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This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
Malaysia
‘Moral harm’: Malaysia’s culture war brigade tries to hose down water festival
Kuala Lumpur’s Rain Rave Water Music Festival faces backlash from critics who argue that such vulgar imports hurt conservative values.
1 May 2026 - 4:10PM
Brics
Iran war tests India’s Brics leadership as ‘political relevance’ questions mount
30 Apr 2026 - 7:49PM
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Japan
What’s behind Japan’s novel move to share Mogami warship design with India?
30 Apr 2026 - 7:07PM
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The Philippines
Can Philippines’ new anti-Pogo playbook rein in fast-moving scam hubs?
The new inter-agency rules aim to give investigators a framework tailored to Pogo-linked crime and support a coordinated response.
30 Apr 2026 - 7:17PM
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A closed Philippine online gaming operator (Pogo) hub inside the former Island Cove resort in Kawit, Cavite province in December 2024. Photo: AFP
South Korea
South Korea’s Yoon has jail term raised to 7 years in obstruction case
A court increased the ex-president’s sentence from five to seven years on charges related to his botched martial law bid.
29 Apr 2026 - 9:22PM
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Singapore
Solidarity or showmanship? Singapore politicians’ train rides split opinion
Public transport posts by ministers and MPs have drawn praise from some Singaporeans and accusations of ‘wayang’ from others.
28 Apr 2026 - 8:57PM
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South Korea
Why South Korea’s Lee is urging ‘mutual respect’ diplomacy amid US tensions
The president’s remarks and emphasis on a self-reliant defence posture may signal Seoul’s efforts to diversify its global partners, analysts say.
28 Apr 2026 - 8:03PM
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President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
Asean
Why Malacca Strait tolls are unlikely despite Indonesia’s maritime push
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are united in upholding the principle of free passage but this must be ‘actively maintained’, analysts say.
28 Apr 2026 - 6:35PM
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The Philippines
Damage control? Philippines’ Sara Duterte hits back against wealth allegations
The vice-president’s husband has also filed a complaint against senior officials and lawmakers for ‘leaking’ the couple’s bank information.
28 Apr 2026 - 1:54PM
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Malaysia
State-level rebellion in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan tests Anwar’s coalition
Umno-led Barisan Nasional claims to have a simple majority after teaming up with opposition lawmakers amid an attempt to overthrow the ruler.
28 Apr 2026 - 6:24PM
Asean
Will Asean’s oil scramble mean Russia builds lasting stronghold in region?
Southeast Asia’s pivot may be for economic reasons, but some analysts warn Moscow could seek to build lasting influence in the region.
28 Apr 2026 - 7:24PM
A man refuels the tank of a motorcycle at a petrol station in Manila, the Philippines, on April 7. The Strait of Hormuz blockade has resulted in energy shortages in Asia. Photo: AFP
The Philippines
Philippine court order over Marcos’ health raises constitutional question
The order for Marcos to comment on a petition comes as Duterte’s supporters continue to cast doubts about the president’s fitness.
27 Apr 2026 - 5:57PM
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Malaysia
Malaysia’s Najib ends house-arrest appeal over 1MDB-linked prison sentence
The withdrawal ends the former prime minister’s attempt to serve out his SRC sentence at home after his jail term was halved in 2024.
27 Apr 2026 - 7:35PM
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North Korea
North Korea, Russia boost anti-West ‘powerful bulwark’ as Ukraine war drags on
At a memorial for fallen North Korean soldiers who fought in Ukraine, Moscow offers to renew a military pact with Pyongyang.
27 Apr 2026 - 6:08PM
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Malaysia
Malaysian state in political crisis after Umno pulls support for chief minister
The Negeri Sembilan spat has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar’s coalition government.
27 Apr 2026 - 5:45PM
Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. Photo: YouTube
Malaysia
At Malaysia’s arms bazaar, drone dealers chase Southeast Asian market share
‘Drone warfare is the future,’ say arms dealers in Kuala Lumpur – and the region’s militaries are buying in.
26 Apr 2026 - 1:46PM
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South Korea
Will South Korea or Japan develop a nuclear deterrent of their own?
Seven in 10 South Koreans tell pollsters they want the bomb. Japan’s PM refuses to rule it out. Is ‘friendly proliferation’ next?
26 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM
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India
India-Germany defence road map ‘good template’ for wider EU cooperation
Deeper defence ties are expected to boost India’s maritime modernisation efforts and Europe’s security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say.
26 Apr 2026 - 3:23PM
Submarine U-34 is docked in a shipyard of warship maker TKMS in Kiel, Germany, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia
Malaysia gets new anti-corruption chief as protests mount against outgoing head
Former High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman takes the reins of MACC from Azam Baki amid scandals.
25 Apr 2026 - 5:27PM
US, Israel war on Iran
Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?
‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.
25 Apr 2026 - 1:30PM
Japan
3 killed in Japanese Type 10 tank blast that has military baffled
A round detonating inside a tank turret is virtually unheard of. The last time it happened in Japan was in 1979.
25 Apr 2026 - 12:05PM
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India
Chinese drone discovery sharpens focus on Asia’s undersea security race
Experts say India is playing ‘steady catch-up’ in boosting undersea surveillance, while Southeast Asian nations’ capabilities differ widely.
24 Apr 2026 - 7:27PM
South and Southeast Asian nations are stepping up capabilities to boost undersea surveillance and defend deep-sea cables, analysts say. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines
Robredo’s 2028 snub leaves Philippine opposition scrabbling for ‘saviour’
A March survey showed that the popularity gap between Leni Robredo and presidential front runner Sara Duterte-Carpio had narrowed.
24 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM
Indonesia
Is Indonesia’s blasphemy law for religious protection or political purpose?
The law has come under the spotlight after complaints filed against a former vice-president over his comments on sectarian violence.
24 Apr 2026 - 5:57PM
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Cambodia
US slaps sanctions on Cambodian senator suspected of controlling scam centres
The sanction freezes all US assets linked to Senator Kok An and his named associates, and bars any American national from dealing with them.
24 Apr 2026 - 5:19PM
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