A Southeast Asian federal constitutional monarchy with 13 states and 3 federal territories.
Thailand will shorten visa-free stays for tourists from 60 countries, effective Sept. 15, to 30 days, with two land-border entries allowed per calendar year. The change aims to bolster national security, curb misbehavior, and protect the economy’s tourism engine. Israelis are among those affected; protests over tourist conduct have amplified scrutiny, though authorities say penalties for violations will rise.
Rescue teams have recovered hundreds of bodies after torrential floods and a suspected earthquake-triggered mudslide along the Bhotekoshi and Lhende Khola rivers. Authorities warn of a potential second flood as relief operations expand with international help.
Updated reporting shows Iran and Oman are negotiating management of the Strait of Hormuz while the US considers further strikes. Oil markets react as Gulf states pursue alternative export routes amid ongoing conflict with Iran.
An international pattern of grooming and coercion by groups known as Com networks has emerged, with cases in the UK and beyond. Authorities report a surge in abuse linked to Discord, Telegram and other platforms, with tens to hundreds of cases; the networks recruit vulnerable youths, especially girls, to produce exploitative content for notoriety.
The White House has hosted industry leaders to discuss a voluntary framework reviewing cybersecurity across the AI sector. OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are involved as the administration finalizes how frontier models will be evaluated under a forthcoming framework.
Athletes across several disciplines have delivered a day of high drama at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with stunning medals in boxing, judo and powerlifting. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all feature on the podium as the schedule enters its final phase.
Wrexham Women are making their European debut in the first qualifying round, facing Pyunik of Armenia at the Racecourse Stadium. The club’s owners have funded the women's program since 2021, and the team aims to bring European football to north Wales as they target a historic run in the Champions League alongside the men’s resurgence.
Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled earlier this year due to regional conflict. With the calendar tight, F1 is considering Sepang in Malaysia to host a double-trace schedule in late September to early October, effectively substituting a Bahrain date and linking Asia and Europe before Singapore. The Bahrain event would be branded as Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia for contractual reasons.
McLaren's Lando Norris has claimed pole position at the Hungarian GP ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen spins on final lap; Hamilton faces potential penalty for impeding Piastri. Aston Martin show progress with upgrades but Alonso starts 16th. Malaysia race to feature this October, with possible Imola finale in doubt.
Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, branded as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, slotting the race between Azerbaijan and Singapore. The move follows Middle East tensions and calendar revisions, with Imola considered as a contingency for Qatar if needed. Fans are assured a full calendar as the FIA and F1 adapt.
A Vietnamese cargo vessel carrying 62 people sank near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. Rescue operations are ongoing with Vietnamese, Chinese and Philippine teams coordinating as 44 have been rescued and 18 remain missing.
Lando Norris wins the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren, ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. Oscar Piastri retires with gearbox trouble after leading for a stretch. Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth following a pit-lane speed penalty, while the championship gap widens to 50 points.
Erin Boothman has secured bronze in the Women's 10km Scratch Race after winning bronze in the Individual Pursuit, marking a second medal for Scotland on day one in Glasgow. Finlay Graham also earns bronze in the Men's C1-C3 1000m Time Trial as Scotland celebrate multiple podiums.
Iran has ruled out Oman’s 50-50 regional management for the Strait of Hormuz, insisting on control of its side and opposition to a wide sharing arrangement. Oman proposed a Malacca-style model with voluntary fees to stabilize shipping after disruptions from the US-Israeli war. Officials say talks are progressing step by step, but hardliners remain skeptical about concessions.
Aid cuts have reduced services across Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar while refugee numbers continue to rise and living conditions worsen. Malaysia has begun screening Myanmar nationals for a 5,000-person repatriation scheme and has detained and processed groups of Rohingya; rights groups warn returns could put people at risk.
Domenicali has said a mid-September decision will determine whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi host the season’s finale, with Europe as a fallback if the Middle East situation cannot be resolved. Malaysia’s race replaces Bahrain, and 24 Grands Prix remain the target for 2027, with Imola and Las Vegas in play for potential end-of-year events.
