Indonesia investigates firms related to forest fire
Indonesia is investigating 10 firms over worsening forest fires that have created a blanket of smog over Southeast Asia, according to the country’s authorities.
Thick haze from Indonesian forest fires affects the air quality in Singapore (Source:AFP/VNA)
Indonesia is investigating 10 firms over worsening forest fires that have created a blanket of smog over Southeast Asia, according to the country’s authorities.
Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said companies could face sanctions if found violating their permits.
On the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, large forest concessions are used by pulp and paper and palm oil companies who have been criticized by green groups for not doing enough to stop the haze and rampant deforestation.
Affects from prolonged droughts have caused forest fires in the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Sulawesi, burning about 130 hectares of forests.
Thick haze from the forest fires have led to flight delays and cancellations in Sumatra and Kalimantan due to low visibility.
It also pushed the air quality to unhealthy levels in the neighbouring country of Singapore and Malaysia.-VNA
Malaysia was hit by the worst haze it has experienced since early this year as smoke from forest fires caused alarming levels of pollution in six areas on August 5.
Forest fire in Hoang Lien National Park, a primeval forest that covers nearly 30,000 ha and recognised as an ASEAN Heritage Park, in the northwestern province of Lao Cai was finally extinguished.
Singapore on June 17 urged Indonesia to take “urgent measures” to tackle forest fires occurred on its Sumatra island that caused a thick haze of smoke hung in the air in the densely populated Singapore.
Ministers in charge of the environment from some ASEAN countries will discuss issues surrounding haze pollution at their 15 th meeting, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 17.
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.
Thick haze from Indonesian forest fires affects the air quality in Singapore (Source:AFP/VNA)
