Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (Feb 16, 2026)

People pray to gods as part of the traditional worship rituals on the eve of the Lunar New Year at a temple in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, February 16, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Malaysia

* King and Queen extend Chinese New Year greetings

* Agong warns graft offenders: ‘No one is above the law’

* New govt policy speeds up bankruptcy discharge for four groups

* EPF dividend seen at 6.3% to 6.5% for 2025 - economist

* 'Datuk' businessman charged in RM20mil cheating case

* Rain, thunderstorms forecast for first day of CNY

* Police probe of defence info leaks still ongoing, says Khaled

* Commanding officers must declare assets, says Armed Forces chief

* KLIA Customs bust three smuggling operations worth RM2.5mil

* MACC investigating RM1.1bil govt deal with overseas firm

* MACC releases two senior agency officials in RM900,000 graft probe

* Armed Forces chief vows to fix trust deficit and overhaul procurement

* Restructuring of military doctrine needed to face modern warfare, says Armed Forces chief

* Cases of counterfeit money detected at top-up counters, says expressway operator

* Malaysia's 2026 GDP growth seen at 4.5-4.7% driven by domestic demand, export growth

A dragon dance troupe performs an LED dragon dance on the eve of the Lunar New Year at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, on Monday, February 16, 2026. -- Photo: REUTERS/Edgar Su

Singapore

* Singapore's RM46.7bil budget surplus reflects uncertain economy, cyclical windfalls, say economists

* Man in Singapore jailed five months for molesting woman after claiming he was her father’s workmate

* Singapore’s harmony must be actively renewed, says PM Wong in Chinese New Year message

* Singapore's exports up 9.3% in Jan on strong AI-related demand

* I owe all my success to him: Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira on her coach Luis Cunha

* Man accused of helping transnational investment scam syndicate targeting Singapore residents

* Riding into 60: Singaporean celebrity Chuando Tan on his viral vitality and staying young

Indonesia

* Indonesian President Prabowo departs for US to hold bilateral talks with Trump 

* Prabowo says Indonesia may need an authoritarian touch to fight corruption

* Indonesian woman found dead in Banting plantation

* Son of Indonesian oil tycoon Riza Chalid faces 18 years in Pertamina graft case

* Actress’ LinkedIn stunt strikes a nerve among young Indonesian job seekers

* Official: National-level CNY celebration to enhance cultural understanding

Spectators watch performers using flyboards to perform a lion dance at Senayan Park shopping mall ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which will welcome the Year of the Horse, in Jakarta, Indonesia. -- REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Thailand

* Thailand's economic growth beats forecasts, and the government lifts outlook to 3% for 2026

* Anutin says Bhumjaithai party will take charge of security and economy in new Thai govt

* Bhumjaithai govt eyes Thai land bridge project, transport ministry says tender possible within four years

* Border Control Agency foils attempt to smuggle 2.09 tonnes of produce from Thailand

* Low level of Mekong River draws Nong Khai villagers to pan for gold

Philippines

* Philippines' digital bank Maya is said to weigh US IPO of up to a whopping US$1bil

* Ex-Philippine president Duterte's ICC case - Two current Philippine senators named ‘co-perpetrators’ in the drug war

* Search data shows how Filipinos mark Chinese New Year

* Magnitude 5 earthquake strikes Philippines' Ilocos Sur province

* Using Asia to cover his shady tracks - E-mails show that financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein hired a team in the Philippines

Shoppers at a market ahead of the Lunar New Year in Shanghai, China. The Chinese New Year is traditionally a time for gathering with family, cleaning house, and exchanging gifts — not only in China but also across several other Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea, and their diasporas. -- Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

Vietnam

* China's humanoid robots ready for Lunar New Year showtime; humanoids also helping our border crossing trade with Vietnam

