Malaysia: Schools close again over worsening haze
Malaysia has announced school closures in several states and capital city Kuala Lumpur on October 19 due to the prolonged haze crisis caused by Indonesian slash-and-burn farming.
Pollution in Kualar Lumpur (Photo: AFP/VNA)As of 6:00 pm on October 18, the Air Pollutants Index (API) had increased to unhealthy quality level in 16 areas. The API readings for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, a federal administrative centre of Malaysia, reached about 116.
An API between 0 and 50 is good, 50 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and 301 and above is dangerous.
Early this month, many schools in Malaysia were also shut for two days due to smoke from Indonesia.
The haze occurs annually in dry season but has dramatically worsened this year as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon.
According to the Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the low air quality stems from wind pattern changes triggered by two tropical storms, namely Koppu and Champi, in the Pacific Ocean. The wind pattern is expected to last until October 21.-VNA
You should also see
PM asks for prompt actions to fix consequences of serious workplace accident in Yen Bai
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 22 signed a dispatch asking for prompt actions to fix the consequences of a serious workplace accident that happened in a cement factory in the northern province of Yen Bai the same day, as well as measures to support victims.
See more
ASEAN
ASEAN youth empowered to unleash potential: ASEAN chief
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).
World
Thailand urged to increase proportion of renewable power generation
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).
World
Indonesia lifts tsunami alert given after Ruang volcano’s eruption
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.
World
Thailand expects to export 1 million tonnes of durian this year
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.
ASEAN
ASEAN bolsters intellectual property cooperation
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.
