Health & Environment
For more than a month, the northern Thai city and its neighbouring provinces have been shrouded in smog, which has discouraged tourists and hurt hotel occupancy rates.
In many Asian societies, menstruation is a taboo topic that is rarely discussed – causing major gaps in knowledge about reproductive health. But thanks to new products and approaches, a change in perspective is under way.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, the city state hopes the whole community – and not just the government – can chip in to help take care of patients and their stressed carers
this week in asia
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Labourers in the Lion City are paid about US$15 a day, leaving them little choice but to turn to low cost caterers for their meals. Unfortunately, that means food that is nutritionally questionable – and often downright rotten
From Japan to Hong Kong, robots are taking yet another human job: providing companionship. But while synthetic seals and pillows with waggly tails may play a worthy role, some wonder if this new relationship isn’t entirely healthy
this week in asia
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South Korea is one of the world’s most polluted countries and its killer dust claims thousands of lives a year. But rather than blame diesel cars and coal-powered plants, it has become trendy to look abroad for a bogeyman.
In 2017, China, India and Japan were ranked first, third and fifth among the world’s worst polluting countries.
Saving the world, and its animals – there’s a lot to be said for going vegetarian. But sceptics, Chinese medicine practitioners among them, say without a balance, your body may pay the price
A multibillion-dollar industry wants meat-eaters to embrace plant-based alternatives –but why eat mock meat when the real thing is half the price and twice as tasty?
India is flushing away valuable nutrients, says a minister who is campaigning to turn the nation’s liquid waste into fertiliser.
Since China banned plastic waste imports in January 2018, Southeast Asia has become the world’s dumping ground
Experts estimate more than half of diabetes cases in Indonesia remain undiagnosed, especially among young people
The government claims jeepneys need to go because they are old, dirty and unsafe
The decision by the government and the tsunami-devastated plant’s operator to release contaminated water into the Pacific was ‘driven by short-term cost-cutting’, a new study has found
Book also warns girls to wear clothes that “protect the modesty of their genitals”, to shut the door when they change, and to avoid quiet places when alone
Malaysia has sought to catch up with neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand, although they did not endure anywhere near the same opposition to bans.
Experts say governments need a coordinated approach of early detection and promoting a healthy diet and exercise
Police and social workers say it is nothing more than a euphemism for prostitution – often involving minors. And it hits a height at holidays, when some are desperate for money and others for company.
It isn’t contagious, a trial from God, caused by a jinx or immoral behaviour, yet beliefs such as these are preventing many Asian sufferers from getting the early treatment that could save their lives