Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Dec. 7

ASADABAD, Afghanistan -- At least five local police personnel were killed as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Kunar province, east of Afghanistan, on Wednesday, a local official said on Thursday.

"A roadside bomb planted by the enemies in Naray district of Kunar province struck a police vehicle late Wednesday, killing five local police," Juma Gul Hemmat, Kunar police chief, told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Blast)

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FRANKFURT -- Germany's second largest party SPD leader Martin Schulz on Thursday called for the transformation of the European Union into a United States of Europe by 2025 with a common constitution.

"Europe is our life insurance," Schulz told an SPD party convention in Berlin. (Germany-SPD-EU)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least 13 people were killed after a boat carrying over 50 pilgrims overturned off Pakistan's southern district of Thatta in Sindh province on Thursday, an official said.

"At least 20 others have been rescued so far," Deputy Commissioner of Thatta Mirza Nasir Baig said, adding that more than 50 pilgrims were on their way to partake in an annual festival of a local saint whose shrine is located on an small island in the Arabian Sea near Thatta district in the province. (Pakistan-Boat-Accident)

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GENEVA -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Thursday that the Syrian government delegation to peace talks is to return to Geneva on Sunday after being absent this week.

De Mistura said the Syrian government had informed him Thursday that the delegation will return to Geneva to participate in the talks aimed at bringing about peace after seven years of bloody conflict in Syria. (UN-Syria-Talks)

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SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan -- Five militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group were killed and 10 others injured as government forces aircrafts targeted the armed outfit's hideouts in Jawzjan province in northern Afghanitan on Wednesday, spokesman for provincial government Reza Ghafori said Thursday.

The security forces aircrafts, according to the official, attacked a hideout of IS militants in Darzab district on Wednesday evening killing five insurgents on the spot and injuring 10 others. (Afghanistan-IS) Enditem