Haze condition worsens in Singapore (Source: straitstimes.com)
International cooperation is needed to tackle the worsening haze, said Singapore Minister of Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 on September 27.
He stressed the action would prevent companies from profiting from unsustainable land or forest clearing, thus precluding land degradation and biodiversity loss.
The minister’s speech came as air quality in Singapore reached unhealthy levels due to forest fires in Indonesia over the past three weeks. The country had to close its schools on September 25 after the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) reached a “toxic level” of 340 PSI . It has also initiated legal actions against five companies it believes to be behind the fires.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, a dialogue between Minister of National Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Panjaitan, and Singapore’s Minister of National Defence Ng Eng Hen was held on September 28- 29 to discuss the situation.
Speaking at the meeting, the Singaporean minister reaffirmed his nation’s armed forces are willing to support its neighbouring country’s efforts to get the haze under control.
To date, 127 ignition points have been found in Sumatra, Indonesia ,causing the dense haze in the central and southern areas of Sumatra and part of Singapore’s seas.
On September 28, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), said dry weather, water shortages and major fires are challenging local fire-fighting forces.-VNA
The hazy conditions and poor air quality in Singapore have further deteriorated as an even denser haze from Indonesia has blown in, said Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) on September 24.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has suggested developing canals to prevent forest fires during a meeting in the village of Sakakajang in Central Kalimantan after his visit to a forest in the area.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has sent warning notices to four Indonesian companies, which were determined to cause the current haze pollution in Singapore.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Haze condition worsens in Singapore (Source: straitstimes.com)
