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This Week in Asia
Commuters travel on a train in Tokyo. Experts say the 15.1 per cent figure for male victims of groping – as revealed in a recent survey – is particularly striking. Photo: AFP

People

‘I was a victim’: survey reveals surge in men groped on Tokyo transit

Experts say the 15.1 per cent figure is striking and a reminder that women are not the only targets of molestation on public transport.

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Efficiency or autocracy? What To Lam’s power grab will mean for Vietnam

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At Davos, Singapore’s Tharman calls for US-China rivalry to ‘benefit’ world

East Asia

Japan restarts first nuclear reactor since Fukushima under close scrutiny

The No 6 unit at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reached criticality on Wednesday, a key step in Japan’s push for stable energy despite lingering safety fears.

A Tepco employee opens a watertight door inside the unit 7 reactor building at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in August 2024. Photo: AFP
A Tepco employee opens a watertight door inside the unit 7 reactor building at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in August 2024. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

World’s oldest cave art discovered in Indonesia

A handprint dating back at least 67,800 years is over a thousand years older than hand stencils in Spain that are attributed to Neanderthals.

Politics

Singapore PM accepts Workers’ Party’s rejection of Leader of the Opposition role

The PMO says the LO office will ‘remain vacant until such time that the WP is ready to nominate someone to take on this responsibility’.

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Economics

How Asia’s economies could benefit from Trump’s global power plays

Countries such as Canada are looking to diversify their customers, particularly for oil and gas, with ‘a strong focus on Asia’, analysts say.

An illustration shows a 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, the EU flag and the word “Tariffs”. Photo: Reuters
An illustration shows a 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, the EU flag and the word “Tariffs”. Photo: Reuters

Economics

Malaysia’s expat salary rules dubbed ‘ridiculous’, stoking talent drain fears

The pay threshold for expatriate visas will be doubled to boost local hiring, sparking concern over reduced foreign talent and rising costs.

People

Indonesia police arrest 9 in Medan baby trafficking case linked to social media

The arrests come as Singapore scrutinises adoption cases linked to separate baby trafficking allegations involving Indonesia.

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Lifestyle & Culture

Malaysia’s primary school changes spur fears of ‘herd effect’ competition

From 2027, children can enter Year One of primary school at age six instead of seven, fuelling fears of limited teaching staff and space.

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Standard One students attending a class at a primary school in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

Malaysia’s Johor books 5 Singaporeans for littering under new enforcement regime

The cases come as the country enforces new rules sending littering offences to court as the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign rolls out.

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A night market in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where local authorities have stepped up enforcement against littering as part of a broader push to improve cleanliness. Photo: Shutterstock
A night market in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where local authorities have stepped up enforcement against littering as part of a broader push to improve cleanliness. Photo: Shutterstock

South Asia

Journalists in Indian Kashmir face censorship as police demand ‘peace’ pledges

Journalists face summons and pressure to vow not to ‘disturb peace’ following reports on state profiling of religious institutions.

Southeast Asia

US clears US$2.3 billion jet and torpedo sale to Singapore

Pending US Congress approval, the US$2.3 billion Boeing P-8A deal announced at Pentagon talks will upgrade Singapore’s anti-submarine capabilities.

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East Asia

Japan ex-PM Abe’s killer Yamagami gets life term for ‘despicable’ act

Abe’s assassination also ignited scrutiny of alleged ties between prominent conservative lawmakers and the Unification Church.

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Tetsuya Yamagami is escorted by a police officer as he is taken to prosecutors in Nara, western Japan, in 2022. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters

Politics

Malaysia media groups urge action after reporter allegedly assaulted at event

The incident follows the detention of another journalist under the Sedition Act, sharpening concerns about intimidation and press freedom.

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A journalist takes notes during a news conference. Media groups in Malaysia have raised concerns over the treatment of reporters following recent incidents. Photo: Shutterstock
A journalist takes notes during a news conference. Media groups in Malaysia have raised concerns over the treatment of reporters following recent incidents. Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Foot in the door or trap? Risks of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Southeast Asia

Nations are likely to try to avoid early commitment while steering clear of outright rejection to minimise US retaliation, analysts say.

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Economics

As more nations block Grok for obscene content, calls for Asean-wide curbs mount

The Philippines should push the fight against deepfakes high on the Asean agenda as the bloc’s chair, analysts say.

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

Economics

India overtakes Japan in economic size – while prosperity trails far behind

Becoming the No 4 economy is a source of pride. Now, the race is on to turn statistical success into 8 million new jobs a year.

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Economics

Fair or fowl? Malaysia struggles to stomach its US trade pact

Local chefs fume over ‘lousy’ US poultry flooding the market, as critics call the trade agreement hastily reached and unfairly lopsided.

Economics

Thailand’s tourism crown slips as troubles in paradise mount

Border clashes with Cambodia, fierce competition from Malaysia, deadly floods and a strong baht threaten the kingdom’s holiday appeal.

Illustration: Huy Truong
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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA

People

‘I was a victim’: survey reveals surge in men groped on Tokyo transit

videocam
Commuters travel on a train in Tokyo. Experts say the 15.1 per cent figure for male victims of groping – as revealed in a recent survey – is particularly striking. Photo: AFP

People

Efficiency or autocracy? What To Lam’s power grab will mean for Vietnam

videocam
Communist Party General Secretary To Lam delivers a speech at the party’s congress in Hanoi on Monday. Photo: Vietnam News Agency/EPA

Economics

At Davos, Singapore’s Tharman calls for US-China rivalry to ‘benefit’ world

Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during the 56th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

People

Indonesia police arrest 9 in Medan baby trafficking case linked to social media

videocam
A newborn baby lies in a hospital bassinet. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

How Asia’s economies could benefit from Trump’s global power plays

An illustration shows a 3D-printed miniature model of US President Donald Trump, the EU flag and the word “Tariffs”. Photo: Reuters
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MULTIMEDIA
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