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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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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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Malaysia’s PAC investigates £1.12bn navy ship project progress amid controversy
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) conducted a working visit and proceeding to assess the progress of the second generation littoral combat ships (LCS) owned by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). The visit took place at the Boustead Naval Shipyard, Lumut Naval Base in Perak, where three witnesses testified on the LCS project’s progress. The witnesses included Datuk Dr Shahrazat Ahmad,…
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Comedian Jocelyn Chia slammed for mocking MH370 tragedy and Malaysia
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has criticised Singaporean comedian Jocelyn Chia for making insensitive and offensive jokes about Malaysia and the MH370 tragedy. He emphasised that no rational person could accept such derogatory and insulting humour, even in the name of freedom of speech. “We hope it is an isolated case, the Singapore government has issued a public apology and…
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7-year-old girl drowns in Tanjung Sepat water park pool
A tragic incident occurred at a water theme park in Tanjung Sepat, Banting, where a seven-year-old girl drowned in a pool. The Kuala Langat district police chief, Ahmad Ridhwan Mohd Nor, reported that a passerby discovered the unconscious victim at 1.28pm. According to the police chief, the young girl was playing in the pool with her eight-year-old sister when the…
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Umno General Assembly ends, aims to invigorate party for nation’s success
The 2023 Umno General Assembly concluded recently, with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressing optimism that the event would rejuvenate the party’s delegates and members in their efforts to build a successful nation. The Deputy Prime Minister took to Twitter to share his delight at the assembly’s productive discussions and debates on the party’s future direction. Ahmad Zahid emphasised that…
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Malaysia’s ambassador proposes fixed 5-year parliamentary term for stability
Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, has proposed amending the Federal Constitution to establish a fixed five-year term for Parliament. In an interview with Astro Awani, he stated that this change would prevent attempts to overthrow the government, as has occurred in the past. Nazri mentioned that he had discussed the issue with Prime…
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Trump faces 37 counts over mishandling classified documents
The former US president, Donald Trump, is facing significant legal challenges as he is indicted on 37 counts of mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate. This comes on the heels of his New York indictment, where he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. These legal issues pose serious consequences for Trump, but their impact on…
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Ukraine advances near Bakhmut amid heavy fighting; Russian attack kills three in Odesa
Heavy fighting continues in the eastern region of Donetsk as Ukrainian forces advance towards the city of Bakhmut, which fell to Russian control last month. Despite Moscow’s claims that Kyiv’s forces have made no progress on the front lines, Ukraine’s east military command spokesperson, Serhiy Cherevaty, announced on Saturday that their forces had advanced 1.2 kilometres near Bakhmut within the…
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Annecy stabbing: Syrian man charged with attempted murder of six
A man has been charged with attempted murder following a stabbing incident in the French Alpine town of Annecy, which left six people injured, including four children. The suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian national identified as Abdalmasih H, remained silent during his 48 hours in police custody and when facing magistrates. The victims are no longer in life-threatening condition, according to…
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Parking firm loses case over £160 fine due to lack of Welsh translation
A parking company, Simple Intelligent Parking Ltd, has lost a civil case against a motorist who requested a parking fine in Welsh. Elysteg Llwyd Thomas from Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, was initially issued a £60 fine in English. She responded that she would pay the fine once the company provided all correspondence bilingually, including a copy of the fine. The company…
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Yacht capsize survivors seek legal action against Carlton Fleet
Legal action is being planned by passengers who narrowly escaped death when the yacht Carlton Queen capsized during a diving trip in the Red Sea. The survivors, including British, Belgian, Swiss, and German nationals, do not believe the vessel was seaworthy, as it had been visibly listing to one side after leaving Egypt. The boat’s size had been increased during…
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Loch Ness water levels hit 32-year low, raising environmental concerns
Water levels in Loch Ness and the River Ness have sparked concerns as they reached their lowest point in 32 years last month, according to data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). The Ness fishery board has expressed alarm over the persistently low levels, suggesting that water stored for hydro-power could be utilised to alleviate the situation. SSE Renewables,…
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Brighton hospital probed over 40 alleged negligence-linked deaths
Sussex Police have launched an investigation into allegations of medical negligence at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, East Sussex. The claims, which span a period of five years from 2015 to 2020, involve potential failings in neurosurgery and general surgery. The hospital trust has confirmed its full cooperation with the investigation. While the exact number of deaths being…
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UK braces for 31C heatwave and thunderstorms, hotter than Marrakech
As the United Kingdom braces for soaring temperatures that could reach 31C on Saturday, thunderstorm warnings have been issued for much of the country. The rising heat may result in the hottest day of 2023 so far, but it could also bring torrential rain, hail, and gusty winds. Forecasters have warned of “really balmy nights on the way,” with temperatures…
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Car dealer jailed for clocking 2.75m miles, defrauding £445,957 from sales
A Hampshire-based car dealer has been sentenced to 45 months in prison after being found guilty of fraudulently altering the mileage of 32 second-hand vehicles, totalling 2,750,000 miles, before selling them to unsuspecting garages. Ashley Wilson, 27, from Fareham, was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court, where he was also sentenced to an additional 12 months for breaching a prior suspended…
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Cruise ship asylum seeker housing plan axed by Liverpool port officials
The UK government’s proposal to use a large cruise ship to accommodate 500 asylum-seeking men near Liverpool has been abandoned after port officials rejected the plan. The decision by Peel Ports has halted the Home Office’s efforts to create a seventh site for housing migrants as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration. The rejection follows a similar decision…
