Sharp, essential news and analysis from Malaysia.
Indonesia and Malaysia are intensifying cooperation to tackle transboundary haze originating from West Kalimantan wildfires, with weather modification operations set to begin along border regions. Air quality has deteriorated significantly across Sarawak and parts of Malaysia.
Raging forest and land fires across Indonesia have triggered a severe air quality crisis, with Central Kalimantan's API reaching hazardous levels of 573, affecting millions and prompting emergency health measures.
Nine Sarawak locations reported unhealthy air quality on August 21, with Serian's API soaring to 227 (very unhealthy), as transboundary haze from Indonesian fires swept through the region.
Malaysia recorded 18,432 open burning cases from January to July this year, nearly double the 9,941 cases from the same period last year, with authorities identifying 62 high-risk locations vulnerable to large-scale fires.
Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency has mobilised aerial firefighting resources to combat a rapidly expanding wildfire at Mount Bromo in East Java, which has consumed approximately 60 hectares of forest across two regencies.
Kenya's wildlife authorities have initiated an investigation into the sudden deaths of 15 elephants at Amboseli National Park within a single month, triggering alarm among conservationists and wildlife experts.