* Vietnam strengthens appeal to long-term investors

* Ho Chi Minh launches Vietnam’s first cross-sea UAV delivery route

* Asia shares becalmed by holidays, dire Japan data

* Vietnam govt licenses Musk’s satellite internet firm Starlink

Myanmar

* Myanmar expels East Timor's representative over war crimes case

* Myanmar celebrates the Chinese New Year with gatherings and huge festivities

* Oil drifts ahead of US-Iran nuclear talks

* ‘Even hope is a risk’ - Five years after the coup, Myanmar remains a shambles

A Cambodian girl (centre) burns incense sticks for Lunar New Year celebrations on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, ahead of the Lunar New Year. -- AP Photo/Heng Sinith

Cambodia

* Cambodian PM Manet to attend ‘Board of Peace’ meeting in US and also make trade visit Europe

* Cambodian PM sends Lunar New Year greetings

* Insurance premiums rose in Q4 2024, as Cambodia slowly embraces financial protections

* Emerging Market - Asian FX steady in thin holiday trade; Thai stocks climb to over one‑year high

Laos

* Laos’ economic recovery gains momentum, but labour shortages persist

* Lao Agriculture​ ministry, EU mull deeper partnership in agriculture and forestry

* Ecowatch: Trees are amazing, and we have the numbers to prove it

Brunei

* Prince Mateen and Princess Anisha of Brunei reveal baby's name

* Two Filipina women jailed for overstaying in Brunei

* Gold drops more than 1% as thin trade, profit‑taking weigh

TOPSHOT - Men perform molten iron fireworks in a park in Beijing ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse. -- Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP

Aseanplus

* Malaysia politics - Wan Saiful withdraws appeal against Bersatu dismissal

* Celebrate Year of the Horse with these fun equestrian activities

* Two mechanics charged with smuggling four migrants in Tumpat

* With fewer acting jobs, Malaysian actor Shaun Chen charges on as a first-time film producer

* East China fireworks store explosion kills eight

* India hosts AI summit as safety concerns grow

* A new Bangladesh demands new directions

* Japan's economy barely grew in Q4, misses forecasts

* Seven workers killed in a chemical factory fire in India

* Alleged Bondi Beach gunman makes first court appearance

* Australian granddad kidnapped in case of mistaken identity

* Ubisoft targets new decade of 'Rainbow 6' with China expansion

* Japan nixes advance deportation notice to lawyers of foreigners

* Taiwan's cycling 'missionary' and Giant founder King Liu dies at 91

* Japan’s toilet vehicles provide comfort to evacuees during disasters

* China's Lunar New Year travel rush is world's biggest annual migration

* Shares edge up in thinly-traded holiday markets, Japan data disappoint

* North Korea's new Congress to reset arms goals as gaps seen in 2021 plan

* Senior ‘Luffy’ crime group member gets life sentence over Japan robberies

* Half of Australian teens at risk of anxiety or depression by 20, study warns

* Miss Jamaica shares update from hospital 3 months after shocking stage fall

* Wild New Zealand storm disrupts transport, leaves thousands without power

* French police raid Arab World Institute in Epstein-linked probe into Jack Lang

* Thirty four Australians released from Syrian camp holding IS-affiliated families

* Taiwan TV host Dee Hsu returning to work a year after sister Barbie Hsu’s death

* China woman quits teaching to sell coffins to Europe, generating US$6 million sales annually

* Move over, Dubai-style chewy cookies: ‘Frozen jelly’ set to be South Korea’s next dessert craze

* Powered by women, ‘Wuthering Heights’ digs up US$34.8 million at the box office for a No. 1 debut

* 'They're so valuable' - Pokemon cards sold at auction for a staggering world record of US$16.49mil

* World leaders and heads of international organisations extend wishes to Xi Jinping for Chinese New Year

* Tennis - Lucky losers step in as withdrawals shake Dubai draw, reignite calendar debate

* Football - JDT out to roar past Vissel Kobe to stay among Asia's elite

* Cricket - Australia batter Smith replaces Hazlewood in T20 World Cup squad

* Cricket - Supreme India rout bitter rivals Pakistan by 61 runs at T20 World Cup

* Cricket - What they said as India steamrolled past Pakistan at T20 World Cup - reaction 

* Badminton - France shock Denmark for European title to add new twist to Thomas Cup race