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.
-
Sponsored Pre-existing conditions? These expat insurance plans still have you covered
Many expats feel worried that their pre-existing health problems will stop them from getting insurance in a new country. This fear is common, especially when medical care can be expensive. But the good news is, some insurance, like the plans...
-
Touchdown in Asia: football’s growth in an unexpected place
The hint is in the name – American Football. It is a sport deeply rooted in American culture and for decades its popularity has been predominantly confined to the United States, parts of Canada and to a lesser extent, parts of Mexico. Over the course of the past two decades, however, the people in charge of the NFL have been…
-
Beijing hospital fire claims 21 lives
A devastating fire at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital has tragically claimed the lives of 21 people, according to reports on Tuesday. The blaze reportedly began just before 1pm local time at the private hospital, located in the Fengtai district of the Chinese capital. It took emergency crews about half an hour to put out the inferno, with frantic rescue efforts…
-
AI-created song removed from streaming platforms
An ingenious AI tune impersonating Canadian stars Drake and The Weeknd was removed after causing quite a commotion! “Heart On My Sleeve,” a tune created using artificial intelligence (AI) software to emulate the voices of Drake and The Weeknd, has been causing a right stir. After receiving millions of listens within a short space of time, Universal Music Group (UMG)…
-
Record high Netflix subscriptions, imminent password crackdown
Netflix Smashes Records with 232.5 Million Subscribers, and Ad-Supported Tier Going Brilliant Ace stuff from Netflix as they revealed that the number of subscribers reached a staggering 232.5 million in the first quarter, setting some serious records. Not only that, their swanky new ad-supported tier is getting a thumbs up from tv lovers. The streaming titan flexed those financial muscles…
-
New Zealand bans feral cat hunting competition, animal advocates rejoice
A feral cat hunting competition has been given the boot in New Zealand, following a flurry of public complaints. And it seems animal welfare advocates are breathing a sigh of relief at the news. Rotherham School in the country’s South Island put a spanner in the works by announcing the introduction of a novel children’s category for this year’s annual…
-
5 year old Japanese boy recalls past life as Thai police officer
A five year old Japanese boy claims he has been reincarnated stating he can recall memories from his former life as a high-ranking Thai police officer in the northern province of Lampang. He added that he chose to be reborn in Japan. The reincarnation story of the five year old Japanese boy called Naoto went viral on social media after…
-
US granted permission to expand military presence in the Philippines: What does it mean?
News the United States has been permitted by the Philippines to open four new military bases on the Southeastern Asian archipelago may have slipped under the radar of most mainstream media outlets but not this one. But what does it mean? Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos immediately went on the defensive insisting that Manila will not allow “any offensive actions” from…
-
Journalist likely abducted by Vietnamese secret agents in Bangkok, friends say
A journalist and blogger from Vietnam who fled to Thailand from political persecution in 2018 is believed to have been abducted from Bangkok last week by Vietnamese secret agents, friends say. Vietnamese authorities have confirmed that Duong Van Thai is now in their custody, according to Radio Free Asia. Duong Van Thai, also known as Thai Van Duong, became uncontactable…
-
The unmasking of Jodi-Levonne Griffin: a scammer’s deception exposed
In a world where trust and integrity are paramount, the story of Jodi-Levonne Griffin serves as a cautionary tale for businesses and consumers alike. Griffin, a 47-year-old American national born in New Zealand, has been exposed as a scammer who committed chargeback fraud after undergoing extensive plastic surgery in Istanbul, Turkey. In March 2023, Griffin, of Jacksonville, FL, traveled to…
-
G7 ministers issue urgent warning of ‘severe costs’ for supporting Russia
In a recent meeting at Karuizawa, Japan, G7 foreign ministers warned of “severe costs” for those aiding Russia in its war with Ukraine. The discussions primarily focused on China, with a united front addressing its increasing military and economic power. Although the G7 did not announce any new sanctions against Moscow over its invasion, they promised to crack down on…
