Israel-Hamas war will have greater impacts than war in Ukraine - Thai scholar

23 Sept 05:00 Key points summarised by AI

The Israel-Hamas conflict is projected to have more severe and extensive global impacts than the Ukraine war, primarily due to the potential involvement of Western and Arab countries and the Middle East's critical 70% share of global oil supply.
Escalation could drive global crude oil prices to US$100 per barrel, particularly if nations like Iran, Qatar, the US, and UK become directly involved, leading to increased shipping costs and war risk surcharges on routes like the Suez Canal and Straits of Hormuz.
Thailand faces significant economic repercussions, with potential 10-15% declines in exports to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel (over US$10 billion annually), and a broader regional escalation could shrink overall Thai exports by 1.7%.
Experts anticipate the conflict may be prolonged, even if Israel occupies Gaza, with continued participation from groups like Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.