Kwanchanok Chomchuen, 29, and her 4-year-old daughter, along with other family members, cried when receiving the body of Mr. Apichat Kusaram.
Kwanchanok Chomchuen, 29, and her 4-year-old daughter, along with other family members, received the body of Mr. Apichat Kusaram, one of the 7 Thai workers who were killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and were brought back as a second batch to Thailand on October 26.
The officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour transferred Apichat’s body to his home in Nong Song Hong district, Khon Kaen Province.
The bodies of seven Thai workers killed in Israel by Hamas arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 26 via El Al Airlines flight LY083. This is the second group of remains. Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Ms Orna Sagiv was present to pay respect at the airport.
When the van arrived, Kwanchanok, Apichat’s parents and neighbors came out to receive the body, shouting that their loved one had returned home. While Apichat’s body was being loaded into the coffin, his 4-year-old daughter cried and demanded to see her father. At that time, she did not know that her father had died.
Relatives and neighbors had to intervene and ask her to wait before breaking the news to her. They decided to tell the little girl after she entered the house. The result was a heartbreaking moment when she hugged her mother, cried and then fell silent when she learned of her father’s death. Those who witnessed this could not hold back their tears and felt deep sympathy for the 4-year-old girl who had lost her father.
Apichat Kusaram tragically lost his life in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Apichat Kusaram, 29, and his younger brother Pongthep Kusaram, 26, went to Israel together to work and tragically lost their lives at the same time.
The body of Pongthep Kusaram was first one of eight Thai bodies that arrived at the Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday, October 20.
The family will arrange a cremation for Apichat at Hua Hin Praserttham Temple, Ban Khok Sung, on Saturday, October 28, the same temple where Phongthep’s cremation ceremony took place.
Kwanchanok Chomchuen, 29, cries when seeing her husband’s body.
According to Mrs. Kanchana Phattharachok, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of Thai casualties remained at 33 dead and 18 injured, and that 18 Thai nationals were still detained, although it was hoped that these numbers would not increase further. This information followed reports by Reuters that Israeli military sources had said that up to 54 Thais were in captivity.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed the House of Representatives on Thursday that he’s “disturbed” by the fact that some Thai workers in Israel have decided to stay on despite the risk after being offered monetary incentives.
However, on Friday, he spoke to Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv, and she assured him that Israeli employers will not withhold payments owed to Thai workers until November 10 if they wish to return to Thailand. The PM urged Thai workers to quickly evacuate from Israel while it was still possible.
He said some workers borrowed money to go to work in Israel and he’ll see if the banks can refinance the loans. Four thousand workers have been evacuated so far and there’re 4,000 more wanting to return.
The Narcotics Suppression Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States, announced on October 27, at a press conference the arrest of eight people involved in drug trafficking.
The arrested persons were three Thai women, four Nigerian nationals and a man from the Ivory Coast. The operation was carried out in a residential area on Nimmitr New Road in the Khlong Sam Wa district of Bangkok, Thailand.
Law enforcement officials also seized important evidence, including four cars, 17 baht of gold, 350 grams of heroin, 49 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of methamphetamine with a total value of 2.5 million baht.
The important evidence, including four cars, 17 baht of gold, 350 grams of heroin, 49 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of methamphetamine with a total value of 2.5 million baht.
According to information from the authorities, there was a drug trafficking network involving Nigerian nationals who smuggled narcotics into Thailand. The network was allegedly led by a key figure called Mr. M, who was based in Nigeria. He instructed his associates, including Mr. Joseph (also known as Mickey), a Nigerian national living in Thailand, to buy narcotics.
It emerged that Mr. Joseph had a Thai wife, Ms. Tassanee, who was involved in the operation and used her bank account to obtain money for the drugs.
This network distributed narcotics to tourists in the Bangkok area and in three other countries: Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan. The organisation also engaged in manufacturing, hiring secret drug labs to mix cocaine with chocolate and baking powder, which was then formed into candy bars and distributed abroad.
