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Xinhua world news summary at 1540 GMT, Jan. 21

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Intense battles are ongoing in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour since Jan. 16 between Syrian government forces and the Islamic State (IS) militant group, reported a monitor group Thursday.

On Jan. 16, IS unleashed a widescale offensive against Syrian army posts and gained ground where clashes were focused in the northwestern part of Deir al-Zour, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (Syaria-Battle)

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the Saudi-led Arab coalition on Thursday hit oil storages at Ras Isa marine terminal in Yemen's western port city of Hodyada, killing at least seven people, military and medical officials told Xinhua.

"Several airstrikes struck hit the oil storages at Ras Isa port on the Red Sea and the facility along with the tanks left up on huge flames, casualties were reported at the scene, " the local military official based in Hodyada province said on condition of anonymity. (Yemen-Airstrikes)

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ANKARA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 illegal migrants drowned and 28 others were rescued Thursday after their boat sank off the Aegean coast of Turkey, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The boat, bound to Lesbos Island of Greece, capsized off Foca town of western Izmir province, said the report, adding that the bodies of the victims were found by coast guards. The search and rescue work is still going on for other missing migrants. (Turkey-Migrants)

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people including children have died following an outbreak of diarrhoea in the last two weeks in southern Somalia, authorities said on Wednesday.

Hawaadley District Commissioner in the Middle Shabelle region, Ali Mohamed told reporters the situation was yet to be contained by medical authorities in the town since most of them were ill-equipped to handle cases of outbreaks. (Somalia-Diseases)

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- An interceptor boat of the Indian Navy sank off Chennai in southern India Thursday, after a fire broke out on the boat, said local newspaper The Hindu online.

However, there was no injury to the six personnel who were on board the boat, which was on a routine deployment about 90 nautical miles northeast off Chennai. The crew members swam to safety to another navy boat after the incident took place. (India-Ship-Sink) Endi