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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The Thaiger key takeaways Staying in budget hostels or guesthouses and eating street food keeps daily expenses low. Mixing buses, trains, and budget flights allows affordable travel between cities and islands. Free or cheap activities, such as temples, markets, parks,...
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Malaysia mulls medical fee revision for higher-income groups at public facilities
The Malaysian Health Ministry (MoH) has proposed a review of the low medical fees currently imposed on Malaysians at government health facilities, aiming to match the fees with patients’ affordability levels, according to its recently published White Paper. The document highlights that the low fees charged at public healthcare facilities are greatly appreciated by Malaysians, as they can access healthcare…
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MIC removes Senator Sivaraajh from central working committee
Senator Datuk C. Sivaraajh was removed from the central working committee (CWC) of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) on Sunday. The former MIC vice-president was informed of his dismissal from the CWC through a letter dated June 10, which was signed by MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran. Although the letter did not provide a reason for Sivaraajh’s removal, it…
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Malaysia ranks second worst for trans rights, MP defends constitution
Malaysia has been ranked as the second worst country globally for transgender rights, according to a recent Global Trans Rights Index report. Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, however, believes that upholding the values set in the Federal Constitution justifies the country’s poor ranking. The index gave Malaysia a score of -105 and the highest danger rating of F, indicating…
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Malaysia proposes progressive contribution scheme for public healthcare funding
The Malaysian Health Ministry has released a Health White Paper proposing a progressive contribution scheme to diversify funding for public healthcare services and implement much-needed reforms over the next 15 years. The paper highlights that the current allocations for healthcare are insufficient to meet the growing demands of the system and that relying on a single source for public healthcare…
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Malaysia consolidates IT systems, aims to save RM7bn annually
The Malaysian government is working to consolidate its information technology systems, including government databases and websites, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. The current system costs approximately RM7 billion (US$1.7 billion) annually to maintain. The centralised database initiative aims to bring together 297 separate databases, with government ministries and agencies expressing support for the approach. Rafizi also mentioned plans to…
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Malaysia urged to ratify ICERD and end LGBT persecution in post-pandemic recovery
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) has called on the Malaysian government to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). In collaboration with Malaysian civil society organisations (CSOs), Forum-Asia also recommended that the government put an end to the persecution of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. These…
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Russia’s national day: President Putin encourages patriotism and unity
Celebrating Russia’s National Day, President Vladimir Putin urged citizens to be patriotic and dedicated to their nation amid challenging times. Speaking in Moscow, Putin did not mention Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence released a video showcasing Russia’s beautiful landscapes, as well as citizens and soldiers expressing their love for the country. Putin also paid tribute…
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22 US troops injured in Syria helicopter accident, cause under investigation
A recent helicopter accident in northeast Syria has left 22 US service members injured, according to the United States military. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, is currently under investigation to determine the cause. US Central Command confirmed in a statement that no enemy fire was reported at the time of the accident. “The service members are receiving treatment for…
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Three dead in Nottingham as van rampage suspect arrested
A tragic series of events unfolded in Nottingham, a city in the English midlands, as three individuals were discovered dead in separate incidents. British police have arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder, following reports that a van had attempted to run over three other people. Initially, two victims were found deceased in the city centre. Shortly after 4am…
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FTC seeks halt of Microsoft’s $69bn Activision deal amid competition fears
US regulators have requested a judge to halt Microsoft’s US$69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the Call of Duty publisher. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressed concerns that the deal, the largest in the video game industry’s history, could “substantially lessen competition” within the sector. This development follows the UK’s decision to block the deal over similar concerns, while the…
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Mother jailed for illegal home abortion ignites calls for UK law reform
Carla Foster, a mother of three, has been jailed after inducing an abortion outside the legal limit using pills at home, sparking calls for a parliamentary debate on overhauling abortion rules. The 44-year-old was sentenced to 28 months, with 14 of those months to be spent in custody. Foster was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant when she took medication…
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Dorries accuses sinister forces of blocking peerage in Johnson-Sunak feud
Nadine Dorries has insinuated that “sinister forces” were responsible for her exclusion from Boris Johnson’s contentious resignation honours list, leading to an escalating dispute with the Prime Minister. The ex-culture secretary penned a forceful column in the Daily Mail, implying that she was intentionally denied a peerage in the House of Lords by “posh boys” working for Rishi Sunak. Dorries…
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Malaysia’s river pollution hits 4% in 2021, government tackles causes
A recent report revealed that four per cent of Malaysia’s 672 rivers were polluted in 2021, according to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC). The data was gathered by the Department of Environment (DOE) through monitoring the Water Quality Index (IKA) of these rivers during that period. The primary causes of river…
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Malaysia seeks Interpol help to locate comedian over controversial remarks
Malaysian authorities are seeking assistance from Interpol to locate Singapore-born comedian Jocelyn Chia, who is believed to be based in New York, following her controversial remarks about Malaysia during a recent comedy performance. Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani announced that the application to obtain Chia’s identity and location will be made as soon as possible to commence investigations.…
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Malaysia’s King appoints 16 judges in ceremony at Istana Negara
In a recent ceremony at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, granted an audience and presented the instruments of appointment to 16 judges. Queen Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was also in attendance. The ceremony commenced with the presentation of the instruments of appointment to Federal Court judges…
