Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Jan. 3

Several rebel groups announced late Monday that they were freezing talks on planned peace negotiations with the Syrian government, citing what it called "major violations" by the government forces to an ongoing cease-fire.

The rebels said in a joint statement that they were freezing talks on the peace negotiations that were planned to take place soon in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. (Syria-Rebel-Cease-fire)

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TALUQAN, Afghanistan -- A Taliban key commander has been killed and two of his bodyguards sustained injures as their explosive device went off accidentally in the northern Takhar province on Tuesday, an army spokesman said.

Taliban's notorious commander Qari Hakim, known as Mullah Omar, was killed early Tuesday in a mine blast when he was planting the device on a road in Ashkamish district to target security forces' convey, Abdul Khalil told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Taliban)

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- A total of 10 militants loyal to the hardliner Islamic State (IS) group were killed as air forces target the hideouts of the armed outfit in the eastern Nangarhar province Monday night, an army spokesman in the province, Hamdani Shirin Aqa said Tuesday.

The aircrafts of the security forces, according to the official, raided the hideouts of IS insurgents in Shabi and Gorgori villages of Deh Bala district Monday night killing 10 rebels on the spot and injuring few others. (Afghanistan-Airstrike)

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HOUSTON -- Four children aged 7 to 17 years old died Monday from gas poisoning in Amarillo, a city in the northern part of the U.S. state of Texas.

Six others were hospitalized after the accident, which occurred after a chemical reaction when one person tried to wash off a pesticide that had been sprayed at the victims' home, according to local TV station ABC13. (US-Texas-Gas Poisoning) Endi