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At Indonesia's request, the Netherlands is returning 20 cultural objects that the Dutch government says were wrongfully removed during the colonial period. They include the Banjarmasin Diamond, a 38-carat diamond from the regalia of the Sultan of Banjarmasin. The transfer was agreed on 9 October 2026; the objects will be handed over later.
World Animal Rescue Network has opened an appeal to support wildlife-related fire response, recovery and prevention in Kalimantan. Its September 8 update says staff are assessing needs in Indonesia, with grant recipients still to be selected.
WHO has validated Bhutan’s elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health problem. Its September 4 announcement reports no human deaths from dog-mediated rabies since June 2023.
Indonesia’s four-member team earned 12 medals across individual and team events at the 2026 International Earth Science Olympiad. The education ministry also reported three Young Reporters Initiative prizes.
Malaysia released 400 young river terrapins into the Terengganu River on September 7. Bernama reported that the wildlife department, Perhilitan, organised the conservation release near Kuala Berang.
Pakistani students won one gold and two silver medals at the 2026 International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah. Radio Pakistan identified the three winners in its August 9 report.
A conservation programme brought tiger lessons and educational games to 87 Thai schoolchildren. WWF Foundation reported the August 20 activity with Mae Wong and Khlong Lan national parks.
Government schools in Pilibhit will run weekend wildlife and environment sessions from 22 August to 14 November 2026. The Times of India reported the district plan covers 1,499 schools and about 165,000 students in classes 6 to 8.
Fisherfolk in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, built a mangrove and seagrass monitoring kit that is now exhibited at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration. MindaNews reported the kit sits alongside field tools from other explorers in the Washington museum that opened in June 2026.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued Presidential Instruction No. 8/2026, directing eight ministries, the national police, and regional governments to protect 5.4 million hectares of Sumatran elephant habitat and 19,141 hectares of Bornean elephant habitat, ANTARA News reported. The decree bans new permits in elephant habitat and requires wildlife corridors wherever infrastructure projects would otherwise cut through elephant home ranges.
Pakistan's Benazir Income Support Programme extended its Benazir Nashonuma nutrition partnership with the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the World Health Organization by three years on 9 July 2026, aiming to protect an additional 3.3 million pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under two from malnutrition. Since its 2020 launch the programme has reached 4.7 million people through 578 facilitation centres and 224 nutrition stabilization centres, and its total reach is expected to grow to 8 million as the extension rolls out.
Indonesia's Red and White Cooperatives (KMP) programme, run under President Prabowo Subianto's administration, now targets 40,000 units operating by October 2026 — half its original goal of 80,000 — serving as local distribution centres for state assistance, agricultural machinery, and subsidised fertiliser and fuel. The Jakarta Post reported the scaled-back rollout on 6 July 2026.
Malaysia's government-backed MediAsas pilot scheme introduced two affordable basic medical and health takaful plans, Medi Asas Teras and MediAsas Fleksi, in the Klang Valley from late July 2026 for a three-month trial. The pilot, overseen by the Joint Ministerial Committee on Private Healthcare Costs (JBMKKS) with six licensed insurers and takaful operators, sets indicative monthly premiums between RM60 and RM550 ahead of a planned nationwide rollout in January 2027.
Hanoi began enforcing its first low-emission zone on 1 July 2026, barring petrol motorbikes from 11 Old Quarter streets from 6pm to midnight on Fridays and 6am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. The pilot covers about 20,000 residents in Hoan Kiem ward and is the opening phase of a rollout set to cover all of Ring Road 1 by 2029.
An Indian traveller's video showing strangers in Tokyo and Osaka walking her to train platforms and stations went viral in July 2026. India TV News reported that the encounters left the traveller, known online as Akankshaa, with what she called a memory she would cherish for life.
Three Kalimantan orangutans named Bagus, Eboni, and Ruby were released into Gunung Batu Mesangat protected forest on June 23, 2026 after rehabilitation at BORA. The Jakarta Post reported the joint release by East Kalimantan wildlife agencies, forest units, and the Center for Orangutan Protection.
Sarawak will host the third Rainforest Youth Summit from June 24 to 26, 2026 in Kuching, then the 29th Rainforest World Music Festival. The Jakarta Post reported speakers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, and Fiji and two new youth climate programmes.
Hanoi launched 'RE:EARTH – For a Green West Lake' on 20 June 2026, mobilising around 250 delegates and more than 150 volunteers to clean up plastic waste around the lake. The programme was organised by Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, WWF and Lotte Mart Korea, with Vietnam's Environment Department and Tây Hồ Ward's People's Committee taking part.
Explore coverage from Asian countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Thailand. Australia, New Zealand and Pacific island stories appear in the Oceania collection.