Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Dec. 31
Xinhua, December 31, 2015 Adjust font size:
At least 16 people were killed and 35 others wounded when twin bombings targeted a predominantly-Kurdish city in northern Syria, pro-government Sama TV reported.
Twin bombings ripped through two restaurants in the predominantly-Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli in the al-Hasakah province, according to the report. (Syria-Attacks)
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UNITED NATIONS -- More than 1 million refugees and migrants have fled to Europe by sea in 2015, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported.
The latest UNHCR figures showed some 1,000,573 people had reached Europe this year across the Mediterranean, mainly to Greece and Italy. And 84 percent of those arriving in Europe came from the world's top 10 refugee producing countries. (UN-Europe-Refugee Crisis)
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BRUSSELS -- Authorities in the Belgian capital Brussels have decided to cancel the city's fireworks show on New Year's Eve amid high alert for possible terrorist attacks.
"Together with the interior minister, we have decided not to organize festivities on Thursday evening" in Brussels, the mayor of Brussels Yvan Mayeur said. (Belgium-Terrorism-Threat)
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LONDON -- Torrential rainfall and gusts caused by Storm Frank since late Tuesday has brought more misery to already heavy-hit areas in north Britain.
The worst-hit areas so far have included Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as north England, according to local media reports. (Britain-Flood-Storm Frank) Endi