In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
Forest fires bring record levels of air pollution; and the end is not in sight. Since the mid-1980s, when Indonesia first began to clear its bountiful forests on an industrial scale in favour of lucrative palm-oil plantations, “haze” has become an almost annual occurrence in South-East Asia. The cheapest way …
The Indonesian government will spend 100 billion rupiah — $10 million — on a cloud-seeding scheme to reduce the haze plaguing Sumatra, Singapore, and Malaysia. According to a statement released after a meeting between top officials, Indonesia will use airplanes to seed clouds with salt in an effort to increase …
Sumatra island fires push toxic smog plumes to neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, triggering record levels of haze Air pollution in Singapore has soared to a record high for a third consecutive day, as Indonesia prepares to send planes and helicopters to battle the fires blamed for hazardous levels of smoky …
Singapore's air pollution level rose to "very unhealthy" levels late on Wednesday, with the main pollution index hitting the highest on record, as smoke from Indonesian forest fires enveloped the city-state. The Pollution Standards Index (PSI) soared to 290 at 9:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), up from 190 just …
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong advises Singaporeans to stay indoors as much as possible while the smog persists Singaporeans have been urged to stay indoors as smoky haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia has worsened dramatically, causing unprecedented levels of air pollution. Singapore's pollutant standards index hit a record …
This report analyzes comprehensive 2009 data on government social protection programs in 35 countries in Asia and the Pacific. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) used its Social Protection Index to help assess the nature and the effectiveness of these programs, as well as to facilitate cross-country comparisons. This project based …
RCC oncologists to be trained in new procedure in Singapore. Patients with advanced cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovaries may now have hope for long-term survival with the Regional Cancer Centre here preparing to offer peritonectomy or cytoreductive surgery, an intensive, multi-disciplinary, and radical procedure currently done only in …
Dengue poses a substantial economic and disease burden in Southeast Asia (SEA). Quantifying this burden is critical to set policy priorities and disease-control strategies.
Emissions from landscape fires affect both climate and air quality. This study uses satellite-derived fire estimates and atmospheric modelling to quantify the effects on health from fire emissions in southeast Asia from 1997 to 2006. Strong El Nino years are found to increase the incidence of fires, in addition to …
It is well-known fact now that no-a-days mobility in our cities either big or medium, is a huge challenge due to congestion during peak hours which is mainly due to excessive use of private vehicles. There is a need to resolve the congestion issues urgently for improving mobility of the …
Airlines, hotels and tour operators likely to see a boom in business activities The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad is projected to generate about Rs 12,000 crore of revenues and create over 6 lakh job opportunities. Airlines, hotels and tour operators are likely to witness a boom period in …
Airlines, hotels, tour operators and Uttar Pradesh in general are likely to reap a windfall during the Maha Kumbh Mela in the state with the government likely to see its coffers swelling by Rs 12,000 crore, according to an industry body. ASSOCHAM's paper 'Maha Kumbh Mela 2013- Possible Revenue Generation …
In what can have huge implications for countries like India, scientists have warned of massive earthquakes in the Himalayas, especially in areas where the surface is yet to be broken by a tremblor. A research team led by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has discovered that powerful earthquakes measuring 8 to …
India has been ranked a lowly 40th among 50 economies in the world in terms of “dynamism”. Singapore topped the list, which was compiled by assurance, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton. According to Grant Thornton’s Global Dynamism Index (GDI), the economies were analysed on 22 indicators of dynamism. These …
In the Grant Thornton Global Dynamism Index (GDI), they define dynamism as the changes to the economy which have enabled recovery from the 2008-09 economic recession and are likely to lead to a fast rate of future growth. The model was developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), who analysed …
Bangalore ranks better than New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata amongst Indian cities in overall global quality of living index, according to a Mercer 2012 Quality of Living Survey. Mercer conducts this survey annually to help multinational companies and other organisations compensate employees fairly when placing them on international assignments. …
This document outlines the current thinking about climate change and its implications for Singapore. It also highlights the initiatives and strategies they are pursuing to prepare for the challenges that climate change poses. The document covers i) the climate change imperative; ii) global mission, national vision, local action; iii) climate …
An accurate early warning system to predict impending epidemics enhances the effectiveness of preventive measures against dengue fever. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a forecasting model that could predict dengue cases and provide timely early warning in Singapore.
The proposal of German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to dispose of the 350 tonnes of toxic waste lying at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal has finally started moving forward. On August 27, representatives of the agency, which has offered to incinerate the waste at a …
Singapore will move towards cleaner fuel and reduce sulfur emissions from cars and industries by 2014 in a bid to keep up with global changes, the country's National Environment Agency said. As the number of vehicles in the world grows, boosted by surging numbers in Asia, several nations have stepped …