The network laundered money through the purchase of various commodities such as children’s clothes, shoes and dried fish, which were sent to Africa through shipping companies both domestically and internationally.
The behaviour of the Nigerian drug trafficking network has evolved from operating in the inner city to extending its influence to the outer suburbs, working with Thai women who are experiencing financial difficulties. These women were initially unaware of the drug trade, but over time, as their living conditions improved, they voluntarily joined the network.
Regarding the charges, those involved in drug trafficking face a life sentence, and in some cases, the death penalty.
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with former Premier Li Keqiang during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
HONG KONG (AP) — The sudden death of former China’s No. 2 leader Li Keqiang has shocked many people in the country, and they are paying tribute to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Li, who died Friday of a heart attack, was China’s top economic official for a decade, helping navigate the world’s second-largest economy through challenges such as tensions with the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was known for his advocacy of private business but lost much of his influence as President Xi Jinping accumulated ever-greater powers and elevated the military and security services in aid of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
FILE – Then China’s Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the ASEAN – China Summits (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
A hashtag related to his death on the Chinese social media platform Weibo drew over 1 billion views in just a few hours. On posts about Li, the “like” button was turned into a daisy — a common flower for funerals in China, and many users commented “rest in peace.” Others called his death a loss and said Li worked hard and contributed greatly to China.
The Chinese government, however, had little to say immediately about Li. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning asked reporters to refer to information from official news agency Xinhua and the obituary to be released later.
“We deeply mourn over the tragic passing of Comrade Li Keqiang due to a sudden heart attack,” she said.
Beijing resident Xia Fan, 20, said she was saddened by the death of Li, whom she called “a really conscientious and responsible premier.” She said her mind was blank when she first heard about the news.
FILE – Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
“He really accompanied the growth of our generation, that’s how it feels in my heart,” she said.
Designer Chen Hui said Li contributed so much. “If I were to talk about it, it’s impossible to finish it in one day. It’s a pity,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his condolences on the passing of Li, said Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson.
Nicholas Burns, U.S. ambassador to China, also extended his condolences to Li’s family, the Chinese government and the Chinese people in both English and Chinese on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Japan’s embassy in China expressed its condolences on Weibo. It said Li had visited Japan in 2018 and he played an importance role in the relations of both countries.
Li, an English-speaking economist, was from a generation of politicians schooled during a time of greater openness to liberal Western ideas. Introduced to politics during the chaotic 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, he made it into prestigious Peking University, where he studied law and economics, on his own merits rather than through political connections.
FILE – Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra share a light moment during their meeting at the government house in Bangkok Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Li is on a three-day visit to Thailand. (AP Photo/Damir Sagolj, Pool)
Li had been seen as former Communist Party leader Hu Jintao’s preferred successor as president about a decade ago. But the need to balance party factions prompted the leadership to choose Xi, the son of a former vice premier and party elder, as the consensus candidate.
The two never formed anything like the partnership that characterized Hu’s relationship with his premier, Wen Jiabao — or Mao Zedong’s with the redoubtable Zhou Enlai — although Li and Xi never openly disagreed over fundamentals.
Last October, Li was dropped from the Standing Committee at a party congress despite being more than two years below the informal retirement age of 70. He step down in March and was succeeded by Li Qiang, a crony of Xi’s from his days in provincial government. His departure marked a shift away from the skilled technocrats who have helped steer China’s economy in favor of officials known mainly for their unquestioned loyalty to Xi.
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Kanis Leung reported from Hong Kong Associated Press journalist Simina Mistreanu in Beijing contributed to this report.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) has consistently earned recognition for its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, achieving its seventh consecutive inclusion on the esteemed 2023 ESG100 company certification.
Thaipat Institute has formally recognized Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) with the Certificate of ESG100 Company, acknowledging the firm as a leader in sustainable practices among 888 listed entities.
