High levels of tiny airborne particles were recorded at Beijing's 35 pollution-monitoring stations yesterday as the capital was blanketed by heavy smog on the first day after the eight-day National Day holiday. Concentrations of PM2.5 reached 274 micrograms per cubic metre at 6pm, with air quality officially rated "severely polluted". The capital completed upgrading the monitoring network on Saturday so that it could give a more accurate measure of air quality. Li Jing
The families of 18 pupils killed in a landslide in Yiliang county, Yunnan province, last week will receive 300,000 yuan (HK$368,000) compensation. The Zhaotong city government, which oversees the county, urged cadres to bolster safety checks at schools. Li Jing
Gunmen shot dead a Chinese chef who was working for a construction company in Nigeria's troubled northeastern Borno state on Sunday, a China Geo-Engineering Corporation official said. The victim was buying a lamb when gunmen stormed the market. AFP