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Sponsored Best islands to visit in Thailand before peak tourism season hits
The Thaiger key takeaways November is the sweet spot. The month offers sunshine without the crowds or inflated prices. The Andaman Sea and Eastern Gulf are dry and peaceful, while the Southern Gulf is still rainy. ravel insurance like SafetyWing’s...
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Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince discuss stabilising relations and human rights
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an effort to strengthen relations between the two countries after years of increasing disagreements on various issues, including human rights, Iran, regional security, and oil prices. The talks took place during Blinken’s diplomatic mission to the oil-rich kingdom. Following the meeting, US State…
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Asia-Pacific stocks rise on China stimulus hopes and Wall Street gains
Asian-Pacific stock markets experienced gains on Wednesday, as expectations for economic stimulus from China and Wall Street’s overnight gains boosted investor sentiment. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose by 0.7% in the morning, with China’s benchmark equity index increasing by 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng adding 1.2%. This comes after China reportedly requested major banks…
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Malaysia wins Paris court case against $15bn colonial-era land deal
The Malaysian government has achieved a significant victory in a Paris court, which upheld their challenge against enforcing a partial award of US$15 billion to the heirs of a former sultan in an arbitration case concerning a colonial-era land deal. This decision implies that the final award will be annulled, and the descendants’ attempts to seize Malaysian assets will come…
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China’s May exports plunge as domestic consumption falters
China experienced a sharp decline in exports in May, with a 7.5% year-on-year drop, marking the largest decrease since January. This slump in exports is attributed to weakened demand for Chinese goods, while imports also fell by 4.5%. The decline in exports has led to increased pressure on the government to boost domestic consumption for the remainder of the year,…
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Facebook foul play: Cyber-criminal floods Thai government pages with explicit content
An unidentified cyber-criminal hacked several official Facebook pages belonging to Thai government agencies and flooded them with explicit videos and pictures. The Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, admitted that he could not solve the issue in time and urged the new government to take action. One of the affected pages, the Bangkok Provincial Education Office,…
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Pita Limjaroenrat’s PM bid threatened by iTV share controversy
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP), is facing a legal challenge regarding his ownership of shares in iTV, an independent broadcaster. Although he has transferred these shares to his relatives, legal expert Jade Donavanik has argued that Pita’s eligibility for the role of prime minister still hangs in the balance. The issue revolves around whether iTV…
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Mystery surrounds drowning of missing 2 month old found under home
A 19 year old mother reported her 2 month old child missing before the baby was found drowned under the house. Police are investigating how the child fell as there was no apparent gap in the sleeping area for the baby to have fallen through. Veena (surname withheld), 19, informed the Pak Kret Police that her 2 month old son…
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Pattaya Beach vendors petition city to reverse parking ban impacting business
Pattaya Beach vendors have united in requesting the city of Pattaya to revoke a parking ban imposed on the beachside of Pattaya Beach in early March. The vendors, led by Wirawit Charoenrit Taweechok, claim that the ban has significantly impacted their businesses. They recently met with Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai to discuss their concerns and issues with the order.…
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Blinken likely to reschedule China visit amid easing tensions
A rescheduled visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated in the coming weeks, as both nations attempt to ease tensions. Blinken’s initial trip in February was cancelled after the US detected and subsequently shot down a Chinese espionage balloon over its territory. However, recent talks in Beijing involving senior US officials, including Daniel Kritenbrink, the…
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Thief smashes donation box at Chiang Mai temple, gets caught and confesses
Chiang Mai police have arrested a 24 year old Myanmar national, accused of stealing a donation box from Chedi Luang Worawihan temple and other thefts in the area. The suspect confessed to the crimes after being detained for a separate incident involving stolen motorcycles. Investigating the case, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuwanat Duangdi, the superintendent for Chiang Mai’s local police, reported…
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Thailand’s TPIPP allocates 14 billion baht to phase out coal by 2026
TPI Polene Power Plc (TPIPP), the leading waste-to-energy project developer and operator in Thailand, is set to continue its five-year capital expenditure plan of 14 billion baht. The plan, which began last year, aims to replace coal usage with renewable energy sources and increase the company’s power generation capacity. TPIPP has earmarked 3 billion baht for projects focused on reducing…
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Richmond shooting: Two dead, five injured after high school graduation
A tragic shooting incident unfolded in Richmond, Virginia, as a man opened fire on a crowd following a high school graduation ceremony, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others. The attack took place on Tuesday near a theatre adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, where the graduation had been held. Police apprehended a 19-year-old…
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Weight-loss jabs offered by GPs may ease NHS obesity crisis
Weight-loss injections may soon be offered to some patients by GPs in England as a means to combat obesity-related illnesses and alleviate pressure on hospitals. The drug Wegovy has been approved for use within the NHS after studies indicated that users could lose over 10% of their body weight. Wegovy works by suppressing appetite, causing users to feel full and…
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Desperate search: Loved ones cross borders to find missing Chinese woman
Concerned family members and friends of the Chinese woman who went missing last week on the Thai-Myanmar border arrived in Thailand to try and find her. Two videos featuring Chong Sumyee, also known as Angie, have emerged, providing information about her whereabouts. The mother, brother, and friends of Angie arrived in Chiang Mai province yesterday, June 6. Angie’s mother, 51…
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Phuket orders small boats to stay ashore until Saturday amid heavy weather
In Phuket, a ban has been issued on boats shorter than 10 metres leaving the shore until Saturday, June 10, due to heavy weather conditions. The order, issued by Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchaphong Pranit, applies to all sailing and motor yachts up to 32.8 feet. The ban comes as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in the maritime industry,…
