IN BRIEF (Page 9)

India

Vehicles banned amid smog crisis

As lethal smog continued to envelope the city for the fourth day in a row, New Delhi on Friday banned the entry of trucks and other heavy vehicles into the city to curb high pollution levels. Police said it has sealed all its land borders with the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to stop heavy vehicles from entering the city. Pollution levels are 30 times the World Health Organization's recommended limit in some areas of the city.

Turkey

IS suspects held after Istanbul raids

Police on Friday detained 93 more suspected Islamic State militants in Istanbul and Adana, local media reported. All the suspects are foreign nationals, with 82 of them captured during 14 simultaneous operations in Istanbul, the Anadolu Agency said. It said the detainees once fought for the IS in conflict zones and were planning to rejoin the militant group in Syria.

Spain

Catalan parliament speaker freed

A Spanish judge on Thursday freed on bail the Catalan parliament's speaker and four lawmakers while authorities continue to investigate their roles in Catalonia's banned independence drive. The Supreme Court had summoned them to answer charges of rebellion after they enabled an Oct 27 declaration of independence that prompted the central government to dissolve the Catalan parliament.

Japan

Party of Hope picks co-leader

The Party of Hope on Friday voted for lower-house lawmaker Yuichiro Tamaki to serve as co-leader alongside Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. As Koike does not hold a seat in parliament, Tamaki will represent the party in parliamentary matters. The party selected Tamaki, who secured 53 votes from party members. Ogushi is a fifth-term Lower-House member.

Russia

Building collapse: Toll rises to six

The death toll rose to six people on Friday after the corner section of a nine-story residential building collapsed in the provincial city of Izhevsk, officials said. The incident happened on Thursday when a corner section of the old residential block collapsed after what was believed to be a gas explosion.

Australia

Koala found with ears cut off

A koala has been found dead with both its ears cut off, the latest in a spate of animal mutilations that police on Friday called "troublesome and disgusting". Police said the incident followed a series of kangaroo and wallaby mutilations in the area. The koala has been under increasing threat across Australia in recent decades, particularly from habitat loss, disease, dog attacks and bush fires.

(China Daily 11/11/2017 page9)