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This Week in Asia
A chef picks his nose and then wipes his finger on some dough in a “baito tero” video. Photo: Handout

Economics

‘Baito tero’: the viral workplace stunts plaguing Japanese businesses

Psychologists say the quest for online clout is driving the rise in ‘meaningless’ workplace pranks, also known as part-time job terrorism.

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What Takaichi’s landslide victory could mean for Japan-South Korea ties

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Asean urged to rewrite trade rule book as US turns transactional

Politics

What US lifting of arms embargo on Cambodia means for defence ties

Analysts say Cambodia is likely to make only modest US arms purchases given its limited budget, and rely on Chinese weaponry for now.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) shakes hands with Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in Phnom Penh on January 26. Photo: Agence Kampuchea Press via AP
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) shakes hands with Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, in Phnom Penh on January 26. Photo: Agence Kampuchea Press via AP

Economics

Japan’s wage squeeze undermines Takaichi’s ‘trickle down’ plans

Fresh labour ministry figures show the cost of living crisis is deepening, as inflation continues to outpace salary increases for workers.

Economics

Indonesia on track for 10% growth by 2029, energy envoy Hashim says

The figure will be beyond Prabowo’s 8 per cent target, Hashim says, as he credits the president’s ‘iron will’ in overcoming bureaucracy and corruption.

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Economics

Ambassador urges ‘shared prosperity’ in China-Asean ties as protectionism grows

Wang Qing says both sides should uphold multilateralism and oppose external interference, even as Asean members seek trade deals with US.

Wang Qing, China’s ambassador to Asean, at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP
Wang Qing, China’s ambassador to Asean, at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP

Southeast Asia

‘Cheaper to buy from outside’: Malaysia pushes for airport pricing overhaul

Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing urges Malaysia Airports Holdings to review costs, promote local cuisine and enhance visitor experience.

Economics

Indonesia’s economy tipped to gain from deeper mainland China, Hong Kong ties

Increased investments and lessons learned from improving capital markets could help Indonesia as it ‘opens shop’, insiders and observers say.

South Asia

India tightens social media grip as Meta, YouTube, X face 3-hour takedown rules

New rules tighten compliance deadlines, forcing platforms to remove flagged AI-generated content and misinformation within hours or face legal action.

Social media applications are displayed on a mobile phone. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Profits, not politics: Danantara Indonesia chief vows to keep fund professional

Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir is committed to operating the fund with transparency – even if he has to say no to the government.

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Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir speaks at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP
Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir speaks at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP

People

6-year-old Indonesian girl killed in Singapore accident laid to rest

Sheyna Lashira Smaradiani was killed on Friday after a car struck her and her mother during a family holiday in Singapore.

Southeast Asia

Singaporean gets 11 years’ jail for posing as teen online and raping girl

The offender was 22 when he matched with the 13-year-old victim on a Telegram bot and asked her to be his girlfriend.

East Asia

‘Smaller than a closet’: the tiny Seoul flats going viral on YouTube

YouTuber Drew Binsky tours Seoul’s US$250-a-month micro-flats, sparking conversation on urban housing and South Korea’s hidden pressures.

Drew Binsky inside a Seoul gosiwon on February 1, his outstretched arms nearly spanning the narrow room. Photo: YouTube/Drew Binsky

Politics

‘Balancing act’: why Malaysia is boosting its missile arsenal amid maritime row

The navy is adding new Norwegian and Turkish missiles to replace its ageing arsenal of decades-old Exocets.

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A Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace naval strike missile is test launched from a ship. Photo: Kongsberg
A Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace naval strike missile is test launched from a ship. Photo: Kongsberg

Politics

Thailand rejects radical change with Anutin’s ‘right-wing turn’

Voters weary of upheaval embraced Bhumjaithai’s technocratic promises of debt relief and subsidies, sidelining the reformist People’s Party.

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People

Malaysian police face off with Singapore car driving wrong way at checkpoint

The encounter at Johor Bahru land checkpoint also saw another officer hit the car’s bonnet with a traffic cone to stop the errant motorist.

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Economics

India’s trade blitz seeks to keep afloat a sinking global order

‘Jolted out of its slumber’ by US tariffs, New Delhi is aggressively diversifying trade alliances to act as a bridge in a polarised world.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 27. Photo: European Council/dpa
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) and European Council President Antonio Costa at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 27. Photo: European Council/dpa

Politics

‘Critical point’: can Thailand election pave way for national reset?

With the economy struggling and corruption rife, Thai voters will look to the February 8 election as a chance to turn the country around.

Politics

Malaysia’s Islamists preach ‘racial domination’ to woo young voters

They govern the north, dominate the opposition and claim to soon be the undisputed home of Malay nationalism. Is Putrajaya next for PAS?

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Politics

Philippines enters its ‘hour of danger’ in Marcos vs Duterte clash

Analysts warn of a ‘very messy year’ ahead as coup fears swirl, the economy falters and political warfare rages out in the open.

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Effigies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) and Vice-President Sara Duterte are seen at a protest march in Manila. Photo: AFP
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

Economics

‘Baito tero’: the viral workplace stunts plaguing Japanese businesses

videocam
A chef picks his nose and then wipes his finger on some dough in a “baito tero” video. Photo: Handout

Economics

Japan’s wage squeeze undermines Takaichi’s ‘trickle down’ plans

Shoppers walk through the Nakano area of Tokyo on Sunday. Inflation-adjusted wages have fallen for the past four years in Japan. Photo: AFP

Politics

What Takaichi’s landslide victory could mean for Japan-South Korea ties

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after their talk in Nara on January 13. Photo: AFP

Economics

Ambassador urges ‘shared prosperity’ in China-Asean ties as protectionism grows

Wang Qing, China’s ambassador to Asean, at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP

Economics

Indonesia on track for 10% growth by 2029, energy envoy Hashim says

Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia’s climate and energy envoy, at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP
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