World News
World news, global politics, business, technology, and culture—stay updated with breaking stories, international trends, and major events. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for global news.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Blinken faces uphill battle amid Middle East’s shift towards China and Russia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken faces challenges during his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia this week, as the United States seeks to maintain its influence in the Middle East. Despite President Joe Biden’s commitment to staying engaged in the region, countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been forging stronger ties with China, Russia, and…
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FBI’s most damaging spy Robert Hanssen dies in maximum-security prison
Nearly 20 years ago, FBI agent Richard Garcia was assigned to a covert operation that would lead to the arrest of the most damaging spy in the history of the agency, Robert Hanssen. Hanssen’s death in prison at the age of 79 has brought back memories of the case that sent shockwaves through the intelligence community and changed the lives…
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Gonorrhoea and syphilis cases surge in England amid sexual health cuts
Record levels of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea and syphilis are being reported in England, following a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic. Health experts are urging individuals to practice safe sex and get tested if they believe they are at risk. According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were 82,592 cases of gonorrhoea in 2022, a 50%…
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North Korea orders city workers, students to farms amid escalating starvation deaths
North Korea has ordered government officials and students to help with farming in South Hwanghae Province, as the country faces a severe food shortage. It has been reported that starvation deaths in the country have tripled over the past year. Russian diplomats have also been called upon to provide “goodwill labour” on vegetable farms. Government officials and students were sent…
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Couple uncovers century-old secret well beneath kitchen floor during renovation
A couple discovered a secret well over 100 years old hidden under their kitchen floor while renovating their recently purchased home. The well, with a depth of six metres, dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria. The couple, 28 year old Emma Harrison and 27 year old Rhys Stainer from the United Kingdom, found the unexpected secret beneath the…
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Illegal alligator pet escapes and falls from China condominium
An alligator fell from the 20th floor of a condominium in Shenzhen, China, shocking residents and gaining worldwide attention. The owner had secretly kept the reptile as a pet for more than ten years, and investigators are now looking into the incident, having transported the injured alligator to a wildlife park. A shocking incident occurred in a residential building in…
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ITV boss faces MPs over workplace culture amid Schofield scandal
Parliament’s media committee chair has clarified that the upcoming questioning of ITV’s chief executive will not be a “witch hunt” against former presenter Philip Schofield. Instead, Dame Caroline Dinenage explained that the session aims to address broader questions about workplace culture and practices following Schofield’s resignation due to a relationship with a younger colleague. The Department of Media, Culture and…
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Furious wife clings to car and exposes husband’s mistress (video)
A Chinese wife shopping with her children got a shocking surprise when she caught her husband in a car with his mistress, leading to a dramatic scene in which she was dragged along the road for 20 meters. The incident has since gone viral online. The event occurred in Xuejiagou, Hebei province, China and started when the wife spotted her husband’s…
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Ageing population may slow global GDP but not per capita income
As the global population ages, concerns about the future of the economy are growing. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and above is expected to double, reaching 1.6 billion. This shift in demographics has led to fears of a potential slowdown in economic growth. However, there is evidence to suggest that if advanced economies can maintain the health…
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Snap hires ex-Google VP to boost ad targeting and measurement
Snap Inc announced yesterday that it has appointed a new senior vice president of engineering from Google, marking the latest addition to its team in a bid to boost its advertising business. Eric Young, who previously served as vice president of engineering for Alphabet Inc’s Google Cloud, will be responsible for overseeing Snap’s core infrastructure, which includes the widely-used photo…
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US senator urges declassification of report on journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged the Biden administration to declassify and release a government report on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The Al Jazeera correspondent was killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Initially, Israeli officials falsely accused Palestinian gunmen of fatally shooting Abu…
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Oklahoma approves first US publicly-funded religious school despite legal warnings
In a controversial move, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in Oklahoma has given the green light for the establishment of the first publicly-funded religious school in the United States, despite the state attorney general’s warning that such a decision is unconstitutional. The board approved the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma’s application to create the St Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter…
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Mike Pence announces 2024 presidential bid against Trump
In a move that pits him against his former boss, ex-Vice President Mike Pence has officially declared his intention to run for the Republican nomination in the 2024 US presidential race. The 63-year-old’s campaign submitted a declaration of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission, with a formal launch expected in Iowa on Wednesday. Pence, a firm social conservative and evangelical…
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Chinese research ship exits Vietnam’s EEZ after US-China talks
A Chinese research vessel and its escort, which had been operating in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea for nearly a month, left the area on June 5. The departure coincided with high-level talks between the US and China. The Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 had been sailing in Vietnam’s EEZ since May 7, often…
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Taliban crackdown causes 80% drop in Afghan opium cultivation
Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and large sticks, a Taliban anti-narcotics unit in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province is on a mission to eradicate poppy farming. In April 2022, Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada issued a decree prohibiting poppy cultivation, with violators facing crop destruction and penalties under Sharia law. The ban was imposed due to the harmful effects of opium…
