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Sponsored Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Police kill two machete-wielding burglary suspects in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
In the early hours of the morning, two men believed to be foreigners were fatally shot by the police in Taman Supreme, Cheras, near Kuala Lumpur. The police were forced to open fire in self-defence when the suspects attempted to attack them with machetes. The two men, both in their 30s, died at the scene, while their two accomplices managed…
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Malaysia and Indonesia boost trade, investment and halal sector cooperation
Malaysia and Indonesia have strengthened their trade, investment, and halal sector collaboration by signing agreements during Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to Malaysia. Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan represented their respective countries in sealing the border trade agreement and memorandum of understanding on investment promotion cooperation. The Department of…
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Puteri Umno chief urges unity for political stability and Malaysia’s prosperity
Puteri Umno chief Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi acknowledged today the need for her party to adapt to the current political landscape under the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Speaking to over 1,000 delegates at Umno’s Annual General Meeting, Nurul urged party members to broaden their perspective and accept the new political dynamic. Nurul admitted that it took…
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Malaysia to float egg and chicken prices, ending subsidies from July
Kuala Lumpur’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, has announced that the prices of eggs and chicken will be floated starting July 1. This follows the termination of government subsidies for these items on June 30. The domestic trade and cost of living ministry will oversee the pricing of eggs and chicken. Mohamad Sabu, also known…
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Proton sales surge 40% with new export market and strong demand
Proton Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s national carmaker, reported a 40.9% increase in vehicle sales in May 2023 compared to the previous month, selling 13,268 vehicles (domestic and export). This also represents a 35.5% increase over May last year. The surge in sales is attributed to a rebound in the total industry volume (TIV) after a slow start in April. The company’s…
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Minister condemns comedian’s insensitive MH370 tragedy joke at US show
Kuala Lumpur witnessed strong condemnation from Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil regarding the inappropriate actions of Singaporean comedian Jocelyn Chia. She made offensive remarks about Malaysia and the tragic MH370 incident during a recent comedy show in New York. Fadzil stated that local comedians Adflin Shauki and Harith Iskander have also criticised and condemned Chia’s actions. In her performance,…
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Umno Youth Chief demands DAP apology for past accusations
Umno Youth chief, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, has demanded an apology from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) for past accusations made against his party. In a passionate policy speech attended by hundreds of delegates at the Tun Razak Hall in World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Dr Akmal challenged the DAP to demonstrate its commitment to working with Umno by acknowledging…
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Malaysia maintains cooking oil subsidies, plans targeted mechanism
The Malaysian government has confirmed that it will not increase the price of subsidised cooking oil, despite the ongoing economic challenges faced by the country. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub stated that the government will instead introduce a targeted subsidy mechanism once the Central Database Hub (PADU) system is fully operational. The decision comes as many…
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Najib Razak receives youth leadership award despite 12-year jail sentence
In Kuala Lumpur, the former Malaysian Prime Minister and Umno president, Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for stealing US$10 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, was granted the youth leadership award by his party’s youth wing. Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, the recently-elected Umno Youth chief, stated that the award was a symbol of gratitude for…
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Umno president dismisses DAP apology demand for Malay, Islamic commitment
Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has dismissed demands for a public apology from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to prove its commitment to the Malay and Islamic agenda. The call for an apology was made by Umno Youth Chief Dr Akmal Salleh during the wing’s assembly. Hamidi, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the issue…
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Phuket vies for Specialised Expo 2028, boosting health and medical tourism
As the final presentation and vote for the Specialised Expo 2028 approaches, many Thai citizens are eagerly awaiting the decision, hoping that Phuket will be chosen as the host city. The Thai delegation is set to present their case to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on June 21, highlighting the southern resort island province’s potential as a host location.…
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Court sets verdict date for ex-MP Abdul Azeez’s defamation appeal
The Court of Appeal is set to announce its verdict on August 21 regarding the appeal by former Baling MP, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, in his defamation lawsuit against Lim Guan Eng. The decision date was confirmed by both Abdul Azeez’s lawyer, Craig Ho, and Felix Lim, counsel for Bagan MP Guan Eng. The appeal follows the Penang High Court’s…
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Malaysia, Indonesia unite against EU palm oil discrimination
In a historic move, Malaysia and Indonesia have joined forces to counter the anti-oil palm campaign and protect the interests of the palm oil sector. At a joint press conference, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo commended their respective ministers, Fadillah Yusof and Airlangga Hartarto, for their collaborative efforts in defending the oil palm commodity. Both…
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Ballot bafflement: Thai EC orders recounts in 47 polling stations after votes outnumber registered voters
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand announced plans to conduct vote recounts in 47 polling stations across Thailand on June 11 as the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of registered voters. During a meeting held yesterday, the EC disclosed that out of the 95,000 polling stations nationwide, 31 stations will have their votes recounted for the party-list candidates,…
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Indonesia, Malaysia unite against EU palm oil discrimination law
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has urged for stronger cooperation with Malaysia to combat perceived discrimination against their palm oil products, as new European Union legislation threatens to impact exports. The EU enacted a law earlier this year prohibiting the import of commodities linked to deforestation, which is expected to adversely affect the palm oil industry. Indonesia and Malaysia are the…
