Beijing and nearby areas report more "good air" days

Beijing and surrounding areas reported good air quality on more days in October thanks to strengthened efforts to reduce emissions.

Beijing to cut emission in winter heating season

Beijing plans to cut over 1,800 tonnes of nitric oxide emissions during this year's winter heating season, said Beijing Thermal Group Sunday.

UN calls on European countries to protect refugees from freezing to death & abuse

 At least five refugees have reportedly perished from exposure in a European cold snap since the beginning of the year amid reports of police violence against asylum seekers, including confiscation of phones and clothing, the UN’s refugee agency reported.

China: No basis for online 'coldest winter' rumor

Chinese meteorological authorities have denied online speculation of extreme cold weather in the run up to Spring Festival, China's Lunar New Year.

Russian ships cross Northern Sea Route westwards for first time this winter

A convoy of Russian ships has crossed the Northern Sea Route westwards for the first time in conditions of winter navigation. Sovcomflot, one of the world's leading shipping companies, reported.

Winter storm hits northern US states

A winter storm brought a white Christmas to the northern areas in the United States on Sunday, with fierce blizzard conditions that threatened holiday travel plans, according to the US National Weather Service.

Naftogaz CEO Claims Ukraine Has Enough Gas to Live Through Winter

Ukraine may need Gazprom's assistance in worst-scenario case, Andriy Kobolyev said Monday.

Expectations of a cold winter: Putin tells Merkel gas piped to EU could be siphoned off in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday of the risk of Ukraine siphoning off Russian gas destined for Europe, the Kremlin said.

Climate change may contribute to extreme cold winters

Warming in the Arctic appears to be exerting an influence on extreme cold winter weather in some parts of the world, according to a new study published online Wednesday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

European Commission ready to moderate in Russia-Ukraine gas talks

The European Commission (EC) is ready to act as a moderator in gas talks between Russia and Ukraine at any time, EC spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said on Tuesday.

Russia's Gazprom Sees Risks to Gas Transit to Europe This Winter

The Russian gas giant Gazprom warned there were risks to gas transit to the European Union via Ukraine this winter due to the low level of gas Ukraine is pumping into its underground storage facilities, the company's spokesperson said Monday.

Warm Winter Forces Alaska Officials to Import Snow for Race

For the first time in history, organizers of Alaska's famed Iditarod sled dog race are having to ship in snow for the race's ceremonial start.

Austria on track for second-warmest winter on record

The current winter is set to become the second-warmest in nearly 250 years since Austria began to record temperature, according to preliminary figures released Friday.

Swine flu outbreak claims more than 300 lives in Ukraine

At least 313 people have died of influenza epidemic in Ukraine during the cold season, the country's Health Ministry said Thursday.

US capital braces for monster winter storm

The U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. on Friday nervously braced for a potentially historic winter storm, two days after botched response by local authorities to a snowfall paralyzed the whole town.

Firefighters battle over 130 wildfires in northern Spain

Amid unseasonably warm weather, firefighters battled over 130 wind-fueled wildfires in northern Spain Monday which officials suspect were deliberately set.

Beijing issues 2nd smog 'red alert' this winter

Beijing on Friday issued its second air pollution 'red alert,' the highest emergency response level, in this winter, as a new round of heavy smog is forecast to choke northern China.

All settlement in Crimea connected to electricity supplies

All settlements in Crimea have electricity supplies, press service of the emergencies ministry told TASS on Sunday.

"As of November 29, there is not a single settlement in Crimea cut off electricity fully," the press service said.

Japan's Sapporo surprised by sudden snow

Residents of northern Japan were surprised by an early blast of winter this week as sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow combined to cover much of Hokkaido with a white winter duvet.

Rare Winter Foods Ravage Central and Southern China

Local officials reported on Monday that rare winter floods have hit Hunan Province since November 11, affecting 253,000 people. The Hunan Provincial Commission for Disaster Reduction said incessant rainstorms that started on Wednesday have created flood crests in the upper and middle reaches of the Xiangjiang River, causing the worst winter floods in the region since 1961.