Thailand

Thai court extends sentence for lawyer who called for monarchy reform

BANGKOK: A Thai court has sentenced a jailed activist lawyer to an additional two years and eight months in prison for insulting the monarchy at a rally in November 2020, a rights group said on Friday (Feb 20), bringing his combined sentence to more than 30 years.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah floods: Victims told to prioritise safety as Paitan, Kota Marudu, Pitas declared disaster zones

KOTA KINABALU: Flood victims statewide, especially in the worst-hit areas of Paitan, Kota Marudu, Pitas and Sandakan, are urged to refrain from taking unnecessary risks and to prioritise their safety.

Badminton

Sze Fei-Izzuddin agree to Thomas Cup, Asian Games, says Rexy

PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have agreed to help strengthen the national squad for the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark from April 24-May 3.

World

Ukrainians mourn missing homes and loved ones after four years of war

DZENZELIVKA, Ukraine, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Sixty-five-year-old Halyna Popriadukhina has fled her ⁠home three times as Russian troops have marched deeper into eastern Ukraine during four years of war. Tired of running, she hopes Ukraine can somehow hold ⁠them back.

Vietnam

Ministry proposes restructuring Vietnam Railways Corp into national railway group to spearhead North–South mega project

HANOI: The Ministry of Finance has proposed upgrading Vietnam Railways (VNR) Corporation into the Vietnam National Railway Group to advance the domestic railway industry with the focus on implementing the North-South high-speed railway mega project.

AI

ByteDance building out artificial intelligence team in US

Chinese tech giant ByteDance Ltd is hiring in the US for nearly 100 open roles within its artificial intelligence division, an effort to compete with the world's leading US-based AI companies despite years of national security concerns from American lawmakers and regulators.

Fashion

King Charles makes surprising front-row appearance at London Fashion Week opener

London Fashion Week launched with a rare visit from King Charles III only hours after his brother Andrew's sensational arrest, overshadowing an event traditionally focused on highlighting new talent.

Family

These Malaysian families celebrating CNY view superstitions as a tool for unity

Taboos such as not sweeping the floor and wearing old clothes on the first day of CNY are still held close, even by the younger generation.

Animals

Street cats are pampered and showered with affection in Istanbul

Istanbul has more than 160,000 cats living on its streets who are regularly fed and fussed over by the city's 16 million residents.

Living

Stay in shape and give back: Combining exercise with volunteering in Britain

Combining exercise with volunteering works out for members of an alternative gym in Britain.

Nation

Microsleep accounts for 20% of road accidents, says Miros

KUALA LUMPUR: Microsleep, or briefly dozing off while driving, is a major contributor to road accidents in the country, with around 20 per cent of cases, including fatalities, reported each year.

Badminton

Zii Jia, Jin Wei have one week to decide on BAM's Thomas-Uber Cup offer

PETALING JAYA: Professional shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei have been given one week to decide whether they want to represent Malaysia at the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup Finals.

Brunei

Seasonal boost pushes Brunei business sentiment into positive territory

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei businesses ended 2025 on a cautiously positive note, with overall sentiment edging into expansionary territory in December, according to the latest Business Sentiment Index (BSI) released by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB)

Cricket

Cricket-Trott unsure of future but England coaching role appeals

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Jonathan Trott ⁠enjoyed a victory in his last game in charge of ⁠Afghanistan on Thursday and while he does not know ‌what the future holds he said he would jump at the chance to coach England if the opportunity arose.

Badminton

Chong Wei meets Zii Jia, Jin Wei at BAM over Thomas-Uber Cup talk

PETALING JAYA: Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia sprang a surprise when he showed up at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Friday (Feb 20).

Sabah & Sarawak

Unity and harmony vital to preserve Malaysians' well-being, says Tiong

SIBU: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has stressed the importance of preserving racial harmony and unity, describing it as a unique strength that must be safeguarded for the people's well-being.

World

Exclusive-Ukraine's 2026 defence exports could hit 'several billion dollars', official says

KYIV, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine could export several billion ⁠dollars of military goods and services this year after authorising its first wartime foreign sales and is considering introducing a ⁠tax on those exports, a senior Ukrainian defence official said.

Nation

Steven Sim hospitalised for extreme fatigue

GEORGE TOWN: Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has been admitted to the hospital after experiencing extreme fatigue due to a hectic work schedule over the past few weeks.

World

South Korea's ex-President Yoon apologises after life sentence over martial law

SEOUL, Feb 20 (Reuters) - ⁠Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologised on Friday for his ⁠short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, a day after a ‌Seoul court sentenced him to life in prison for masterminding an insurrection.

True Or Not

QuickCheck: Will housewives and single mums be getting RM1,500 in govt aid this month?

A POST circulating on social media platform Threads claims that the government has approved financial assistance of RM1,500 for housewives, senior citizens and single mothers.