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Ex-official’s wife testifies in US trial over China’s Operation Fox Hunt
A former Chinese official and his wife, who had relocated to the United States and kept their address private, experienced a disturbing encounter when two strangers attempted to enter their New Jersey home. The wife later discovered a threatening note on their doorstep, stating that if her husband returned to China and served ten years in prison, their family would…
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AI boom offers productivity boost, defying dotcom bubble fears
Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) since Microsoft’s investment in ChatGPT back in January this year, the buzz in the markets is far from the excesses of the dot-com bubble. The recent rise in Nvidia’s market capitalisation, reaching US$1 trillion, has raised some eyebrows. However, the AI boom has a more solid foundation. The decline in Big Tech stocks…
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SEC seeks to freeze Binance US assets amid web of deception claims
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought a temporary restraining order from a federal court to freeze the US assets of leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance. This development follows the recent lawsuit filed by US regulators against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, accusing them of operating a “web of deception.” The pressure on the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange…
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EU mulls mandatory ban on high-risk 5G firms like Huawei
The European Union is contemplating a compulsory prohibition on member states utilising firms that may present a security threat in their 5G networks, which includes China’s Huawei Technologies, according to the Financial Times. This decision is a reaction to growing apprehensions in Brussels regarding specific national governments postponing measures on the issue, as reported by officials. In 2020, the EU…
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Millionaire takes China’s gaokao exam for 27th time, seeking university dream
In a sea of young students taking China’s rigorous “gaokao” college entrance exam on June 7, 56-year-old Liang Shi stands out as a grey-haired, self-made millionaire attempting the test for the 27th time. Liang has come a long way from working in a factory to founding a thriving construction materials business, but one ambition remains unfulfilled: achieving a high enough…
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Thailand aims for 300k digital volunteers to boost village tech accessibility
A collaboration agreement between the Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission (ONDE) and nine other agencies was signed yesterday, aiming to increase the number of digital volunteers in Thailand to 300,000 by 2024. The primary goal is to enhance the accessibility and comprehension of digital technology among villagers across the country. The plan involves establishing a digital…
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Boeing halts 787 Dreamliner deliveries again due to manufacturing issue
Boeing announced on June 6 that the delivery of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft has once again been delayed due to a manufacturing issue. This is the latest in a series of setbacks that have affected the two-aisle jet. The company stated that it is currently inspecting fittings on the horizontal stabiliser, a part of the tail, for a “nonconforming condition.”…
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American transwoman marries Thai woman, fuelling hopes for future of same sex marriage (video)
In a heartwarming story that transcended stereotypes, an American transwoman married her Thai partner in Thailand on Sunday, June 4. They hope their same-sex union will be accepted in the country. The touching tale gained widespread attention after a popular Thai makeup artist, known as Wave Make Up on TikTok, shared videos of the couple, introducing them to the online…
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Heavy rainfall to hit 54 provinces, Bangkok at risk of flash floods
Heavy rainfall and floods are expected to hit 54 provinces in Thailand, with a 70% chance of precipitation across the country, according to the Meteorological Department. Bangkok could face flash floods, while increased wave heights are predicted for the Andaman Sea today. The Meteorological Department’s 24-hour forecast predicts heavy rainfall and thunderstorms due to a trough of a low-pressure area…
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Drunk driver hits motorcyclist, injures pedestrian before crash in Bangkok
A motorcyclist tragically lost her life when she was struck by a drunken pickup truck driver, who then went on to hit another woman. The driver, a 57 year old man, claimed he had a blackout caused by pre-existing health problems. The collision occurred yesterday at approximately 9pm, in the vicinity of the entrance to Soi Krungthep Kreetha 45, Thap…
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Notorious Taipei noodle shop employee caught wringing dirty rag into soup pot
A video showing an employee at a famous beef noodle shop in Taipei, Taiwan squeezing dirty rag into a soup pot has sparked outrage online. The longer video potentially contradicts the owner’s insistence that they did not use the water in preparing dishes for customers. According to the report, a delivery driver who witnessed the incident on June 4 while…
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Clop gang ultimatum to MOVEit hack victims: email before 14 June or data leaked
A cybercrime gang believed to be operating from Russia has issued a deadline to victims of a global hacking attack, warning that stolen data will be published if they fail to contact the group by June 14. The Clop group posted the notice on the dark web, targeting organisations affected by the MOVEit hack. Over 100,000 employees at the BBC,…
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US LGBTQ group declares national emergency amid record anti-LGBTQ legislation
The United States is witnessing a surge in legislation targeting the LGBTQ community, prompting the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to declare its first-ever national state of emergency. The HRC reported that over 70 bills it deems anti-LGBTQ were passed in statehouses during this legislative session, marking a significant increase from last year’s record. The organization identified a total of 525…
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Prince Harry accuses Mirror Group of illegal info gathering in court
In an ongoing legal battle, Prince Harry has attended the High Court, accusing Mirror Group Newspapers of illegally obtaining information for stories about him. Sky News provided a transcription of the Duke of Sussex’s statements and recreated his court appearance using an actor. Here are five key moments from Harry’s first day in court. Questioning the source of information Prince…
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Quebec wildfires cause hazy skies and poor air quality in Ontario and US
Hazy skies and poor air quality have been reported in parts of Ontario and the northeastern United States due to smoke from over 150 wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Quebec. Environment Canada issued a “special air quality” statement for Ottawa and Toronto, warning of high levels of air pollution caused by smoke from the forest fires. The smoke…
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