Food waste is a worldwide problem but is particularly pressing in Asia, which is home to hundreds of millions of hungry people. Not only is wasted food not getting to the people who urgently need it, that which ends up in landfills produces methane which exacerbates climate change.
Long viewed as childish entertainment at best and an addictive pursuit at worst, gaming is now recognised as a serious moneymaker. The concept of gamification, however, has highlighted the potential for wider application of game design, while the enthusiasm of gamers can be channelled for social causes.
A WhatsApp group of football fans from across the planet help each other buy tickets for the World Cup, Euros - and the 2023 Asian Cup starting today - and share tips on things like hotels and bars.
While most companies persist with the annual performance-linked bonus, some have offered incentives linked to exercise or body mass index. However, a better work environment and training, more respect, a recognition of employees’ efforts and revenue-sharing models can be as empowering as cold, hard cash.
It’s time for introspection and change, from the global conglomerates, rich countries that are the consumer havens for fast fashion, and customers alike.
Virtual influencers are good news for brands: they don’t complain and they won’t lose followers due to scandals. But they are incapable of forming authentic consumer opinions so it’s unclear how they benefit consumers and the wider public – regulation is long overdue.
Asian Airbnb hosts reveal the highs and lows of welcoming strangers into their homes and the tricks of the trade that ensure the guest list remains full.
The successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has inspired a sense of deep pride among Indians but also complex feelings about priorities. India has many pressing problems, but the landing can also be inspirational, particularly for the country’s young women and girls.
Indonesia’s rising prominence in the global music scene is encouraging, but reports of people going into debt to buy concert tickets is reason for concern. Online lending has made it easier for people to access loans but also exposed them to scams and the excesses that come with flaunting new-found wealth.
When a cyclone demolished thriving Danushkodi, in India’s Tamil Nadu state, the town on the edge of India was more or less abandoned. The fishermen moved back first, and now tourists are visiting again.
Pilot programmes, full launches and other initiatives by China, Nigeria, Japan and Singapore show the appeal of central bank digital currencies outside the West. The impact of digital currencies on African and Asian economies will be significant as they provide greater convenience, lower transaction fees and more.
The rapidly changing digital financial ecosystem can help people in low-income countries break free of poverty and take control of their financial lives. Fintech collaborations now lie at the heart of Asian finance and have the potential to propel regional economies and their people into the future.
A growing crop of underwater photographers are bringing to light issues relating to marine behaviour and conservation, spending years learning to dive and perfect their photography.
Weakened by Covid-19 and catastrophic floods, Pakistan’s disintegrating economy is causing unrest and terrorism to spill across its borders. For the sake of regional security, India must make peace with Pakistan and combine forces to tackle terrorism.
As people, businesses and services in Asia increasingly operate online, regulatory frameworks to safeguard private data are proving inadequate. Discrepancies in levels of protection across the region also highlight the need for a more unified approach.
People rely on antibiotics far too much for common illnesses like colds and sore throats, a new study finds. It’s why antimicrobial resistance has become a leading killer worldwide.
Rainforest restoration creates wildlife corridors and preserves the habitats of endangered species in southern India’s Western Ghats.
While the offer is open to other countries, it is most applicable to China, given its dominance in Indian electronics. But it remains to be seen whether such a partnership can bolster Indian electronics manufacturing or give greater security to Chinese companies in India
Shutting Chinese phones out of the lower segment of the market, in an effort to protect the domestic industry, would hurt not only Chinese companies but also Indian consumers.
Street art has spread through Scotland’s biggest city, from giant murals like one inspired by the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids to ones of Glasgow’s patron saints. Covid-19 and climate change inspire some artists.
While Apple has staunchly continued its reliance on Chinese manufacturing, China’s Covid-19 policies have emerged as a potential deal-breaker. Apple has been testing the waters in India for years – the pandemic and China-US tensions might provide the impetus for a bigger shift.
Critics warn that Nepal risks being another indebted country facing economic ruin if it accepts loans from China, in the wake of the Sri Lanka’s debt troubles. In Nepal, the Chinese infrastructure initiative is increasingly seen in the context of US-China rivalry.
Older generations of Indians who grew up on a steady diet of Soviet-era literature harbour a soft spot for Russia and a mistrust of the West. The young, by contrast, have seen their peers evacuated by the thousands from Ukraine to escape Russian aggression.
After months of working from home during the pandemic, many employees are anxious about returning to the office. Experts and returnees share tips on making the transition.
Zoom fatigue, caused by too much videoconferencing, can lead to insomnia, exhaustion and the feeling of being trapped. Experts suggest ways to reduce its negative health impacts.
Restricting the certificate to only those inoculated with four EU-approved jabs exacerbates the vaccine inequality already perpetuated by the West.
Just as travel bans have failed to keep coronavirus variants out of countries, vaccine nationalism will fail, too. The longer the wider world remains unvaccinated, the more variants are going to spread. Some may not be as responsive to current vaccines.
Blue light from our many devices can pose several health risks, the biggest being the disruption of our sleep cycle. Here are ways to prevent it.
From emoji to key chains to mugs and face masks, artists turn Asian dumplings into objects of pop culture.
Families stuck at home in the pandemic are playing more board games. New ones with historical, cultural and environmental messages are rising in popularity.
