Siam Piwat, the No.1 Global Landmark Developer, Delivers Extraordinary Festive Experiences in Celebration of the Holiday Season

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31 October 2023, 16:58

❖ No.1 Developer of Global Landmark Destination: Achieving traffic of over 100 million visitors across all shopping malls in 2023 and reigning as the No.1 destinations for Thai and international tourists.

❖ No.1 Creator of Holiday Season Experiences: Delivering global experience through over 40 iconic events in the final quarter of the year.

❖ No. 1 Countdown Landmark: #1 Delivering a spectacular celebration as a Global Countdown Destination

(Bangkok – October 31, 2023) As part of its efforts to reinforce its leadership in global destination development, Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer, the owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint venture partner of ICONSIAM, ICS, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, is joining forces with global partners to launch a series of world-class events all through the last two months of 2023. The objectives are to strengthen the position of Siam Piwat’s shopping centers as the world’s best celebration venues, exponentially boost the traffic of each mall, stimulate the tourism economy, as well as solidify Thailand’s reputation as a premier destination to attract tourists from across the globe.

Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director, ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., stated, “ICONSIAM is recognized by Thai and international visitors from across the world as a global destination and Thailand’s landmark by the Chao Phraya River. Over the past three years, we have achieved the record number of visitors, with a remarkable 70% year-over-year growth in the first half of 2023. During weekends, we are seeing exceptional traffic, with daily visitors numbering between 120,000 to 140,000, and we are confident that in the final quarter of this year, we will be able to increase the number of visitors by over 70%.”

ICONSIAM is launching the “World Collaboration” project in collaboration with five world-class partners from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and France, who are coming together to deliver a series of world-class entertainment events, leveraging soft power to stimulate the economy in the final stretch of the year.

The 5th Anniversary of The ICON Unrivaled – A magnificent celebration by the Chao Phraya River featuring a full lineup of Thai and international artists, to be held on November 9-11, 2023
Bangkok Illumination 2023 – The annual spectacular lighting festival by the Chao Phraya River featuring a colorful and breathtaking display and a unique Thai-style Christmas tree, to be held from November 1, 2023 – January 5, 2024 and “ICONSIAM UNRIVALED WORLD OF ILLUMINATION 2023”, to be held on December 1-31, at River Park, ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM CHAO PHRAYA RIVER OF ETERNAL PROSPERITY – A grand Loy Krathong celebration with a dazzling light and sound display and an array of Thai cultural activities from SookSiam, to be held on November 27, 2023
Amazing Thailand Countdown 2024 – A majestic global-scale New Year’s Eve countdown by the Chao Phraya River at Thailand’s most magnificent landmark recognized worldwide as a global countdown destination, with a full-scale entertainment extravaganza and concerts by top Thai and international artists, to be held from December 29-31, 2023 at River Park, ICONSIAM

Ms. Saruntorn Asaves, First Executive Vice President, Head of Shopping Center Business Division, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, “Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery are joining hands with global partners to launch a more spectacular and colorful celebration than ever before, transcend all limits of entertainment with world-class iconic events featuring top Global Artists, as well as inspire and dazzle all with beloved Global Characters, with the goal of solidifying Thailand’s position as “THE WORLD’s BEST FESTIVE DESTINATION” and creating a Global Experience of happiness that will bring people from all around the world to join in the celebration.”

Siam Paragon is reaffirming its position as one of the world’s best luxury destinations by collaborating with the globally renowned luxury brand “Bvlgari” to create a unique Christmas celebration under the theme “Magnificent Wonders” to offer a luxury experience for all from November 30, 2023, to January 16, 2024.

Furthermore, Siam Paragon will also transform itself into “The Grand Stage of the World” with a grand celebration featuring World-class Iconic Events that will bring joy to everyone and exceed all expectations – a series of spectacular weekly international shows throughout December at Parc Paragon.

