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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb.4

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the killing of a Jordanian pilot held captive by the Islamic States (IS), saying the terrorist organization has "no regard for human life."

In a responding note to the media, Ban said he shares the sorrow of the family and loved ones of Moaz al-Kasasbeh, the pilot of the Jordanian Royal Air Force, and stands in solidarity with the people of Jordan in denouncing this "appalling" act. (UN-Jordan-IS Killing)

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STOCKHOLM -- A mandatory quota system aimed at distributing refugees across the EU may be necessary, according to Antonio Guterres, head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

At a press conference in Stockholm on Tuesday, Guterres said that if EU member states fail to comply with the asylum system that the bloc has agreed on, then a mandatory quota system may need to be introduced. (Sweden-Refugee Quota System)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama pledged Tuesday to crush the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) after the release of a clip of video showing IS burning a Jordanian pilot hostage alive.

Calling it another sign of the "barbarity" of the militant group, Obama told reporters at the White House, "It, I think, will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of a global coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated." (U.S.-IS-Pledge)

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KIEV -- Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday denied reports from independence-seeking insurgents that militia of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) have shot down a government air force plane.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry described the information disseminated by the self-styled LPR leader Igor Plotnitsky about the presumably downed plane as "absolute lie."

"The information, which was spread by the representatives of the so-called 'LPR' about the allegedly downed plane of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over Irmino, contradicts the reality," the press service of the Defense Ministry said in a statement. (Ukraine-LSR-Dismissal) Endi