Beijing

China's smoggiest city closed schools Dec. 21 as much of the country suffered its sixth day under an oppressive haze, sparking public anger about the slow response to the threat to children's health.

Since Dec. 16, a choking miasma has covered a large swathe of northeastern China, leaving more than 460 million gasping for breath.

BEIJING - The Belt and Road concept is a great development potential for Serbia, in particular in terms of infrastructure and boosting investment and overall trade, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said in Beijing Thursday.

Beijing's city government ordered 1,200 factories near the Chinese capital, including a major oil refinery run by state oil giant Sinopec, to shut or cut output on Dec. 17 after authorities issued the highest possible air pollution alert. 

Spying on the US is a service to China, state-run media said on March 24, singing the praises of a man who confessed to hacking American defence contractors on Beijing's behalf.

Chinese national Su Bin, 50, pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from the companies, including plans for transport planes and fighter jets.

Authorities in China's capital will extend leave from work for new mothers and fathers, state media reported on March 25, in what appeared to be the latest incentive to encourage families to have more children.

The world's largest economy faces a shrinking labour force and ageing population, meaning it could be the first country in the world to age before it first gets rich. 

Beijing is to raise the thresholds for issuing its highest air pollution warnings, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Feb. 22, two months after acrid smog triggered the city's first ever "red alerts." 

China's foreign exchange reserves have fallen to their lowest level in more than three years, the central bank said Feb. 7, as Beijing sells dollars to stop the yuan from depreciating further.

It's not only about salaries, promotions and career prospects - many companies in China have found they need to offer cleaner air within their offices to lure and retain staff. 

The British and U.S. governments have issued a warning about possible threats against Westerners in Beijing on or around Christmas Day, the BBC reported on Thursday.

According to UK and U.S. officials,they have received information of possible threats in Sanlitun, which is a busy bar and shopping district in the Chinese capital city, the BBC said.

I was in Beijing last week. I was lucky because there was a breeze during my stay. Without it, the sky is gray throughout, and the smog makes you cough incessantly.