{
  "id": 17156969,
  "title": "Indonesia Rain Set to Ease Toxic Haze in Singapore, Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/indonesia-rain-set-to-ease-toxic-haze-in-singapore-malaysia",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-30T01:06:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/indonesia-rain-set-to-ease-toxic-haze-in-singapore-malaysia-11793322367093.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesia is set to experience more frequent rainfall next month, which will help alleviate the toxic haze that has plagued Singapore and Malaysia due to widespread wildfires. However, this rainfall is still weeks away, with the heaviest downpours not expected until early December in regions like Kalimantan, where most of the active fire hotspots are located. The Indonesian government has received less than a quarter of its normal rainfall since June, exacerbating the drought conditions caused by El Niño. Over 13,500 hotspots have been detected nationwide, marking the highest count since 2015.\n\nSingapore's foreign minister recently visited Indonesia to help mend diplomatic ties strained by the fire crisis. The haze has closed schools and driven demand for air purifiers, while Singapore has even considered legal action against companies suspected of illegal burning. The situation has also impacted Indonesia's agricultural sector, as smog from the fires is affecting oil palm pollination and slowing harvesting at palm oil plantations.\n\nForecasts suggest that near-normal rainfall is expected next month, which will help prevent new fires from developing and curb the spread of existing ones. However, there is a risk that the persistence of fires and smoke could suppress rainfall by blocking sunlight and inhibiting the formation of storms and showers. Nonetheless, Indonesian authorities remain hopeful that the fire crisis can be resolved by November, with satellite monitoring indicating a decreasing number of hotspots in three provinces most severely affected by the fires.",
  "summary": "Indonesia is set for more consistent rain next month, providing relief from wildfires that have spewed toxic smoke across Singapore and Malaysia, though widespread downpours are still weeks away.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}