WTF: Virus Spillovers, Plastic Shock and Perlis Dreams

When Health, Technology and Aging Collide

This week on What’s the Focus, we look at three very different stories tied together by one underlying theme: how societies adapt under pressure. First, a major global study warns that mental disorders have now become the leading cause of disability worldwide, raising urgent questions about whether healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities are equipped for the scale of the crisis. Then we turn to Ferrari’s controversial new electric vehicle, the Luce, and what the backlash says about technology, identity, and the uneasy transition into the EV era. And finally, with Malaysia rapidly becoming an aging society, we examine the growing debate over whether older drivers should undergo medical assessments before renewing their licences, and how to balance road safety with dignity and independence. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

When Technology and Tourism Start Going Too Far

This week on What’s the Focus, we look at two very different stories connected by the same underlying question about excess. First, we examine the dangerous overcrowding on Mount Everest, where extreme tourism is turning one of the harshest environments on Earth into a high-altitude traffic jam. Then we explore how Google is transforming Search into an AI-driven conversational platform that could fundamentally change how people interact with information online. And later, a cautionary tale shows how easily digital tools, fake investment platforms, and the promise of easy money can blur the line between convenience and deception. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

When the Real Winners Aren’t Who You Expect

This week on What’s the Focus, we look at two stories where the real story sits beneath the headline. In India, a cola war between billion-dollar beverage giants is unexpectedly fuelling a boom in commercial refrigerators, turning cold storage into the new battleground for market dominance. Meanwhile closer to home, a bizarre story about retaliatory crows opens up a surprisingly fascinating conversation about how urban wildlife is adapting to life alongside humans and what happens when animals stop behaving like animals and start behaving more like neighbours. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

WTF: Virus Spillovers, Plastic Shock and Perlis Dreams

This week on WTF, we look at the growing risks of zoonotic disease spillovers as avian flu and hantavirus outbreaks raise fresh global health concerns, the emerging “plastic shock” hitting Asia as oil disruptions squeeze petrochemical supplies, and the debate sparked by Perlis’ ambition to position itself as a future regional trade hub. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

China’s Soft Power, Climate Risks & Vet Shortage

A look at China’s growing global influence through brands and commerce and whether that translates into real soft power, rising concerns over climate tipping points like the potential collapse of the AMOC, and Malaysia’s widening shortage of veterinarians and what it means for public health, food security, and the broader economy. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.