This Week in Asia /
Health & Environment
Related Topics:
Coronavirus pandemic
Climate change
Wellness
Indonesia
Indonesia’s clean energy transition in doubt after US withdrawal from JETP
Despite Jakarta’s ambitious net-zero goals, analysts say the country has limited political will to fulfil its climate commitments on its own.
14 Mar 2025 - 12:00PM
South Korea
South Korean medical schools threaten to expel striking students
13 Mar 2025 - 3:45PM
Indonesia
Is Jakarta prepared for climate change and more frequent floods?
11 Mar 2025 - 9:12PM
videocam
Singapore
Singapore bans Malaysian coffee brand for containing erectile dysfunction drug
The Singapore Food Agency warned consumers not to consume Kopi Penumbuk, citing potential health risks including heart attack and stroke.
11 Mar 2025 - 9:14PM
Singapore has ordered the recall of a Malaysian coffee product due to the presence of a drug used for treating erectile dysfunction. Photo: Lazada
Malaysia
Malaysia mandates safety tests after Chinese woman loses leg in ceiling collapse
The accident could have been caused by the age of the building in Sabah’s Kota Kinabbalu and structural weakness in the ceiling, authorities say.
11 Mar 2025 - 5:04PM
Japan
Fears mount in Japan of a massive 2011-style earthquake on disaster anniversary
Scientists warn seismic energy accumulating under the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido has the potential to trigger a magnitude-8.8 earthquake.
11 Mar 2025 - 9:48AM
videocam
4
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Malaysia
Should there be an age limit for climbers on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu?
Industry player says the state’s natural attractions are ‘too special to only be marketed to hardcore adventurers’.
5 Mar 2025 - 1:11PM
Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia’s Sabah state. Photo: Nam Cheah
Indonesia
Set sail for convenience: Bali eyes water taxis to tackle traffic woes
The Indonesian island’s ambitious maritime plans don’t stop at water taxis, either – seaplane services could soon be on the way as well.
4 Mar 2025 - 3:38PM
Japan
Thousands flee as Japan’s biggest wildfire in decades rages on
An area of at least 2,100 hectares in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, has been destroyed by the blaze. At least one person has died.
4 Mar 2025 - 11:03AM
videocam
India
Can Modi’s call to cut down on cooking oil help address India’s obesity crisis?
The prime minister calls it a small change for better health, but experts say bigger action is needed to prevent a crisis.
1 Mar 2025 - 12:35PM
videocam
4
Indonesia
Indonesia’s Bali warns tourists of rabies risk after local death from dog bite
The man, 35, died six months after getting bitten and not reporting his injury to receive a post-bite vaccine.
28 Feb 2025 - 6:45PM
videocam
A dog in Bali being given rabies vaccination. Photo: AP
Thailand
‘Zombie cigarettes’: Thai authorities warn of deadly drug-laced vapes
The e-cigarettes contain the narcotic etomidate, an anaesthetic agent that is potentially fatal.
26 Feb 2025 - 8:36PM
videocam
Australia
Australia hospital under fire after 3 child deaths occur within 6 weeks
Latrobe Regional Hospital in Victoria is facing scrutiny over the allegedly preventable deaths and accusations of mismanagement.
25 Feb 2025 - 8:46PM
videocam
The Philippines
Birth of rare Philippine eagle chick lifts survival hopes
Riley was born at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Davao City, the first Philippine eagle chick hatched without human help.
23 Feb 2025 - 6:45PM
Sri Lanka
Blackout exposes Sri Lanka’s precarious path to greater reliance on renewables
Experts warn of further grid instability as Sri Lanka pushes for 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
21 Feb 2025 - 8:02PM
videocam
A grocery vendor illuminates his shop with candlelight amid power cuts in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Photo: EPA-EFE
Nepal
Interns expose dark side of medical training in Nepal
An explosive social media post has ignited a movement to address the grim conditions faced by Nepal’s aspiring healthcare professionals.
20 Feb 2025 - 8:30PM
Australia
67 false killer whales die in stranding in Australia, 90 others to be euthanised
Experts are investigating the cause of the stranding, which is unusual for this species in the region.
19 Feb 2025 - 7:45PM
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Malaysia
Bleached and broken: how mass tourism is killing Malaysia’s coral paradise
Beneath Redang’s turquoise waters lies a growing crisis of coral bleaching, trash and human negligence.
17 Feb 2025 - 8:00AM
A diver documents the extent of coral bleaching on a reef in Malaysia. Photo: Reef Check Malaysia
Japan
Japan’s 2035 tipping point looms as cities set to shrink amid population ageing
Japan faces urban population decline by 2035, with ageing societies challenging city sustainability and prompting calls for immigration reform.
16 Feb 2025 - 8:00AM
videocam
4
Indonesia
Toxic tides: life in Indonesia’s most polluted village
Once a pristine fishing hamlet, Tanjung Uma is now drowning in garbage and disease as it bears the brunt of unchecked waste and environmental collapse.
17 Feb 2025 - 9:26AM
Cambodia
‘People can die’: US funding freeze decimates Mekong demining work
Demining advocates argue the US has a moral obligation to solve a problem it helped create.
14 Feb 2025 - 2:27PM
videocam
5
Indonesia
Indonesia’s Prabowo launches another ‘quick-win priority’ – free health checks
The programme provides a free voucher of basic health screening for every Indonesian and is set to cost US$287.3 million this year.
12 Feb 2025 - 6:54PM
videocam
A man undergoes a medical check-up for hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes in Banda Aceh on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Malaysia
Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur airport targeted by exotic animal traffickers: watchdog
Malaysian authorities seized over 74,000 animals and 194 tonnes of wildlife parts from 2014 to 2023, according to wildlife watchdog Traffic.
12 Feb 2025 - 4:03PM
South China Sea
China and Vietnam cause most damage to South China Sea’s corals: report
The report, which also lists the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan, says the claimants’ activities have caused ‘irreparable’ damage.
12 Feb 2025 - 2:13PM
13
Malaysia
Does Malaysia have enough water to power its data centres?
Data shows that water infrastructure in three states can only provide 142 million litres a day to firms, far short of the total 808 MLD needed.
11 Feb 2025 - 5:28PM
videocam
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW