What an upper-middle-income status means for the Philippines
Despite the milestone, analysts say the country’s new classification should not be mistaken for a measure of whether Filipinos are already experiencing better living conditions.
Special Report
Children of divorce in Nepal face lasting emotional, financial strain
Personal accounts and expert views show how parental separation significantly affects childhood, mental health, and family stability.
Should South Korean workers get time off to mourn pets?
Support for pet bereavement leave exposes a generational divide over pets, grief and workplace benefits.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
Even though Japan has a rapidly ageing population and is suffering labour shortages in many sectors, opposition to immigration is growing, and the new rules for business manager…
“Forest, people sacrificed in Sebangau: How an Indonesian national park vanishes in plain sight “
After years of destruction, the Sebangau forest was named a national park with the goal of protecting it from further deforestation.
Can swimming in the Singapore River make a return? 3 ways to build identity in the city
Especially since the Singapore River became part of Marina Reservoir – swimming has largely been disallowed, except for events such as the local leg of the T100 Triathlon World…
Farmer massacre’s warning as the Philippines faces climate shocks
The 2016 Kidapawan bloodshed remains a defining moment in Philippine history, exposing the fragility of governance when confronted with climate shocks and food insecurity.
In South Korea, punishment alone cannot stop violence against women
In a joint interview with The Korea Herald, two experts said governments needed national strategies that address the structural causes of violence through coordinated policies…
They sang on Kathmandu’s streets to survive. The city silenced the music
A municipal crackdown on sidewalk performers has left a community of visually impaired people without a livelihood, sparking protests.
How much it costs to raise a child in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea
The Straits Times correspondents speak to parents in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea to find out what goes into raising the next generation – and why they are not having more…