Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Jan. 22

One policeman was killed and three others were wounded after a blast hit a counter-narcotic police station in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Friday, police said.

"The attack took place in provincial capital, Lashkar Gah city, at around midday. The casualties were shifted to a hospital for treatment and the explosion also damaged the building," Abdul Rahman Sarjang, provincial police chief general, told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Blast)

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ATHENS -- At least 41 people lost their lives in two tragedies in the Aegean Sea on Friday, when boats carrying refugees and migrants from the Turkish shores to the Greek islands capsized, Greek Coast Guard announced.

According to the latest death toll, among the victims who drowned in the cold waters near the islands of Kalolimnos and Farmakonissi were seventeen children, the Greek officials said. (Greece-Refugees Boats- Capsizing)

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NEW DELHI -- Two brothers were killed Friday in a bomb blast in their own house in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, amid communal tension ahead of a local election this year, said police.

Sheikh Hafizul, 24, and his elder brother Shiekh Tariq Hussain, 27, were killed on the spot when a bomb exploded in their house in the Amodpur of Birbhum district, the Press Trust of India quoted Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar as saying. (India-Bomb Blast)

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KABUL -- About 16 Taliban insurgents and three Afghan soldiers have been killed in fresh military operations in the countryside, said the country's Defense Ministry on Friday.

Some 14 militants were also wounded and four others detained during the raids conducted by Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel within the last 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement. (Afghanistan-Military Operations-Toll) Endi