Singapore's worst air pollution sparks tension

Published June 19, 2013
The Marina Bay Sands casino and resort is pictured on a hazy day in Singapore June 18, 2013. — Reuters Photo
The Marina Bay Sands casino and resort is pictured on a hazy day in Singapore June 18, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A view from Mount Faber hill shows low visibility due to haze. — AFP Photo
A view from Mount Faber hill shows low visibility due to haze. — AFP Photo
A combination photo shows the Singapore skyline on a clear day (top) on April 25, 2013 and on a hazy day June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A combination photo shows the Singapore skyline on a clear day (top) on April 25, 2013 and on a hazy day June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A man walks past the new National Stadium under construction on a hazy evening in Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A man walks past the new National Stadium under construction on a hazy evening in Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A man fishes on a breakwater along East Coast Park on a hazy day in Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A man fishes on a breakwater along East Coast Park on a hazy day in Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A view of the highway leading out of the central business district as buildings are blanketed with haze. — AFP Photo
A view of the highway leading out of the central business district as buildings are blanketed with haze. — AFP Photo
A combination photo shows the clear skyline taken April 25, 2010 and hazy skyline taken June 18, 2013, of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. — Reuters Photo
A combination photo shows the clear skyline taken April 25, 2010 and hazy skyline taken June 18, 2013, of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. — Reuters Photo
Visitors take photos at an observation deck of Marina Bay Sands Skypark overlooking the haze covered skyline of Singapore. — Reuters Photo
Visitors take photos at an observation deck of Marina Bay Sands Skypark overlooking the haze covered skyline of Singapore. — Reuters Photo
A cyclist rides along the pier in front of buildings blanketed by haze in Singapore. Singapore's Pollutant Standards Index again shot above the "unhealthy" threshold of 152.  — AFP Photo
A cyclist rides along the pier in front of buildings blanketed by haze in Singapore. Singapore's Pollutant Standards Index again shot above the "unhealthy" threshold of 152. — AFP Photo
Workers take a break in front of the hazy skyline of Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
Workers take a break in front of the hazy skyline of Singapore June 17, 2013. — Reuters Photo
A view from Mount Faber hill shows residential and commercial buildings shrouded in haze in Singapore. — AFP Photo
A view from Mount Faber hill shows residential and commercial buildings shrouded in haze in Singapore. — AFP Photo
A woman wearing a face mask walks in the hazy central business district of Singapore. — Reuters Photo
A woman wearing a face mask walks in the hazy central business district of Singapore. — Reuters Photo

Singapore's worst air pollution in 16 years sparked diplomatic tension on Tuesday, as the city-state urged Indonesia to provide data on company names and concession maps to enable it to act against plantation firms that allow slash-and-burn farming.

The haze worsened on Monday with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hitting 105 at 3pm according to local media.

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....