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 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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AirAsia cabin crew rock out: Performs Lisa’s Rockstar on flight (video)
In a dazzling twist on standard in-flight service, AirAsia’s Funteam cabin crew at Kuala Lumpur turned a routine flight into a concert extravaganza. Mid-journey, they burst into a high-energy performance of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK’s Lisa’s chart-topping hit Rockstar, followed by a rousing rendition of Lady Gaga’s Applause. “Passengers were thrilled by the surprise entertainment.” Social media erupted with praise…
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£5m UK cannabis bust leaves Thai holidaymakers feeling high and dry
In a dramatic bust at Birmingham Airport in the UK, a staggering 5 million pounds (around 225 million baht) worth of cannabis was uncovered in just one day, as Thai holidaymakers flooded the terminal. A whopping 510 kilogrammes of the drug were found stashed in 28 suitcases on August 9, leading to the arrest of 11 British travellers who had…
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Dolphins harass tourists in Japan, 48 attacked in Fukui Prefecture
Japan was left stunned as reports surfaced of dolphins sexually harassing humans. At least 48 people have been sexually assaulted by dolphins, with the incidents taking place at a beach in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, last week. Reports from NHK Japan and the British tabloid Daily Star indicate that several tourists were violently attacked by dolphins while swimming. Among the victims…
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Thieves strike twice on VietJet Air flights to Hong Kong
An alarming crime wave has hit Hong Kong’s skies as two separate thefts from flights arriving from Vietnam made headlines. In the latest incident, a 37 year old mainland Chinese traveller reported his credit card stolen and used for fraudulent transactions totalling over 36,000 Hong Kong dollars (around 157,000 baht) while on board VietJet Air 966. The flight landed in Hong…
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Saudia adds dreamliner flights to Phuket
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is set to make your travel dreams come true with its latest addition to the flight network. The airline confirmed that from December 2 it will launch flights to the exotic island of Phuket, making it the second Thai city in its roster after Bangkok. This move is part of Saudia’s strategic…
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Woman’s six-hour shower reveals 20-year struggle with OCD
A family became deeply concerned when a 60 year old Chinese woman spent six continuous hours in the shower without eating. Upon consulting a doctor, it was revealed that the woman, Wang, has been suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for over 20 years. Wang’s compulsive behaviour of prolonged bathing, often lasting several hours, has been a source of distress for…
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Kazakhstan airline’s new route to Phuket takes off in October
Kazakhstan airline Air Astana announced the launch of direct flights from Astana to Phuket, with the first flight taking off on October 26. This exciting new route adds to Air Astana’s existing Almaty-Phuket service, which is also getting a boost with daily flights starting the same day. Travellers from Astana can now look forward to jetting off to Phuket three…
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Thai Air Force to announce new fighter jet choice this week
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is set to reveal its choice for a new fighter jet model by the end of the week, as announced by ACM Panpakdee Pattanakul. The decision aims to modernise the ageing fleet. Currently, the RTAF is considering the Swedish-made Gripen E-model and the US-made F-16 Block 70 jets. Saab AB, the manufacturer of the…
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Thai airlines gear up for massive fleet expansions
Thailand’s airlines are preparing for a massive fleet expansion as the global aviation industry rebounds at full throttle after the Covid-19 pandemic. With air travel poised to double by 2043, as predicted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Thai carriers are seizing the opportunity to dominate the skies. Thai Airways International (THAI), the country’s national airline, is leading the…
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Plane to see: Suspicions surround Chachoengsao plane crash
Details surrounding the small plane crash in Chachoengsao have begun to emerge, revealing several suspicious factors. It was reported that the weather was fair on the day of the incident, with no rain clouds and the captain was very experienced. It took some 11 hours for rescue teams to search for the bodies of all those onboard a small plane…
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Tomiko Itoka is the ‘top banana’ at 116 years old
The title of the world’s oldest person has now peeled away to Japanese grandmother Tomiko Itoka, who, at 116, has taken over from Maria Branyas, who passed away at 117 on August 20. Tomiko was notified of her new status on August 21 and responded with a warm “thank you,” proving she’s as sweet as her secret to longevity. So,…
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Nine confirmed dead in Chachoengsao plane crash (video)
A small plane carrying nine people, including passengers and crew, tragically crashed just 10 minutes after takeoff in Chachoengsao province yesterday. All on board are dead. The harrowing incident occurred yesterday afternoon, August 22, when officials began the grim task of recovering the wreckage in Moo 6, Ban Khao Din, Bang Pakong district. Initially, the bodies of the passengers were…
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Beloved gay penguin dies in Sydney (video)
In a tearful farewell, Sphen, the gentoo penguin who captivated the world as part of a famous same-sex power couple, has died at the age of 11. Sphen and his partner, Magic, shot to global fame in 2018 after falling in love at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and later adopting and raising two chicks. Their heartwarming story touched millions and…
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Thailand’s tourism boom tainted by zero-dollar tours
Thailand’s booming tourism sector is thriving under a new visa-free policy, attracting millions of foreign tourists. Yet, while Chinese visitors top the list, concerns are mounting over the resurgence of Chinese zero-dollar tours, which could be draining potential revenue from the Thai economy. From January 1 to August 18, Thailand welcomed a staggering 22,474,172 international tourists, who pumped 1.05 trillion…
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Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens
Travellers are one step closer to an epic train journey from Bangkok to Beijing as a new railway bridge over the Mekong River has opened, linking Thailand and Laos by rail for the first time. This milestone, completed last month, leaves just a few dozen miles of a trackless gap before the route can finally reach China. With the launch…
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Suvarnabhumi Airport gears up for third runway trials