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Malaysia identifies 190 election hotspots, launches Op PRN 6N for security
Authorities in Malaysia have identified 190 hotspots in six states ahead of the upcoming state elections, with the highest number found in Selangor, according to Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani. Terengganu follows with 66 hotspots, while Kedah has 20, Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan each have 16, and Penang has two. These areas are considered hotspots due to their…
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Online scam syndicate members deny abusing teen employee, face prison and fines
Four individuals, including two minors aged 15 and 17, have pleaded not guilty to charges of ill-treatment, voluntarily causing harm to a 15-year-old teenager, and possession of pornographic materials. Soh Sun Hung, 20 years old, and Yap Kah Seng, 22 years old, along with the two minors, are believed to be part of an online scam syndicate and were the…
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Malaysia to review health workforce needs amid oversupply concerns
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Malaysia is set to conduct a study this year to review the country’s actual needs for different categories of human resources for health, according to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa. The study will consider the impact of new policies introduced after 2016 and the health needs of the population, enabling the distribution and requirement…
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Malaysia aims for digital investment hub status with startup ecosystem revamp
The Malaysian government seeks to reform the country’s startup ecosystem by focusing on funding and investment opportunities at the seed and angel investor stages, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. In a recent talk, Ramli highlighted Malaysia’s potential to become a regional hub for digital investors, on par with neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia. Plans are also underway to integrate back-end…
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Rights groups to screen banned Modi documentary before White House visit
Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the White House, human rights groups Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have scheduled a private screening of a controversial BBC documentary in Washington. The documentary, titled India: The Modi Question, examines Modi’s leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 people, predominantly…
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Nottingham roads closed, trams suspended amid major police incident
Nottingham has experienced a “major incident” that has led to the closure of several roads across the city. Nottinghamshire Police, along with other emergency services, are attending to an “ongoing serious incident” in various locations. As a result, the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram network has suspended all services due to the “major police incidents around the city and suburbs.”…
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Anwar Ibrahim defends U-turns on healthcare scholarships, egg and chicken subsidies
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his willingness to reconsider previous decisions if it would alleviate the public’s burden. He argued that there is no reason to avoid changing a decision if it initially caused inconvenience. “The old decision was to stop, our decision is to continue. What is the flip-flop? If the decision burdens the people Tanjong Karang should raise…
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Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccine procurement bypassed Attorney General’s approval
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, has disclosed that certain sections of the Covid-19 vaccine procurement agreement were not referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC). Anwar’s statement comes after he previously mentioned “irregularities” in Malaysia’s multi-billion-ringgit purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. The Prime Minister addressed the issue during a parliamentary session, in response to a question raised by Tanjong…
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India denies threatening Twitter with shutdown over farmers’ protest accounts
Twitter faced threats of shutdown and employee raids from the Indian government if it did not comply with orders to restrict accounts, according to the company’s co-founder Jack Dorsey. The Indian government has dismissed these claims as “outright lies.” Dorsey, who stepped down as Twitter CEO in 2021, revealed on Monday that India had threatened the company with a shutdown…
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Malaysia comedy club owner awaits decision on improper network use charges
The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) in Malaysia is still considering the third representation submitted by Crackhouse comedy club owner Mohamad Rizal Van Geyzel, who is facing three charges of improper use of network facilities. Deputy public prosecutor Noor Haslinda Che Seman informed Sessions Court Judge Priscilla Hemamalini Nadarajan that the AGC had received the representation on June 7, but a…
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Malaysia targets quality investments, complex products to boost trade growth
Malaysia is focusing on attracting quality investments and manufacturing more complex products to manage risks to trade growth, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He emphasised the importance of creating an environment that attracts the right kind of investments, fostering industrial development, and producing products with higher complexity scores. Tengku Zafrul said, “It is only…
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Twitter 2.0: CEO Yaccarino unveils plan to revive platform
Linda Yaccarino, the new CEO of Twitter, has unveiled her ambitious plan for “Twitter 2.0,” aiming to transform the platform into a global town square and a reliable source of real-time information. Yaccarino took over the role from Elon Musk, who had implemented several controversial changes since acquiring the company in October 2022. The former NBC Universal marketing executive acknowledged…
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Pure Life Society appoints human rights advocate Ambiga Sreenevasan president
The Pure Life Society has announced the appointment of Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan as its new president, following the recent death of Datin Paduka Dr A. Mangalam. The news was shared by Hindu Sevai Sangam in a congratulatory Facebook post, which wished Ambiga strength and determination in her new role. Ambiga, 67 years old, has an impressive background as a lawyer…
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Sarawak launches major offshore carbon capture project, eyes 3.3m tonne reduction
The Sarawak government in Malaysia has announced the launch of a carbon capture storage (CCS) project in the Kasawari fields, off the coast of Sarawak, through the state-owned Sarawak Petroleum Berhad (Petros). Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg stated that the project is expected to reduce up to 3.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, making it one of…
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Malaysia thwarts buffalo meat import with misleading halal certificate
An attempt to import approximately 740 kilograms of buffalo meat valued at US$2,800 was thwarted by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service Department (Maqis) at Pasir Gudang Port. The meat, originating from India, was discovered in 37 boxes during an inspection. Upon further examination, Maqis officers found discrepancies between the information on the halal certificate and the actual details of…
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