Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Saturday (Feb 21, 2026)

Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto (centre), Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (right) and other world leaders attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Malaysia

* US tariff ruling lifts market sentiment, positive for M'sian markets, say economists

* TB outbreak: Mask up at crowded places like Ramadan bazaars, public urged

* Make mosques centres of unity, not exclusive domain of any group, says Pahang Sultan

* Police to call several individuals in probe over alleged share ownership by Azam Baki

* Rafizi to proceed with lawsuit against Caprice over alleged defamation

* DAP special congress is part of party's internal process, says Fahmi

* Bill to cap PM’s term at 10 years to be tabled on Monday

* 12 police personnel suspended over cryptocurrency theft

* Elderly woman stabbed by daughter with can opener in Johol

* 70-year-old woman swindled out of jewellery in 'pukau' scam

* Umno Supreme Working Council to decide on Bersatu members rejoining party, says Ahmad Maslan

* Urgent action needed to combat synthetic drug abuse among students, says Lee Lam Thye

* No elements of abuse, bullying found in Trooper Indiran's death, says Khaled

* Penang's esplanade seawall, promenade project wins Unesco heritage award

* Three more suspended in HRD Corp governance reset

* All govt agencies mobilised to assist flood victims in Sabah, says Zahid

* Sabah flood: Number of victims increased to 3,768 people at noon

* Public inspection for LRT Mutiara Line extension linking Penang Island, Seberang Perai

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, together with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, after a dinner hosted during Wong's special visit to Malaysia at Seri Negara. Wong left for Singapore on Saturday evening, Feb 21, 2026. -- Photo: Bernama

Singapore

* 'Still a shocker' - Audrey Fang's death: Family asks Spain court to extend suspect Mitchell Ong’s detention by two years

* Next South China Sea code of conduct negotiations set in Singapore in last week of February

* ‘Truly terrible’: Passenger describes escape after fatal fire breaks out on World Legacy cruise ship

* Audrey Fang case: Family asks Spain court to extend suspect Mitchell Ong’s detention by two years

* Scam victims in Singapore lose S$2.9mil in less than three weeks in February after fraudsters pose as officers

* Singapore’s financial sector a big winner - Liquidity will lead the charge in Singapore's equity market.

* Brent oil rises late on Friday, settles higher and with weekly gain on Iran-US jitters

Indonesia

* Indonesia did not pay US$1bil to join the Board of Peace, says Foreign Minister Sugiono

* Indonesia’s narcotics agency calls for full vape ban over drug abuse risk

* Indonesian crew member dies in cruise ship blaze

* Prabowo clinches US trade deal, slashing tariffs to 19%

* Indonesian police probe Rp 25 trillion money laundering linked to illegal gold mining in West Kalimantan

* Turkish Red Crescent aid continues to flow into Gaza after the reopening of Rafah crossing

(L-R) Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard for the South China Sea, Municipal Mayor Beltzesar Alindogan of Kalayaan, Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros, and Acting Commander of Western Command Commodore Charles Merric Villanueva raise a Philippine flag on Thitu Island in the South China Sea on Saturday, February 21, 2026. A Philippine senator called for deepening defence relationships and continuous pushback against China's claims in the South China Sea while visiting one of Manila's tiny possessions in the disputed waterway on February 21. -- Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP

Thailand

* Thailand and Myanmar hold talks to re-engage with Naypidaw and Asean after strained ties

* Deadly virus kills over 70 tigers at Chiang Mai park in north Thailand

* Probe underway after 72 tigers die at Chiang Mai, Thailand's tiger parks

* Thailand extends work permit renewals for workers from Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to March 31

* World top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul takes third-round lead at her home LPGA Thailand tournament 

Philippines

* Philippine senator calls out China in visit to disputed island

* Philippines’ Marcos visits former rival Robredo, but won’t talk alliance yet

* Former leader Duterte faces pre-trial ICC hearing

* Duterte at International Criminal Court: How he ended up accused of murder in international tribunal

* Mark Zuckerberg testifies in LA trial over claims social media makes kids addicted

A woman poses for photos on a street near national flags during the Lunar New Year celebrations, known as Tet in Vietnam, in Hanoi. -- Photo by Amaury PAUL / AFP

