Air quality alerts are in effect from Shanghai to Tianjin, including Hebei, Shandong, eastern Henan, eastern Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces. The Air Quality Index topped 300 in Shanghai Dec. 4, and air pollution surpassed 500, the highest level on the index. Air quality conditions were expected to worsen in parts …

A major cyclone is bringing severe weather to the northern UK, Norway, and northern Europe. The storm will affect the Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Scotland, and northern England Dec. 5 before entering the northern North Sea and tracking through southern Norway and southern Sweden before entering the Baltic Sea Dec. …

Scotland’s entire rail network has shut down temporarily as Network Rail has begun work to assess the damage done to the railway lines after the country was battered by gales.