All week in Beijing, in offices and homes, in lifts and shops, restaurants, taxis and buses, one topic has dominated conversation - Beijing's foul air.

BBC: 'Airmageddon': China smog raises modernisation doubts

It is doubtful whether Iran's leaders can achieve all their stated aims of maintaining petrol production, manufacturing lots of petrochemicals and cleaning the foul air their citizens must breathe.

ECONOMIST: Iran's struggle

On the outskirts of Shenzhen, over 3, 000 people blocked a highway and surrounded government offices after hundreds fall ill from foul air emitted from a sewage plant, according to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News.

BBC: China media: Political models

More economic development would produce the money to help clean the now foul water and air, but also provide access to better education, one of the best ways to assure more manageable birth rates.

FORBES: The Green Movement's People Problem

It pandered to its core voters in a negative and tragic tone, hinting at foul play in the air crash in Russia in April 2010 that killed the president (Mr Kaczynski's twin brother Lech), and 95 others.

ECONOMIST: Polish politics

Mr. Kurlantzick theorizes about what happened without coming to a firm conclusion, though the CIA is criticized for not releasing the results of the investigation it apparently conducted, and a hint of foul play is left hanging in the air.

WSJ: Book Review: The Ideal Man

Citing international data, the Clean Air Network, another local green group, argues that local air is often three times as foul as in New York and London.

ECONOMIST: An encouraging appointment addresses an enduring problem

New measures include flood-resistant doors, removable barriers for doors, and "air bricks" to allow ventilation and non-return valves on domestic and foul drains.

BBC: Berkshire woman gets help for home hit by floods 10 times