<p>China has given courts the authority to hand down the death penalty in cases of serious pollution, according to state media.

<p>The European Parliament's Environment Committee agreed to back a ban on the use of fluorinated gases in refrigerators and air conditioners. The greenhouse gases, introduced as an alternative to <span>ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons after their ban,</span> are up to 23,000 times more damaging than greenhouse gases. The plan, <span>which seeks a gradual phase-out and ban in new equipment by 2020, would have to be approved by a plenary session of parliament and by EU member countries before going into effect.

<p>Singaporeans were urged to stay indoors last week as a haze from Indonesian forest fires dramatically worsened, with air pollution levels hitting their highest since 1997. The pollutant standards were above the "hazardous" level, at which point air quality can trigger respiratory ailments.

<p>Singaporeans were urged to stay indoors last week as a haze from Indonesian forest fires dramatically worsened, with air pollution levels hitting their highest since 1997. The pollutant standards were above the "hazardous" level, at which point air quality can trigger respiratory ailments.