Johor Election Strategy: Malaysia’s BN says it will mix experienced leaders with new faces for the Johor state vote, arguing a fully “recycled” slate is safer than an all-new gamble. Youth in the Spotlight: PH counters with a youth-forward pitch, highlighting its youngest candidate at 23 and promising a manifesto and a campaign focused on policy—not race, religion, or royalty. Election Integrity Push: The Malaysian Media Council launched “Semak Berita” to quickly verify election-related misinformation, including AI-manipulated or fake media content. Iraq Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Iraqi forces raided Baghdad’s Green Zone, arresting politicians and officials under judicial orders tied to a broader corruption campaign. Regional Tensions: Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Iraq for talks with top leaders as the US-Iran standoff over shipping and strikes keeps escalating. India Temple Donation Row: In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav and Yogi Adityanath traded barbs over alleged Ram Temple donation theft and politicisation claims. Intra-Party Legal Fight (India): West Bengal’s TMC factions escalated with fresh police complaints over alleged misuse of party symbols and leadership claims. US Politics & Polarization: A US-focused op-ed argues Americans agree on far more policy issues than cable news suggests, citing survey results showing majority overlap across parties.