3 d. ago ‘Schrodinger’s Pakistan’, Chinese travellers eye Singapore: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Accountability test for Philippines’ Marcos family as budget scandal widens A former prominent lawmaker now in hiding has released new videos accusing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s family of orchestrating massive corruption, escalating a scandal that is...

Politics

7 d. ago Zelensky’s chief of staff raided amid Kyiv’s growing corruption scandal

Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities on Friday raided the home of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, searches that come as a massive corruption scandal embroils Kyiv. Investigators earlier this month said they had uncovered a US$100 million kickback scheme in the strategic energy sector, triggering widespread public anger at a time when Russia is hammering Ukraine’s power grid, causing blackouts and threatening winter heating outages. The...

Politics

7 d. ago Top Zelensky aide Yermak resigns after house raided in corruption probe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday removed his powerful chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, after detectives raided his house as part of a sweeping corruption probe. Yermak’s removal deals a serious blow to Zelensky, who is facing a mounting Russian offensive in the east just as the United States, a crucial ally, proposed a surprise plan to end the war that heavily favoured Moscow. Just last week, Zelensky had named Yermak, 54, as Ukraine’s top negotiator in...

Politics

9 d. ago Accountability test for Philippines’ Marcos family as budget scandal widens

A former prominent lawmaker now in hiding has released new videos accusing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s family of orchestrating massive corruption, escalating a scandal that is fast becoming a test of accountability for one of Southeast Asia’s most politically influential dynasties. Observers told This Week in Asia that although Zaldy Co’s allegations remained unverified and required rigorous fact-checking, they struck at the core of a system where budget power, patronage and...

Economics

1 week ago Philippine military says ‘no junta’ in its ranks, warns against destabilisation

The Philippine military has confirmed that plots to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr were “not far-fetched”, but downplayed fears of a coup led by troops and said there was “no junta” forming within its ranks. “There is no such thing as a military junta within the AFP,” military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday, referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Her comments come amid rising public anger over a corruption scandal linked to flood-control...

Events

1 week ago 8 arrested in Philippine flood control scandal, but will ‘big fish’ get away?

Eight officials from the Philippines’ Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been arrested, marking a more assertive phase in President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s response to the sprawling flood control corruption scandal. Analysts, however, have described the step as narrowly focused on minor players, noting that investigators have yet to confront the high-profile lawmakers and contractors accused of driving the scheme, raising doubts about how far the inquiry is prepared to reach. The...

Events

2 w. ago Philippines’ Marcos orders arrest of Zaldy Co, 17 others in flood control scandal

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued for former lawmaker Zaldy Co and 17 others accused of involvement in anomalous infrastructure projects. The move marks the first major enforcement action since authorities began probing so-called “ghost” flood control projects, referring to substandard or non-existent works now at the centre of a sprawling corruption scandal. Marcos announced the development in a video posted to his social media...

Events

2 w. ago Marcos’ cousin faces plunder charges in Philippine corruption scandal

Plunder, corruption and bribery charges were recommended against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s cousin for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. The Department of Public Works and Highways sought these charges against former House speaker Martin Romualdez during a filing at the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday. The same charges were also recommended for resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was formerly head of the House of Representatives’ appropriations committee. Romualdez...

Politics

2 w. ago Philippine church rallies over corruption scandal, piling pressure on Macros

Thousands of members of an influential religious group started gathering in Manila on Sunday for a rally to call for accountability in the Philippine government over a widening corruption scandal. Iglesia ni Cristo members, wearing white shirts, assembled in the historic Quirino Grandstand and nearby streets in Manila city. Police estimated the crowd at 14,500 as of 8am local time. Some camped out overnight for a programme expected to start late in the afternoon. The Christian religious group...

Events

2 w. ago Philippine church rallies over corruption scandal, piling pressure on Marcos

Thousands of members of an influential religious group started gathering in Manila on Sunday for a rally to call for accountability in the Philippine government over a widening corruption scandal. Iglesia ni Cristo members, wearing white shirts, assembled in the historic Quirino Grandstand and nearby streets in Manila city. Police estimated the crowd at 14,500 as of 8am local time. Some camped out overnight for a programme expected to start late in the afternoon. The Christian religious group...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine ministers resign over US$100 million energy corruption scandal

Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers offered their resignations on Wednesday, shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky said both should go over their alleged involvement in a sweeping corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector. Investigators earlier alleged a key Zelensky ally orchestrated a US$100 million kickback scheme to siphon funds, triggering public anger at a time of widespread power outages caused by Russian attacks. Ukraine has long been plagued by corruption and cracking...

Science