ISTANBUL: (Bernama-Anadolu) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday (Feb 16) that Canada is "renewing” its relationship with China after Beijing announced visa-free travel for Canadian citizens, calling the move a key outcome of a new phase in bilateral engagement, Anadolu Ajansi reported. As part of our new strategic partnership, China is granting visa-free travel for Canadians,” Carney wrote on the social media platform X, describing the policy as a tangible sign of improving ties. China’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK will be allowed visa-free entry starting Feb 17, 2026. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached agreements on people-to-people exchanges during a separate visit. China has expanded visa-free entry to several Western nations in recent years as part of efforts to revive tourism and international travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Chinese New Year is celebrated together as a symbol of unity and cooperation among Malaysians. “This celebration we celebrate together shows our unity and togetherness,” he said during his speech at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) on Tuesday (Feb 17). Anwar greeted the crowd with “Ta jia hao” and extended his wishes to the Chinese community by saying “Gong Xi Fa Cai, xin nian kuai le dan nian nian hao”, wishing the celebrant that every year should be good. He thanked the Chinese community celebrating the Chinese New Year for working together with the government. In conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration at the KLSCAH, he said the building and the Chinese business community have long been intertwined with the country’s independence and development.

BAGAN SERAI: A proposal to equip every police vehicle with dashboard cameras (dashcams) will soon be submitted to the Inspector-General of Police. Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the initiative aims to enhance monitoring and allow the police to record and assess incidents in greater detail. On the operation, Muhammed Hasbullah said 3,609 personnel from the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department and 6,132 officers from the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department had been deployed from Feb 15 until 20. He said that the department would conduct focused monitoring at 25 hotspots and 46 blackspots along major highways, in addition to 407 hotspots and 76 blackspots on federal, state and municipal roads nationwide. "This operation is being carried out in cooperation with the Health Ministry, the Road Transport Department, the Fire and Rescue Department, and other agencies," he added.

Screengrab of the incident along the Sungai Petani–Kuala Ketil trunk road. -- Pic from socmedKUALA MUDA: A 21-year-old factory worker was killed after the motorcycle she was riding is believed to have skidded and crashed along the Sungai Petani–Kuala Ketil trunk road on Saturday. Kuala Muda district police chief Assistant Commissioner Hanyan Ramlan said the incident occurred at about 7.50pm while she was travelling from Kuala Ketil towards Sungai Petani. He said the motorcycle is believed to have lost control, veered to the right and fell. Police have urged witnesses or motorists with information to come forward to assist investigations.

Chow described the event as a resounding success, adding that the strong turnout of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and foreign tourists reflected the social harmony that underpins stability in the state. Chow described the event as a resounding success, adding that the strong turnout of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and foreign tourists reflected the social harmony that underpins stability in the state. "I hope Penang can continue to serve as a model in promoting unity, harmony and the well-being of its people," he told reporters. Also present were Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib and his wife, Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah. A highlight of the event was the Yee Sang tossing ceremony, symbolising prosperity and well-being for all in Penang in 2026.

General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander senior assistant commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the makeshift factories, often in inaccessible locations, frequently changed operations and sites, posing major challenges for enforcement agencies. STR/SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAHKOTA BARU: Many illegal e-waste processing sites on the East Coast are hidden in remote plantations and employ foreign workers, making them difficult for authorities to detect and raid. General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander senior assistant commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the makeshift factories, often in inaccessible locations, frequently changed operations and sites, posing major challenges for enforcement agencies. Since last year, the GOF Southeast Brigade has recorded 41 cases involving e-waste, minerals, and other illegal extraction activities, with seizures valued at more than RM413 million. Sources said local operators favoured foreign workers because they accepted lower wages, harsh and unsafe conditions, and were less likely to report abuses, while their isolation in remote locations made them easier to control.

ISTANBUL: (Bernama-Anadolu) A man was killed and two people were critically injured in a stabbing attack Tuesday (Feb 17) along a busy shopping strip in western Sydney in Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing local media. A man believed to be in his 30s or 40s died at the scene despite emergency efforts. Police confirmed that two of the stabbings took place inside a business premises, while a third occurred on the footpath outside. Police arrested a man behind a nearby house on Smythe Street and he was taken to Granville Police Station. A crime scene has been established as police continue investigations into the motive behind the attack.

According to the Department of National Heritage website, construction of the KLSCAH building began in 1910 and was fully completed in 1923 - KLSCAH WEBSITEKUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called for conservation efforts to be carried out on the 100-year-old Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) building in Jalan Maharajalela. He said this is to facilitate the requirements for the building to be recognised as a historic building and national heritage. The prime minister also instructed Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, along with all relevant committees, to sit together to discuss so that the recognition efforts can be achieved. "We treat this building as a historic building, as heritage. According to the Department of National Heritage website, construction of the KLSCAH building began in 1910 and was fully completed in 1923.