-
China’s economy reaches new highs after zero-Covid restrictions
Official data released today revealed that China’s economy grew by 4.5% year-on-year in the first quarter, recovering after the conclusion of zero-Covid restrictions in late 2021. This is the first indication since 2019 of the world’s second-largest economy making progress without the strict health measures that effectively controlled the coronavirus but heavily impacted businesses and supply chains. Retail figures, which…
-
BTS’ J-Hope answers call of duty, enlists in South Korean military amid fanfare
BTS sensation J-Hope is set to commence his obligatory South Korean military service today, according to local media, becoming the second member of the immensely popular K-pop group to enlist, leading to an overwhelming show of support from fans. The spectacularly successful septet has generated a global cultural impact, selling out stadiums internationally and topping major US charts while contributing…
-
Greg Norman’s LIV rebel tour breaks barriers, sells out in Australia
Despite facing opposition from traditionalists and sparking a civil war within the sport, the rebel LIV Golf tour has been embraced by many in Australia, evidenced by tickets selling out for the nation’s inaugural event this week. Greg Norman, the tour boss, has long desired to see top-level golf become a regular feature in his home country. Australia has experienced…
-
Former Kiwi PM commends Thailand for cannabis decriminalisation
Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and a current member of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty, applauded Thailand for decriminalising cannabis. However, she also urged the country to put an end to capital punishment, particularly for drug-related offences. During the Harm Reduction International Conference 2023 (HR23), Clark commended Thailand as one of the countries that has managed…
-
Cambodia bestows citizenship to Brazilian boxer and Polish wife
The King of Cambodia bestowed citizenship to Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Teixeira for sticking up for the Khmers in the recent origins of Muay Thai dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. His Polish wife was also granted citizenship. The royal ceremony follows the World Muaythai Organisation’s (WMO) decision to ban the 30 year old mixed martiaul arts fighter Thiago Teixeira from competing.…
-
New York State celebrates Songkran
The state of New York in the US officially celebrated Songkran this year. New York State Representative Steven Raga proposed a bill to celebrate the Thai Songkran festival, the Thai Post reported. Raga wrote a letter to the leaders of the Thai and Asian communities in New York, informing them of the successful resolution to celebrate the festival. Several New…
-
International drug ring busted in Thailand: NCB seizes 100kg of narcotics, 3 arrested
A major international drug bust took place in Thailand yesterday with more than 100 kilogrammes of narcotics intercepted, and a group of suspects from three countries arrested, the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) reported. NCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkhon stated that Thai authorities received an anonymous tip-off on Tuesday about a heroin shipment heading from Thailand to Australia. Collaborating with a joint…
-
Zoos in Thailand and Vietnam collaborate to protect endangered cranes
The Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) is joining forces with the Vietnam Zoos Association to increase the Eastern Sarus Crane population in Vietnam. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration will also involve the People’s Committee of Dong Thap Province in Vietnam and the International Crane Foundation. Since 2009, ZPO has been reintroducing Eastern Sarus Cranes to Thailand by breeding…
-
12,000 refugees from Myanmar depart Tak
Around 12,000 Myanmar refugees returned to their homeland in Myawaddy this week after seeking temporary refuge on Thai territory over the past week, according to the Royal Thai Army (RTA). Maj. Gen. Sirichan Ngathong, the RTA deputy spokesperson, confirmed yesterday that the last 89 Myanmar refugees who were sheltering in tambon Mae Kasa of Mae Sot district departed on Wednesday.…
-
Beware of passport scam targetting British nationals in Thailand warns UK Foreign Office
The British Foreign Office issued a warning to both UK residents and expats in Thailand about a passport scam that is currently targetting British nationals in the kingdom. Fraudsters are attempting to capitalize on the recent strikes by government workers in the UK, which have caused delays in passport renewals, by promising to bypass the three-month waiting period for a…