This accolade highlights CP Foods’ unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and stringent governance, reflecting its “Kitchen of the World” vision. Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of CP Foods, received the certificate from Dr. Pipat Yodprudtikan, Director of Thaipat Institute.
Prasit Boondoungprasert emphasized the company’s dedication to being a role model in responsible business practices, focusing on environmental sustainability. Over the past year, CP Foods has set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, becoming one of only seven companies globally to participate in a pilot project and the first food company that has received approval for both short-term and long-term goals from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The targets are aligned with the Forest, Land and Agriculture Guidance (FLAG) which is the specific standard for agribusiness and food of SBTi), enhancing CP Foods’ business operations and environmental conservation efforts.
Furthermore, CP Foods has launched the ‘Thai food – Mission to Space’ project, aiming to send Thai chicken to space, ensuring the highest food safety standards. This initiative reflects the same safety standards required for astronaut food, adhering to NASA’s criteria.
Additionally, the company has maintained its commitment to supporting the Supply Chain and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) since the COVID-19 pandemic through various projects, including Faster Payment, the CPF x BBL project for liquidity enhancement, and the Partner to Grow project. These initiatives, in collaboration with Bangkok Bank, offer business partners access to low-interest funding, empowering SMEs to grow and thrive on an international scale.
“ESG is an increasingly important focus for companies worldwide, and CP Foods is committed to being a leader in sustainable agro-industrial practices. Our approach encompasses societal and environmental responsibility, in line with the 3 benefits philosophy of CP Group’s Senior Chairman, Dhanin Chearavanont. We prioritize the wellbeing of our country and its people, ensuring mutual benefits for society and our company while continually learning and adapting to new trends to maintain our leadership position,” Prasit stated.
[Bangkok] – Siraj Holding, a leading investment fund in the UAE, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of a controlling and largest stake of 10.58% in Global Consumer Public Company Limited. The transaction, finalized on 21st October 2023, marks a significant milestone in Siraj Holding’s expansion strategy.
Siraj Holding, led by the “Al Otaiba” family, is recognized as one of the most reputable and influential funds in the UAE. With diverse business interests in oil and gas, food trading, healthcare, financial sector, and technology, the Al Otaiba family has consistently demonstrated expertise and success in their ventures, making them a prominent name among the top richest families in the UAE.
The acquisition of this controlling stake in Global Consumer Public Company Limited not only solidifies Siraj Holding’s influence in the market but also grants them a management stake in the renowned food conglomerate. Global Consumer Public Company Limited holds an esteemed reputation in the industry, with a diverse portfolio ranging from packaging and frozen food to dried fruit. Most notably, it is known for its highly regarded brand, Lookchin Tip – the porkball factory.
This strategic investment by Siraj Holding signifies their commitment to expanding their presence in the consumer goods sector. It enables them to capitalize on Global Consumer Public Company Limited’s strong market position and leverage their expertise to drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence within the corporation.
Siraj Holding is excited to collaborate with Global Consumer Public Company Limited’s management team and their dedicated workforce to unlock new opportunities, enhance product offerings, and deliver exceptional value to their customers. The acquisition aligns with Siraj Holding’s long-term vision of fostering sustainable growth and contributing to the overall advancement of the UAE’s economy.
Both Siraj Holding and Global Consumer Public Company Limited express their shared enthusiasm for the future and their commitment to creating synergistic partnerships that will further strengthen their respective positions in the market.
The timing of this acquisition could not be more favorable for GloCon Consumer. The company had recently completed the relocation of two major factories, one for frozen meals and the other for dried fruit, due to reaching maximum capacity in 2022. With an additional 200% increase in capacity now available, GloCon Consumers is well-positioned to pursue new market expansions and meet growing consumer demand.
Global Consumer Public Company Limited is excited about the prospects that lie ahead with Siraj Holding as the new largest stakeholder. Together, both companies aim to drive innovation, explore new avenues for growth, and deliver exceptional products and services to consumers.