Siam Paragon Magical Balloon Wonderland: Orchestra of the Skies – Enjoy a spectacular balloon festival by Plasticiens Volants from France featuring a full 360-degree immersive light and sound show, complete with a world-class orchestra performance, taking place from December 8-11.
Siam Paragon Carnival International Show – Experience the exclusive performances “Le Dame e La Serva” & Pappagalli from the Netherlands,” which will immerse you in a dazzling world beyond the bounds of imagination featuring many fantastical characters, to be held from December 15-17.
Siam Paragon Christmas Celebration – Enjoy the Amorous Ballad from France, a performance promising to immerse you in Christmas festivities and deliver smiles, music, and special surprises for everyone, to be held from December 22-25.
Siam Paragon Festive Celebration & Countdown – Bid farewell to the year 2022 with a full-scale concert featuring a spectacular lineup of top artists on December 30-31 and a countdown to the New Year that promises to impress and delight all visitors.

Siam Center, the Ideapolis, is actively promoting creativity and cultural diversity in support of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Colorful Bangkok 2023 policy. As part of this effort, Siam Center is partnering with XEVA or Yoo Seung-Baik, a renowned female street artist from South Korea who has worked with various world-class brands, to bring her signature vibrant graffiti artworks to Siam Center’s venue of festivities under the concept “Cosmic Playground,” with the Thai idol group 789 contributing their youthful energy to this project. Siam Center presents XEVA X 789 COSMIC PLAYGROUND will be on display from November 14, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

Siam Discovery, the Exploratorium, is also delivering a unique and innovative Christmas experience. To celebrate the holiday season while meeting sustainability goals of the future in all dimensions, Siam Discovery is collaborating with PTT Global Chemicals Public Company Limited (GC) and Bellygom to create the Sustainable Living X’mas Tree 2023, made from discarded HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic bottles, known for their flexibility, strength, and toughness.

This event will feature the renowned pink teddy bear Bellygom from South Korea as well as Bellygom-themed wrapping paper. In addition to the Christmas tree, a full range of entertainment activities by artists and singers will also be hosted throughout December to offer an exciting and joyful experience for everyone, to be held from November 17,2023 to January 14,2024.

In addition, ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery are hosting an exclusive promotion campaign through the last two months of 2023. In celebration of the one-of-a-kind experience that exceeds all expectations on ONESIAM SuperApp, the “VIZ Member Day 2023” campaign will also be hosted on November 7-9, 2023 to offer a full range of privileges and benefits to VIZ members.

During this campaign, members can receive double the VIZ Coins when shopping and accumulating them through Snap & Collect and earn 10 times the VIZ Coins when making purchases in the Digital Mall category. In addition, they will spend VIZ Coins, they will receive the same amount of VIZ Coins in return.

Additionally, members can transfer and convert points from participating credit cards into VIZ Coins. This is not to mention an array of many other privileges and benefits that will be offered to both Thai and international shoppers to deliver happiness and enhance their shopping experience on this special occasion.

Siam Piwat Group believes that this grand celebration on a global scale will not only deliver moments of joy and memorable experiences but will also serve a significant driver of the economy and help to enhance Thailand’s tourism industry sustainably.

Red-Yellow Shirts Jointly Put Pressure on MFP’s Sexual Scandals

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Khaosod English

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31 October 2023, 15:18

anti-MFP scandal1 — Tankhun Jitissara, Chairman of the Human Rights and Gender Equality Promotion Committee, Democrat Party (center), joins the protest against sexual harassment.

The Move Forward Party (MFP ), which was the most popular party in May’s general election, now faces a credibility problem after its members allegedly sexually harassed women. This has raised concerns about the party’s handling of the situation, with the party leadership in particular being criticized for not acting quickly enough.

Critics of the MFP, organized under a Facebook fan page titled “What is the MFP lying today?”, held an event at the Thai Summit Tower to call on the party to speed up investigations into the alleged sexual harassment of a party member.

anti MFP scandal2 — Protesters held an event against sexual harassment at the Thai Summit Tower, where the MFP headquarter is located, on October 31, 2023.

Notable figures from both the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts were present at the event, including Niyom Nopparat and Tankhun Jitissara, Chairman of the Human Rights and Gender Equality Promotion Committee, Democrat Party

Niyom accused the Move Forward Party of not sending representatives to receive their petition, implying that the party does not seem interested in listening to their concerns. He stressed the need for the party to be clear and transparent, especially because the alleged victims are those who volunteered and supported the party by helping it gain a voice.

anti MFP scandal3 — Niyom Nopparat (center) the red shirt member

In addition, Niyom questioned the lack of response to the issue by the National Human Rights Commission and wondered whether these organizations are biased.