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Ukrainian forces advance in Bakhmut amid fierce fighting and symbolic importance
Ukrainian forces have made advancements in the area surrounding Bakhmut, according to Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar, who referred to the eastern city as the “epicentre of hostilities.” It remains unclear whether the anticipated counter-offensive has commenced. In a separate development, Russia’s military announced that it had thwarted a new attack in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday. Bakhmut has…
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Floor tiles fright: Thai woman in Malaysian condo gets explosive surprise (video)
A Thai woman residing in a condominium in Malaysia was shocked when her floor tiles suddenly exploded, initially fearing the building was collapsing. Neighbours reassured her that this has occurred before and is common in the area due to extreme weather conditions. The woman, known as @cake.lansi on TikTok, posted a video capturing the terrifying moment when the tiles violently…
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Southern Thai tourism seeks eased regulations for Malaysian tour buses
The tourism association representing 14 southern provinces in Thailand has urged the Transport Ministry to relax regulations, allowing Malaysian tour buses to travel beyond the border province of Songkhla. This move could potentially stimulate the region’s economy through promotional campaigns, as discussed at a recent forum on tourism organised by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Jarun Kaewjeesub,…
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US diplomat’s China visit stirs controversy
The US State Department reported that senior US diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink had candid and productive discussions with Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing. Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, met with Chinese foreign ministry officials Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, alongside US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and National Security Council official Sarah Beran. The…
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Youth vaping epidemic: Paediatricians urge UK ban on disposable e-cigarettes
Youth vaping has been described as “fast becoming an epidemic among children” by paediatricians, who are urging the government to ban disposable e-cigarettes. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) voiced its concerns in response to the government consultation on e-cigarettes, stating that they “are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more…
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India’s deadliest train crash sparks criminal investigation
Families of victims of India’s deadliest train crash in recent memory gathered at a hospital in Bhubaneswar city on June 5, as railway officials called for the country’s premier criminal investigation agency to probe the accident that claimed 275 lives. Relatives of passengers who perished in the crash on Friday queued outside the eastern city’s All India Institute of Medical…
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Prince Harry’s US visa under scrutiny amid drug admissions
In an unusual legal twist, Prince Harry finds himself at the centre of a court case in the United States on the same day he is scheduled to appear in London’s High Court. Lawyers are set to appear in a federal courtroom in Washington DC, demanding the release of the Duke of Sussex’s US visa application form, which could potentially…
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Fake police car chase on Malaysian expressway sparks investigation
Malaysian authorities initiated an investigation into an expressway car chase involving three men who allegedly posed as police officers. The incident occurred on the North-South Highway near the Sedenak exit in Kulai, Johor, and was widely shared on social media. The suspects are believed to have used blue beacon lights and hand gestures to signal the driver to stop his vehicle.…
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Apple unveils Vision Pro mixed reality headset, challenging Meta
Apple has revealed its first mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, entering the market dominated by Meta and targeting users beyond gamers and technology enthusiasts. The headset is priced at US$3,499 and will be available in the United States in early 2024. The announcement marks Apple’s most significant product launch since the introduction of the Apple Watch in 2015. Apple…
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Nurse recruitment crisis: Ghana’s health system suffers as UK beckons
A growing number of nurses are leaving countries like Ghana to work in high-income nations, leading to concerns about a “brain-drain” and its impact on healthcare systems in poorer countries. In 2022, over 1,200 Ghanaian nurses joined the UK’s nursing register, as the National Health Service (NHS) increasingly depends on staff from non-EU countries to fill vacancies. Howard Catton, from…
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UK paediatricians demand ban on disposable vapes amid youth vaping surge
Paediatricians are urging a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes due to the potential harm they pose to young lungs and the environment. However, an anti-smoking advocacy group argues that such a ban would make quitting smoking more difficult for some adults and increase the illegal vape trade. UK governments are considering measures to reduce vaping among under-18s, including stricter regulations…
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CBI faces crucial vote on reform package amid misconduct scandal
Rain Newton-Smith, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), is urging members to approve a series of reforms in a critical vote that could determine the future of the embattled business lobby group. The CBI, a 59-year-old organization that has traditionally represented big business, is facing a potentially existential referendum at an extraordinary general meeting in London. Members…
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Fatal Virginia plane crash probed amid hypoxia concerns
Investigators in the United States are examining the wreckage of a small plane that veered off course and crashed in rural Virginia, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and three passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet disclosed the identities of those involved. The wreckage, described as “highly fragmented,” is scattered across a mountainous area, and it…
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Canada faces worst wildfire season on record, burning area size of Belgium
Canada is preparing for what could be its most severe wildfire season to date, with 2,214 fires already recorded this year, burning an area roughly equivalent to the size of Belgium. Forecasters predict the risk of wildfires will escalate in June and remain unusually high throughout the summer. Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal natural resources minister, described the season’s projections as…
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Pence battles Trump for 2024 GOP nomination and evangelical vote
The prospect of a 2024 presidential campaign led by Mike Pence, with his background in Congress and experience as a state governor, would have been highly promising in a conventional political landscape. As a former vice-president, Pence has had numerous high-profile roles within the administration and four years to establish connections with his party’s grassroots. Additionally, he is a methodical…
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