-
Notorious Aussie drug lord sentenced to 20 years in jail
The notorious head of a South Australian drug-trafficking network has been sentenced to almost 20 years in jail. Robert Gordon Pollybank Gee, the alleged drug lord, was sentenced yesterday in the District Court for drug charges dating back to 2006, ABC News reported. The court heard how the 64 year old was a pivotal figure in the operation of a…
-
Airstrike massacre: Myanmar junta turns up the heat
The situation in Myanmar just escalated. Northwest Myanmar’s Sagaing area felt the full force of a junta airstrike on Tuesday, which reportedly wiped out up to 100 people – children included. Myanmar’s been a mess since the 2021 coup decided to ruin everyone’s lives and snuffed out a decade of shaky progress. The coup put an end to the civilian…
-
Thailand – Cambodia border checkpoint overwhelmed ahead of Songkran
The Poipet International Border Checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia is so busy ahead of the Songkran – or the Southeast Asian New Year – that Thai authorities have had to open a second checkpoint nearby to ease congestion. Like Thailand, Cambodia is celebrating the Buddhist New Year this weekend. In Cambodia, the holiday is called “Moha Sangkranta” and will be celebrated…
-
Thailand seeks extradition of 3 men suspected of murdering Chinese student
Thailand‘s Deputy Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn wants to see the three Chinese nationals suspected of abducting and murdering a Chinese student in Nonthaburi province, before fleeing to China, to be extradited to Thailand to face prosecution. On April 1, the body of 22 year old Thonburi University Student Jin Can was found dumped in a swampy ditch at a…
-
Brazilian teen faces death by firing squad for smuggling cocaine into Bali
Prosecutors demanded death by firing squad last week for a Brazilian teenager who was caught with 3 kilogrammes of cocaine in her luggage upon arrival in Bali, Indonesia, in January. According to Newsflash, prosecutors want to see 19 year old Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias executed by a firing squad for her crimes if found guilty, which is the maximum…
-
Young Thai-Italian man vanishes in Hong Kong
A mother from Nonthaburi, central Thailand, filed a missing person report yesterday for her Thai-Italian son who disappeared during a trip to Hong Kong last month, reports CH3. The young man, 22 year old Danilo “No” Benjakul, travelled from Thailand to Hong Kong with a friend on March 8 before disappearing without a trace, his 41 year old mother Chotika told reporters last…
-
Exiled Chinese Christians arrive safely in US from Thailand
A group of exiled Chinese Christians, who feared persecution if they were sent back to China, arrived safely in the United States. The group had been detained for overstaying their visas in Thailand, where they had been trying to arrange formal passage to the US. The group arrested included 63 members of China’s Mayflower Church. The group believed that Chinese…
-
Official says 1,000 Myanmar refugees voluntarily returned home from Thailand
After thousands of refugees fled Myanmar to Thailand due to the latest outbreak of violence, the deputy governor of Tak province, Surapol Wongsukphisarn, said yesterday that around 1,000 refugees had voluntarily returned home. This news comes after it was reported yesterday morning that thousands of people seeking refuge in Tak’s Mae Sot and Mae Ramat districts. The heavy fighting in…
-
China finally reveals results of Wuhan wet market Covid-19 investigation
China finally answered calls to reveal and publish an analysis of samples taken from animals at a wet market in Wuhan linked to the outbreak of Covid-19 and guess what? Definitive proof of how the outbreak started still remains inconclusive. The Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market in Wuhan, China has been a key focus in the search for the origin of Covid…
-
Tour helicopter crash near Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay kills 5
A helicopter carrying four tourists on a sightseeing trip crashed in the Ha Long Bay area of northeast Vietnam on Wednesday evening. The body of the fifth and final victim of the crash was found this morning. The Bell-505 helicopter took off from Tuan Chau Island at 4.56pm local time and lost contact with air traffic control at 5.15pm, crashing…
Broke? Find employment in Southeast Asia with JobCute Thailand and SmartJob Indonesia. Rich? Invest in real estate across Asia with FazWaz Property Group or get out on a yacht anywhere with Boatcrowd. Even book medical procedures worldwide with MyMediTravel, all powered by DB Ventures.