Tankhun also commented on how men in higher positions in society, such as in politics or among their own supporters, could silence the victims and compound the trauma by making the allegations appear untrue. He stressed the need for the party to be thoroughly investigated or given a fair trial by parliament.

Speaking about the event, he also said that it was a good chance for the yellow and red shirts to work together to fight the orange fandoms of the MFP.

Chairman of the Special Working Group to Solve the Problem of Sexual Violence of the MFP, Bencha Saengchantra, confirmed that there will be a discussion within the party on the two cases of alleged harassment and sexual misconduct. This discussion will take place during a meeting with the party leadership on 1 November at 5:00 pm. She assured that the party takes the matter seriously and will handle it appropriately.

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Thailand Welcomes Indian-Taiwanese Tourists With Visa Exemption

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Khaosod English

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31 October 2023, 14:18

On October 31, Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced at Government House, along with the Cabinet, the decision to expand the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry to Thailand. The two additional countries on the list are India and Taiwan, which have a significant number of tourists in Thailand.

The visa-free entry policy will be in effect for a short period from November 10, 2023 to May 10, 2024. This temporary measure is being introduced due to the high season for Taiwanese and Indian tourists. A visitor is granted a visa exemption for a maximum duration of 30 days in Thailand.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, from January to September 2023, Thailand received 1,162,251 Indian tourists and 520,372 tourists from Taiwan. The total number of foreign tourists exceeds 20 million.

Earlier, on October 27, Pornchai Thirawej, the director of the Fiscal Policy Office, announced a downward revision of Thailand’s economic growth for 2023 to 2.7 percent year-on-year. This reduction is partly due to the expected decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand. It is estimated at 27.7 million people, lower than the original forecast of 29.5 million tourists.

As a result, the projected tourism revenue is revised to 1.18 trillion baht, a decrease from the previous estimate of 1.25 trillion baht. This revision is influenced by the economic challenges in China, which have a significant impact on the number of Chinese tourists in Thailand.

In 2024, the Fiscal Policy Office forecasts that the tourism sector will continue to play an important role in the Thai economy. It is expected that 34.5 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand, an increase of 24.6 percent. The estimated revenue is 1.49 trillion baht, an increase of 26 percent. This growth is largely due to Chinese tourists, especially during Chinese New Year.

An American-Costa Rican Is Found Dead From Neck Stabs in a Phuket Hotel Room

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Khaosod English

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30 October 2023, 18:48

costa phuket2 — An American-Costa Rican tourist's body was found dead in a room at the Ma Maison Hotel, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket Province, on October 30, 2023.

Phuket Police from Choeng Thale Police Station launched an inquiry into the matter of a foreign tourist’s body found dead in a room at the Ma Maison Hotel, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket Province, on October 30.

After receiving a call by a hotel employee, the police officers joined with the medical examiners and investigated the body. They discovered four sharp-force cuts on the left side of the neck.

The deceased’s possessions and clothing, materials, and equipment were in good condition, including a notebook computer, an iPad, two phones, 6,000 baht in Thai currency, diving and boxing equipment, and two passports bearing the name Mr. Daniel James Artus Jerez, aged 35. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica.

costa phuket3 — A police officer inspects the deceased’s room.

Items resembling crystal meth were discovered in the restroom, packaged in a plastic bag with drug equipment. There was one item of marijuana paraphernalia in the shoulder bag.

According to the medical examiner, Daniel died as a result of a throat wound. He’d been dead for perhaps two days, no more than three. A short, pointed pocket knife measuring 25 centimetres (including the handle) was discovered with blood traces at the corner of the room’s entrance door, which is at the deceased’s feet.

costa phuket1 — A pocket knife was discovered with blood traces at the corner of the room’s entrance door, which is at the deceased’s feet.

The hotel manager informed the police that Daniel had been staying at the hotel since August 30 of this year, paid the first month’s rent of 15,000 baht, paid the second month’s room rent of 42,000 baht, and had renewed the room rental contract for the third month already.

At first, he noticed that Daniel was friendly and enjoyed boxing and diving. But subsequently, he noticed that the foreigner changed to seem like a stressed-out person, slimmer, preferring to keep to himself, and drinking a lot. The hotel manager last saw him on the evening of October 26.