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is pulling out all the stops to ensure its much-anticipated third runway is ready for prime time later this year. With support from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the Bangkok airport conducted extensive trial operations to guarantee the runway’s readiness to handle a significant increase in air traffic. To test every aspect of the new runway,…
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Thailand’s ‘Nihao Month’ set to woo Chinese tourists
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to lure Chinese tourists back in droves with the launch of its ambitious Nihao Month campaign. With a staggering target of attracting 8 million Chinese visitors by the end of the year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is betting big on a series of irresistible promotions and star-studded events. Since the beginning…
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Disney drops attempt to dismiss Thai doctor’s death lawsuit
Disney dropped its attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the husband of a Thai doctor who died from a severe food allergy at a Disney restaurant in Florida, following controversy over Disney’s initial reliance on its Disney+ streaming service terms to argue the case. The 42 year old Thai doctor, Kanokporn Tangsuan, died from an allergic reaction after a…
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Thai AirAsia X launches new Sydney-Bangkok route
Thai AirAsia X announces new direct flights between Sydney and Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Beginning December 2, these flights will operate six times a week, offering an attractive blend of convenience and affordability. With one-way fares starting at just 333 Australian dollars (around 7,600 baht), passengers can now book between August 19 and 25, for travel beginning in December.…
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Russian airline Aeroflot relaunches flights to Thailand and India
Russian airline Aeroflot resumes direct flights to popular holiday destinations in Thailand, India, and Seychelles. This news will thrill jet-setters and sun-seekers looking to escape the chill. Starting September 13, Aeroflot will kick off its twice-weekly flights from Yekaterinburg’s Koltsovo Airport to Phuket. These flights, operating every Monday and Friday, will be followed by a new route from Yekaterinburg to…
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Korean jet deal with Thailand boosts defence ties
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) inked a pivotal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Thai Aviation Industries (TAI). This landmark agreement aims to supercharge the operational rate and support capabilities of the T-50TH aircraft, a key asset in Thailand’s air defence arsenal. This MOU marks a significant milestone in the defence partnership between South Korea and Thailand, with both nations stepping up…
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Phuket or leave it: Flooded roads sink travel plans to island airport
Flooding across Phuket is wreaking havoc on travellers bound for the island’s international airport, as waterlogged roads spark major disruptions. Local officials are urging passengers to rethink their travel plans, advising them to allow an extra three to four hours to reach the airport in these treacherous conditions. Phuket International Airport officials issued a public warning, strongly recommending the additional…
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Thai Vietjet takes off: Targets nearly 8 million passengers this year
Low-cost airline Thai Vietjet aims to attract nearly eight million passengers this year by enhancing aircraft utilisation and increasing flights on existing routes, with plans to introduce new Boeing 737 Max jets next year. Thai Vietjet Chief Executive Woranate Laprabang highlighted that the visa-free scheme has significantly boosted demand on international routes, particularly to China. The airline operates flights to over…
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Terminal confusion: Trang Airport’s billion-baht project still up in the air
Residents demanded clarification after the new 1.2 billion baht passenger terminal at Trang International Airport in southern Thailand missed its opening deadline and remains unfinished and in disrepair. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) received a complaint from locals in the southern province of Trang, stating that the unfinished airport caused them to lose potential opportunities from the tourism industry. Many…
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Soaring high: Thai AirAsia’s stunning turnaround in 2024
Asia Aviation (AAV), the proud sole shareholder of Thai AirAsia, unleashed its operational results for the first half of 2024, boasting an impressive financial recovery. The figures are staggering, with revenue from sales and services soaring to 25,279 million baht, marking a 32% year-on-year increase. AAV’s profit from core operations skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping 1,015%, reaching 1,950 million baht from…
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AirAsia launches new route from Bangkok to Kathmandu
AirAsia is set to soar into the skies with its latest addition to the South Asian route, offering four weekly flights between Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport and Kathmandu, Nepal. The service, launching on October 2, will utilise the A320neo aircraft, renowned for its efficiency and comfort. The airline is rolling out this exciting route with a tantalising promotional fare,…
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Mercedes-Benz shifts into high gear with ByteDance partnership
Mercedes-Benz is revving up its tech game by teaming up with ByteDance’s cloud division, Volcano Engine, to explore cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), generative artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. This turbocharged collaboration aims to supercharge Mercedes-Benz’s in-car systems in China with ByteDance‘s advanced LLM technology, giving their virtual assistants a full-throttle upgrade. According to both companies, ByteDance’s LLMs will…
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Mother pays for daughter’s haircutting antics in Chinese salon
A mother in China faced an unexpected expense when her young daughter cut another customer’s hair at a hair salon, resulting in a hefty compensation fee. The incident occurred at a hair salon in Guangdong province, China. A mother brought her young daughter along to the salon and while the mother was waiting for her turn, chaos suddenly erupted. Her…
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Disney fights Thai doctor’s death lawsuit, citing husband’s agreement
Multinational conglomerate Walt Disney dismissed a lawsuit filed by the husband of a Thai doctor who died after dining at a Disney restaurant in Florida, claiming that her husband agreed to settle any disputes with Disney outside of court when he signed up for the Disney+ streaming service. The Thai doctor, 42 year old Kanokporn Tangsuan, died following a severe…
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Man’s severe pain caused by swallowed plastic fork in intestines
A man suffering from severe abdominal pain for three months, prompting his family to prepare for his funeral, was found to have a surprising cause for his ailment. An unusual discovery in his intestines revealed a plastic fork. In Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, a middle-aged man named Guan sought medical treatment after enduring three months of relentless abdominal pain. A…
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