World 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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The 4 Traveller Tribes of the next decade
Travel-tech outfit Amadeus has identified what it calls the four “Traveller Tribes” of the next decade – experientialists, influencers, memory makers and pioneers. According to the Nation, Singapore’s Amadeus examined emerging traits, behaviours, and preferences, to pinpoint what travellers will want a decade from now. Pioneers, more than 40% of all travellers globally and the largest tribe, live fast-paced lives…
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Suspected Jimi Sandhu hitman in Canadian jail wants to face trial in Thailand
A Canadian man accused of being a hitman in the murder of Indian gangster Jimi Sandhu in Phuket last year said he wants to face trial in Thailand despite having to potentially face the death penalty. Canadian Forces veteran Matthew Dupre is one suspect accused of murdering Sandu in February last year on behalf of a Canadian-based gang. Sandu did not…
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US YouTubers face backlash after ‘uneducated Thai & Filipina women’ slur
The American female guests of an episode from the controversial DailyRagUpCrew YouTube channel are facing a backlash for their condescending attitudes toward foreign women. The boorish women were scathing of women from the Philippines, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, whom they dismiss as “uneducated” and lacking in proficiency in the English language. The DailyRagUpCrew is a podcast show with…
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Malaysia’s PM against the use of violence to resolve southern Thailand conflicts
Malaysia’s Prime Minister is making it clear that he is against the use of violence to resolve conflict in southern Thailand. PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is meeting with Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House. He says it ‘was a session for a most serious and frank exchange’ and ‘not just an ordinary diplomatic session.’ “I came here…
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Malaysian bill seeks expanded protection against stalking
The issue of stalking has become a major concern in Malaysia, and the government has taken several steps to address it. The draft of two bills related to stalking has undergone several improvements to ensure that all aspects of legislation related to stalking are comprehensively covered. Stalking can have a severe impact on the lives of victims, particularly women, and…
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Police rescue two sex trafficked Thai women from Hong Kong flat
Police came to the rescue of two Thai women imprisoned in a Hong Kong flat after falling prey to a sex trafficking scheme. The women, aged 38 and 47 and worked as masseurs, were trapped in a Yau Ma Tei flat in Temple Street after they refused to engage in sex work. A 50 year old Hong Kong woman was…
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Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings ‘Deep South’ to top of agenda
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is due in Bangkok today to meet Thai PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Anwar’s visit to Thailand brings issues in the “Deep South” to the top of the diplomatic agenda. The provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla are an important crossroads for trade between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. China’s plans for high-speed trains from…
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Thai family grieves after daughter killed in Turkey earthquake
A Thai family is grieving after their daughter was killed in the recent massive earthquake in Turkey. The earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday, February 6 killed a young Thai woman, 29 year old Nong Dao. Nong Dao was found under the ruins of a building in Iskenderun, a city affected by the earthquake disaster. The Thai embassy in Turkey…
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Mitsubishi SpaceJet grounded to a halt
Japan has finally admitted that building the Mitsubishi SpaceJet, the nation’s first passenger aircraft, was not a good idea. The project appears to have been grounded forever. Japan abandoned plans to build its first passenger jet after years of technology setbacks and costs running out of control. According to the Guardian, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will cancel the public-private SpaceJet partnership,…
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Singaporean salon Strip in trouble over orangutan ad
Singaporean hair removal salon chain Strip has been the centre of a social media storm in China due to their use of an orangutan in an advertisement in the country. The ad for Strip’s salons in Shanghai caused anger among social media users who accused the company of shaming women who do not remove their body hair. In response to…
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Two children killed in Canada after bus driver rams into daycare centre
Two children were killed near Montreal, Canada after a bus driver rammed into a daycare centre. Police arrested the driver after suspecting him of deliberately causing the accident. One child reportedly died at the scene and another while in the ambulance. Several children were trapped under the bus when it slammed into the building in the suburb of Laval at…
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Thailand Volleyball Association says players in Turkey are safe from earthquake
The Thailand Volleyball Association released a statement yesterday saying that two volleyball players competing in Turkey are safe from the earthquake there. This was after a 7.8 magnitude quake and its powerful aftershocks toppled hospitals, apartment blocks, and buildings in Turkey. Yesterday’s statement from the Thailand Volleyball Association said the association’s president had contacted both players who were in Turkey.…
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NZ pilot taken hostage by Indonesian separatists in Papua
In the Indonesian region of Papua, separatist fighters took a New Zealand pilot hostage and set fire to a small commercial plane after it made a landing in a remote highland area. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and stated that the pilot would not be released until the Indonesian government acknowledged the independence…
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South American giants unite for joint bid to host 2030 FIFA World Cup
Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay plan to make history as they come together to submit a joint bid to host the highly-anticipated 2030 FIFA World Cup. The 2030 tournament will mark 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, making it a momentous occasion for the sport of football. At the Argentine Football Association headquarters in…
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Thailand to deploy rescue team to Turkey following earthquakes
Thailand is stepping up to help following the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation announced yesterday that it will deploy a 20-member Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to Turkey. The USAR Thailand team will consist of fully equipped experts trained in search and rescue operations at both national and international levels. The…
