In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has warned that prolonged dry conditions threaten to intensify haze and smoke pollution across southern ASEAN, with several Malaysian states already registering unhealthy air quality levels.
The Sarawak State Education Department has shuttered 30 schools in Lubok Antu after air quality deteriorated dangerously, with the Air Pollutant Index climbing above 200 in the district.
Regional leaders face pressure to overhaul ASEAN's 22-year-old haze agreement with binding enforcement mechanisms and preventive measures, as recurring transboundary pollution threatens public health across Southeast Asia.
Sarawak is escalating efforts to combat transboundary haze through regional ASEAN mechanisms, while exploring cloud seeding as a tactical response to worsening air quality across eight districts.
Sabah's fire authority has called on residents to cease open burning activities as thick smoke from Kalimantan forest fires drifts northward, degrading air quality. Officials warn vulnerable groups to take precautions.
Wildfires raging across northwestern Ontario have blanketed Toronto and Ottawa with dangerous smog, forcing evacuations and disrupting transportation networks. More than 100 active fires continue burning.