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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb.27

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 19 people were killed in a suicide attack on a bus station in Biu town of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno on Thursday, a military source said.

Two male suicide bombers carried out the attack at Tashan Gandu motor park in Biu town, located 187 km to Maiduguri, capital of the northern state, according to the security source who pleaded for anonymity. ((Nigeria-Suicide Attack)

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VIENNA -- Some 50 school children managed to escape a burning school bus on the Nord Autobahn A5 by the town of Gaweinstal in the Austrian state of Lower Austria on Thursday morning, local media reported.

The bus was driving in the direction of Vienna when it suddenly caught fire at about 9:30 a.m., first noticed when one of the school students noticed smoke and alarmed a teacher. (Austria-School Bus Fire)

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WASHINGTON -- The United States is offering rewards of up to 5 million dollars for information on two associates of the Afghan extremist group Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin ( HIG), the State Department said on Thursday.

Secretary of State John Kerry has authorized rewards of up to 3 million dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdul Saboor and up to 2 million dollars for information on Abdullah Nowbahar, the State Department said in a statement. (U.S.-Afghanistan-Extremists)

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WASHINGTON -- The infamously black-clad English-speaking militant, aka "Jihadi John," who has played a vital role in the extremist group Islamic State's propaganda machine and appeared in beheading videos, was identified as a middle-class Briton born in Kuwait, according to U.S. media reports. (US-IS Militant-Identity)

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SYDNEY -- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed speculation about another challenge to his leadership on Friday after many of his fellow Liberal politicians claimed he did not have the numbers to rule the party.

Ministers have told the local media they believed Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull now had the numbers to win a challenge and should use them. A motion to vote for a change of prime minister was held earlier this month and was defeated 39 to 61. (Australia-PM) Endi