This Week in Asia

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio did not attend her impeachment trial, with her lawyers defending her against charges that could remove her from office and bar her from politics, potentially reshaping the 2028 presidential race. Legal experts suggest conviction would require at least 16 senators but may be difficult to achieve.

A 17-year-old known as Cake was found dead in a black suitcase near a railway track in Pattaya, Thailand. Australian national Simon Peter Carman, 45, has been charged in connection to the murder, which has raised safety concerns in the area.

The US Pentagon removed 'Indo' from the name of its Indo-Pacific Command, reverting to 'Pacific Command (PACOM)', a move analysts suggest could signal diminished US commitment to India. Officials cited 'honour' and 'historical roots' for the change, but the decision has sparked concerns about strained US-India military ties.

A 'super' El Nino is threatening Asia's food supply, causing fear among farmers in northern Thailand, particularly cacao growers like Koranut Rattanayanyong, who warn of potential crop devastation due to unpredictable weather patterns. The climate event, marked by a 2.5°C ocean heat spike in the Pacific, has begun forming, exacerbating concerns over agricultural stability.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to visit Russia's Kazan next week for the Asean-Russia Commemorative Summit, marking the first high-level talks between Singapore and Russia since sanctions were imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The summit, from June 17 to 19, commemorates the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations between Russia and Asean.

A nine-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, Philippines, causing fatalities. James Bernardo, a food delivery worker, described hearing a sound like an airplane landing before witnessing pylons and power lines falling. The collapse occurred suddenly, transforming the structure into a twisted mass.