World News
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Sponsored Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Tesla to embrace advertising, Musk hints at unique approach
Elon Musk has announced plans for Tesla Inc to venture into traditional advertising, marking a significant shift for the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer that has previously relied on its CEO’s star power and customer enthusiasm. Speaking at the company’s annual meeting, Musk stated that Tesla would “try out a little advertising and see how it goes.” The news led to…
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FTX founder eyes Supreme Court ruling in bid to dismiss fraud charges
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is seeking to use a recent Supreme Court ruling to strengthen his defence against fraud charges related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange. However, legal experts have suggested that the chances of having the charges dismissed remain low. Bankman-Fried requested on May 8 that most of the charges against him be dropped, arguing that some…
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Buckingham Palace gives no comment on Meghan and Harry’s NYC car chase
Buckingham Palace did not comment on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s reported involvement in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York City on Tuesday night. People magazine reached out to the palace for a statement yesterday, but no comment was provided. The palace usually does not comment on matters involving 38 year old Prince Harry, and 41 year old Meghan,…
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Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok over Chinese surveillance fears
Montana becomes the first US state to ban the Chinese-owned TikTok app, with Governor Greg Gianforte signing legislation that prohibits Google and Apple’s app stores from offering it within the state’s borders. The ban is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, has faced increasing calls for a nationwide ban due…
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Japan ramps up G7 security after PM attack and Abe assassination
Japan is ramping up security measures for the G7 summit in Hiroshima, deploying around 24,000 security personnel to ensure the safety of the event. The increased security comes in the wake of an attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last month and the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Patrolling police have been visible in the city’s…
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Thaksin hails MFP’s social media mastery, urges generals to retire
Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, praised the Move Forward Party (MFP) for their recent election victory, attributing their success to their mastery of social media and user-generated content (UGC). Thaksin, who remains an influential figure in Thai politics despite his self-imposed exile, highlighted the party’s ability to gain votes organically without resorting to big-spending campaigns or vote-buying. In a…
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Biden and McCarthy near deal to avoid US debt default
United States President Joe Biden and leading congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy moved closer to striking a deal to avert the impending US debt default yesterday. Despite the two sides remaining far apart on an agreement to increase the debt ceiling, McCarthy expressed optimism that a deal could be reached by the end of the week. While Democrats were less positive…
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Blood test after early miscarriage could reveal cause and aid prevention
A groundbreaking Danish study has revealed that a blood test taken after a miscarriage as early as the fifth week of pregnancy can help determine the cause and potentially lead to preventative treatments. One in 10 women experience pregnancy loss, a number that increases in countries where pregnancies occur later in a woman’s childbearing years. Henriette Svarre Nielsen, a Danish…
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Cyclone Mocha death toll rises to 81 in Myanmar, villagers await aid
Cyclone Mocha claimed at least 81 lives in Myanmar, with local leaders and state media warning that the death toll could rise further. The cyclone hit the country on Sunday, bringing winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour, destroying power pylons and fishing boats. At least 46 people died in the Rakhine state villages of Bu Ma and Khaung…
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Climate activists disrupt shareholder meetings, target corporate carbon footprints
Climate activists have been ramping up pressure on corporations during shareholder meetings, using various tactics to demand action on carbon emissions and climate change. These tactics range from asking numerous questions to more creative approaches, such as singing or even throwing cake at executives. Volkswagen’s recent shareholder meeting became a focal point for activists, with a cake thrown at supervisory…
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Hiroshima’s burnt origami cranes transform into peace-promoting pottery
In a hillside temple on Miyajima island, facing Hiroshima, a monk in saffron robes blows a conch and begins chanting prayers as thousands of origami cranes donated to Hiroshima are burned. For the past decade, the Daisho-in Buddhist temple has held ritual burnings of the millions of origami cranes sent to Hiroshima each year, honouring the sentiments folded into each…
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China’s new home prices rise for 4th month, but pace slows
China‘s housing market experienced a fourth consecutive month of growth in April, albeit at a slightly reduced pace, as the government‘s efforts to stabilise the sector continue to boost sentiment following the country’s rapid recovery from Covid-19 restrictions. New home prices in April increased by 0.4% month-on-month, compared to a 0.5% rise in March, based on Reuters calculations using data…
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Singapore’s key exports drop for seventh month amid electronics slump
Singapore‘s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) suffered a decline for the seventh consecutive month, with a 9.8% drop in April compared to the same month last year. This is according to data from Enterprise Singapore, which also revealed an 8.3% contraction in March. The decline in April was worse than the 9.4% drop predicted by a Reuters poll. The slump in…
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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un approves military spy satellite plan
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly inspected the nation’s first military spy satellite and given the go-ahead for its future action plan, according to state media. Kim met with the Non-permanent Satellite Launch Preparatory Committee and viewed the satellite, following his announcement a month ago that the satellite’s construction was completed and ready for launch. The development of the military…
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Brigitte Macron relative attacked near family’s chocolate shop
In an apparent politically motivated attack, a family member of French first lady Brigitte Macron was assaulted outside the family’s chocolate shop in Amiens, northern France. Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was returning to his apartment above the renowned Trogneux chocolate shop when he was surrounded by anti-government protesters who insulted the president, his wife, and their family before physically attacking him. Jean-Alexandre…
