This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
Malaysia
Malaysia’s opposition thrown into uncertainty as Muhyiddin quits as PN chairman
The former prime minister’s exit follows months of infighting within Perikatan Nasional and a bitter power struggle between Bersatu and PAS.
30 Dec 2025 - 5:57PM
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The Philippines
Philippines flood-control probe ‘in peril’ after death of public works official
30 Dec 2025 - 5:53PM
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Thailand
Border row aids Anutin as Shinawatras play catch up in Thai election
30 Dec 2025 - 3:47PM
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South Korea
Probe into South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee ends with ‘unresolved issues’
Analysts say the findings have raised questions about whether South Korea’s laws can deal with alleged abuses of power by a president’s spouse.
30 Dec 2025 - 10:08AM
South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho district on August 12, after attending a court review on her arrest. Photo: Korea Times
Bangladesh
Will Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh ease tensions, restore stability?
Rahman could help consolidate the BNP’s position as the dominant electoral force, while tempering a volatile political climate, analysts say.
29 Dec 2025 - 6:50PM
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Malaysia
Najib’s new 1MDB verdict deepens Umno rifts, testing Malaysia’s unity government
The jail term for the former prime minister has reignited grass roots anger and raised questions over Umno’s future inside Anwar’s coalition.
29 Dec 2025 - 5:04PM
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Myanmar
Why Myanmar’s junta election cannot hide a collapsing economy
Analysts warn that conflict, power shortages and resource extraction under military rule are pushing Myanmar’s economy further into reverse.
29 Dec 2025 - 5:20PM
A vendor waits beside bottles of oil at a market in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar. Inflation in the country has reached record highs of about 30 per cent over the past two years. Photo: AFP
The Philippines
Corruption, floods and clan wars rock Philippines in 2025
Deepening political feuds, ex-president Duterte’s ICC arrest and the South China Sea dispute have reshaped the Philippine landscape.
28 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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Thailand
From PM purge to border bombs: Thailand’s year of upheaval
As the country mourns the loss of Queen Mother Sirikit amid political chaos and a sluggish economy, Lisa’s global reign lights up Thai public.
28 Dec 2025 - 1:30PM
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Myanmar
‘Military has destroyed our lives’: Myanmar votes in election amid civil war
The multiphase election, which the junta insists is ‘free and fair’, comes nearly four years after it took power in a coup.
29 Dec 2025 - 8:53AM
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Malaysia
Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025
The country hosts the region’s biggest event, sees a new twist in the 1MDB scandal and is at a critical political juncture.
27 Dec 2025 - 1:00PM
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US President Donald Trump reacts to dancing performers at a welcoming ceremony after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to attend the Asean summit on October 26. Photo: AP
Singapore
Singapore in 2025: election fever, courtroom drama, pickleball mania
Local politics, tariff concerns, a horrific child abuse case and noise disputes dominate the headlines this year.
27 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM
Myanmar
‘Lost my future’: Myanmar’s ‘charade’ election dims hopes of diaspora
The junta’s phased election starting on Sunday has been slammed as a ploy for its generals to stay in power.
27 Dec 2025 - 12:50PM
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Indonesia
Power, protests and policy shake-ups shape Indonesia’s 2025
President Prabowo Subianto asserts his authority as he navigates the global stage and domestic challenges in his first full year in office.
26 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM
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Malaysia
Malaysia’s Najib sentenced to 15 years in jail for abuse of power in 1MDB saga
The ruling comes after a years-long trial in the financial fraud that saw more than US$4.5 billion plundered from the state fund.
26 Dec 2025 - 11:31PM
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Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is escorted by prison guards at the Kuala Lumpur Court complex on Monday. Photo: Reuters
South Korea
Yoon faces 10-year jail term in South Korea over first of 4 failed coup trials
During a hearing, Yoon appears tense and laughs in disbelief as special prosecutors present the charges in his first trial.
26 Dec 2025 - 6:26PM
Israel
Israel’s rising air defence sales become its ‘most potent’ foreign policy weapon
With more countries increasingly turning to Israel for their air defence systems, they cannot afford to isolate the Middle East power.
26 Dec 2025 - 2:34PM
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North Korea
‘Maximum deterrence’: why North Korea just revealed its new nuclear submarine
The unprecedented transparency from the normally secretive country shows a shift in North Korean defence strategy, analysts say.
26 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) inspects a nuclear-powered submarine under construction in a photo released on December 25. Photo: KCNA/AP
Malaysia
With 1MDB verdict due, will Malaysia’s Najib have to ‘prepare for the worst’?
The High Court will rule on abuse of power and money laundering charges, with Najib facing the prospect of lengthy prison terms if found guilty.
25 Dec 2025 - 7:15PM
The Philippines
Philippine court upholds murder verdict in Duterte’s drug war case
While the ruling has been hailed as a win for human rights, it may not have much impact on Duterte’s ICC case, legal analysts say.
25 Dec 2025 - 2:53PM
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Singapore
Gaffes, breaches and sinkhole stars: Singapore’s 2025 social storms
Passionate online discussions have revealed concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself.
25 Dec 2025 - 11:30AM
The Philippines
Not for cars: Philippine fugitive accused of building ‘cash basement’
Zaldy Co, who is on the run, has been accused of being involved in the flood-control corruption scandal.
24 Dec 2025 - 5:55PM
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Anti-corruption prosecutors in the Philippines have accused Zaldy Co, a former congressman, and others of defrauding the state through “ghost” and substandard flood-control projects. Photo: Captured off YouTube
Malaysia
Najib’s children lament Malaysian court ruling – ‘we thought he was coming home’
The ex-prime minister has lost his case to have his imprisonment commuted to house arrest based on a supposed royal decree.
24 Dec 2025 - 4:57PM
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South Korea
Yoon’s ex-aides express ‘disbelief’ over South Korean martial law plan
The two aides’ testimonies give a rare insight into the thinking of the former president, who is charged with leading the ‘insurrection’.
24 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM
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Malaysia
Why Malaysian court ruling against Najib is dividing Anwar’s coalition
A comment by a DAP member that is perceived as celebrating Najib’s legal setback has been slammed by Umno’s leaders.
23 Dec 2025 - 4:48PM
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