Heavy Smog In China

Highways and school playgrounds in Beijing were closed Friday due to heavy pollution, as China ramps up coal production and faces scrutiny of its environmental record at make-or-break international climate talks.

China's northern regions are facing a sustained period of pollution for at least the next two weeks, the environment ministry warned, with heavy smog threatening to overshadow the country's National Day celebrations in Beijing in October.

Heavy smog has blanketed a third of China's cities, including its capital Beijing, with 62 issuing health alerts since Jan. 1, officials said. The hazardous air has forced hundreds of flight cancellations or delays and is forecast to linger into the weekend in some areas.

Heavy smog that blanketed parts of China at the weekend cleared somewhat on Monday, with flights in Beijing back to normal, but it was likely only to be a brief respite with more choking smog expected to return to the wintry north within 24 hours.

China's meteorological authorities today issued a yellow alert for a new bout of smog that is expected to hang heavy in large areas of the country.

At least nine people were killed and 43 others injured today in multiple pile-up accidents along an expressway in Shanghai as heavy smog engulfed several cities in China.

China will deploy the world's largest outdoor air purifier designed by a Dutch engineer in its smog-hit capital Beijing, as the thick heavily-polluted haze returned to haunt the city, driving people indoors.

China today renewed its yellow alert for pollution in several cities and provinces including the capital Beijing - a city of over 22 million population - asking people to stay indoors and take precautions.

China's environment ministry said pollutants were reduced by a third in Beijing during this week's temporary restrictions to reduce heavy smog, which included taking half the city's cars off the roads.

The heavy smog shrouding Beijing is proving to be a boon for China's nascent electric car market, with some dealers saying inquiries about all-electric models are up by almost a tenth.

At least six people were killed and four others injured today in a 33-vehicle pileup at a highway in north China due to poor visibility caused by heavy smog, a day when Beijing enforced the first-ever red alert for pollution.

Families in Beijing waited anxiously on Monday evening to hear whether schools would shut the next day, posing sudden child-care challenges, after the city issued its first-ever red alert for heavy smog about 6:30 p.m., advising school closures in an effort to protect students' health and reduce traffic on the roads, among other measures.

China's capital on Monday issued its first ever "red alert" for pollution, as the city government warned that Beijing would be shrouded in heavy smog from Tuesday until Thursday.

Heavy smog today returned to blanket China partially as it is expected to cause high-level air pollution in coming days, forcing schools to suspend outdoor activities.

All schools in the Chinese capital Beijing have been ordered to keep students indoors and adjust classroom activities as heavy smog blanketed the city of 21 million for the third day as top emitter of greenhouse gases China grappled with heavy pollution.

Highways and school playgrounds in Beijing were closed Friday due to heavy pollution, as China ramps up coal production and faces scrutiny of its environmental record at make-or-break international climate talks.

China's northern regions are facing a sustained period of pollution for at least the next two weeks, the environment ministry warned, with heavy smog threatening to overshadow the country's National Day celebrations in Beijing in October.

Heavy smog has blanketed a third of China's cities, including its capital Beijing, with 62 issuing health alerts since Jan. 1, officials said. The hazardous air has forced hundreds of flight cancellations or delays and is forecast to linger into the weekend in some areas.

Heavy smog that blanketed parts of China at the weekend cleared somewhat on Monday, with flights in Beijing back to normal, but it was likely only to be a brief respite with more choking smog expected to return to the wintry north within 24 hours.

China's meteorological authorities today issued a yellow alert for a new bout of smog that is expected to hang heavy in large areas of the country.

At least nine people were killed and 43 others injured today in multiple pile-up accidents along an expressway in Shanghai as heavy smog engulfed several cities in China.

China will deploy the world's largest outdoor air purifier designed by a Dutch engineer in its smog-hit capital Beijing, as the thick heavily-polluted haze returned to haunt the city, driving people indoors.

China today renewed its yellow alert for pollution in several cities and provinces including the capital Beijing - a city of over 22 million population - asking people to stay indoors and take precautions.

China's environment ministry said pollutants were reduced by a third in Beijing during this week's temporary restrictions to reduce heavy smog, which included taking half the city's cars off the roads.

The heavy smog shrouding Beijing is proving to be a boon for China's nascent electric car market, with some dealers saying inquiries about all-electric models are up by almost a tenth.

At least six people were killed and four others injured today in a 33-vehicle pileup at a highway in north China due to poor visibility caused by heavy smog, a day when Beijing enforced the first-ever red alert for pollution.

Families in Beijing waited anxiously on Monday evening to hear whether schools would shut the next day, posing sudden child-care challenges, after the city issued its first-ever red alert for heavy smog about 6:30 p.m., advising school closures in an effort to protect students' health and reduce traffic on the roads, among other measures.

China's capital on Monday issued its first ever "red alert" for pollution, as the city government warned that Beijing would be shrouded in heavy smog from Tuesday until Thursday.

Heavy smog today returned to blanket China partially as it is expected to cause high-level air pollution in coming days, forcing schools to suspend outdoor activities.

All schools in the Chinese capital Beijing have been ordered to keep students indoors and adjust classroom activities as heavy smog blanketed the city of 21 million for the third day as top emitter of greenhouse gases China grappled with heavy pollution.