News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Malaysia identifies Haj pilgrims using Rahmah Cash Aid list
The Malaysian government is using the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) recipient list to identify prospective Haj pilgrims from the B40 and M40 income groups, while those in the T20 income group are identified based on an individual income of above RM15,000 per month. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, explained that the Pilgrims Fund Board…
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Umno to enable online membership applications with constitutional amendment
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is set to approve an amendment to its constitution, enabling online membership applications. The special UMNO General Assembly, scheduled for tomorrow, will discuss the motion to change the clause to a rule, granting the Supreme Council the power to amend membership application rules. UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explained that although an…
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Mahathir Mohamad questioned by police over Malay Proclamation
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad revealed that he was questioned by the police on June 2 concerning two recent statements. He took to social media to express his concerns about freedom of speech, stating that if his remarks were incorrect, they should be proven so, and that the police questioning him was a form of intimidation. Mahathir claimed that…
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Dewan Rakyat Speaker rebukes MP over Littoral Combat Ship motion
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul criticised Muda Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for misrepresenting the former’s rejection of a motion to discuss the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) issue in Parliament. Johari claimed that Syed Saddiq was insincere in his criticism, as he did not reveal the reason provided by the Speaker for the decision. Johari explained that his…
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Investigations ongoing into Northport container fire, false declarations suspected
Investigations have commenced to uncover the cause of a fire that destroyed 13 shipping containers owned by Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, which were located near Jalan Pelabuhan Utara, Port Klang. Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the Port Klang Authority (LPK) and Northport are conducting an in-depth investigation that will cover all aspects, including the possibility of false declarations. “We still…
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NGOs urge Malaysian PM to repeal Sedition Act, citing free speech concerns
A coalition of NGOs, including Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Aliran, Undi18, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, Bersih, Article 19, and Lawyers for Liberty, has urged Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to repeal the Sedition Act 1948. The group, known as Gerakan Hapus Akta Hasutan (GHAH), believes the Act is incompatible with international standards of…
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Singapore comedienne slammed for MH370 jokes in Malaysian Parliament
Singaporean comedian Jocelyn Chia recently faced widespread condemnation in the Malaysian Parliament for making jokes about Malaysia and the tragic loss of Flight MH370 during a comedy show in New York. RSN Rayer, a Member of Parliament, called on his fellow MPs to condemn Chia’s actions, which were deemed extreme and offensive to Malaysians. Rayer highlighted the issue under the…
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Super League footballer arrested for injuring girlfriend in hotel row
A Super League football player was taken into custody following an alleged altercation with his girlfriend in a Petaling Jaya hotel room. The incident was reported to the police by the victim, a local woman, who sustained injuries during the dispute and had her mobile phone damaged. Petaling Jaya police chief Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid confirmed that the authorities were…
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Umno Youth chief demands DAP apology for past remarks, coalition sincerity
Umno Youth leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has insisted on an apology from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) for its alleged past wrongdoings and harsh comments against his party. During his closing address at the Umno Youth general assembly 2023, Dr Akmal emphasised the importance of voicing grassroots concerns, regardless of any potential backlash. “Let people say that we are…
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Two NRD officers arrested in Malaysian baby trafficking syndicate probe
The National Registration Department (NRD) in Malaysia has confirmed the arrest of two of its officers by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). They are suspected of being involved in a baby trafficking syndicate operating in the Klang Valley. The arrests were the result of strategic cooperation between the NRD and MACC, following the sharing of internal intelligence. The director-general of…
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Anwar Ibrahim confident in delivering reforms despite diverse government
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence in implementing promised reforms in Malaysia, despite the diverse political parties within his national unity government. In an interview with Al Jazeera for the documentary “From Prison to Prime Minister: Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim,” he emphasised that all parties share the belief that the country urgently needs reform. Anwar Ibrahim stated that the parties are…
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Malaysia, Indonesia boost ties with RM130.14bn trade volume increase
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, was granted an audience with Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, at Istana Negara. Jokowi and his wife Iriana arrived at 3.35pm to attend an evening reception with the King, spending approximately an hour at the palace. The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Regent…
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Malaysian royals visit centenarian on her 100th birthday, offer gifts
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah recently paid a visit to the home of Kamala Das, a centenarian who celebrated her 100th birthday in Taman Utama Ampang, Selangor. The royal couple spent approximately an hour with Kamala and her family, according to a post on the Istana Negara…
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Scooter rider collide with car and plunge into canal
An accident involving a motorbike and a car left both vehicles damaged and plunged into a canal in the Hua Samrong area. Locals and rescue volunteers rushed to help the injured motorcyclist, while the female car driver sought medical attention for chest pains. Both vehicles were retrieved to the police station for further legal procedures. At around 11am on 8th…
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Woman unknowingly dates nephew, learns truth after 7-month pregnancy
A startling revelation has left a 32 year old woman and her 23 year old boyfriend in shock, as a DNA test has discovered that they are actually aunt and nephew. The couple is grappling with the consequences of the news, especially since the woman is seven months pregnant with their child. According to a report by Mirror, the woman…
