Xinhua world news summary at 1600 GMT, Oct. 31

A suicide attack rattled eastern Jalalabad city, the capital of Nangarhar province, 120 km east of Kabul on Monday killing five persons and injuring five others, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said.

"The deadly attack took place in Khalis township, a residential area where a meeting of elders was underway at 01:30 p.m. local time, leaving five people including four civilians and the attacker dead and injuring five more civilians," Khogiani told reporters here. (Afghanistan-Attack)

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MOSUL, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces on Monday advanced closer to the fringes of the city of Mosul in the latest push to drive out Islamic State (IS) militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq.

After several hours of fierce fighting, the troops recaptured the villages of Bazwaya, Tubriq and Tahrawa, and are now just three km from the outskirts of Mosul, a source from the Joint Operations Command told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-IS-Mosul)

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TEHRAN -- Iran on Monday dismissed recent U.S. accusations that Tehran provided arms to Yemen's opposition groups, official IRNA news agency reported.

"Such false claims are made while warmongers and traders of death and destruction keep on selling and shipping fatal weapons to Saudi Arabia despite widespread criticisms," Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi said. (Iran-US-Yemen)

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Almost 33 million Brazilians in 57 municipalities voted on Sunday in the second round of the country's municipal elections.

Polling stations opened from 8 a.m. local time in 57 municipalities, including 18 provincial capitals, where two candidates remained in the race to be mayor. (Brazil-Elections) Endi