Channel News Asia

Mercury rising: Why a Thai community believes it is being poisoned across the international border

NAN, Thailand: On clear mornings, at dawn, Ms Kanchanaporn Paeng-ud stands on a hillcrest where her family processes tapioca and looks out beyond the sweeping valleys across to neighbouring country Laos. On the horizon, some 20 km away, she can see what resembles billowing columns of ...

Jack Board

Indonesia to prepare 500,000 hectares for rice crops amid El Nino phenomenon

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government will prepare 500,000 hectares of agricultural land for rice production in anticipation of the long drought brought on by the El Nino climate phenomenon.  According to a Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) statement, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said ...

Rhea Yasmine Alis Haizan

Thailand announces ‘no-burning’ rule until end-April to prevent wildfires, haze

In a bid to prevent the spread of wildfires and haze in the country, the Thai government has imposed a three-month no-burning rule across all localities. The rule, which kicked in on Feb 1, will be in effect until the end of April. In a statement on ...

Asyraf Kamil

Dead sea turtle in Thailand shines spotlight on environmental impact of Loy Krathong festival

Last month, a dead sea turtle was washed ashore in Chonburi. It was identified as a female endangered green sea turtle aged about 20. An examination by the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre in the Thai coastal province later showed its intestines were full of nylon string ...

Pichayada Promchertchoo

Vietnam struggles to break one of world's biggest coal addictions

Despite Vietnam’s solar boom and ambitious climate targets, the fast-growing economy is struggling to quit dirty energy – leaving one of the world’s biggest coal power programmes largely intact. During the COP26 climate summit last year, the government boldly promised to end the construction of new ...

AFP/fh

The cost of Laos’ quest to be Southeast Asia’s ‘battery’, and the World Heritage town at risk

With electricity exports to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia and even Singapore, Laos has arguably realised its ambition to be the battery of Southeast Asia. The bulk of these exports are from hydropower. Nearly 80 dams dot the landlocked country, and more along the Mekong River are in ...

Lee Li Wan

Rice and the Climate Crisis: Thai rice farmers struggle against climate-driven challenges

It has been another difficult harvest for Manas Takfaeng. This farmer has seen plenty of seasons in his years in the fields. But now as his retirement looms closer, watching another crop suffer is hard to comprehend. The 67-year-old is an ordinary small-hold rice grower whose family ...

Jack Board

Commentary: What can Southeast Asia do about all this COVID-19 waste?

For the last couple of years, virtually every news feed or broadcast has included images of mask-clad people or health workers suited up as protection from COVID-19.  While the images might be ephemeral, those masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), along with used test kits and ...

JJ Rose

Oil spill threatens corals in eastern Thailand

Authorities are rushing to prevent an oil spill in eastern Thailand from damaging fragile corals, after officials said on Sunday (Jan 30) the leak that began last week was drifting towards more coastal areas. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Varawut Silpa-archa said it was ...

Reuters/vc

Cambodia PM's visit to Myanmar sparks protests from coup opponents

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will start a visit to Myanmar on Friday (Jan 7) for talks with its military rulers, triggering protests across the conflict-torn nation by coup opponents who fear that his trip will provide more legitimacy to the junta. His visit will be the first ...

Reuters/kg

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