January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
TOKYO, Feb 5 — Tokyo police have arrested seven individuals, including a Brazilian national, suspected of running an illegal sex business under the guise of men’s massage parlors in the city’s Kabukicho red-light district. Authorities say the ring catered largely to foreign tourists—who made up 60 to 70 percent of its clientele—through an English-language website and acceptance of multiple currencies.
Investigators allege the operation was led by 54-year-old Japanese national Kazuki Sudo between October and November last year. The arrests come as Japan, which drew a record 36.8 million foreign visitors in 2024 thanks to a weak yen, aims to boost annual tourist arrivals to 60 million by 2030. Some campaigners warn that surging tourism could fuel the sex industry. One 25-year-old Malaysian man told police he simply wanted to “make memories” before returning home. — AFP
Visitors pass by restaurants in a bustling tourist area adjacent to the railway tracks in Tokyo’s central Ueno district on November 17, 2024. — AFP pic
