Rappler's latest stories on smog
Smog in Iran shuts schools, universities
In Tehran, average concentrations of hazardous airborne particles reached 146 micrograms per cubic meter on November 30
India's top court orders halt to stubble burning as Delhi chokes
India's Supreme Court says the capital's residents are 'losing precious years' of their lives, adding 'people are dying, this just cannot happen in a civilized country'
Taj Mahal gets air purifier as Indian capital chokes
'There is smoke everywhere and people, including youngsters, kids, elderly are finding it difficult to breathe,' says Delhi's chief minister in a Twitter video. 'Eyes are burning. Pollution is that bad.'
Millions in Indian capital endure 'eye-burning' smog
The current smog crisis is the worst in 3 years, and New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is calling for a range of measures to fight what he describes as 'unbearable pollution'
Hundreds of schools close as toxic smog chokes Bangkok
Because the Thai capital has been shrouded in murky haze for weeks, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration orders all 437 city-controlled public schools to close from Wednesday through Friday
India pollution watchdog fines Delhi over toxic smog
The National Green Tribunal penalizes the capital administration for its lack of oversight after it has emerged some polluting industries are still burning harmful waste in the open
Delhi's toxic air spikes after Diwali firework frenzy
Frenzied nights of fireworks to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali turns the air in New Delhi to toxic 'airpocalypse' levels
Doctors say no to sport in Delhi as cricketers choke in smog
Unprecedented scenes of Sri Lankan cricketers wearing face masks reignites debate about hosting major sports in heavily polluted New Delhi
Parents angry as Delhi schools reopen despite smog
Doctors declare a public health emergency last week when choking smog descended in New Delhi and elsewhere in northern India, prompting authorities to close schools, ban construction and bar trucks from entering the city
Smog-hit Delhi calls off odd-even car rationing plan
India's federal environmental court rules against requested exemptions, prompting local authorities to call off its plan to restrict private vehicle use
The week in photos: November 4-10, 2017
This week's selection of photo highlights here and around the world
Thousands of schools close as smog envelopes India, Pakistan
Low winds and the annual post-harvest burning of crop stubble in Punjab and neighboring areas have caused the levels of dangerous pollutants in the air to spike to many times the levels considered safe
Schools close amid health emergency as smog blankets India's capital
The Indian Medical Association declares a public health emergency and urges city administrators 'to make every possible effort to curb this menace'
Delhi braces for pollution 'airpocalypse' as smog looms
Last year's unprecedented pollution disaster saw heavy smog hover above the capital for weeks, forcing schools to shut as authorities scrambled to contain the crisis
China tightens smog data controls amid public anger
It comes after the national Meteorological Administration last month ordered local meteorological bureaus to stop issuing haze alerts raising suspicions the government was attempting to suppress information about the chronic problem
China tells local meteorological bureaus to stop smog alerts
The notice was issued because local meteorological bureaus and the environmental protection administration often disagree when they issue smog related information
China to cut coal capacity by 800 million tonnes by 2020
Coal of which China is the world s largest consumer remains an indispensable part of its economy supplying 60 of its electricity
Choking smog clears from northern China
A cold wind from the northwest arrives on Thursday December 22 blowing away the toxic pollution
China's smoggiest city closes schools amid public anger
3rd UPDATE Officials in Shijiazhuang draw flak for not immediately suspending children s classes and for making suspensions in middle and high schools voluntary
Planes grounded as smog chokes China for fifth day
Hundreds of flights are cancelled and road and rail transport grind to a halt under the low visibility conditions
China chokes under heavy smog, worse yet to come
A host of emergency measures have been implemented to protect the public s health from the smog which is smothering almost 1 9 of the entire country
Delhi shuts schools as smog sparks health 'emergency'
Pollution levels have spiked in recent days as farmers in neighboring Indian states burn crop stubble after the harvest and temperatures cool trapping pollutants in a smoggy haze over the city
Delhi state smog draws 'gas chamber' comparison
1 800 schools are shut following one of the city s worst ever pollution spells
India capital to install roadside air purifiers to cut smog
