The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 percent of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, according to data from Indonesia-based Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR).

 Air pollution in a key Chinese region surrounding Beijing worsened in the first four months of this year, despite tough new campaigns to enforce green regulations and punish offenders, 

 The Chinese capital issued its highest red fog alert for a second day on Wednesday, keeping highways closed in and around the city which is already under a smog alert after weeks of choking winter pollution.

 Pollution has soared to hazardous levels in Beijing, reaching 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation.

 The Chinese capital on Thursday issued a yellow alert for heavy air pollution over the next three days, with children and the elderly being advised to stay indoors.

 Exposure to higher levels of fine particulates -- the airborne pollution that is an emerging problem in many Asian cities -- causes a sharp rise in deaths from heart attacks,