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Malaysian influencer solicits free kebab for ‘being pretty’
A Malaysian social media influencer is catching heat for her pompous attitude about hustling free kebabs just for being sexy. It seems that the age-old adage of “beauty gets you everything” has been proven once again, this time by TikTok user @_erynamira. Or was it? The influencer recently went viral for a video showcasing her ability to get free kebabs…
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PIL launches weekly service to link key ports in Thailand, Philippines, Singapore
Pacific International Lines (PIL) is set to revolutionize Southeast Asian shipping with its new weekly direct service, the Thailand Philippines Straits Service (TPS), launching on February 15, from Manila, Philippines. This service will bring the key ports of Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore closer together and enhance PIL’s connections in the region. A consortium of vessels with an average capacity…
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13 Thais skipped flights home from South Korea
The Korean Justice Ministry reported that 13 out of a group of 174 Thai tourists who arrived in South Korea have gone missing. The group arrived via a chartered flight at Muan Airport last Monday but 13 individuals did not show up to board their return flight on Sunday. Muan Airport is located in South Jeolla Province, on the southern…
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Gareth Bale impresses at Pebble Beach Pro-Am as Justin Rose wins for first time in 4 years
Gareth Bale left his mark on one of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments on his pro-am debut at Pebble Beach which saw Justin Rose secure his first win in four years. The 42 year old Rose, who led the pro event by two shots, hit three birdies to card a six-under round of 66, making him the winner by…
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Indian transgender couple cause a stir with pregnancy photoshoot
Ziya Paval and Zahad, a transgender couple from the southern state of Kerala, India, are making headlines and history with their pregnancy photoshoot. The couple, who were in the midst of a gender transition, decided to have a baby one-and-a-half years ago, pausing their hormone therapy on the advice of their doctors. “Trans people deserve family,” said transgender actress S…
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Death toll rising on 7.8 earthquake in Turkey
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey in the early hours of this morning has caused catastrophic destruction across both countries, leaving hundreds dead and many more injured. Some 650 people have been reported dead but the death toll is rising, with experts warning that aftershocks could continue for days or weeks. Tremors were also felt in Cyprus, Egypt,…
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Cambodia claims Louis Vuitton logo inspired by ancient Khmer art
A media outlet in Cambodia claims that the symbol on the famous Louis Vuitton logo is inspired by ancient Khmer art. Facebook page ‘Ebook Cambodia’ posted a photo of a classic Louis Vuitton handbag against an ancient Cambodian stone carving of an Apsara, a type of historical divine dancer known for exquisite costumes and captivating hand movements. The Apsara’s sarong…
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Thailand’s MICE sector boosts tourism profits
Tourism profits have thrived since Thailand reopened. For business travel, the sector known as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), is at the front of prospects for the coming year. MICE has been a major contributor to the hospitality sector in Thailand for years, with spending per trip almost double that of leisure tourists. In 2019, the international MICE market generated…
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AI chatbot steers British woman out of troubled marriage and into arms of lover
Artificial intelligence is omnipresent: it is in healthcare, enables problem-solving and, in one case, helped one unhappily married British woman to decide to divorce her husband. In maybe a world first, a woman sought the advice of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot to navigate the treacherous waters of a failing marriage and a steamy affair. Sarah, a 37 year old tech worker…
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Singapore dating disaster – What price true friendship?
A man is seeking more than US$3 million (100 million baht) from a woman who claims that she just wants to be friends, saying the Singapore dating disaster caused him trauma and damaged his “stellar” reputation. There is little Thai people enjoy more than a laughable defamation case, and the Singapore dating disaster case being brought by “Kawshigan” promises hours of…
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US military shoots down Chinese spy balloon
The US military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States yesterday according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. President Joe Biden approved the operation, which resulted in a diplomatic fallout between Washington and Beijing. The balloon was first spotted in the sky over Montana earlier in the week and…
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All aboard the sushi terror train
A new terror, more scary than even the mighty Godzilla, has struck Tokyo: the sushi terror train. In sushiten across the city, petrified diners clutch their chopsticks with fingers stiffened in fear. Something’s fishy in the nigiri. Today’s Guardian tells how Japan’s signature cuisine is at the centre of a police investigation after customers at sushi-train restaurants posted video clips…
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Thailand offers amnesty to ‘little ghosts’ in South Korea
The Thai government calls for all Thais working illegally in South Korea – known as ‘little ghosts‘ – to return to Thailand before February 28. Any little ghost who does not return to Thailand before this date will face a 30 million won fine (800,000 baht), warned the government. Today, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek revealed that the South Korean Immigration…
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Southeast Asia’s most luxurious new beach hotels
Southeast Asia‘s most luxurious new beach hotels will be at the forefront of the region’s big tourism comeback promised for 2023. Thailand expects to receive as many as 10 million visitors from China alone this year. In the Philippines – “the worst place to spend the pandemic” – tourism is up by more than the global average. Vietnam is equally…
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Olympic Games on the brink as 40 nations threaten to pull out
Poland‘s Sport and Tourism Minister, Kamil Bortniczuk reckons that up to 40 countries could boycott the next Olympic Games. This comes after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia jointly rejected an International Olympic Committee (IOC) plan to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bortniczuk said… “Considering this, I don’t think we will face tough decisions…
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