NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
1 Air pollution: A Dutch judge on Thursday ordered the government to do more to rein in air pollution, a victory for activists who filed a civil case seeking measures to ensure cleaner air. A civil judge in The Hague ordered the government to draw up a plan to ensure that Dutch air quality meets European Union standards “in the shortest possible time.” The ruling also banned the government from taking any measures that could lead to new breaches of air quality guidelines. The government had argued in court that it was already taking measures to clean up the air and is working with local authorities to tackle problem areas, which are mainly in large cities with heavy traffic and industry.
2 Premier ousted: Mongolian lawmakers have voted to dismiss the prime minister and his 14month-old Cabinet for alleged incompetence and corruption related to the signing of government contracts with companies linked to three Cabinet ministers. A bloc of lawmakers from the ruling Mongolian People’s Party joined with members of the opposition on Thursday to pass a motion demanding that Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat and his Cabinet resign over the granting of contracts worth $328 million.
3 Independence vote: Spain’s top court suspended the call for a referendum on Catalonia’s independence after accepting an appeal by central authorities in Madrid, according to press reports. The move was widely expected after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the government was challenging both a controversial bill meant to legitimize the independence vote and a decree by the regional Catalan government summoning voters for the Oct. 1 ballot. The suspension lasts for five months while judges come up with a ruling.
4 Chinese tycoon: Chinese real estate tycoon Guo Wengui, one of the ruling Communist Party’s most wanted exiles, has applied for political asylum in the United States, his lawyer said Thursday, in a move that could keep him out of Beijing’s grasp for at least several more years. Guo’s asylum request poses a diplomatic quandary for the Trump administration, which must decide whether to expel a high-profile Chinese dissident or risk infuriating Beijing. Guo’s lawyer, Thomas Ragland, said the billionaire will stay “legally protected” in the U.S. while his application is being reviewed, a process that normally takes more than two years. If his request is denied, Guo could stay in the country while he exhausts his appeals, Ragland added. Chinese officials have said Guo is being investigated in at least 19 major criminal cases that involve bribery, kidnapping, fraud, money laundering and rape — allegations that Guo has denied.
5 Same-sex marriage: Australia’s highest court cleared the way Thursday for the government to conduct a public survey on whether gay marriage should be legalized. Gay rights advocates had argued in the High Court that the government didn’t have the power to conduct the $97 million postal survey without Senate approval, but the court dismissed that challenge. Opinion polls show that most Australians want same-sex marriage legalized, but many advocates question how representative of Australian attitudes the postal survey would be. They want Parliament to decide the issue without consultation with the public. The ballot papers are to be mailed to more than 16 million voters nationwide next week. Results are to be announced Nov. 15, but lawmakers are not bound to accept the outcome.