World briefs

CHINA Air quality reached extremely hazardous levels in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang yesterday, as northern China began to burn coal to heat homes for winter. Real-time data released by the Shenyang Environmental Protection Agency showed the density of the poisonous tiny airborne matters known as PM2.5 was more than 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter. Nearby cities also reported very high levels of the harmful particulates.

INDIA Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party conceded defeat yesterday in a crucial election in India’s populous Bihar state. By midday yesterday India’s election commission website showed that a self-proclaimed “grand alliance” of parties opposed to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party was leading in more than 140 seats, comfortably in sight of the 122 seats needed to control the state’s 243-seat legislature.

ROMANIA  Three more people have died of burn-related injuries they sustained in a nightclub fire in Romania, bringing the total death toll from the fire to 44. The medical director of the state burns hospital, Cristian Nitescu said yesterday a man succumbed to his injuries late Saturday.

CROATIA  Amid a massive migrant surge and deep economic woes, Croatia’s ruling center-left coalition faces a strong challenge from a conservative opposition in the Balkan country’s first parliamentary election since joining the European Union in 2013.

BRAZIL  The 28 people missing since the failure of two dams at an iron ore mine flooded a village in southeastern Brazil are unlikely to be found alive, the governor of the affected state said yesterday. Speaking at a news conference, Minas Gerais Gov. Fernando Pimentel said it was still not known what triggered Thursday’s failure of dams at the Samarco mine, which sent viscous red mud, water and debris flooding into the hamlet of Bento Rodrigues, flattening all but a handful of buildings.

USA U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter accused Russia of endangering world order, citing its incursions in Ukraine and loose talk about nuclear weapons, and said the U.S. defense establishment is searching for creative ways to deter Russian aggression and protect U.S. allies. In remarks Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library after eight days of travel in Asia, Carter also expressed concern about China’s expanding influence and growing military might.