Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Nov. 1

Three persons died and three others were seriously injured when a taxi collided with a truck at Honga in Bururi province, some 120 km south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, Burundi National Radio reported Monday.

The state-run radio reported that the taxi, which was coming from Rumonge town with a destination at Bururi town, had five passengers with its driver when it collided with a truck from Bururi town. (Burundi-Car Crash)

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CARACAS -- Leaders of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on Monday hailed the start of talks with the opposition, with the aim of seeking a common solution to the country's political crisis.

PSUV spokesman, Hector Rodriguez, told a press conference that "we want to applaud the brave attitude of the different political actors who sat at that table." (Venezuela-Political Crisis)

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir -- At least eight civilians were killed and 22 others wounded Tuesday in deadly skirmishes between troops of India and Pakistan on Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides fired mortars and resorted to heavy firing in Samba and R S Pora sectors along the IB, and Manjakote and Nowshera sectors on the LoC in Rajouri district. (Kashmir-India-Pakistan)

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ASSADABAD, Afghanistan -- A Taliban key commander Shir Malang is among more than three dozen militants that have been killed in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, provincial governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said Tuesday.

"Taliban notorious commander Shir Malang is among more than 40 rebels have been killed in Kunar over the past 24 hours," governor Kalimzai told reporters here. (Afghanistan-Taliban) Endi