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Xinhua world news summary at 1600 GMT, June 11

Xinhua, June 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

One guard and five prisoners were killed while 12 others were injured in a fire on Friday at Tacumbu Prison in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion, authorities said.

"We have carried out a complete search," said Pablo Lemir, forensic examiner of the Public Prosecutor's Office, while ruling out the presence of more victims from the fire which started in the early hours Friday. (Paraguay-Prison fire)

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FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday tightened their grip around the city of Fallujah and freed some areas from Islamic State (IS) militants after fierce clashes, a security source said.

The troops, backed by U.S.-led coalition aircraft, carried out an operation in the early morning to recapture areas on the western side of Euphrates River, which flows on the edge of the western part of Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-IS)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Friday the U.S. military will play a bigger role in combating the Taliban in Afghanistan, signaling that Washington is going back on its commitment to end its campaign in the Central Asian country. (Afghanistan-U.S.-Role)

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DAMASCUS -- At least seven people were killed and others wounded on Saturday, when twin bombings rocked a predominantly-Shiite district south of the capital Damascus, a military source told Xinhua.

The two explosions rattled the sprawling district of Sayyidah Zaynab in the southern countryside of the capital Damascus within a swift succession, said the source on condition of anonymity. (Syria-Bombing)

BRUSSELS -- China and the European Union (EU) held their sixth high-level strategic dialogue here Friday, with both sides pledging to further cooperation in various areas.

The event was co-chaired by visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

China sees the EU as a comprehensive strategic partner for mutual benefit, Yang said, adding that deepening China-EU relations was not only in line with both demands on economic and social development, but also conductive to global peace, stability and economic recovery. (China-EU-Dialogue) Endi