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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Second wave of Coronavirus hits South Korea
Despite reporting relatively low cases, health officials from South Korea claim they are in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19. Although the nation was previously referred to as a success story for Covid-19, they now say they are expecting the pandemic to continue for the next few months. Jung Eun-kyeong, Head of the Korea Disease Control Centres, said that the…
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China’s dog-meat festival opens for another year
In spite of the Government’s campaign to boost animal welfare, China’s infamous annual dog-meat festival opened again, but activists hope that its days are numbered. An animal rights activist, Zhang Qianqian, who was in Yulin Saturday, says it was only a matter of time before the dog meat festival had been banned. “From what we understand from our conversations with meat…
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Riot in Germany causes multiple injuries and arrests
After investigating a potential drug trafficking ring in downtown Stuttgart, Germany, police came under attack as riot broke out against them. The brawl resulted in 24 arrests and 19 police officers wounded, according to city officials who reiterated their support of its law enforcement. The Mayor condemned the protests saying they were unacceptable and that neither alcohol nor the desire to protest…
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UK relaxes lockdown measures as it gears up for reopening date
As the full reopening of pubs and restaurants is inching closer to its July 4 date, UK is starting to relax some lockdown measures. British PM Boris Johnson is expected to announce the changes tomorrow with more economic assistance announcements to come early next month by the chancellor. The notion’s pub industry is also rooting for a relaxation of social-distancing measures…
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New breathalyser underway to detect Covid-19
Israel has reportedly developed a breathalyser that may be able to detect the Covid-19 virus in those who don’t even show symptoms, making it a potentially promising way to control the spread of the virus. The new technology is set to be used on airplanes and other methods of travel where it can identify if the virus is present on someone’s breath-at…
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Asia stocks rise along with coronavirus cases
Asian stocks are rising along with the number of coronavirus cases after the WHO reported the highest daily rise since the pandemic began. The fine line between a second wave in cases and the removal of lockdowns seems to favour a more conservative approach in the stock market as caution is being taken. The Nikkei 225 ranked 0.3% higher in…
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Ring of fire delights photographers around Asia
Those who stepped outside in parts of Asia yesterday got a rare photography opportunity as the solar eclipse (partial solar eclipse in Thailand), aka. the ‘Ring of Fire’, darkened daylight during the event. Skywatchers from parts of West Africa, the Arab Peninsula, South Asia, southern China and Taiwan were the lucky ones to see the full eclipse, which features the moon…
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Wealth disparity between blacks and whites in America becomes more apparent
Despite African Americans in the US making up 13% of its population, the minority group reportedly only earns 3% of America’s wealth. The statistics are alarmingly similar to the current war on racism in the States as many activists are pointing out the governmental and institutional bias surrounding black Americans. Since slavery was abolished over 150 years ago, the amount of…
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Doomsday comes and goes
Apparently doomsday has proven itself to be a hoax after it has came and went yesterday. The Mayan Calendar predicted June 21 as the day that the world would come to an end, and obviously we are all still here. But many are increasingly following such theories after the coronavirus has some saying that there will be a new world…
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Australia on guard as Covid-19 cases jump in Victoria
Restrictions have been tightened once again in the Australian state of Victoria, as a surge in new Covid-19 cases has officials on high alert. A state of emergency has been prolonged by a further 4 weeks, and private homes can now have no more than 5 visitors at a time, down from the previous 10. Plans to increase the number…
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Asia on alert for Covid’s second wave
Last week’s surge in new, locally transmitted Covid-19 cases in China, serves as a reminder to the rest of Asia that the possibility of a second wave may be all too real. A similar surprise second wave hit Singapore at the start of April after it appeared the island nation had been successful in containing the new virus. As restrictions…
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Trump campaign and media tussle over Tulsa rally turnout
“In an increasingly globalised online world, the world’s youth have started getting involved in the narrative for this November’s US Presidential election.” In the days leading up to Saturday night’s election rally for US President Donald Trump – his first since March – the campaign management were touting figures suggesting that as many as 1 million people had signed up…
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Welcome to Cambodia! Bring your wallet.