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Three-year-old British girl to leave hospital after Alps stabbing spree
A three-year-old British girl, injured in a stabbing incident in the French Alps, is expected to be discharged from the hospital within days, according to prosecutors. French judges have also charged a man with attempted murder for allegedly attacking a total of four children and two adults. The British girl was on holiday with her family in Annecy when the…
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Brighton hospital probed over 40 deaths amid medical negligence claims
Sussex Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of around 40 patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, amid allegations of medical negligence spanning a five-year period. The claims, which involve neurosurgery and general surgery, were made by two consultant surgeons who lost their jobs after raising concerns about patient safety. The Guardian reported that last week,…
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Nigel Adams resigns as MP, triggers third by-election for Rishi Sunak
Nigel Adams, a close associate of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, announced his immediate resignation as MP, leading to yet another by-election. This development comes on the heels of Johnson’s resignation last week, putting additional pressure on current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he faces a third by-election in Adams’s Selby and Ainsty constituency. Initially, Adams had planned to step…
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Motorcyclist killed, three injured as falling tree causes accident on expressway
A tragic accident occurred on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in George Town, when a falling tree caused a collision involving two cars and three motorcycles, resulting in one fatality and three injured victims. The incident took place early in the morning, with the police receiving a call at 1.30am. The motorcyclist, Mohd Farid Amirol Shah, 18 years…
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Parents warned not to trust viral SPM school rankings on social media
Parents in Malaysia are being urged not to pay attention to school rankings based on the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination 2022 results, which have been circulating on social media. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has emphasised that the Education Ministry (MoE) has not released any official statement or confirmation regarding these rankings. According to Fadhlina, the school average grade (GPS)…
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Tiong King Sing retains PDP president post, Henry Harry Jinep new deputy
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, has retained the presidency of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) for another three-year term. The decision was made during the party’s triennial general assembly. Tiong, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bintulu, has held the position since 2016. The deputy president post was secured uncontested by Datuk…
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Agong congratulates disabled, B40 students on SPM success
The King of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, have expressed their happiness and pride towards parents and students from disabled (OKU) and B40 groups who achieved excellent results in the 2022 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations. The results were announced yesterday, and the royal couple’s commendation was shared through a post…
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Indonesia, Malaysia discuss legalising 1.5m undocumented migrant workers
The issue of undocumented Indonesian migrant workers took centre stage at a recent meeting between Indonesian and Malaysian immigration authorities. The meeting, held at the Malaysian Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya, was attended by the Director General of Immigration Malaysia, Ruslin Jusoh, and his Indonesian counterpart, Silmy Karim. Silmy Karim stated in a press release that the purpose of the visit…
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Anwar Ibrahim refutes racial bias claims, urges Malaysian unity
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysians to reject the racial narrative being propagated by some political leaders who question government assistance for non-Malays. Since taking office in November last year, Anwar has faced challenges in restructuring the economic framework to address various issues facing the country. Anwar highlighted the ongoing struggle against those who claim that Malays have…
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Umno deputy urges revival efforts after election losses
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has likened the party to a “dying tree” in his speech at the party’s annual general assembly, urging members to ensure its survival for future generations. Reflecting on the party’s losses in the last two general elections, Mohamad emphasised the need to address the situation to keep Umno relevant in Malaysia’s political landscape. “This big…
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Malaysia considers private polytechnics to boost TVET graduate marketability
The Higher Education Ministry (MoHE) in Malaysia is exploring the possibility of establishing industry-led private polytechnics to improve the quality and employability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates in the country. Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that this proposal aligns with MoHE’s series of initiatives aimed at putting TVET and polytechnic education on an equal footing with…
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Umno deputy warns of six-week prep for imminent state elections
The deputy president of Malaysia’s Umno party, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, has warned that the party may only have six weeks to prepare for the upcoming state elections. Hasan, also known as Tok Mat, informed Umno delegates that the dissolution of the six state assemblies is expected to occur by the end of June, with polls likely to be held…
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Rare corpse flower blooms in Kubah National Park, Sarawak
A rare blooming of the Amorphophallus, also known as the corpse flower, has been discovered at Kubah National Park, according to an announcement by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). The unique plant, which is famous for its enormous size and distinctive smell, was found along the park’s Waterfall Trail. “The blooming of Amorphophallus is a truly unique and ephemeral event.…
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Umno supreme council considers suspended members’ reinstatement appeals
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has revealed that the party’s supreme council has received several written appeals from suspended members seeking reinstatement. Though the exact number of applications was not disclosed, Hamidi assured that the UMNO disciplinary board would carefully examine each case. “Many UMNO friends who were suspended wanted to return to the party…
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Malaysian para athletes’ success inspires able-bodied counterparts
The Malaysian contingent’s outstanding performance at the 2023 Asean Para Games (APG) has been highlighted as a source of inspiration for able-bodied athletes, particularly in swimming and track and field. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh emphasised that the post-mortem report on the 2023 APG by the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) will not only focus on areas of improvement but…
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