About Global Consumer Public Company Limited:
Global Consumer Public Company Limited is a leading global consumer goods company specializing in packaging, frozen ready-to-eat meals and seafood, dried fruit exports, and the renowned Lookchintip pork ball business. With a focus on quality and innovation, GloCon Consumers strives to meet the evolving needs of consumers worldwide through its diverse product portfolio.
About Siraj Holding:
Siraj Holding is a highly reputable UAE fund led by the Al Otaiba family, known for their investments in sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, consumer goods, and the financial industry. With a long history of successful investments, Siraj Holding brings valuable expertise and resources to its portfolio companies, driving growth and creating value.
In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State (Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A man shot and killed at least 16 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents in multiple communities stayed locked in their homes Thursday under a shelter-in-place advisory.
A police bulletin identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins when shots rang out around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.
The document, circulated to law enforcement officials, said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide details about his treatment or condition but said Card had reported “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” the military base. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.
This photo released by the Lewiston, Maine, Police Department on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, shows a vehicle police are seeking information on in connection to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine. (Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP)
Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. A number of parents and children were at Sparetime as part of a children’s bowling league.
Ten-year-old Zoey Levesque, who was there with her mother, told WMTW-TV she was grazed by a bullet.
“It’s scary,” she said. “I had never thought I’d grow up and get a bullet in my leg. And it’s just like, why? Why do people do this?”
One bowler, who identified himself only as Brandon, said he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.
“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon — he was holding a weapon — I just booked it,” he told The Associated Press.
This photo released by the Lewiston Maine Police Department shows Robert Card, who police have identified as a person of interest in connection to mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. ( Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP)
Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. He was among a busload of survivors who were driven to a middle school in the neighboring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.
“I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he said.
The bowling alley is home to traditional tenpin bowling as well as candlepin, a variant of bowling found in New England. It’s located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the Bates College campus, on the outskirts of downtown. The alley has a small bar and is popular for local bowling leagues and children’s parties.
Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away. Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building.
A member of security, center right, stands at an emergency department entrance at Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
“I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe,” Small said. “But at the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb.”
After the shooting, police, many armed with rifles, took up positions while the city descended into eerie quiet — punctuated by occasional sirens — as people hunkered down at home. Schools as far away as Kennebunk, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Lewiston, closed out of caution on Thursday. And schools were closed Portland, the state’s largest city.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed the shooter walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder.
Two law enforcement officials told The AP that at least 16 people were killed and the toll was expected to rise. However, Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, declined to provide a specific estimate at a news conference, calling it a “fluid situation.” State police planned to hold a midmorning news conference Thursday.
Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
It’s the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
The two law enforcement officials said dozens of people also had been wounded. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and were coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients. The hospital was locked down and police, some armed with rifles, stood by the entrances.
Meanwhile, hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the south, were on alert to potentially receive victims.
Lewiston, the second largest city in Maine with a population of 37,000, emerged as a major center for African immigration into Maine. The Somali population, which numbers in the thousands, has changed the demographics of the once overwhelmingly white mill city into one of the most diverse in northern New England.
A shelter-in-place advisory was issued Wednesday night for Androscoggin County. That included the community of Lisbon, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away, after a “vehicle of interest” was found there, authorities said. It was extended Thursday to Bowdoin, which is in Sagadachoc County.
Gov. Janet Mills released a statement echoing instructions for people to shelter. President Joe Biden spoke by phone to Mills and the state’s Senate and House members, offering “full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack,” a White House statement said.
Wednesday’s death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.
Maine doesn’t require permits to carry guns, and the state has a longstanding culture of gun ownership that is tied to its traditions of hunting and sport shooting.
Some recent attempts by gun control advocates to tighten the state’s gun laws have failed. Proposals to require background checks for private gun sales and create a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases failed earlier this year. Proposals that focused on school security and banning bump stocks failed in 2019.