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Niall Horan reveals fear of going out after One Direction fan chases
One Direction star Niall Horan has confessed that he felt “afraid” to go out after experiencing relentless pursuit by fans during the band’s touring days. The 29-year-old Irish singer-songwriter opened up to Cosmopolitan UK about the challenges of touring with the globally famous boy band, which also included Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik. Horan recalled the…
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Met Police chief apologises to LGBT+ community for force’s homophobic failings
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has issued an apology to LGBT+ activist Peter Tatchell and the wider community for the force’s historical homophobic failings. The apology comes in the wake of a report by Baroness Casey in March, which exposed racism, misogyny, and homophobia within the Met Police. Tatchell described the apology as a “ground-breaking step forward” and hopes…
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New Na Klang-Ao Jik road links Phuket and Phang Nga, boosting tourism
The newly completed Na Klang-Ao Jik road, which connects Phuket and Phang Nga, is set to provide a boost to local tourism and cross-provincial transport. The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has invested approximately 282.8 million baht (US$8.5 million) in the 4.2-kilometre road, which is part of a city expansion project in Phang Nga’s Thai Muang district. The concrete road…
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Rain reigns: Nakhon Ratchasima’s reservoirs overflow with joy as planting season gets a splashy boost
Heavy rainfall in Nakhon Ratchasima provided a significant boost to the province’s reservoirs, ensuring sufficient water management during the planting season. The unexpected downpour is due to a high-pressure system affecting Thai provinces and neighbouring countries and is predicted to continue until June 10. In the lower north-eastern region, the heavy monsoon resulted in a 70% chance of thunderstorms and heavy…
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Thai father threatens school shooting over kindergarten bullying
A Thai father of a kindergarten student was fined 5,000 baht for threatening a school shooting following online messages claiming his son was being bullied. The 30 year old father in Rayong province posted the threats in a LINE group chat, causing concern among other parents and resulting in a police investigation. On June 6 at around 9pm, the father,…
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Asia-Pacific aviation recovery boosted by China’s early reopening
Asia-Pacific aviation is set for a gradual recovery this year, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) citing China’s earlier-than-expected reopening as a significant boost for the industry. Philip Goh, IATA’s Vice-President for Asia-Pacific, noted that revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) for the region in April reached 82% of the corresponding period in 2019. Domestic RPK has already surpassed 2019 levels,…
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Yala craft beer uses Betong pomelo peel, garnering nationwide interest
A local craft beer originating in Yala province has gained popularity across Thailand due to its unique blend, which includes peel from the local Betong orange. The product’s demand consistently increased after being featured at Sol Bar. This bar is located at the headquarters of the Move Forward Party in Bangkok and is discussed heavily on social media platforms. The…
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Afghan students struggle as India cancels visas amid Taliban takeover
For two years, Yasmeen Azimi, a 22-year-old Afghan student, has been struggling to obtain a visa to continue her studies in India. Despite being admitted to a postgraduate programme in political science at Chandigarh University under a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in January 2021, her visa application has been rejected three times. India’s Ministry of…
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Singapore officials apologise for comedian’s MH370 joke in New York
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon have issued apologies following a controversial joke made by Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia about the disappearance of MH370. The incident occurred during Chia’s performance at the Comedy Cellar in New York, where she joked about the rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, using the tragedy of MH370 as…
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World Ocean Day highlights alarming growth of plastic waste in seas
Annually, approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic products are manufactured globally, with nearly half utilised for single-use items such as shopping bags, cups, and packaging materials. It is estimated that 8 million to 10 million tonnes of these plastics end up in the ocean each year, covering an area of 11,000 square kilometres when flattened to the thickness of a…
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Israeli forces injure six in Ramallah raid, including three by gunfire
At least six individuals were hospitalised, with three suffering gunshot wounds, after Israeli forces fired at a group of stone-throwing Palestinian youth. This incident took place during an Israeli raid in Ramallah, a Palestinian city located in the occupied West Bank. According to a witness who spoke to Reuters, a large Israeli military convoy arrived in the city centre early…
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Thai GDP growth at risk as new government formation faces delays
Concerns are rising within the private sector as the potential delay in the formation of Thailand’s new government could lead to a decline in the country’s GDP growth to 1-2%. Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, stated that the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is closely monitoring the political situation. A new government…
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AI tool reads doctor notes to predict patient outcomes with high accuracy
An AI tool developed by a team at NYU Grossman School of Medicine has shown the ability to read doctors’ notes and accurately predict patients’ risk of death, readmission to hospital, and other significant outcomes. The software, called NYUTron, is currently being used at affiliated hospitals throughout New York, with the aim of becoming a standard part of health care.…
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Singapore FM condemns Jocelyn Chia’s MH370 joke, apologises to Malaysians
Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, criticised stand-up comedian Jocelyn Chia on Twitter for her insensitive and offensive remarks about Malaysia during a recent performance. Chia, a Singapore-born performer, made jokes about Malaysia’s development and the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, sparking outrage in Malaysia. “I am appalled by her horrendous statements. She certainly does not speak for Singaporeans. We treasure…
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World Bank to assess Ukraine dam destruction impact and needs
The World Bank has pledged to support Ukraine in assessing the damage and needs following the destruction of the massive Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. The dam, situated on the front lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces, was destroyed on Tuesday, leading to severe consequences for essential services and the wider environment. Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s managing director for operations,…
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