The month of love gets into gear with the Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta kicking off on Thursday (Feb 13) at Singha Park in Chiang Rai’s Mueang district. It features more than 30 hot air balloons rising into the sky both during the day and at night. The balloons bring a romantic vibe at night, while on the ground, festival-goers can enjoy khon masked dance and concerts from Thai artists. The fiesta is ongoing through Valentine's Day (Feb 14) until Monday (Feb 17). - Photo: The Nation/ANN
Malaysia
* Anwar: Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to be amended
* PM Anwar defends maintaining Sosma as necessary against terrorism
* Probe against university students in anti-corruption rally and families of Sosma detainees dropped, says PM
* Peaceful Assembly Act amendment ‘bold’ decision, says Backbenchers Club
* No assault incident involving Sosma detainees at Sungai Buloh prison, says Home Minister
* Syed Mokhtar to channel RM30mil to help poor padi farmers, says PM
* Key figure in 1MDB probe appeared familiar to Saudi royals, witness tells court
* MACC remands Datuk, three others over bribery, RM2.6mil in false claims
* I’ll explain in Parliament after Najib’s court cases end, says Anwar on royal addendum
* Enforcement officer arrested for taking bribe to accept disposal of diesel below market price
* Education Ministry eyes immediate measures to boost students' English proficiency
* 21 foreigners, two locals nabbed in raid on unlicensed JB entertainment centre
* UMS student group welcomes amendments to Peaceful Assembly Act
* GRS failed to reduce unemployment in Sabah, says Libaran MP
* Majority of peaceful assembly applications approved without legal action, says Home Minister
* MACC nabs sports body senior officers for RM1.3mil false claims, power abuse
* Man jailed nine months, fined RM11,300 for crashing car into bank in Tawau
* Electricity tariff hikes may burden consumers, says Ismail Sabri
* Johor sets up same-sex, LGBTQ rehab centre
* Ismail Sabri questions govt strategies to mitigate impact of US tariffs on M'sian economy
* Law to be amended to go after those who try to pass off local rice as imported
* Account executive charged with making obscene gesture, obstructing police escort
* Policeman fined RM5,000 for accepting bribe
* Kajang Hospital rebrands as Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital
* Muhyiddin calls for white paper to address rice industry issues
* Quick thinking security officers prevent fire at Johor Baru mall
* Modernising Malaysia’s Contracts Act: A blueprint for economic growth and legal certainty
* MOH to digitalise hospital information systems starting this year
* PM urges public housing leaders to oversee cleanliness and maintenance
* Win-win hoped with new padi floor price, says Mohamad Sabu
* No VEP enforcement without announcement first, says Loke
* Malaysia's investment climate remains strong, says Anwar
* Govt to call for bids to build elevated ART system complementing RTS Link
* Explosions, fire reported at PD power plant, TNB says situation under control
* Kelantan mulls new duty-free zone, better tourism activities to compete with Thai border towns
Singapore
* Johor Baru to have RM2.6bil mall topped by four towers at end of Rapid Transit System (RTS) ride from Woodlands
* Rail operators in Singapore working with Land Transport Authority to improve response, find root causes after recent MRT delays
* Jail for Singaporean retiree who shoved 90-year-old man with dementia, causing fatal head injury
* Eleven years' jail, rotan for man who raped then-girlfriend’s teenage daughter in Singapore
* Singaporean radio DJ Dennis Chew mourns father, who dies a day after he completes diploma studies
* Fires involving AMDs up again in Singapore in 2024, with 21.8% rise in cases
* From comedy to culinary tours, 6 things to remember about late veteran entertainer Moses Lim
* Household incomes in Singapore rise in 2024, resident households received more support from government schemes
Indonesia
* Legality of Prabowo’s budget cuts in doubt
* Indonesian villages told to evacuate as volcano alert hits highest level
* Indonesia seeks new deals as Trump tariffs roil trade
* Leaders talk defence and economy
Thailand
* Valentine's Day romance floats to the skies in Chiang Rai
* Marriage registration, festivities to launch in Bangkok for Valentine’s Day
* Thailand receives 260 victims of human trafficking from Myanmar, army says
* Thailand loses its crown as top spot for Chinese New Year to Japan
* Man handed 15 days in Thai jail for throwing a puppy into the sea
* Thai PM orders study on US trade policy impact on exports
* Trump halts humanitarian efforts
Philippines
* PDP party bet: No two-thirds Senate vote to convict VP Sara Duterte if slate wins
* Jollibee shares in the Philippines rally after foreign ownership cap scrapped
* Philippines expected to cut key rate to two-year low after GDP miss
