Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Aug. 5

Britain's lowest ever interest rate of just a quarter of one percent was given a mixed reception Friday as commentators and markets digested the decision by the Bank of England.

The bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) has cut the rate from 0.50 percent to 0.25 percent, the lowest since the bank opened in 1694. The move is a response to the fall-out from Britain's decision in June to leave the European Union. (UK-Bank)

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DAMASCUS -- The Syrian army on Friday foiled an attack by the Islamic State (IS) on military positions in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, killing 150 of the terror group militants, state news agency SANA reported.

The Syrian army foiled the IS attacks on military positions in the Tal Bruk in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, said SANA. (Syria-IS)

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NEW DELHI -- At least 14 people were killed and more than 20 others injured after militants opened fire and hurled grenades at a busy market in the northern Indian state of Assam, a top police official said on Friday.

The incident took place at the busy weekly Tiniali market outside the state's Kokrajhar town, some 220 km from the largest state city of Guwahati, where hundreds of people gathered for trade. (India-Attack)

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DAMASCUS -- A joint Syrian-Russian airstrike killed 40 rebels in the northern province of Aleppo Thursday, a military source told Xinhua.

The airstrikes as well as artillery shelling targeted a position of the rebels near the town of Khan Touman in the southern countryside of Aleppo, as the rebels were bracing to attack the Syrian military positions near that area, said the source on condition of anonymity. (Syria-Airstrikes) Endi