The police handed over the body to the medical examiner at Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Thailand Lowers Fees for Cambodian, Laotian, Myanmar, and Vietnamese Workers

By

Khaosod English

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30 October 2023, 16:48

Dried Durian6 — A staff member shows freeze-dried durian products at a fruit products company in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, Aug. 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

The Thai Ministry of Labour has issued a ministerial order setting new fees for inspections and work permits for foreign workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The fees have been reduced to promote legal employment and solve the problem of foreign workers entering the country for work purposes. Specifically, the visa fee was reduced from 2,000 baht to 500 baht and the fee for applying for a temporary stay was reduced from 1,900 baht to 500 baht.

This Ministry Order came into force on 10 November or 15 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette on 27 October. It is to take effect for four years and applies to foreign workers from these four countries who enter Thailand to work on the basis of an employment contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in connection with the recruitment of workers.

This measure aims to ensure that foreign workers are legally employed and contribute to the country’s economy by addressing problems related to illegal immigration and labour market stability.

AP23222300075590 — A worker prepare rice for sale in in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

“This ministry regulation is in line with the government’s approach to regulate the employment of foreign workers to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and support economic recovery after COVID-19. Reducing fees is a means to ease the financial burden on both workers and employers.”

According to the information of the Office of Foreign Labor Administration Department, in September, Thailand has a total of 2,593,439 foreign workers and there are still approximately 1 million workers in the process of submitting work permit applications according to the Cabinet resolution October 3, 2023.

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Thailand Disapproves of the Display of a Thai Worker’s Footage at the UN

By

Khaosod English

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30 October 2023, 16:08

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on October 29 regarding the plight of Thai nationals inhumanely killed, injured and abducted as a result of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

At a recent United Nations General Assembly meeting, a video clip was displayed of a victim, asserted to be Thai, inhumanely killed. Such horrific brutality has stirred a sense of outrage not only among Thais but undoubtedly people throughout the world.

The Ministry disapproves of the display of such footage, which does not afford the proper respect and due consideration for the deceased and his family.

israel thaiworker — Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan holds footage from Hamas’s October 7 massacre, during an emergency meeting on the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, October 26, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP)

The Ministry condemns the killing of innocent civilians, regardless of nationality, by any group, and for whatever reason.

Earlier, Kanchana Phattharachoke, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on October 27 that Thai officials at the United Nations in New York are looking into reports that Israel’s Ambassador showed the United Nations General Assembly footage of a Hamas fighter attempting to decapitate a Thai worke

She indicated that Thailand’s permanent representative to the UN will discuss with the UN Secretariat. This is a delicate situation because photographs and information about the injured, the deceased, and those kidnapped must be kept private.

fm israel — Kanchana Phattharachoke, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

According to the report of The Times of Israel, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan on October 26 played a video of a Hamas terrorist trying to decapitate a Thai worker with a garden hoe during the October 7 onslaught in southern Israel, as the envoy faced an uphill battle to convince General Assembly members not to back a Jordanian resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that makes no mention of Hamas.

On Friday, the Thai government also voted along with 119 other U.N. member states to support the U.N. resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire from all sides. However, Israel has continued to expand its military assault, including deeper into the northern Gaza Strip on October 30.

AP23290008972619 — Some members of the U.N. Security Council vote against a resolution put forth by Russia regarding the Israel-Hamas war at United Nations headquarters Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The resolution did not pass. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

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Hundreds Storm Airport in Russia in Antisemitic Riot Over Arrival of Plane From Israel

By

Associated Press

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30 October 2023, 14:53

Russia Airport Israel — People in the crowd walk shouting antisemitic slogans at an airfield of the airport in Makhachkala, Russia, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo)

MOSCOW (AP) — Hundreds of people stormed into the main airport in Russia’s Dagestan region and rushed onto the landing field, chanting antisemitic slogans and seeking passengers arriving on a flight from the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, Russian news agencies and social media reported.

Russian news reports said the crowd on Sunday surrounded the airliner, which belongs to Russian carrier Red Wings.

Authorities closed the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of the predominantly Muslim region, and police converged on the facility. Dagestan’s Ministry of Health said more than 20 people were injured, with two in critical condition. It said the injured included police officers and civilians.

