Xinhua world news summary at 0930 GMT, Dec. 19
Xinhua,December 19, 2017 Adjust font size:
MAIMANA, Afghanistan -- At least six militants were killed as security force aircraft pounded Taliban positions in Shirin Tagab district of northern Afghanistan's Faryab province on Tuesday, an army spokesman Nasratullah Jamshidi said.
"Acting upon intelligence report, the aircraft target a hideout of Taliban group in Torgul village of Shirin Tagab district early today morning killing six rebels on the spot and destroyed all their arms and ammunitions inside the hiding place," Jamshidi told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Militants)
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UNITED NATIONS -- The United States Monday vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem.
The other 14 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the Egypt-drafted text but as the United States, a permanent member of the UNSC, has veto power, the draft resolution failed to be adopted. ' Before the vote, the Egyptian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, had explained that the draft resolution sought to ensure that any attempts to alter the characteristics or demographic composition of the Old City of Jerusalem would have no effect, were null and void, and must be rescinded. (UN-US-Veto)
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SAN FRANCISCO -- At least three people were killed and more than 100 others injured Monday when a train run by intercity rail operator Amtrak derailed on its first run along a new route in Pierce County in the U.S. state of Washington, local media reported.
The Amtrak 501, carrying 77 passengers and six crew members, was heading south from Seattle when 13 of its 14 cars jumped tracks near Tacoma, a city in Pierce on the West Coast, with some cars falling off a bridge. (US-Train Derailment)
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RAMALLAH -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that the Palestinians will return to the UN to seek full membership for the state of Palestine, in response to the U.S. decision on Jerusalem.
In opening remarks to the Palestinian leadership meeting Monday evening, Abbas once again rejected the U.S. mediation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, while announcing a series of counter measures against U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. (Palestine-Abbas-UN Membership) Enditem