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Viral video: Dog disappears in car for an hour, found hiding under seat
Owners of the TikTok account @themayesway decided to adopt a small black dog during their journey. However, they were shocked when the dog mysteriously disappeared while they were driving. After an hour of frantic searching, hilarity ensued when the dog emerged by itself, having been hiding neatly under the backseat. The video quickly gained over 17 million views and 2.4…
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Rough seas prompt beach swimming ban in Trang
Heavy rainfall and strong winds have led to high waves of around 3 metres along Trang coast, prompting officials at Chao Mai National Park to erect red flags barring tourists from swimming in the affected areas. The ban has been imposed on Pak Meng Beach, Chao Mai Beach and Yao Beach, leaving visitors to explore safer alternatives. During the past…
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Woman seeks lottery win with ancient Thai tree ritual
A woman is seeking lottery luck at the renowned Mother Ta Kien shrine located near Kong Khanaram temple in Thailand’s Ang Thong province. Today, she performed a ritual and discovered matching numbers, sparking interest among fortune seekers. After performing a ritual, she surprisingly received the number 437. Then, she went on to sprinkle powder at the base of the Mother…
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Grope gone wrong: CCTV busts perverted Thai man sexually assaulting female vendor in Isaan (video)
A grocery shop security camera captured a Thai man sexually assaulting a female vendor by grabbing her breasts in the Isaan province of Mahasarakarm. The deviant did not apologise to the victim and said it was not a big deal. The female victim, Ae, reported the issue to the community leader after a 50 year old Thai man named Pin…
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Former consul dies in Thailand, family prioritises inheritance over money owed
A former Dutch honorary consul, 66 year old Hendrikus, passed away in a Nonthaburi hospital with almost 400,000 baht owed to someone who paid for his medical bills. His ex-wife, sister, and daughter, visited last-minute and left without paying the bills, even though they are reportedly wealthy. Beer, a friend of the deceased’s sister, learned about Hendrikus’s illness on May 29.…
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New kidney disease test kit offers 94% accuracy, eases early diagnosis access
A new effective and accurate diagnostic kit has been developed to screen for early-stage kidney disease, with a correctness rate of 94%, a sensitivity rate of 96%, and a specificity rate of 97.8%. This screening method has been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been proposed for inclusion in the gold card scheme to make…
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Thai police investigate lorry sticker corruption, truck association meets today
The Royal Thai Police is working expeditiously to penalise those involved in the nationwide scandal concerning truck registration stickers, following the receipt of information from a Member of Parliament (MP) and the Thai Truck Association president. They are set to meet today to discuss relevant documents and deepen the investigation of the sticker corruption, potentially leading to disciplinary or criminal…
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Children stabbed in Lake Annecy park attack, suspect arrested
A violent incident occurred in a park near Lake Annecy, in the south-eastern region of France, where multiple children were stabbed. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that the attacker has been apprehended by the police. Antoine Armand, a regional deputy, referred to the attack as “abominable” and stated that the authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the matter. French…
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14-year-old dies after West Lothian school playground incident
A 14-year-old boy, Hamdan Aslam, tragically lost his life following a “playground incident” at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian. Emergency services were called to the scene on Tuesday afternoon, and the teenager was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away shortly after. Bathgate Mosque in West Lothian issued a statement, urging the community to support Hamdan’s family…
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World Oceans Day: The fight to save our seas and combat climate change
On World Oceans Day, today, Warawut Sillapa-archa, Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, encouraged Thais to help conserve the oceans by not littering in water. He also stressed the importance of oceans absorbing 30% of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as a natural carbon sink. However, increased human activities have led to higher levels of carbon dioxide and…
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Police promotion whirlwind: Secret RPCA training course fast tracks beauty queen to top ranks, prompting scrutiny
The popular Facebook page Police Friends recently exposed some damning information regarding the rapid promotions of police officers who took part in the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA) training course, held four times a year. The post cited a beauty queen-turned-police officer as an example of RPCA training being misused by unqualified people. According to the Facebook page, the female…
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Pakistani widow’s life cleaning UK expats’ vacant villas
In Bhatial, a rural village in the Jhelum district of Punjab, Pakistan, 42-year-old widow Zubeida Begum works as a domestic helper for several families who have migrated to the UK. These families return to their luxurious villas in Bhatial for a few weeks each winter, leaving the houses vacant for the rest of the year. Zubeida’s job is to maintain…
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Bangladesh suffers longest heatwave amidst crippling power crisis
Abdur Rahman, a rickshaw puller in Dhaka, Bangladesh, struggles to work under the blazing sun as the city experiences its longest heatwave in decades. Adding to the misery is a crippling power crisis, leaving Rahman and many others without electricity at night. The government has closed tens of thousands of primary and secondary schools due to soaring temperatures exceeding 40…
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Isuzu factory relocation rumours hit Thai auto parts shares
A significant decline in the shares of Thai auto parts companies was observed today, following rumours that Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors intended to move its Thai factory to Indonesia. The Indonesian Industry Minister, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, stated yesterday that Isuzu could potentially commence production in Indonesia as early as next year. However, Isuzu denied any such relocation plans today. In…
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UK to remove Chinese surveillance cameras from sensitive sites over security
Sensitive UK government sites are set to remove Chinese surveillance cameras in response to national security concerns relating to China. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted China as the “biggest challenge” to global security and prosperity during the G7 summit last month. The government will release a timeline for the removal of equipment produced by companies governed by China’s National Intelligence…
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