We are planning to install air purifiers at 5 major intersections in Delhi to reduce pollution levels Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain says at a press conference
Singapore shrouded in smog as haze returns to Southeast Asia
Singapore s National Environment Agency says the Pollutant Standards Index breached very unhealthy levels of 215 during the day
Indonesia pushes for ban on palm oil operations after forest fires
Downside? The ban could affect the economy
India's smog-choked capital imposes driving restrictions
New Delhi brings back an odd even scheme for another 15 days in a bid to improve air quality
Chinese smog has silver lining for mask makers
The business climate improves for manufacturers of face masks air purifiers and pollution monitors
India's smog-shrouded capital pulls cars off roads
Don t do it because the government is forcing you Do it because you feel it is important for your life your health says Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Beijing pollution soars but no red alert
Counts of harmful microscopic particles has reached 529 – way beyond the recommended maximum exposure of 25 over a 24 hour period
10 Christmas stories around the world you (also) probably missed
Last minute preps for Christmas made me miss the news I read back on people stories that happened during the holidays and came up with this list
Toxic smog brings nightmare 'white Christmas' to Beijing
In this kind of weather can Santa Claus even find Beijing? a social media user writes
10 Chinese cities issue pollution red alert – state media
Nearly 100 million people in China are warned to stay indoors after the issuance of red alerts for smog
Miss Universe, election polls, Lim Eng Beng | 6PM wRap
Watch the 6PM edition of Rappler s newscast The wRap
Thousands of plants cut production as Beijing smog persists
The Chinese capital imposed the highest tier of a 4 color smog warning system for 4 days starting Saturday December 19
Beijing's second red alert issued due to choking smog
The capital s environmental bureau orders factories to close and pulls half of all private cars off the streets as bad air floods into the city for the third airpocalypse of the month
Beijing issues second red alert ahead of smog
It will be the second time the highest level alert has been issued since the city established a pollution warning system in 2013
Beijing traffic slashed in smog alert
Levels of PM2 5 – harmful microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lungs – reach above 300 micrograms per cubic meter The World Health Organization s recommended maximum exposure is 25
Beijing declares first-ever red alert for pollution
A red alert issued when severe smog is expected to last more than 72 hours is the highest of Beijing s warning system
Beijing issues orange alert for heavy smog
Levels of PM2 5 – particles which can penetrate deeply into the lungs – reach more than 15 times recommended levels
Southeast Asia breathes sigh of relief as rains ease smog crisis
Parts of Indonesia Malaysia and Singapore enjoyed their clearest skies in weeks while affected areas of the Philippines and Thailand also have seen an end to air pollution
'No escape': The desperate state of Indonesians living in haze
Usually we just endured it even though we had headaches and felt nauseous But it has got so bad lately that I can t take it anymore I can t even breathe fresh air
Philippines cancels flights, alerts hospitals over haze
Filipino authorities warn ash levels are becoming increasingly dangerous in the southern and central islands
Indonesia readies warships for haze evacuation
Indonesian disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says fires caused by slash and burn farming had killed 10 people
'Worst haze in a decade' blankets southern Thailand
Thai officials Thursday said air quality had dipped to unhealthy levels in 7 southern provinces with particularly high readings in southwestern Songkhla province where some flights have been delayed or turned back
Indonesia forest fires produce more greenhouse gas than all US economic activity
The shock assessment came as Jakarta said the number of blazes was increasing across the archipelago despite a multinational fire fighting effort
The wRap Indonesia: Helicopter missing, scores dead in Turkey blast
Other top stories include the arrival of international aid to combat forest fires and a long term investment between Indonesia and PT Freeport Indonesia
International aid arrives in Indonesia to help combat forest fires
Six countries will help Indonesia to fight forest fires which have sent choking smog across parts of Southeast Asia
The wRap Indonesia: Jokowi accepts help to combat haze, Obama apologizes
Other stories include the recovery of bodies of plane crash victims increased US maritime assistance and reactions on the bullet train deal with China
Indonesia finally accepts international help to combat fires
Authorities had rejected offers of help from affluent Singapore but officials said Indonesian President Joko Widodo has decided that international assistance would now be accepted
