IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

City issues alert for heavy smog

Beijing has issued an orange alert for air pollution as a new round of smog looks set to linger. The orange alert, the second-highest in the four-tier warning system, was effective midnight on Wednesday. The capital will prepare for heavy pollution from Thursday to Saturday, according to the city's heavy air pollution emergency response office. Outdoor activities in schools should be canceled, and construction projects will, likewise, be suspended.