A Malaysian airline pilot has been arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport after arrival from Kuala Lumpur. Authorities say the officer, identified by initials MS (or MSO in some reports), is connected to a haul of more than 70,000 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine found in his luggage. Drug tests indicate impairment during the flight; Malaysia Airlines is conducting an internal review.
Australia’s under‑16 social-media ban shows limited early success. A regulator’s three‑month follow‑up finds most youths retain or recreate accounts; age-checks remain weak and offline activity has shifted little. Governments may tighten enforcement and penalties.
China’s coast guard activities and disputed claims in the South China Sea continue to heighten regional tensions. The United States and Philippines reaffirm support for freedom of navigation as ASEAN accelerates talks on a binding code of conduct. New rules around Scarborough Shoal and demonstrations of maritime enforcement are intensifying the arguments over sovereignty and security in the region.
Northern Ireland and Wales finish Glasgow 2026 with notable success across bowls, cycling and track events. NI claims multiple golds in bowls and boxing, while Wales is led by Emma Finucane’s four golds in cycling and a strong track team performance.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
A Jordan-hosted emergency meeting convenes to address escalating tensions around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa and Christian holy sites. Arab ministers warn of potential regional instability as Israeli actions provoke protests and international scrutiny ahead of October elections.
Typhoon Dolphin has tracked west from the Pacific toward Okinawa and Kyushu with sustained winds near 144–162 km/h, forcing Naha Airport to close and cancelling flights. Evacuation centres are hosting hundreds; authorities are warning of heavy rain, storm surge and gusts that will threaten damaged homes and infrastructure as the storm heads toward China’s eastern coast.
Canada and the United States have resumed intensive talks to avert steep US tariffs that could take effect this week. Ottawa has offered concessions, including removing a retaliatory auto tariff, while Washington has pressed provinces to lift bans on US alcohol and pushed demands on market access and content rules for autos. Negotiators are still finalising details.
A former politician has admitted to shooting a PAO official in Nonthaburi after a money dispute. The officer died in hospital; the driver was injured. The motive is personal, and police say both men were armed. Authorities are reviewing gun laws and enforcement as Thailand sees rising firearms incidents.
Afghan Taliban diplomacy in Kabul and Europe is shaping migration policy. Germany has expanded deportations and opened Taliban‑led missions, raising safety concerns for Afghan activists and refugees who fled the regime. The move comes as Western states balance pragmatism with human rights warnings.
Indonesia is battling widespread wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of hectares, forcing school closures and online learning in affected provinces. Authorities are deploying cloud-seeding aircraft and firefighting efforts across six provinces with more than 107,000 hectares burned this year. The country faces a harsher dry season linked to El Niño.
The United States is expanding its security commitments in Asia as tensions with China in the South China Sea intensify. Washington is signaling resolve through high-level visits and joint drills with allies, while urging regional partners to bolster their own defenses. The Philippines remains a focal point of the steady U.S. push to deter Beijing’s growing assertiveness.
The United States has imposed tariffs on Brazilian exports, with duties up to 37.5%, prompting Brazil to seek diplomatic consultations. Lula da Silva says Brazil will defend its position and warns against foreign meddling in the October elections. The dispute follows tensions over visa revocations and ambassador nominations, with both sides signaling potential retaliation but avoiding immediate escalation.
Bloomberg and Al Jazeera reporting show a widening pattern of transshipment and tariff avoidance, with solar-panel routes rerouted across China, Vietnam and Indonesia to dodge duties, while US actions intensify enforcement and scrutiny.
A set of intergenerational caregiving stories shows older adults remaining highly active after major health events. Families adapt by building in-home care, small-footprint living, and community routines to support longer, healthier lives.
President Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in this month’s Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, citing his "very good relationship" with Kim Jong Un and the drills’ cost. The US and South Korea have agreed to shorten and scale back the exercises; Seoul has said the drills started as scheduled while Pyongyang has dismissed outreach and warned that scaled-back drills remain provocative.
Since early 2026 wildfires have scorched hundreds of thousands of hectares across Indonesia, concentrating on Borneo (Kalimantan). A powerful El Niño and prolonged dry conditions have driven deep-burning peat and forest blazes that have sent hazardous haze into Malaysian Borneo and Singapore, closed schools and prompted arrests and troop, helicopter and cloud‑seeding deployments.