Sixty people were detained in the unrest, the Interior Ministry for the federal district that includes Dagestan said Monday. It was not clear if charges had been filed against any of them.

Video on social media show some in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and others trying to overturn a police car. Antisemitic slogans can be heard being shouted and some in the crowd examined the passports of arriving passengers, apparently in an attempt to identify those who were Israeli.

In a statement Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel “expects the Russian law enforcement authorities to protect the safety of all Israeli citizens and Jews wherever they may be and to act resolutely against the rioters and against the wild incitement directed against Jews and Israelis.”

Netanyahu’s office added that the Israeli ambassador to Russia was working with Russia to keep Israelis and Jews safe.

AP23302783097026 — People in the crowd walk shouting antisemitic slogans at an airfield of the airport in Makhachkala, Russia, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo)

While voicing support for Palestinians in Gaza, the regional Dagestani government appealed to citizens to remain calm and not take part in such protests.

“We urge residents of the republic to treat the current situation in the world with understanding. Federal authorities and international organizations are making every effort to bring about a cease-fire against Gaza civilians … we urge residents of the republic not to succumb to the provocations of destructive groups and not to create panic in society,” the Dagestani government wrote on Telegram.

The Supreme Mufti of Dagestan, Sheikh Akhmad Afandi, called on residents to stop the unrest at the airport.

“You are mistaken. This issue cannot be resolved in this way. We understand and perceive your indignation very painfully. … We will solve this issue differently. Not with rallies, but appropriately. Maximum patience and calm for you,” he said in a video published to Telegram.

Dagestan Gov. Sergei Melikov promised consequences for anyone who took part in the violence.

“The actions of those who gathered at the Makhachkala airport today are a gross violation of the law! … (W)hat happened at our airport is outrageous and should receive an appropriate assessment from law enforcement agencies! And this will definitely be done!” he wrote on Telegram.

He called the protests a “knife in the backs of those who gave their lives for the security of the Motherland,” referring to the 1999 war in Dagestan and troops currently fighting in Ukraine.

Russia’s civilian aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, later reported that the airfield had been cleared, but that the airport would remain closed to incoming aircraft until Nov. 6.

Thousands Break Into Aid Warehouses In Gaza As Deaths Top 8,000 And Israel Widens Ground Offensive

By

Associated Press

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30 October 2023, 00:22

APTOPIX Israel Palestinians — Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in a morgue in Khan Younis, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. ( AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands of people broke into aid warehouses in Gaza to take flour and basic hygiene products, a U.N. agency said Sunday, in a mark of growing desperation three weeks into the war between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.

Tanks and infantry pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “second stage” in the war, which was ignited by Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. Israel also pounded the territory from air, land and sea.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the death toll among Palestinians has passed 8,000 — mostly women and minors. It’s a toll without precedent in decades of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Over 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during the initial Hamas onslaught.

Communications were restored to much of Gaza early Sunday after a bombardment described by residents as the most intense of the war knocked out most contact with the territory late Friday. The besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people were largely cut off from the world.

AP23302295308000 — Palestinians walk about buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment in the Nusseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

In other developments, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court visited the Rafah border crossing, which is Gaza’s only connection to Egypt. During the visit on Saturday, Karim Khan was briefed on the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes to the Palestinian side, according to a senior Egyptian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. Khan’s office has opened an investigation into potential war crimes by Israel in Gaza in the 2014 war.

The Israeli military said Sunday it had struck over 450 militant targets over the past 24 hours, including Hamas command centers and anti-tank missile launching positions. It said ground forces killed a number of Hamas militants as they exited a tunnel near the Erez crossing, which had been the sole pedestrian passageway into Israel before it was destroyed in the fighting.

Military officials circulated footage showing tanks and troops operating in open areas and bulldozers clearing mountains of debris. The Hamas military wing said its militants clashed with Israeli troops who entered the northwest Gaza Strip with small arms and anti-tank missiles.

The warehouse break-ins were “a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza,” said Thomas White, Gaza director for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. “People are scared, frustrated and desperate.”

UNRWA provides basic services to hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. Its schools across the territory have been transformed into packed shelters housing Palestinians displaced by the conflict. Israel has allowed only a small trickle of aid to enter from Egypt.

Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the agency, said the crowds broke into four facilities on Saturday. She said the warehouses did not contain any fuel. It has been in critically short supply since Israel cut off all shipments after the start of the war, saying Hamas would use it for military purposes.

One warehouse held 80 tons of food, the U.N. World Food Program said in a statement. The agency also said at least 40 of its trucks need to cross into Gaza daily to meet growing needs there.

Israeli authorities said Sunday that they would soon allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, though details remained unclear.

AP23301503869289 — An Israeli mobile artillery unit is seen in a position near the Israel-Gaza border, Israel, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

Elad Goren, the head of civil affairs of COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, said Israel had established a “humanitarian zone” near the southern city of Khan Younis and recommended that Palestinians flee there.

But he provided no details on the exact location or how much aid would be available. He also said Israel has opened two water lines in southern Gaza within the past week. The AP could not independently verify that either line was functioning.

Meanwhile, residents living near Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, said Israeli airstrikes overnight hit near the hospital complex and blocked many roads leading to it. Israel accuses Hamas of having a secret command post beneath the hospital but has not provided much evidence. Hamas denies the allegations.

Tens of thousands of civilians are sheltering in Shifa, which is also packed with wounded patients.

“Reaching the hospital has become increasingly difficult,” Mahmoud al-Sawah, who is sheltering in the hospital, said over the phone. “It seems they want to cut off the area.” Another Gaza City resident, Abdallah Sayed, said the Israeli bombing over the past two days was “the most violent and intense” since the war started.

The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said another Gaza City hospital received two calls from Israeli authorities on Sunday ordering it to evacuate. It said airstrikes have hit as close as 50 meters (yards) from the Al-Quds Hospital, where 14,000 people are sheltering.

Israel ordered the hospital to evacuate more than a week ago, but it and other medical facilities have refused, saying evacuation would mean death for patients on ventilators.

“We reiterate — it’s impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on the latest evacuation order or the strikes near Shifa.

Israel says most residents have heeded its orders to flee to the southern part of the besieged territory, but hundreds of thousands remain in the north, in part because Israel has also bombarded targets in so-called safe zones.

An Israeli airstrike hit a two-story house in Khan Younis on Sunday, killing at least 13 people, including 10 from one family. The bodies were brought to the nearby Nasser Hospital, according to an AP journalist at the scene.

The escalation has increased domestic pressure on Israel’s government to secure the release of some 230 hostages seized when Hamas fighters from Gaza breached Israel’s defenses and stormed into nearby towns.

Desperate family members met with Netanyahu on Saturday and expressed support for an exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Hamas says it is ready to release all hostages if Israel releases all of the thousands of Palestinians held in its prisons. Israel has dismissed the offer.

Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is determined to bring back all the hostages, and that the expanding ground operation “will help us in this mission.”

The Israeli military said it was gradually expanding its ground operations inside Gaza, while stopping short of calling it an all-out invasion. Casualties on both sides are expected to rise sharply as Israeli forces and Palestinian militants battle in dense residential areas.

When asked about Israel’s military escalation, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CNN: “I will let the Israeli Defense Forces characterize their operations and how it fits into their larger plan.” He stressed the imperative to protect civilians. On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” he said the U.S. believes “there should be humanitarian pauses to get hostages out, potentially to get aid in.”

AP23302331914019 — Palestinians wait to buy bread during the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Biden planned to speak with Netanyahu later Sunday, Sullivan told CNN.

Palestinian militants have continued firing rockets into Israel, with the constant sirens in southern Israel a reminder of the threat.

Israel says its strikes target Hamas fighters and infrastructure and that the militants operate among civilians, putting them in danger. An estimated 1,800 people remain trapped beneath the rubble, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has said it bases its estimates on distress calls it received.

More than 1.4 million people across Gaza have fled their homes, nearly half crowding into U.N. schools and shelters.

Gaza’s sole power plant shut down shortly after the start of the war. Hospitals are struggling to keep emergency generators running to operate incubators and other life-saving equipment, and UNRWA is trying to keep water pumps and bakeries running to meet essential needs.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, emergency director Dr. Mohammed Qandeel said about 20,000 civilians were sheltering there. “I brought my kids to sleep here,” said one displaced resident who gave her name only as Umm Ahmad. “I used to be afraid of my kids playing in the sand. Now their hands are dirty with the blood on the floor.”

