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Women and gender

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Women and gender
News and analysis on women's rights, the gender gap, LGBTQ issues, sexual harassment, sexual minorities and masculinity in Asia and beyond.
Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He currently lives in Florida but is obliged to attend all future court appearances. If he does not, he will face prison. Photo: dpa
Britain

UK court grants bail to comedian Russell Brand amid rape, assault charges

Brand did not enter a plea and was granted bail on condition he keeps the court informed of where he is staying, either in the UK or in US.

Viral stories

Young Japan woman dedicates 6 years to driving trucks to challenge stereotypes

Trending in China

Chinese man quits job to care for baby, suffers ‘post-partum depression’, divorces

Reproductive health

UK university to research possible menstrual cycle link to knee injuries

The Fifa-funded study comes after an alarming rise in career-threatening knee injuries in women’s football.

The research comes after players including Arsenal’s Beth Mead (left), Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr have all suffered serious injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament. Photo: AFP
South Korea

Quick-thinking South Korean police rescue woman after silent 112 call for help

The wordless phone call received a rapid police response thanks to Senior Patrol Officer Kim Hye-jin’s instincts and training.

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Singapore general election 2025

Singapore’s PAP boosts diversity with record female candidates for election

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the move would ‘inject fresh energy’ into the party that’s aiming to connect with a changing electorate.

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Japan

Biting, kicking, sex harassment: inside the abusive world of Japanese nursing

Japan’s nurses hope a high-profile case will finally force change in their abusive workplaces.

Students of Japanese nursing schools attend a candlelight procession before a Florence Nightingale Medal awarding ceremony in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
Britain

Women’s toilets are not for trans women, UK equality watchdog says

Equality and Human Rights Commission issued interim guidance after ruling this month that a woman is legally defined based on sex at birth.

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The Philippines

Remembering Nora Aunor: actress, ‘rebel’ and the Philippines’ ‘Superstar’

Filipino screenwriter Ricardo Lee pays tribute to Aunor, who spent her career fighting stereotypes and giving voice to the marginalised.

United States

Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew’s accuser in Epstein scandal, dies at 41

Mother-of-three Giuffre, a key figure in Jeffrey Epstein’s downfall, took her own life at her farm in Australia ‘after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking’.

Virginia Giuffre, one of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, has died aged 41. Photo: EPA-EFE
Gender

South Korea’s uphill battle against sex crimes

Experts indicate that legislation alone is insufficient to address the surge of digital sex crimes in South Korea.

South Korea’s uphill battle against sex crimes
Japan

‘Have to change:’ Japanese firms reshape work culture to close gender pay gap

Japan’s finance sector is shaking up workplace gender equality, as top firms are axing clerical roles mainly held by women, aiming to close the gender pay gap.

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New Zealand

New Zealand party pushes for ‘biological’ definition of men, women

The populist New Zealand First Party, which forms part of the country’s governing coalition, introduced the bill to parliament on Tuesday.

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South Korea

In South Korea, videos aiming to ‘help women get home safely’ spark outrage

Netizens slam the videos for mocking the fear and panic that women feel when approached or followed by unknown men at night.

A combination of images from a video by Korea University’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering shows a university student chasing random girls to “help them get home safely”. Photo: Handout
South Korea

‘The law didn’t protect me’: South Korea’s losing battle against AI sex crimes

Victims lament a lack of police help to resolve their cases, while sex educators call for a change in gender attitudes to tackle the scourge.

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Activists wearing masks protest against deepfake porn in Seoul last year. The poster reads: “Repeated deepfake sex crimes, the state is an accomplice too”. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

Video | The young Chinese women hiring cosplayers so they can date their virtual lovers

A new service called ‘cos commissioning’ has emerged in China where mobile romance games have become more popular.

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Japan

In Japan, ‘friendship marriages’ provide partnership outside societal norms

More couples are choosing such an option despite it contradicting their sexual orientation, citing reasons such as social security benefits.

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Lunar

All-female space flight sparks discussion

Blue Origin’s recent all-female space flight has sparked a complex discussion on gender and accessibility.

All-female space flight sparks discussion
Banking & finance

Global banks make big progress in gender balance amid anti-DEI steps, report says

Average score rose to 42 this year from 37 in 2024, with commercial banks leading the charge in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

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Britain

‘Woman’ refers to someone born biologically female: UK’s top court

This means a transgender person with a certificate that recognises them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.

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Japan

Japan sees record population decline in 2024 as birth rate crisis deepens

Japan’s birth rate is among the lowest in the world, a trend which has meant a shrinking workforce, fewer consumers, and businesses fighting to recruit workers.

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Japan is battling a record population decline, with birth rates at an all-time low, impacting workforce and economy. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippines election hopeful’s LGBTQ woes spark debate on voter focus

Opposition voters are divided over ex-state auditor Heidi Mendoza’s conservative stance on same-sex marriage.

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Heidi Mendoza. Photo: Facebook/heidi.mendoza.31586
Sexual harassment and assault

Inside Hollywood veteran James Toback’s fall from grace

The Oscar nominee once told how he saved Robert Downey Jr’s life when he was filming The Pick-up Artist in the late 80s, but he also struggled with a gambling addiction for years.

The Philippines

Philippine politician’s remarks spark misogyny row

Christian Sia’s remarks have been called a potential test case for curbing misogyny on the campaign trail.

Middle East

Taliban’s morality police arrest men for skipping mosque or wrong hairstyles

During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, men’s attendance at mandated prayers was closely monitored, leading at times to arbitrary detention.

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An Afghan street barber trims the mustauche of a customer in Kabul. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia exposes child protection flaws

In one shocking case in Kelantan, a 15-year-old girl became pregnant after she had sex with her 11-year-old cousin.

A surge in sex cases involving minors in Malaysia has led to child rights activists warning about grooming and abuse. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

Seoul palace restroom gets hi-tech spy-cam detector to combat ‘molka’ filming

The installation addresses South Korea’s struggle with illegal filming, driven by the ease of access to small, hidden cameras known as ‘molka’.

The Philippines

Philippine politician’s ‘sleep with single mums’ remarks spark misogyny row

The action against Christian Sia is ‘a test case’ on the use of sexually charged remarks while campaigning, elections commission says.

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