Anti-haze tips for Indonesian farmers

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia will advise Indonesian farmers on how to avoid starting forest fires when they clear land, as part of efforts to curb the cross-border haze that plagues the region nearly every year.

Malaysian Environment Minister Douglas Unggah Embas said his country will sign a pact with Indonesia next month to boost anti-haze cooperation, which will include teaching Indonesian farmers to practise controlled burning instead of slash-and-burn activities.

Officials from both countries have warned their people to brace themselves for the haze, especially between July and September.

AP

New Bangalore airport takes off

Bangalore - India's gleaming new Bangalore international airport opened yesterday despite protests by residents and businesses who said getting there by road could be a nightmare.

The government has not delivered on promises to widen clogged access roads or build a dedicated rail link to the city, so the commute could take as long as four hours from parts of the city.

The US$630 million (S$856 million) state-of-the-art facility lies 36km from the city centre whereas the old airport is just 10km away.

A court had thrown out pleas by the local people to keep the old airport open for commercial flights.

AFP

Man killed by troops in Johannesburg

Johannesburg - South African troops have killed a man in a Johannesburg township during operations to quell anti-immigrant violence.

'A member of the public was shot when he pointed a firearm at a soldier. He was shot dead,' said army spokesman Kwena Mangope.

Soldiers were deployed on Johannesburg's streets on Thursday for the first time since the end of white rule in 1994, in a bid to stem a tide of violence against foreigners.

At least 42 people have been killed, more than 500 arrested and 17,000 displaced since the unrest broke out in the city nearly two weeks ago. The unrest has spread to seven of the country's nine provinces.

AFP