IN BRIEF (Page 11)

United States

Pence exits NFL game over protest

Vice-President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game on Sunday after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year in silent protest against police violence toward racial minorities. Pence was attending a game in his home state of Indiana between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers. The protests have been criticized by President Donald Trump, who said protesting during national anthems was disrespecting the country and its military.

NRA opposes ban on 'bump stocks'

The National Rifle Association is opposing a ban on "bump stocks" like the device used by the Las Vegas gunman to turn semi-automatic weapons into rapid-fire guns, stressing its support for more limited regulations. The powerful lobby last week surprised many gun control advocates by embracing possible restrictions on the bump stock devices in the wake of the shootings that killed more than 50 people, prompting bipartisan support in Congress for regulating or banning bump stocks.

Sweden

'Nudge' economist wins Nobel Prize

US economist Richard Thaler won the 2017 Nobel Economics Prize for his contributions in the field of behavioral economics, showing how human traits affect supposedly rational markets, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday. Thaler brought to prominence the idea of "nudge" economics, where humans are subtly guided toward beneficial behaviors without heavy-handed compulsion.

Bangladesh

12 dead after boat capsizes

Twelve bodies were recovered after a boat with scores of Rohingyas on board capsized at the mouth of the Naf river that divides Myanmar and Bangladesh, a police official said on Monday. "Bodies of 10 children, one man and one woman have so far been recovered," said Md Main Uddin, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station under Cox's Bazar district, some 290 kilometers southeast of capital Dhaka.

European Union

UK, EU clash over next Brexit move

Britain and its EU partners clashed on Monday over which side should make the next move to unblock Brexit talks, despite concerns they will miss a deadline for a divorce deal. UK Prime Minister Theresa May made clear in speech she was to deliver to parliament that she hoped her EU partners would make proposals at a new round of talks opening the way to the next stage of negotiations, saying "the ball is in their court".

Syria

Turkish military vehicles enter Idlib

A Turkish army reconnaissance team scouted out Syria's Idlib province on Sunday, a senior Syrian rebel said, before an expected military operation to impose peace in the bitterly contested Syrian northwest. "When we don't go to Syria, Syria comes to us," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told members of his ruling AKP party. "If we didn't take our measures, bombs would fall on our cities."

Reuters - Xinhua - AFP - AP

(China Daily 10/10/2017 page11)