If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Cambodia soon, reconsider, unless you’re willing to put down US$3,000, a fortune for a backpacker in Southeast Asia. The country wants foreigners to make the deposit at a local bank upon entering to make sure any potential medical or quarantine costs can be met. And that’s just the start. Even if you…
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Amnesty International urges global petition for investigation of Thai activist’s abduction
The alleged abduction of Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit in Cambodia, and the inaction and apparent lack of interest on the part of both governments, has left people around the world to demand urgent action by writing a petition to Cambodian PM Hun Sen calling for an “effective, thorough and transparent” investigation into the disappearance. It also urges people to demand…
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Uproar as Bolivian TV program live broadcasts Covid-19 death
A Bolivian television channel TV channel sparked outrage yesterday after it broadcast live the last minutes of a dying Covid-19 patient as doctors battled in vain to save him. A spokesman for the “No Lies” program says it took the decision to show a Covid-19 patient’s death in the eastern city of Santa Cruz to jolt authorities, who have neglected health…
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Australia to remain closed to nearly all but international students until next year
Australia’s trade minister said yesterday that the country is unlikely to reopen its borders to international arrivals until some time in 2021, but will look to relax entry rules for international students and other long-term visitors. The country has been largely successful in containing the spread of Covid-19, success which it attributes to curbs on international travel and tough social…
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Vietjet Air resumes 8 domestic routes
Budget carrier Vietjet Air is confirming it will launch 8 domestic routes from Danang in central Vietnam, Hai Phong, Hanoi and the tourist island of Phu Quoc. Starting tomorrow, the low-cost airline will launch services to four destinations from Danang in central Vietnam using a mix of A320s and A321s. It will fly from Danang to Buon Ma Thuot offering…
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Trial shows cheap steroid could significantly reduce Covid-19 deaths – VIDEO
Low doses of the generic steroid ‘Dexamethasone’, given to patients in hospital with Covid-19, has reportedly reduced death rates by about a third among those with the most severe symptoms, trial data showed yesterday. The results are being described as a “major breakthrough” by scientists conducting the UK-led clinical trial known as RECOVERY. They suggest the drug should immediately become standard…
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Fears over “second wave” as China reports new outbreak in Beijing suburb
Beijing has once again instigated tight controls as China reports 49 new cases of the Covid-19 virus, 36 of which are in the Fengtai district. Until recently, the city had gone more than 50 days without any new cases, but it has now recorded 36 new cases on two consecutive days. This is the highest number of daily cases since…
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Borders start to reopen in Europe but restrictions on free travel remain
From today, a number of European countries will tentatively open their borders to some travellers, but total freedom of movement is still a long way off. The 22 EU countries, that are members of the Schengen area, normally enjoy restriction-free border crossings, but Covid-19 has put an end to that for now, and while some are opening up strict controls…
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No Aussie dollars in Thailand for at least 3 months
As Thailand starts to poke its head out over the Covid-19 parapet and look towards its travel future, there is at least one country that won’t be lining up at Thai immigration any time soon. Australians, an enduring stalwart of Thai tourism traffic, are banned from leaving the shores of the land downunder for at least another 3 months. The…
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Justice minister targets drug money laundering
With the government struggling to find revenue streams for its economic stimulus plans to rebuild an economy battered by Covid-19, Thailand’s justice minister thinks he has an idea to help. He wants authorities to target businesses that launder drug money from the Golden Triangle and has set a target of 1.5 billion baht by August. The minister says anti-drug forces,…
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Anti-alternative tobacco report slammed by experts
A recent report titled “Today’s Teens, Tomorrow’s Customers” published by Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance is being slammed by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates and global health experts, who have dismissed it as “naïve” and “harmful.” Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA’s executive director, described the report as a product of perception by a group that is funded by…
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WHO expert calls comments on asymptomatic virus transmission a “misunderstanding”
After stirring some controversy with comments about asymptomatic transmission of the virus being “very rare”, a World Health Organisation Covid-19 expert has rushed to explain herself. In a Q&A session on social media, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, says there is no definitive answer yet as to whether or not such transmission is rare but indicated that real world data showed…
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Covid restrictions ignored in Hong Kong as hundreds of protesters take to the streets
Hundreds of Hong Kong residents have defied police orders, taking to the streets to mark one year since pro-democracy protests began. They assembled in the Central district and marched to nearby streets, shouting various political slogans including, “Fight to the End”. There were also large gatherings in shopping malls, with people singing protest anthems and holding up “Liberate Hong Kong”…
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Migrant worker exodus prompts fears of labour shortages
The director-general of Thailand’s labour department has met with Myanmar’s Ambassador Myo Myint Than to discuss how Thailand can manage the country’s migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government wants Burmese migrant workers to stay in Thailand rather than return to their homeland during the crisis. Suchart Phonchaiwisetkun explained that many workers have demanded to be allowed to continue…
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Students charged after tying white bows around Bangkok monuments
3 students were sent to the police station after tying big white bows to the gate of the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. The students called on the Thailand and Cambodia governments to address the abduction of an exiled Thai political activist. The students were charged for violating the Road Traffic Act by tying the bows, according to Coconuts Bangkok. The Student Union…
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More masks, more problems: Covid waste pollutes oceans
Disposable face masks and plastic gloves are ending up in the oceans around the world, some calling it “Covid waste.” Conservationists and non-profits in Europe and Asia worry that the items used to protect those on land from the coronavirus are now threatening life underwater. In France, Laurent Lombard, from the non-profit Opération Mer Propre, posted a video on Facebook on a…
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Two transnational drug smuggling gangs busted
Police have cracked down on two transnational drug trafficking gangs who both smuggle and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine as well as other drugs in and out of Thailand. 11 members of the gang “Black Sashimi” were arrested for drugs trafficked from Thailand to Japan using Thai females ‘mules’ to carry the drugs into the country. The alleged gang leader,…
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38 Thai nationals in Egypt test positive for Covid-19
The Thai Embassy in Cairo says 38 Thai citizens have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, only 1 of whom has fully recovered. A report in Thai PBS World says that, over the weekend, the embassy carried out health screening on 220 Thai nationals due to fly back to Thailand yesterday. It also screened 10 other Thais who were on…
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