IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Middle East

800 civilians killed by US-led strikes

At least 800 civilians have been killed in strikes in Iraq and Syria by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group since the campaign began in 2014, according to a report released by the coalition on Thursday. The estimate in the monthly report, which said coalition strikes had unintentionally killed at least 801 civilians between August 2014 and October 2017, was far lower than figures provided by monitoring groups.

United Kingdom

Detailed Brexit talks 'ongoing'

Britain is still negotiating with the European Union before a December summit, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday, responding to a media report suggesting the two sides were close to an agreement on how to manage the Irish border. The Times newspaper reported Britain was close to clinching a deal with the EU over the Northern Ireland border, a step that would pave the way for Brussels to offer a two-year Brexit transition deal as early as January.

Germany

Merkel, rival will meet over impasse

The president is to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leader of the center-left Social Democrats, Martin Schulz, with the aim of breaking the impasse over the formation of a new government. Schulz, Merkel and her Bavarian ally Horst Seehofer will meet at the presidential palace on Thursday night to explore the possibility of forming a coalition like the one that makes up the outgoing government.

Sri Lanka

Storm kills at least seven

The government on Thursday deployed troops to help regions stricken by a major storm which killed seven people with five others missing, authorities said. Powerful winds and torrential rain battered much of the island late Wednesday, toppling trees and damaging buildings. More than 20,000 people have been affected by the storm, according to disaster management center spokesman Pradeep Kodippily.

Norway

Train kills 17 reindeer in Arctic

A train smashed into a herd of reindeer in the country's Arctic region on Wednesday, killing 17 animals, days after similar incidents led to the death of more than 100 reindeer. Thor Braekkan of Norwegian rail operator Bane NOR said the latest collision occurred 20 kilometers south of where some 65 reindeer were mowed down on Saturday. The company blamed the earlier crash on a lack of communication with freight train drivers.

United States

Teen trying to kill bug causes fire

Officials in Ohio said a 13-year-old boy trying to kill a bedbug sparked an apartment building fire that displaced eight people and caused $300,000 in damage in Cincinnati. Officials said the fire was reported around 11 pm on Tuesday and began when the teen lit a match after dousing a bedbug with alcohol. Six apartment units were damaged in the fire.

(China Daily 12/01/2017 page11)