{
  "id": 2989550,
  "title": "Malaysia says Indonesia to open airspace for cloud seeding to tackle haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/malaysia-says-indonesia-to-open-airspace-for-cloud-seeding-to-tackle",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T09:42:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365068/malaysia-says-indonesia-open-airspace-cloud-seeding-tackle-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to open their airspace to each other for cloud seeding operations in a bid to combat the region-wide haze, Malaysia's environment minister has announced. The move is part of both countries' intensified efforts to tackle the haze caused by forest and land fires that have recently affected several provinces in Indonesia, leading to numerous school closures in Malaysia as well.\n\nThe National Disaster Management Agency and the Meteorological Department in Malaysia are currently finalizing schedules for cloud-seeding operations, which will be coordinated with the Indonesian military. Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup stated that Malaysia is also ready to assist Indonesia in fighting fires, with any specific requests to be brought to the cabinet for further action.\n\nBoth nations plan to ramp up their firefighting and fire prevention programs ahead of upcoming national holidays, including the Malaysia Day celebrations in Sarawak state on September 16. Sarawak, which shares a border with Indonesia's Kalimantan province, has been the most severely impacted by the haze. On Monday, six districts in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air pollution index (API) readings, while eight other districts across four Malaysian states also reported unhealthy API levels, according to data released by the environment department.",
  "summary": "Indonesia has given Malaysian agencies official permission to enter its airspace to conduct cloud seeding operations, Malaysia’s environment minister has said, part of both countries’ efforts to combat the haze blanketing the region. Indonesia has been stepping up efforts to slow the spread of haze caused by forest and land fires across several provinces, which this month led to dozens of school…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Malaysia, Indonesia to ramp up anti-haze measures ahead of National Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/malaysia-indonesia-to-ramp-up-anti-haze-measures-ahead-of-national-day",
        "published": "2026-08-24T08:29:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Indonesia to open airspace for cloud seeding to tackle haze, Malaysia says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/indonesia-to-open-airspace-for-cloud-seeding-to-tackle-haze-malaysia",
        "published": "2026-08-24T08:49:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Indonesia allows Malaysian aircraft to conduct cloud seeding along border",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/indonesia-allows-malaysian-aircraft-to-conduct-cloud-seeding-along",
        "published": "2026-08-24T09:55:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}