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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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 Navy’s LCS construction progress scrutinised after RM6.083bn payment
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Malaysia is set to investigate the construction progress of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) second-generation littoral combat ships (LCS). The committee will visit the RMN naval base in Lumut, Perak, where the LCS construction is taking place. The PAC plans to submit progress reports on the LCS every three months to the Dewan Rakyat,…
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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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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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Malaysia allocates RM1m to promote Coopmart, reduce living costs
The Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM) has allocated RM1 million to support the Madani Cooperative Sales initiative this year, encouraging the public to shop at cooperative retail stores, also known as Coopmart. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick highlighted that the Madani Cooperative Sales offer prices of daily necessities up to 20% lower than local market prices. As of…
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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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Ukraine dam destruction exposes dark history of warfare tactics
The blame game between Ukraine and Russia continues as both nations accuse each other of causing the explosion at the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine. Regardless of who is responsible, the destruction of dams in warfare has a long and devastating history. The recent flooding in the region, forcing the evacuation of thousands of civilians, serves as a stark…
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MP proposes amendment to clarify ‘Allah’ usage in Malaysian law
In an effort to address the contentious issue surrounding the use of the word “Allah” in Malaysia, Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail has proposed amending the Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967. The suggested amendment aims to provide a specific explanation for the usage and meaning of the word “Allah” when referring to God in the country. Zulkifli, an Opposition lawmaker, believes…
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Transport Minister urges civil servants to curb corruption for better pay
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has urged civil servants in Malaysia to avoid corruption, emphasising that the nation could achieve significant economic growth and provide better pay and benefits if corruption were eliminated. He made the statement during a memorandum of understanding signing event between the Port Klang Authority, government agencies, and maritime industry stakeholders to enhance collaboration in combating corruption.…
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Littoral combat ship project cost surges to RM11.2bn due to delays, changes
The littoral combat ship (LCS) construction project in Malaysia has seen a significant increase in costs, reaching RM11.2 billion, due to extended construction periods and specification changes. Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari revealed that an additional 83 months would be needed to complete the project, based on the Sixth Supplementary Contract (SA6) signed recently. The original agreement stipulated that the…
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Malaysia may pause OPR hikes as inflation remains steady
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has indicated that it may maintain its overnight policy rate (OPR) as long as inflation remains under control, according to a Bloomberg report. BNM Assistant Governor Fraziali Ismail stated that the central bank has room for a “conditional pause” on OPR hikes, given that inflation is not “misbehaving.” “Many central banks have taken the step, us…
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Malaysians less worried about inflation, struggle with daily finances
A recent survey conducted by international market research firm Ipsos revealed that Malaysians are less worried about inflation this year compared to last year. The Ipsos Inflation Monitor 2023 found that 66% of Malaysians polled in May believed inflation would rise, which is a 10% decrease from June last year. The survey also noted similar trends in concerns regarding changes…
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Penang plans June 28 dissolution for state legislative assembly
The Penang government in Malaysia has announced its intention to dissolve the state legislative assembly on June 28, paving the way for upcoming state elections. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow disclosed this plan during a news conference in George Town, stating that he will soon request a meeting with Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak to propose the dissolution…
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Malaysia and Indonesia resolve maritime disputes, boost bilateral ties
The relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia has reached a level of which both nations can be proud, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He attributed this achievement to the close and familial ties between himself and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as well as the rapport among government officials. These strong connections have led to the resolution of several long-standing…
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DAP’s seat negotiations ongoing for Selangor state elections
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke announced today that seat negotiations for the upcoming Selangor state elections are still in progress. Loke clarified that he is not participating in the discussions and described the ongoing negotiations as “normal.” Loke directed reporters to inquire with Gobind Singh Deo, DAP deputy chairman and Selangor DAP chairman, for further information on the matter. The announcement…
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North Korea children’s union donates rockets to army amid rising patriotism efforts
North Korea’s political youth group, the Korean Children’s Union (KCU), demonstrated its patriotism by donating rocket launchers to the army during its 77th anniversary celebrations. High-ranking officials from the North Korean Communist Party attended the event, which comes amid increased efforts by the nation to develop nuclear and conventional weapons. North Korea has recently intensified its propaganda and public signalling…
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Jokic and Murray make NBA history with dual 30-point triple-doubles
In a groundbreaking NBA Finals performance, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both achieved 30-point triple-doubles, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 109-94 victory over the Miami Heat and securing a 2-1 lead in the series. This marked the first time in NBA history that two teammates accomplished this feat in the same game, whether in the regular season, playoffs, or…
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Politicians, NGO leaders risk racial unity with divisive rhetoric, warns Umno deputy
Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has raised concerns over the increasing trend of politicians and non-governmental organisation (NGO) leaders making statements that put racial unity at risk and create public unease. He highlighted that these individuals are willing to undermine fundamental rights, freedoms, and the integrity of public institutions, as well as inappropriately involve the royal institution in political matters.…
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Putrajaya mulls PM’s Office to oversee foreign workers recruitment
The Malaysian government is considering proposals to transfer the responsibility of foreign worker recruitment from the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office. In a written parliamentary response, the Human Resources Ministry acknowledged the suggestions, which also call for the department overseeing foreign worker intake to be chaired by the prime minister and led by…
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Malaysia PM to clarify Haj selection criteria, HPV vaccine status
The classification criteria for the B40, M40, and T20 groups in selecting Haj pilgrims for the 1444H season, as well as the number of individuals to receive offers this year, are expected to be discussed during today’s Dewan Rakyat session. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will address these concerns during the Minister’s Question Time, responding to questions from Abdul Latiff Abdul…
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Budget 2023 eases financial burden for Malaysian fresh grads
Helena Roshnee Eswaran, a 24-year-old junior executive, is among the many Malaysian fresh graduates who have benefited from the repayment discount incentive for National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers under the federal government’s Budget 2023. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden of borrowers amidst the challenging economic climate. The PTPTN offer covers four categories, including a 20%…
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Ex-minister Khairy slams MP’s opposition to anti-smoking policy
Former Malaysian minister Khairy Jamaluddin has criticised Sungai Buloh MP R. Ramanan for opposing the government’s generational end game (GEG) policy, aimed at reducing smoking among future Malaysians. Khairy, who championed the Tobacco Products and Smoking Control Bill 2022 and the GEG policy during his tenure as health minister, shared his disapproval of Ramanan’s stance on his Instagram story. Ramanan…
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Sabah targets RM1bn local oil and gas contracts, eyes green energy
Sabah’s Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, announced that the state aims to secure RM1 billion in local contract awards, accounting for 20% of total oil and gas contracts awarded this year. As of now, local contract awards have reached RM564 million, which is equivalent to 11% of the total spend in 2022. The revenue from oil and gas has…
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SPM 2022 sees 10,109 candidates achieve top grades, best results since 2013
A total of 10,109 students achieved excellent grades in the 2022 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, with the National Average Grade (GPN) score improving to 4.74 from 4.86 in the previous year, according to Education director-general Pkharuddin Ghazali. He revealed that 373,974 candidates sat for the SPM 2022, and 75,322 students obtained average results with at least a grade C…
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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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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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