Vietnam

* Trump to remove Vietnam from restricted tech list, says Hanoi

* AI usage widespread in Ho Chi Minh City, but literacy gaps persist, says study

* Trump meets Vietnam leader To Lam, vows to remove Hanoi from restricted lists

* Washington offers US$200 million to boost the American smartphone industry in Indo-Pacific

* Vietnam PM urges faster progress of expressway projects in Lang Son, Cao Bang provinces

Myanmar

* Myanmar issues complete ban on e-cigarettes and e-shisha

* UN urges scam centre clampdown amid 'staggering' abuses; cases in Myanmar among the worst

* Myitkyina Airport in Myanmar attacked by drone, MNA Airlines passenger plane hit

* Myanmar seizes over 175 tons of illegal timber, arrests 19 offenders

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is recognized during a Board of Peace meeting at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. -- AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Cambodia

* Muslims preserve Ramadan traditions and religious bonding all over South-East Asia from Myanmar to Cambodia

* Tourists' much-favourite kite flying festival kicks off in Cambodia's major tourist hub

* Cambodia's Interior Ministry debuts new complaint system

* Opinion - ‘I dream he is looking for his phone’: Cambodian mother recalls how Thai shell killed her 13-year-old son

Laos

* Old Thai film quote sparks cross-border social media trend across Laos

* Diplomats call for adaptation to shifting global trends

* Laos pushes to promote commercial livestock farming

Brunei

* Ramadan buffet promotion in Brunei requires Halal certification

* Helping hands reach underprivileged households in Brunei

* How China overtook the US in hypersonic arms and may leave air defences ‘powerless’

Performers carry colorful fish lanterns in a festive procession during Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. -- AP Photo/Vincent Thian

Aseanplus

* Malaysia: Border control seizes RM1.9mil in animal products

* Chinese national feared drowned in Langkawi / Body of drowned Chinese national found

* Ringgit likely to trade cautiously next week ahead of key US data

* Blackpink becomes first artist to reach 100 million subscribers on YouTube

* Hongkonger, 63, falls to his death from high-rise while trying to save cat

* India, Brazil sign mining pact as Modi targets $20 billion trade in five years

* Call for ‘human control’ of AI by UN

* Fresh faces campaign on anti-corruption platform

* Pakistan, US sign pact to redevelop Roosevelt Hotel

* South Korea: Yoon remains defiant after life term

* Japan: Takaichi vows growth push, defence reset

* Autism among males and females more equal than thought 

* Trump to travel to China next month, with US tariffs in focus

* Two soldiers, five militants killed in Bannu, Pakistan army says

* Hong Kong plans to buy homes devastated in deadly high-rise fire

* Cargo ship navigator arrested after deadly collision in central Japan

* Large section of ceiling plunges into Hong Kong estate’s indoor pool

* Two giant pandas debut at Urumqi Water Park Zoo in Northwest China

* Residents in Australia’s Victoria state urged to evacuate as bushfire rages

* UK police seek information from ex-protection officers of king's brother Andrew

* North Korea leader Kim Jong-un reviews country’s progress at key party congress

* Comment - What skills will Japanese PM Takaichi need in her ‘Era of Dominance’?

* Hasan Piker talks about his controversial China trip – and ‘thinking Chinese thoughts’

* Analysis-Trump pushes US toward war with Iran as advisers urge focus on economy

* Japan issues travel alert for over 50 countries amid Middle East escalation and issues

* When is the best time to open Lunar New Year red packets in the Year of the Horse 2026?

* China youth ditch fast living to become ‘old-school humans’; stories get 1 billion views online

* China ‘history fangirls’ visit mausoleums, write books, marking rapid growth in heritage tourism

* Former Goa governor says he advised Thantri to close Sabarimala temple during 2018 women’s entry row

* Boxing - Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement - again

* Badminton - Chong Wei plays down Zii Jia concerns, gives him time to decide on Finals

* Cricket - India skipper Suryakumar backs opener Sharma despite three ducks in T20 World Cup

* Golf - Rahm left out as DP World Tour grants LIV releases, Ryder Cup future uncertain