Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Dec. 11

NEW YORK -- Several people were hurt in an explosion in the New York City subway near the Times Square area of Manhattan in early Monday morning.

A suspect in custody is also injured, the New York Police Department said in a tweet.(US-NY-Blast)

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MOSCOW -- Making a surprise visit to the Hmeymim military airbase in Syria on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order for a "significant" pullback of Russian troops from the war-hit country, the Kremlin said in a press release.

"In the past two years, the Russian Armed Forces and the Syrian army defeated the most lethal group of international terrorists. Therefore, I made a decision: a significant part of the Russian military contingent in Syria is returning home to Russia," Putin said at the airfield, where he was met by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (Russia-Syria-Troops)

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BRUSSELS -- The European Union (EU)'s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Monday reiterated that the bloc backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Jerusalem as the capital of both parties along 1967 lines.

Speaking to the press before a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modherini said it is in Israel's interest to find a sustainable and comprehensive solution to the chronic conflict.(EU-Israel-Jerusalem)

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RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia announced on Monday its plan to grant licenses to open cinema early next year, Al Arabiya local news reported.

Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad said in a statement that as the industry regulator, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, has started the process for licensing cinemas in the kingdom. (Saudi Arabia-Cinema) Enditem