State residents have also voted down some attempts to tighten gun laws in Maine. A proposal to require background checks for gun sales failed in a 2016 public vote.
The new uniform for Thai Airways will be implemented on January 1, 2024. (photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
THAI Airways International Public Company Limited, a state-owned airline, has introduced a new uniform concept for female flight attendants called “FROM PURPLE TO PURPOSE” This initiative is in line with the Zero Waste Living sustainable development policy and will be implemented from January 1, 2024.
(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Piyasvasti Amranand, Chairman of the Company’s Business Rehabilitation Plan Management Committee, announced this news together with Chansin Treenuchakorn, Director of the Business Rehabilitation Plan, and Chai Iamsiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the management team on October 25.
(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Thai Airways’ new uniform for female flight attendants is made from a blend of traditional Thai silk and fibers derived from recycled materials, specifically PET plastic bottles left on planes. One uniform uses 54 PET plastic bottles. The fabric is made of 70% recycled plastic fibers and 30% Thai silk, which makes it more sustainable without significantly increasing production costs.
The new uniforms are designed to be distinctive, easy to maintain and flexible for practical use. They have also undergone safety testing to meet international standards.
Thai Airways’ new uniforms for female flight attendants is made from a blend of traditional Thai silk and fibers derived from recycled materials. (photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
In a significant change, the company now allows its employees to wear the Thai uniform directly from home. This eliminates the previous practice of only being allowed to wear the Thai uniform on the plane.
This change represents a new dimension for Thai Airways as a national airline and offers people the opportunity to see Thai uniforms as part of soft power. Currently, 80 percent of Thai Airways’ passengers are international travelers and 20 percent are Thai nationals.
Aside from uniforms, the company has begun sustainable development in a wide range of sectors, including increasing efficiency and reducing the use of aviation fuel by providing services on modern aeroplanes and engines with low fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, using the Single Engine Taxi technique, reducing load weight, and planning for the use of SAF-Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
An injured Palestinian man hugs an injured relative after being rescued following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops and tanks launched an hourslong ground raid into northern Gaza overnight into Thursday, the military said, striking several militant targets in order to “prepare the battlefield” ahead of a widely expected ground invasion after more than two weeks of devastating air raids.
The raid came after the U.N. warned it is on the verge of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, forcing it to sharply curtail relief efforts in the territory, which has also been under a complete siege since Hamas’ bloody rampage across southern Israel ignited the war earlier this month.
The rising death tolls in Gaza are unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even greater loss of life could come if Israel launches an expected ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and survived four previous wars with Israel.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Wednesday that more than 750 people were killed over the past 24 hours, higher than the 704 killed the previous day. The Associated Press could not independently verify the death toll, and the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. By comparison, 2,251 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in the entire six-week-long war in 2014, according to U.N. figures.
On Wednesday, the wife, son and daughter of Wael Dahdouh, a veteran Al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, were killed in an Israeli strike. The Qatar-based satellite channel broadcast footage of his grief upon entering a hospital and peering over the body of his dead son.
The Israeli military says it only strikes militant targets and accuses Hamas of operating among civilians in densely-populated Gaza. Palestinian militants have fired rocket barrages into Israel since the war began.
During the overnight raid, soldiers killed fighters and destroyed militant infrastructure and anti-tank missile launching positions, the military said. It said no Israeli were wounded. There was no immediate confirmation of any Palestinian casualties.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said the limited incursion was “part of our preparations for the next stages of the war.”
Israel also said it had also carried out some 250 airstrikes across Gaza in the last 24 hours, targeting tunnel shafts, rocket launchers and other militant infrastructure.
Palestinians evacuate two wounded boys out of the destruction following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
An airstrike on the southern town of Khan Younis hit a residential building where 75 people were staying, according to family members, including 25 who had fled other parts of Gaza. Ambulances streamed into the nearby Nasser Hospital, but there was no official word on casualties.
