IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Syria

Govt confirms rare US airstrike

State-run media on Thursday confirmed a rare US strike on pro-government fighters in eastern Syria, citing reports of dozens killed and wounded in the incident. The overnight attack, which a US military official earlier said killed about 100, adds another layer to a conflict in Syria that is once again plunging into a new unpredictable spiral of violence. The US official said the US launched the strikes after as many as 500 attackers began what appeared to be a coordinated assault on US-backed forces known as the Syrian Democratic Forces who were accompanied by US advisers in Deirel-Zour province.

Australia

Apology to child sex abuse victims

Australia will apologize to survivors of institutional child sex abuse by the end of the year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday after a five-year inquiry detailed harrowing stories from victims. A royal commission established in 2012 to investigate abuse was contacted by more than 15,000 survivors with claims - some decades-old - involving churches, orphanages, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools.

United States

Trump aide to leave White House

US White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned on Wednesday following accusations of domestic abuse from two former wives. Porter, a senior adviser who is in charge of much of the documentation that goes to President Donald Trump for his signature, announced his departure in a statement after his former wives made accusations against him in published reports.

United Kingdom

Chinese optimistic about AI impact

People in China were found to be the most positive about their job prospects in an era of booming innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, according to a recent survey. London-based company Dentsu Aegis Network ran a survey with 20,000 people from 10 countries participating in it. It found 65 percent of Chinese respondents believe that AI and robotics will create, instead of stealing, more jobs in the next five to 10 years, compared with the global average of 29 percent.

Reuters - AFP - AP - Xinhua

(China Daily 02/09/2018 page11)