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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Jan. 15

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 13 militants were killed in a fire exchange with security forces in the southern Sheikh Zuweid city of Egypt's restive North Sinai province, state-run Al-Ahram news website quoted security sources as saying.

The confrontations went on while the forces were installing a checkpoint between the towns of Muqat'aa and Toma in the city that is considered a den for Islamist-oriented extremists. (Egypt-Sinai-IS)

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ANKARA -- British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Thursday that Britain will stand by Turkey in its fight against terrorism.

"Counterterrorism coalition is vitally important to the security of both countries and to the security of wider region," Hammond said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, adding that Turkey was on the front line of the fight against terrorism. (Turkey-Britain-Anti-terror)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter confirmed Thursday that "a navigational error" had led to the incident in which 10 U.S. sailors were detained briefly by Iran in the Gulf.

"There was a navigational error of some kind," Carter told a news conference held at the U.S. Central Command Headquarters in the Macdill Air Force Base in Florida. (US-Iran-Pentagon Chief)

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UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the bombings and gun attacks in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, saying there is "no justification for such acts of terrorism."

Earlier on Thursday, bomb explosions and gun fires took place in downtown Jakarta, killing seven people and injuring 20 others, for which Indonesian police blamed terror group Islamic State (IS). (UN-Indonesia-Terror Attacks)

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VIENNA -- Following recent comments from numerous Austrian political leaders that a tougher stance will be taken to reduce refugee and asylum seeker numbers a first plan for this is poised to be unveiled, the Krone newspaper reported Thursday.

It stated that from Friday the government is to be part of a three-country effort, in conjunction with Germany and Slovenia, in taking a more hard-line approach to the crisis, beginning on Friday. (Austria-Refugee) Endi