The US State Department has designated Myanmar scholar Min Zin as wrongfully detained after Chinese authorities arrested him in Yunnan on June 3 while he attended a government‑invited conference. Washington has made his release a diplomatic priority ahead of a planned meeting between US and Chinese leaders and is publicly pressing Beijing to free him.
Names for storms, military operations and global events have become a modern tool for communication, safety and memory. The World Meteorological Organization says monikers speed warnings and preparedness, while Churchill influenced operation naming to avoid boastful overtones. The articles explore how names tell stories and guide public perception.
Mercedes are limiting upgrades under the 2026 cost cap while rivals press ahead, widening the performance gap at the front. Norris has won twice in a row for McLaren, with Antonelli leading the standings and Russell close behind. Monza looms as a crucial test for Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes.
Lando Norris has won the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, keeping McLaren competitive as Kimi Antonelli extends his championship lead. Hamilton and Russell struggle with team orders and tyre strategy, while Mercedes respond to the pressure with strategic pit decisions.
The 89-year-old monarch has been admitted to hospital with haemolytic anaemia and is under cortisone treatment. Crown Prince Haakon serves as regent while the king remains on leave. Family members are at Oslo University Hospital as officials say his condition is extremely serious.
Fires driven by El Niño and a prolonged dry season have spread across Kalimantan and Sumatra, prompting health risks, water shortages, and multi-agency firefighting efforts. Authorities report hotspots rising, rainfall remains scarce, and thousands are exposed to smoke with disruptions to daily life across multiple provinces.
Unknown man has been found dead in the landing‑gear wheel well of an Air Arabia plane that arrived from Tangier, Morocco. Coroners say conditions inside the wheel well are extremely cold and oxygen is scarce; post‑mortem results list cardiac arrest, hypoxia and hypothermia as the cause. An inquest is ongoing.
Massive flash floods triggered by a glacier-ice avalanche have killed hundreds and left thousands missing across Nepal and Tibet. Rescue teams are racing to locate survivors amid damaged roads, bridges and power lines. Foreign nationals are among the missing; authorities warn of a potential second surge.
Massive floods across Nepal and Tibet have killed dozens and left hundreds missing. Rescue efforts are underway, with thousands of troops deployed and international aid flowing in as authorities warn of continuing danger from dammed lakes and downstream river surges.
Ismail has pleaded not guilty in Kuala Lumpur to a charge under Malaysia’s anti-graft law, accusing him of failing to provide a complete declaration of assets. The case could carry up to five years in prison. He previously served as Malaysia’s prime minister for 15 months and is among several former leaders facing graft proceedings.
Dead and missing rise after floods near the Nepal-Tibet border. Authorities warn of possible second floods as rescue operations continue. Foreign nationals are among those unaccounted for, with UK tourists among the missing.
Rescue teams are clearing a key highway as Nepal and Tibet confront a rising flood threat from a glacier-induced lake upstream. Authorities warn of renewed flooding as water levels rise, with hundreds of missing and thousands displaced across the region.
Japanese star Miyu Yamashita closes a dominant week at Royal Mayfair, tying the 72-hole scoring record and earning her fourth LPGA victory in 13 months. She finishes 23-under for the week, besting a crowded field ahead of Solheim Cup play. Other contenders linger behind as top players set their sights on the Netherlands.
A glacier collapse in the Himalayas has triggered floods and widespread destruction in Nepal and China’s Tibet region. Authorities report rising death tolls, thousands missing, and ongoing rescue operations as hydropower sites are targeted by the disaster.
Fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, have burned tens of thousands of acres, triggering a regional haze that is drifting toward Malaysia and Singapore. Health impacts surge as thousands seek care weekly; authorities revoke permits for suspected burners while policing steps up arrests. The El Niño phenomenon is intensifying the dry season, raising the risk of further blazes.
Devastating floods on the China-Nepal border have killed hundreds and left thousands missing. Nepal reports nearly 1000 dead while China and Nepal coordinate rescue efforts amid a multiplier of foreigners among the missing.