* Nearly out from watchdog’s dirty money ‘grey list’
* Law agency recommends VP Duterte to be charged
Vietnam
* Vietnam to host Asian Muaythai championship for the first time
* Coffee prices hit record highs in Vietnam, heightening speculation risks
* Mine clearance halted in central Vietnam due to US aid suspension
* WWF-Vietnam identifies six effective plastic reduction models
Myanmar
* Karen Buddhist army vows to rescue scam victims on Myanmar border
* Myanmar Airways International launches new direct Mandalay-Chiang Mai route
* Thousands of call centre victims in Myanmar to be released via Thailand
* Myanmar holds first Thanakha performance competition
Cambodia
* Cambodia's ex-leader Hun Sen pledges to 'eliminate' would-be assassins
* Vietnamese blogger detained in Cambodia
* Cambodian court investigating bribery allegations
Laos
* Indochina Bank launches the newest product ‘Daina Pay’ to support our customer in times of need
* Laos trade value exceeds US$16 billion in 2024
Brunei
* Evolving crime trends require adaptable and capable police force in Brunei
* Brunei Sultan grants audience to visiting Musa Aman
* Brunei contest strengthens commitment to Quran appreciation
* Celebrating women power in Brunei business
Aseanplus
* Two Macau tourists among four dead in Taiwan building gas explosion: two-year-old girl severely injured in incident
* Suspected gas explosion kills four at Taiwan department store
* Dr Zaliha: Anwar has visited 31 countries since 2022 to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties
* Six missing, five rescued as fishing boat catches fire in Seoul
* Family in China accuses mall of negligence after escalator slices off toddler’s fingers
* Former Category III star Amy Yip hosts CNY dinner with celeb friends, orders 2 patin fish from Malaysia
* Cops arrest foreign couple kicked off China-bound flight after causing ruckus
* Taiwanese actor Kai Ko mourns death of dog Max: ‘Thank you for these 3,511 days’
* Bank Negara issues discussion paper on National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2026-2030, seeks feedback
* Ringgit ends higher after correcting oversold position
* Trading in MAHB shares to be suspended from Feb 20
* Unprecedented US visit by all 13 Canadian premiers paints China as ‘common economic enemy’
* Soccer-No booze in 2034 World Cup, LGBTQ fans welcome, Saudi ambassador says
* KWAP’s fund grows to RM185.6bil in 2024; records highest gross investment income of RM18bil
* Chhattisgarh High Court acquits husband in unnatural sex case, asserts adult married women cannot allege rape or unnatural acts
* Honda, Nissan terminate merger talks
* 'It's all about life' as local hip-hop-reggae stars Luca Sikta, Kmy Kmo and Salammusik goes high tempo with 'Ke Mana Ni' under Sony Music
* Trump's plan for Gaza must be condemned, says Ismail Sabri, calls for special motion to be tabled
* Korean woman punished for biting off tongue of attempted rapist to get retrial 60 years later
* Malaysia has not established official relations with Taliban-led Afghanistan, says Education Minister
* Hong Kong minibus king’s family to sell The Center assets at 34% discount from 2018 price
* Japan man starts dating agency after 2,000 failed blind dates due to low income, living at home
* Alibaba wins prized role powering AI on Apple’s iPhone in China
* Oil falls as potential Ukraine peace deal may ease supply disruptions
* Anwar: Foreign holdings in capital market remain around 19% as of January 2025
* Indian PM Modi, US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard discuss various aspects of India-US friendship
* China proposes Putin-Trump summit to end Ukraine war, WSJ reports
* South Korean intelligence chief rebuts testimony of deputy over Yoon order to arrest politicians
* Extremely high levels of PFAS detected in groundwater in Osaka, Japan
* Beijing approves construction of first South China Sea deepwater ‘space station’
* Apple’s AI partnership with Alibaba excites Chinese iOS developers ahead of conference
* Bitcoin hoarder stock soars 4,800% in Japan on crypto rally
* Coinbase plans Indian comeback amid regulatory engagements, TechCrunch reports
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome death toll rises to eight in southwestern India
* ‘They’re hiring less’: China’s ‘iPhone City’ falls quiet as market rivalry intensifies
* Jurassic fossil discovery in east China sheds new light on origin of birds
* Yoon back in South Korean court for impeachment hearing
* Miss Pacific Islands judges questioned by police, stopped at border after Samoa win
* Asian stocks rise, bond selloff after US CPI calms
* Toxic gas puts pause on sinkhole body recovery
* Keeping tourist trash out of Nara deer diets
* North calls out ‘usurper’ US over land grab plans
* Modi in bid to charm Trump – again
* Feature: Chinese-American philanthropist Angela Chen honored for bridging cultures
