby
