Global Index Ranks Baghdad and Singapore Among Most Polluted

The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, ranked at the top of the world's most polluted major cities, followed by Singapore in second place and Kuala Lumpur in third, according to live monitoring data released Saturday by air quality tracking platform IQAir, with all readings indicating very hazardous pollution levels. The surge coincided with the Singapore-based ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre activating Alert Level 3, the highest tier in its regional four-stage monitoring system ranging from zero to three, designated for addressing high risks of severe transboundary toxic haze impacting southern Southeast Asia. The center stated that Friday's alert was prompted by persistent active hotspots from Indonesian forest fires, combined with moderate to dense smoke plumes lingering for two consecutive days or more under dry weather conditions and winds carrying pollutants toward neighboring nations. This marked the third regional warning issued this year, following earlier notices released on March 27 and August 26. Months of sustained smog have driven a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses and prompted widespread school closures across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor. In response, Singaporean authorities announced Friday that official warnings would be issued to seven Indonesian companies held responsible for the fires, cautioning that conditions could further deteriorate. At the diplomatic level, a spokesperson for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday that the transboundary haze crisis will be tabled during upcoming preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in Manila this November.