Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Dec. 27

Vienna police said on Saturday they received warnings from a "friendly" intelligence service that European capitals might come under shooting or bomb attacks before the New Year.

"In the lead-up to Christmas, a friendly intelligence service sent a warning to numerous European capitals saying potential bomb or gun attacks could take place in areas with large crowds between Christmas and New Year," Vienna police said in a statement. (Europe-Terrorist attack)

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KABUL -- Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif paid a one-day official visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, a local media reported.

TV channel Tolo said the Pakistani army chief would hold meetings with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders. (Afghanistan-Pakistan)

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HOUSTON -- Tornadoes swept through the northern part of the southern U.S. state of Texas on Saturday night, killing eight people and causing substantial material damage.

Severe thunderstorms, including unusual winter tornadoes, left damages stretching over a 64-kilometer-long area across the city of Dallas in northern Texas. Vehicles were mangled or turned upside down, with churches damaged, trees toppled and debris strewn across neighborhoods. (US-Tornado)

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JERUSALEM/RAMALLA -- Two Palestinians were shot and killed after stabbing an Israeli soldier near Nablus in the West Bank on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

The Palestinians allegedly stabbed and wounded one Israeli soldier in Huwara, 9 km south of Nablus, wounding him lightly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. (Palestine-Israel-Attack) Endi