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Tesla to test traditional advertising, Elon Musk reveals irony
In a surprising move, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced today that the electric vehicle manufacturer would experiment with advertising to evaluate its effectiveness. This decision comes as a notable shift for Musk, who has previously shunned traditional advertising methods for Tesla. Interestingly, Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter, a platform heavily reliant on advertising, may have influenced his change of heart.…
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Council of Europe gathers to discuss future prosecution of Russian leaders
A year after Russia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe (CoE) due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the leaders of the 46-nation human rights body convened in Iceland to take preliminary steps toward the potential prosecution of Russian leaders. The summit’s main focus was the creation of a “register of damages” to document evidence for use in a special…
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American drunk driver tried to switch seats with dog to dodge arrest
In some rather embarrassing news, an American drunk driver in Colorado tried to switch seats with his dog who was in the passenger seat, to dodge arrest as police approached his car. Springfield Police wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, the man had been driving 52 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone near 7th and Main Street. The…
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Beijing woman catches subway harasser, awaits police while holding him
A woman in Beijing bravely stood up against a man who sexually harassed her on a subway train, grabbing his collar and taking him to the police herself. The South China Morning Post reported that the incident took place on May 9 at the East Sihui subway station in the Chinese capital. Initially, the woman tried to evade the man,…
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Malaysia braced for heatwave until September, no emergency declared yet
Despite the sweltering weather in Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the government has no immediate plans to declare the heatwave an emergency. However, he added that the government is prepared to do so if necessary. This decision was made after a National Disaster Management Committee meeting, which Ahmad Zahid chaired. “For now, we don’t think there…
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China’s April economic data falls short amid low demand, high youth unemployment
Official figures have revealed that China’s economic data for April failed to meet expectations, with low demand and high youth unemployment contributing to an uneven recovery after the easing of strict Covid-19 regulations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), retail sales, a crucial gauge of domestic consumer activity, grew by 18.4% year-on-year. However, this fell short of the…
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CIA seeks Russian whistleblowers with emotional Telegram video
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ramped up its efforts to encourage Russians to disclose their country’s secrets, releasing a poignant video on Telegram targeting individuals dissatisfied with President Vladimir Putin‘s regime. The brief video portrays a Russian bureaucrat and a woman at home with a child, both seemingly discontent with their lives, and asks if this is what they had…
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Taiwan permits joint adoption for same-sex couples in marriage equality milestone
Taiwan‘s parliament approved an amendment permitting same-sex couples to adopt children jointly, a significant milestone for marriage equality in the country. Taiwan has been a leader in Asia’s growing LGBTQ+ rights movement since becoming the first nation in the region to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019. However, same-sex couples still faced limitations, such as being unable to adopt children together.…
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Dresden heist verdicts due: Historic jewels’ fate hangs in balance
A German court is set to announce verdicts for six members of a criminal gang accused of stealing priceless 18th-century jewels from Dresden’s Green Vault museum in a heist dubbed the biggest in modern history by German media. The theft, which occurred in November 2019, saw the criminals make off with artefacts worth over US$123 million. The trial, which began…
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Vietnam PM approves $134.7bn power plan, unlocking G7 green-transition funds
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved a power development plan requiring US$134.7 billion of funding for new power plants and grids, a move that could potentially unlock billions of dollars in foreign investment. The plan, known as PDP8, aims to ensure energy security for the Southeast Asian country while transitioning from its current heavy reliance on coal to…
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Argentina hikes interest rate to 97% amid soaring inflation and election
Argentina’s central bank has raised its base interest rate by six points to 97% to combat soaring inflation, which reached nearly 109% year-on-year in April. This marks the second increase in less than a month, as the government plans to announce a series of measures to address the economic crisis ahead of the General Election in October. The central bank…
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The Weeknd hints at shedding stage name, embracing Abel Tesfaye identity
Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye, widely known as The Weeknd, seems to be taking steps to revert to his birth name after achieving worldwide fame under his stage name reported Bangkok Post. The artist recently changed his display name on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram, although his handles on both sites remained @theweeknd. This change comes after Tesfaye’s remarks in…
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Environmental DNA tracking raises privacy, surveillance concerns
Scientists have recently discovered that environmental DNA (eDNA) could potentially be used to track individuals or even entire ethnic groups, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance. The technique, which can gather a wealth of information from small samples of genetic material, has potential applications in medicine, science, and even criminal investigations. However, the ethical implications of using eDNA in this…
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China prioritizes education, tech for skilled population and moderate fertility
China is emphasizing the importance of education, science, and technology in developing a skilled population, as the state-backed People’s Daily reported that the country aims for a “moderate fertility” level to support economic growth. The Chinese government has been concerned about the nation’s first population decline in six decades and its rapid ageing, prompting urgent measures to raise the birth…
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Massachusetts man arrested for spying on Chinese dissidents for Beijing
A Massachusetts resident Litang Liang has been detained for allegedly supplying information on Chinese dissidents in the United States to the Chinese government, according to the Justice Department. Liang was arrested on charges of acting as an agent for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without informing US authorities reports Channel News Asia. The news of the 63 year old’s…
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