Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Sept. 18

The Swiss Federal Council announced on Friday that 1,500 refugees who have already been registered in Greece and Italy will be able to take refuge in Switzerland over the course of the next two years.

This number would form part of the confederation's intake of 3,000 refugees planned for the next three years, the Federal Council indicated.(Switzerland-Refugee)

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WASHINGTON -- The United States on Friday announced new amendments to sanctions on Cuba, further easing travel and business restrictions on the island country.

The measures, which will take effect on Monday, target travel, telecommunications, Internet-based services, commercial and financial transactions, further delivering on "the new direction toward U.S. relations with Cuba," said a statement issued by the Treasury Department.(U.S.-Cuba-Relations)

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SELANGOR, Malaysia -- Chinese and Malaysian armed forces launched their first joint military exercise here Friday, aiming to deepen all-round strategic partnership between the two countries.

The drill, coded "Peace and Friendship 2015" and scheduled to be conducted in the Malacca Strait and surrounding waters, includes exercises for joint escort, joint search and rescue, hijacked vessel rescue, weapons use, humanitarian rescue and disaster relief. (Malaysia-China-Drill)

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THE HAGUE -- Two Syrians were arrested by the Dutch military police for the smuggling of hundreds of Syrian refugees in Europe, the Dutch public prosecutor announced on Friday.

The main suspect, a 35-year-old man, and his nephew were held last Friday in Eindhoven and stayed in custody since. The main suspect had close ties with a 27-year-old Syrian co-suspect, who was arrested earlier this month in Budapest, Hungary. (Netherlands-Immigrants)

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TRIPOLI -- The Islamic State (IS) affiliates claimed responsibility for killing three guards in an attack on a prison near Mitiga airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday, according to a military source.

"An armed group attacked the headquarter of the Libyan Deterrence Force on Friday morning. They managed to free some prisoners who are detained on terrorist charges," Libyan Special Deterrence Force said in a statement on its social media webpage.(Libya-Attack)

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KHARTOUM -- The death toll from an oil tanker explosion in South Sudan has jumped to over 150, local media reported Friday.

"The number of people who died after a fuel tanker caught fire in Maridi town on Wednesday has exceeded 150," John Ezkia, Maridi County's Executive Director, was quoted by South Sudan's Eye Radio as saying. (South Sudan-Tanker Blast)

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BELGRADE -- Croatia closed seven of its eight border crossings with Serbia Thursday night after seeing the influx of more than 11,000 refugees in one day from the Middle East and Africa.

According to the Serbian media, the closure led to a six-kilometer-long queue of trucks waiting to enter Croatia, while on the other side of the road is a two-kilometer-long line of vehicles waiting to enter Serbia.(Croatia-Refugees)

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OUAGADOUGOU -- Soldiers who took over power in Burkina Faso on Wednesday, this Friday announced the reopening of the country's borders that had been closed since Thursday.

"Land and aerial borders have been opened effective this Friday at 12 p.m. (local time)," the National Council for Democracy (CND), the putschists, announced in a statement read on national television. (Burkina Fas-Border-Reopening)

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OUAGADOUGOU -- The National Council for Democracy (CND) on Friday issued a statement announcing the release of Burkina Faso's Transition President Michel Kafando and ministers.

However, the statement signed by CND leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere did not specify if Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida was among the "released ministers." (Burkina Fas-Presdient-Release) Endi