KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Madani Government remains committed to protecting creative freedom so that arts practitioners can produce braver, higher-quality and more meaningful works for the benefit of society and the nation.

BANGKOK, Jan 14 — At least 25 people were killed and around 80 injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand today, causing it to derail, police said.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 14 — A male toy store sales assistant pleaded not guilty at the Syariah High Court here today to a charge of cross-dressing and behaving like a woman last year.

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 14 — A 65-year-old man lost RM668,800 after falling prey to a syndicate running a fake share investment scheme that promised high returns.

KOTA BHARU, Jan 14 — Kelantan police arrested two brothers and seized homemade firearms believed to have been used for illegal moneylending debt collection during a raid at a house near Kampung Seneng, Jelawat, Bachok, yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that no Malaysians have been reported to be directly affected by the attacks in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani in southern Thailand early today.