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Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, July 30

Xinhua, July 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

The U.S. economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in the second quarter, a moderate bounce from the revised 0.6 percent increase in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The growth in the second quarter was lower than the market expectation of over 2.5 percent. (U.S.-GDP-Growth)

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ISLAMABAD -- The second round of the Afghan peace talks are being postponed amid reports on the death of Taliban leader Mulla Omar, Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The postponement was requested by the Taliban leadership, citing the uncertainty caused by Omar's death as the reasons, said a press release issued by the foreign ministry. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Talks)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Thursday that the debris discovered on the beach of Reunion Island is "very likely" to be from a Boeing 777.

"Initial reports suggest that the debris is very likely to be from a Boeing 777, but we need to verify whether it is from flight MH370," Najib said in a statement on his Facebook page. (MH370-Search-Debris)

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MEXICO CITY -- At least 20 people were killed and over 30 wounded on Thursday when a heavy truck crashed into a crowd of pilgrims in Mazapil municipality in the central state of Zacatecas, local media reported.

The exact number of casualties is unknown, as many of the injured have been taken to hospitals, Zocalo newspaper reported, quoting Jaime Santoyo Castro, secretary general of the administration. (Mexico-Road-Accident)

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JERUSALEM -- Israeli security forces on Thursday evacuated about 200 settlers from the site of the former illegal settlement of the Sa-Nur in the northern West Bank, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

Since Sa-Nur was evacuated as part of the 2005 Disengagement plan from Gaza, former Sa-Nur residents have made several attempts to rebuild their settlement. (Israel-Settlement-WestBank)

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WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has agreed to testify at a hearing on Oct. 22 on the 2012 Benghazi terror attack, the House select committee investigating the attack announced Wednesday.

"Members of the committee will question the former secretary about Libya, Benghazi and her email arrangement consistent with the scope and jurisdiction of the committee," panel spokesman Jamal Ware said in a statement. (Clinton-Benghazi-Hearing)

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YANGON -- The Myanmar government on Thursday pardoned a total of 6,966 prisoners, which sources said possibly include the 155 detained Chinese loggers, according to an amnesty order of President Thein Sein.

The government pardoned 210 foreigners from various jails across the country, according to the amnesty order. (Myanmar-Amnesty-Chinese) Endi