New target set to curb China’s HIV rate by 2030
Since around 2012, the country has effectively halted HIV transmission through blood transfusions, reduced mother-to-child transmission and curbed the virus's spread via injection…
Health
Japan to actively recruit nursing care staff from overseas
About one in five people in Japan will be aged 75 or over next year. There are currently about 2.15 million nursing care workers, but there will be an estimated shortage of about…
Harsh life as Japan’s Noto quake evacuees face worsening chronic illnesses and physical, mental stress
Ishikawa prefecture has been working to prevent disaster-related deaths. However, there are over 200 additional people who died after the earthquake and whose families are still…
Select Asian students to study medicine in Japan for free; new program to start as early as FY26
This is the first time for the ministry to attempt such an initiative, which it is undertaking with the aim of both contributing to the international community and expanding use…
Underarm whitener from Thailand found with mercury
Q-nic Care Whitening Underarm Cream, which was manufactured in Thailand, contained 6,109 parts per million (ppm) of mercury—above the 1-ppm limit of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive…
Solutions to ketamine problem: The Jakarta Post
Indonesia's Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) recently announced that sales of injectable ketamine, the usage of which is strictly regulated, have been increasing.
China’s mpox vaccine ready for clinical trial
There is currently no approved mpox vaccine in China. The vaccine candidate from Sinopharm has proved safe and effective during preclinical research and it can stimulate immune…
Japanese brewery to make sake in space; if successful, limited-edition sake to be sold for US$657k
The attempt to brew sake in space will be made in the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the International Space Station.
Singapore Food Agency orders recall of peanut product from China due to artificial sweetener
The affected product—YTY Garlic Peanuts—contains cyclamate, which is not permitted in nut and seed products.
In Cambodia, viral HIV ‘fake news’ post undermining faith in public health
A recent post by the Facebook account “Hea Ra” claimed that HIV/AIDS cases are surging in Cambodia. This alarming assertion, however, has been debunked by health officials,…