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Opinion: Srettha Gov’t Making Right Decision to Call for Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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29 October 2023, 18:00

Israel Palestinians Photo Gallery Week 3 — Palestinians evacuate two wounded boys from rubble following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)

Over the past week, the Srettha Thavisin administration repeatedly urges Thai workers in Israel to leave the country for Thailand as soon as possible, rightly citing the risks to their life.

“Brothers and sisters, please come home. Our country is safest,” Srettha posted the message on social media on Saturday.

Nevertheless, the fact that after three weeks, only about eight thousands out of thirty thousand Thai agricultural workers have decided to return home, says a lot about economic hardship and lack of opportunity back home for these working class Thais. They would rather risk their life in Israel, despite Hamas’ inhumane attacks that killed 1,400 people in Israel, including over thirty Thais and holding at least 19 Thai hostages, rather than return home to face livelihood uncertainty.

Some have taken loan in order to fly to Israel to work as agricultural worker and receive low wages from the Israeli standard, yet much higher than in Thailand thus returning to Thailand now is almost a certain livelihood suicide. The best thing the government can do now is to continue to communicate with these workers and their families realised in no uncertain terms of the grave risks. These workers are adults and at the end of the day, they will make their own decision and we will have to respect it, however.

The government will have to try harder to create better job opportunities at home and those in charge like PM Srettha might do well to spend time with working class people to directly hear from them about the limited choice they have. A lunch or dinner with a group of workers and farmers may afford the PM a new insight as to the monumental task of uplifting the livelihood of the working class.

On Friday, the Thai government also made a tough decision related to the war in the middle east when Thailand voted along with 119 other U.N. member states to support the U.N. resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire from all sides. The decision came despite Thailand’s good relationship with Israel. It was a hard decision to make, but Thailand rightly chose to stand for peace and not war as more civilians, women, and children in Gaza are being reportedly killed and the total number rose above seven thousands, according to the Palestinian authorities.

Even if the real number is half that, twice the number of those killed by Hamas in Israel. The Thai government rightly chose peace over war, despite the loss of life of over thirty Thais and the call by some Thais for retribution. It is unclear if the Thai government’s real motive was more about not wanting to upset Thai Muslims and Arab allies in general, however.

Only 14 U.N. member states, including Israel, the U.S. and Austria have chosen war by opposing the resolution. At a time when some countries want more blood to be shed, Thailand this time has chosen to say no and the Srettha administration should be commended for making this difficult decision. As more lives will be lost in the coming days and weeks, it is hoped that Thailand will continue to play a small part for peace.

The administration should continue to explore all channels in trying to negotiate with countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to bring about the release of the hostages as well.

In the end, negotiation is inevitable in bringing about peaceful resolution and coexistence in the middle east between Israel and Palestine. By voting for the resolution, Thailand is hopefully doing its small part in sending a signal to all parties to the conflict that the time for negotiation should be sooner than later.

Chinese Man Who Enters Pattaya’s Deep Sea Is Saved By Thais

By

Khaosod English

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29 October 2023, 14:54

Thai people, including officers from Bang Lamung Police Station, Chonburi Province, thrillingly saved the life of a Chinese male tourist in the darkness of the sea at 2:30 a.m. on October 29 as the visitor walked deeper into the sea and disappeared.

The incident occurred near Krathinglai Beach, behind Chomchan Hotel, Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. When the police were notified of the incident, they contacted Sawang Boriboon Dhammasathan Rescuers, and marine rescue personnel were going to the scene to help.

The police officers questioned his relatives, who were restless on the beach, while the rescuers drove two boats about seeking this man. According to reports, the person who walked into the sea, 37-year-old Ma, had a dispute with his Chinese girlfriend. Then he stripped off his shirt, walked into the sea, and vanished for an hour.

help chinese2 — The Chinese man was put in a boat and safely returned to land.

Later, the marine rescuer’s boat located the man in a depressed state, drifting in the middle of the water, 500 metres from shore. So he was put in a boat and safely returned to land, where a group of delighted relatives awaited him.

Thai eyewitness Warakorn Ajja, 20, said he and three friends witnessed a female Chinese tourist screaming for help and pointed out that her partner had stepped into the sea. He and three friends raced down to aid but were unable to locate him, so he hurriedly called the cops for assistance.

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