The maritime domain is widely seen as the earliest test of credibility, given the Philippines' dual role as Asean Chair and a claimant state in the South China Sea - a position that demands both diplomatic restraint and regional leadership. Rahul added that Manila would need to exercise caution in managing developments in the South China Sea to ensure disputes do not spill over into wider regional tensions. "The South China Sea is a sensitive issue, but as the chair, the Philippines must take up tasks that previous presidencies have not. "Progress on the COC is likely to be incremental at best; the real test will be preventing escalation while preserving Asean unity and relevance," he said. Siti Darwinda said the approach dovetails with the Philippines' 2026 Asean Chairmanship theme, 'Navigating Our Future, Together' which underscores collective efforts to strengthen peace and security, enhance prosperity, and empower communities across the region.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s automotive sector total industry volume (TIV) increased 27% to 64,298 units in January 2026 from 50,449 units in the same month last year, mainly contributed by the spill-over effect from new model launches towards the end of 2025. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said sales of passenger vehicles improved 28% to 60,369 units from 47,019 units a year earlier, while commercial vehicle sales rose 15% to 3,929 units from 3,430 units previously. Meanwhile, production gained 6% to 60,866 units last month from 57,450 units a year earlier, it said in a statement yesterday. Passenger vehicle production grew to 57,367 units from 54,345 units previously, while commercial vehicle output rose to 3,499 units from 3,105 units previously, it said. However, MAA said TIV in January 2026 was 29% lower than December 2025, mainly due to advance purchase in December 2025 of 90,716 units – the highest monthly TIV ever.

In what is believed to be a murder-suicide case that has shaken the settlement, residents shared their shock over the horrific incident, saying the family had never displayed any unusual behaviour. "He was friendly with the neighbours and two days ago he spoke to my husband, asking about his health. Saripah, whose house shares the same wall as the suspect's, said she only learnt about the incident after realising huge police presence along the road near the victim's house. "I saw one of the victims' family members sitting outside the house when I went to feed the chickens at 7.30am. He said that the victim's family had been living in Taman Cherating Damai since the settlement was opened in 2009, although he did not know them well.

Existing backers including Alibaba, Tencent and 5Y Capital have already committed more than US$700 million to the first tranche of the latest round, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing private information. Representatives of Moonshot, Alibaba and 5Y didn’t respond to requests seeking comment. Beijing-based Moonshot last month released its Kimi K2.5, leading a wave of major Chinese AI model upgrades ahead of the crucial weeklong Lunar New Year holiday. Talks around the financing are progressing and it’s not certain if Moonshot can hit its target valuation, the people said. Moonshot was founded by former Tsinghua University professor Yang Zhilin, who had earlier stints working on AI projects at Meta Platforms Inc and Google.

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 17): Traffic flow on several major highways nationwide was reported to be slow as of noon on Tuesday, following an increase in vehicle volume and rainy weather in many locations. A spokesperson for the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) said that on the North-South Highway (PLUS) E2, traffic was slow northbound at Pasir Gudang to Setia Tropika, Kulai to Sedenak, Simpang Ampat Intersection to Hentian Sebelah Pedas Linggi, Pedas Linggi to Senawang and Senawang to Seremban. For PLUS E2 southbound, traffic was slow at Bangi to Southville, Putra Mahkota to R&R Seremban, Seremban to Pedas Linggi, Machap to Simpang Renggam, and Setia Tropika to Dato Onn. A total of 32 smart lanes were activated along the PLUS Highway on Tuesday to ensure traffic remains smooth. The public can get the latest traffic information via 1-800-88-7752 for 24 hours from Feb 13 to Feb 22, as well as via the X website @plustrafik and @llmtrafik.

TORONTO, ⁠Feb 16 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced ⁠on Monday the appointment of public servant Janice ‌Charette as the next chief trade negotiator to the United States. Canada sends about 70% of its exports to ⁠the United States. CUSMA, also known as ​the United States-Mexico-Canada ‌Agreement, is a continental trade pact that has ⁠shielded much ​of Canada's exports from U.S. tariffs. "As Chief ⁠Trade Negotiator, she will advance Canadian interests and a strengthened trade and investment relationship that benefits workers and industries in both Canada and the United States.”Charette ​has twice served as clerk ⁠of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet, ​according to the statement. The clerk ‌of the Privy Council is ​the head of the civil service in Canada.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim deflected questions about Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s call for the removal of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki over allegations related to his shareholdings. Earlier in his speech, Anwar expressed hope that the Year of the Horse would bring economic growth and development for the people and the country. In his speech, Rafizi urged coalition partners to take a clear stand on the issue, saying that their position could influence public opinion. He also said they would return to the streets if an independent and transparent investigation into the issue was not carried out. On Saturday (Feb 14), Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said a special committee led by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar had begun a probe into the matter.