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war. That figure includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital last week.
The fighting has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack, according to the Israeli government. Hamas also holds at least 224 hostages in Gaza.
The warning by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over depleting fuel supplies raised alarm that the humanitarian crisis could quickly worsen.
Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Gaza’s population has also been running out of food, water and medicine. About 1.4 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes, with nearly half of them crowded into U.N. shelters. Hundreds of thousands remain in northern Gaza, despite Israel ordering them to evacuate to the south, saying those who remain might be considered “accomplices” of Hamas.
In recent days, Israel let more than 60 trucks with aid enter from Egypt, which aid workers say is insufficient and only a tiny fraction of what was being brought in before the war. Israel is still barring deliveries of fuel — needed to power generators — saying it believes Hamas will take it.
An official with the International Committee of the Red Cross said it hopes to bring in eight trucks filled with vital medical supplies.
“This is a small amount of what is required, a drop in the ocean,” said William Schomburg, head of the sub-delegation in Gaza. “We are trying to establish a pipeline.”
UNRWA has been sharing its own fuel supplies so that trucks can distribute aid, bakeries can feed people in shelters, water can be desalinated, and hospitals can keep incubators, life support machines and other vital equipment working.
A Palestinian firefighter extinguishes a fire in a destroyed building following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
If it continues doing all of that, fuel will run out by Thursday, so the agency is deciding how to ration its supply, UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai told The Associated Press.
“Do we give for the incubators or the bakeries?” she said. “It is an excruciating decision.”
More than half of Gaza’s primary health care facilities and roughly a third of its hospitals have stopped functioning, the World Health Organization said.
At Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, the lack of medicine and clean water have led to “alarming” infection rates, the group Doctors Without Borders said. Amputations are often required to prevent infection from spreading in the wounded, it said.
One surgeon with the group described amputating half the foot of a 9-year-old boy with only “slight sedation” on a hallway floor as his mother and sister watched.
Palestinian children wait in line for a food distribution in a displaced tent camp, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
The conflict has also threatened to spread across the region. The Israeli military said Wednesday it struck military sites in Syria in response to rocket launches from the country. Syrian state media said eight soldiers were killed and seven wounded.
Strikes in Syria also hit the airports of Aleppo and Damascus, in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to militant groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Israel has been exchanging near daily fire with Iranian-backed Hezbollah across the Lebanese border.
Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks early Thursday caused fires in open land in the southern Lebanon border town of Aita al Shaab, where clashes have intensified, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said. It reported strikes late Wednesday on towns in the Tyre district, saying a mattress factory was hit.
Hamas’ surprise rampage on Oct. 7 in southern Israel stunned the country with its brutality, its unprecedented toll and the failure of intelligence agencies to know it was coming. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Wednesday night that he will be held accountable, but only after Hamas was defeated.
“We will get to the bottom of what happened,” he said. “This debacle will be investigated. Everyone will have to give answers, including me.”
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Sami Magdy reported from Cairo and Amy Teibel from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
The four suspects are members of one family from Jordan.
On October 26, the police officers of Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, announced the arrest of four foreign nationals involved in a joint theft of a gold necklace at the Aurora gold store located inside Pantip Plaza Ngamwongwan branch on Ngamwongwan Road, Bang Khen District, Nonthaburi, which occurred on October 21 at 2:30 PM. The stolen property was a gold necklace worth approximately 290,000 Thai Baht.
