India

Five years on, surgical instrument removed from Kerala woman’s abdomen

KERALA, (India): A surgery was done to remove the surgical instrument from the abdomen of a 51-year-old woman on Saturday (Feb 21) at a private hospital in Kochi - five years later.

Nation

Domestic Trade Ministry mobilises 2,400 enforcement officers for Ops Pantau 2026

PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has deployed more than 2,400 enforcement officers nationwide under Ops Pantau 2026 to monitor high-traffic areas and prevent price manipulation or supply disruptions throughout Ramadan and leading up to Aidilfitri.

Sabah & Sarawak

Floods: 245 evacuated in Tawau

KOTA KINABALU: Tawau became the latest district in Sabah to be declared a flood disaster zone, with 245 displaced victims from 55 families.

China

Chinese New Year holiday visits to Hong Kong top 1.16 million

HONG KONG: Hong Kong had recorded over 1.16 million visitor arrivals from Sunday (Feb 15) to Friday (Feb 20) as many people from the Chinese mainland travelled to the city during the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) holiday, local data showed on Saturday (Feb 21)

Music

For Suzanne Vega, inspiration for a song can arrive from anywhere, anytime

Singer Suzanne Vega cites her inspirations – Bob Dylan, Marc Chagall and NYC rats – for her latest album, 'Flying With Angels'.

Living

Malaysian DIYer and homemaker's abode in Kuala Pilah an upcycled and creative space

Mother of four Norpadilah Afandi in Negri Sembilan makes beautiful rustic furniture using rescued materials.

Social media

What's at stake in the landmark US trial against social media firms?

At the age of 6, she was already watching YouTube videos. Then she had an Instagram account – years before she was actually allowed. Snapchat and TikTok followed.

Wellness

Using donor poop to fight cancer

Here's what you need to know about how faecal microbiota transplants work.

Japan

Business hotels expanding into regional areas in Japan, aiming to attract tourists; competition likely to intensify

TOKYO: Operators of business hotels, which are known for catering to travelling business people, are stepping up their expansion into regional areas, anticipating an increase in guests visiting not only for business but also for tourism.

Nation

MCA open to work with ex-Bersatu members

YONG PENG: MCA will not close its doors on former Bersatu affiliate wing members who have exited the party following its ongoing internal crisis, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

South Korea

South Korean dad says he took fall for his son's murder, but court finds him guilty of domestic abuse

SEOUL: A 41-year-old initially convicted for killing his son was cleared of the murder charge but sentenced to 13 years in prison for abetting the crime and repeatedly abusing his children, in a recent ruling.

Sabah & Sarawak

Pangolin still in danger despite reduced threat in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Threats against the protected pangolin, including poaching, have reduced in Sabah, but it doesn't mean these species are safe now.

Books

Pelicot’s memoir launches in 22 languages, turning horror into hope for survivors

Pelicot recounts her survival in the book and first interviews since the 2024 trial that made her a symbol against sexual violence

Social media

Your child vs doomscrolling: How bottomless feeds impact schoolkids

Whether TikTok, Instagram and other platforms are as dangerous as alcohol or tobacco is a question now putting Meta and Google on trial in the United States, putting TikTok under pressure in the EU and being debated by governments around the world.

Nation

Economic opportunities for Penang predicted to prosper mid-2026

GEORGE TOWN: Investors should seize economic opportunities in Penang by mid-year, when prospects are expected to peak before tapering off towards year-end, according to a prediction during the annual flame-watching ceremony at the 176-year-old Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple (Hock Hin Keong) in Bayan Lepas.

World

Trump hikes US global tariff rate to 15%

WASHINGTON: US President Donald ⁠Trump raised the global duty on imports into the United States to 15% on Saturday (Feb 21), doubling down on his promise to maintain his aggressive tariff policy a day after the Supreme Court ruled much of it illegal.

Comment

A sentiment called ‘Casablanca’

When I started penning this article, I was aboard the flight to Casablanca, the city that has captured the hearts of many over the decades, including me, thanks to the 1942 cinematographic Casablanca was made famous by a love triangle story of a film set in the city during the Second World War, when massive numbers of European refugees fleeing Nazi persecution thronged to this North African city in hope of securing travel passes to the US.

World

Australia rejects report it is repatriating families of IS militants from Syrian camp

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left ⁠government on Sunday rejected a local media report that ⁠said it was working to repatriate Australians in a Syrian ‌camp holding families of suspected Islamic State militants.

World

5 bodies of migrants washed ashore in east of Libya's capital Tripoli, police officer says

TRIPOLI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - At least ⁠five bodies of migrants including two women have been washed ashore in َQasr ⁠al-Akhyar, a coastal town in the east of Libya's capital Tripoli, ‌a police officer told Reuters on Saturday.

World

Islamic State claims two attacks on Syrian army, announces ‘new phase’ of operations

Feb 22 - Islamic ⁠State claimed responsibility on Saturday for two attacks targeting Syrian army personnel in ⁠northern and eastern Syria, as the militant group signaled what it described as ‌a new phase of operations against the country's leadership.