Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Sept. 2

U.S. President Barack Obama has got enough votes in Congress to keep the Iran nuclear agreement alive, local media reported Wednesday.

Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski said that she will support the Iran deal, giving Obama 34 Senate votes that is enough to uphold any congressional resolution disapproving the agreement. (US-Iran-Deal)

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HELSINKI -- U. S. media reported on Tuesday about President Barack Obama's intention to accelerate U. S. plans to build an icebreaker as a replacement of one to be deactivated and to start a programme to build several new icebreakers.

Helsinki is the birthplace of modern ice breaking technologies. About half of the current icebreakers in service in the world have been built in this Finnish capital. (U.S.-Finland)

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KABUL -- Up to 18 Taliban militants have been killed as a clash erupted between supporters and opponents of Taliban new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor in Shindand district of the western Herat province on Tuesday, local media reported Wednesday.

"A clash erupted between supporters of Taliban new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor and his opponents loyal to the former Taliban leader Mullah Omar in Akal village of Shindand district on Tuesday and so far 18 people from both sides have been killed and 10 others injured," Tolo television channel said in its news bulletin. (Afghan-Attack)

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RAMADI, Iraq -- Air strikes and clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar led to the death of 33 people with 39 others injured Wednesday, provincial security sources said.

The deadliest incident occurred when two suicide bombers wearing explosive-vests detonated themselves near security forces and allied militias, known as Hashd Shaabi, in an area near the town of Haditha, 200 km northwest of Baghdad, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Irqi-Explosion) Endi