The four suspects, all of whom are Jordanian citizens, are as follows:
1. Mr. Fahmi Jamal Fareed Hussein, 55 years old
2. Mrs. Thurayya Sharif Abdel-Khaleq Alabsi, 68 years old
3. Miss. Mariam Fathi Jamal Hussein, 40 years old
4. Mr. Mohammad Fathi Jamal Hussein, 24 years old
Police at Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, announced the arrest of four foreign nationals involved in a joint theft of a gold necklace at the Aurora gold store.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsangaek, Acting Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said the suspects entered the jewellery shop and inquired with the staff in English about the price of the gold chain to divert their attention. Meanwhile, the members of the group stole two gold chains weighing 3 baht and one gold chain weighing 2 baht. The person who was talking to the staff claimed that they wanted to exchange dollars to buy gold. Eventually, all four suspects fled together in a taxi.
The evidence that police seized from Jordanian suspects
Ms Sudarat Rachasak, a 24-year-old employee of the shop, stated that after noticing the theft, she checked the shop’s CCTV cameras and observed the group of foreigners committing the crime for about half an hour.
During the police investigation, it turned out that the suspects sold the 8-baht gold chain in a second-hand shop for about 190,000 Thai baht after the theft. They then exchanged the proceeds into US dollars, totalling $5,400, before being arrested by police at a rental flat in the Bang Sue area. Various currencies and clothing they had been wearing during the incident were found in their possession. As a result, all four suspects were charged with robbery and face a prison sentence of over 5 years.
Baht is a unit of weight measurement for Gold in Thailand where 1 Baht is equal to 15.244 grams in raw bullion form or 15.16 grams when it is sold as jewellery.
Bangkok October 25th 2023 – The power of shoppers can help make our world sustainable. Just by littering e-waste in the right place and in the right way, such as recycling one unused mobile phone can help reduce 12.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide and save five large trees.
Lately, True Corporation Plc. joins hands with Lotus’s for the 2nd consecutive year, forging ahead the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project, expanding e-Waste points available at 20 Lotus’s branches throughout Bangkok and the vicinity area.
All customers and the public are invited to litter their unused micro electrical devices which will be collected for recycling under an international standard. This reflects the common determination of two organizations aiming to manage waste in align with the circular economy policy and to achieve True Corporation’s Zero e-Waste to Landfill goal within 2030.
Mr. Chakkrit Urairat, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (Acting), True Corporation Plc said that as a private sector being aware of conducting business sustainably and as one of Telecom-Tech Company’s missions, True Corporation emphasizes the importance on managing the environmental impacts from e-waste that must be disposed of correctly and according to the international standard.
True Corporation is, therefore, forging ahead to expand the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project, joining hands with leading partners continuously and this time with Lotus’s to invite customers and the public to be part of the mission in creating a sustainable world together.
“All can participate in reducing e-waste in a simple way and also access to the littering points more conveniently. Every piece of e-waste can be ensured that it will be recycled in a proper manner and 100% safe.”
Dr. Apiruk Detwarasiti, Sr. Director of Strategy and Business Support, Lotus’s said that “As Lotus’s conducts its retail business based on sustainability under the strategy “Vision 2030. Actions every day.”, covering all dimensions in the environmental, social and governance aspects (ESG). For the environmental aspect, we are pleased to continue the collaboration with True Corporation for the 2nd consecutive year in the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project.
This year, more littering points are available at 20 branches of Lotus’s in Bangkok and the vicinity area. Lotus’s is ready to be a medium in connecting people in the communities and support separating and recycling e-waste process under the international standard.”
The 20 e-waste littering points at Lotus’s branches comprise:
Bangkok: Fortune Town, Lat Phrao, Bang Kapi, Wang Hin, Sukhumvit 50, Ramindra, Sukhapiban 1, Seacon Square, Prachachuen, Lak Si, Liap Khlong 2, Pinklao, Bang Khae, Rama 2, Rama 3 and Rama 4, and Lotus’s Nawamin Head Office.
Nonthaburi: Rattanathibet, Bang Yai and Bang Kruai-Sai Noi.
In addition, customers and the public can join the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project by littering e-waste at 154 branches of True Shop, TrueSphere and dtac shop nationwide as well as at NBTC office on the 1st floor of Meeting Hall, Building 2 and Building 3.
