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Xinhua world news summary at 0050 GMT, Dec. 24

Xinhua, December 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Five people were killed and 42 others were severely burnt in the Thursday night fire resulting from an explosion at a gas station in Ghana's capital Accra, authorities said on Friday.

The five killed were attendants of the Louis Gas Station behind the Trade Fair site. They were helping in discharging the gas from a tanker when an explosion suddenly occurred between 6 pm and 7 pm on Thursday, Accra Regional Police spokesperson Effia Tenge told the media. (Ghana-Explosion)

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VALLETTA -- Afriqiyah Airways said that the passengers on board the hijacked Libyan flight will return to Libya on Friday evening, local media reported.

In a press conference on Friday evening, Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat discussed the details about the positive end to the hijacking of the Libyan plane that was diverted to Malta International Airport. (Malta-Lybia-Hijack)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. federal anti-terrorism agencies on Friday warned that followers of the Islamic State (IS) may target churches during the holiday season after pro-IS websites had published a publicly-available list of churches in the country.

The extreme group continues "aspirational calls for attacks on holiday gatherings, including targeting churches," said a bulletin issued by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. (U.S.-IS-Threat)

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NEW DELHI -- Three government offices were burnt down in fires set by unidentified persons Friday in India's northeastern state of Manipur, police said.

"Today three government offices were set ablaze here by miscreants," a police official said. "The offices include office of deputy commissioner of the newly created Kamjong revenue district." (India-Fire)

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KHARTOUM -- At least six people were killed and eight others injured in an attack by gunmen at Fur Baranga area, some 180 km south of El Geneina, capital of Sudan's West Darfur State, Sudan Tribune reported Friday.

"The attack was launched by two gunmen from Fur Baranga area on a gathering of men and women at a courtyard on Thursday, which resulted in the killing of six people and injuring of eight others. The injured persons were transferred to Fur Baranga hospital," an anonymous security source was quoted in the report as saying. (Sudan-Attack) Endi