Xinhua world news summary at 0830 GMT, Dec. 24

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Four paramilitary Hashd Shaabi members were killed and six others injured Sunday in an overnight attack by Islamic State in Iraq's central province of Salahudin, provincial security source said.

The attack occurred began with mortar barrage on Hashd Shaabi base near the town of Dour in east of the provincial capital Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-IS-Paramilitary)

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CARACAS -- Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly (ANC) on Saturday declared Brazil's Ambassador Ruy Pereira and a counsellor at Canada's embassy as "persona non grata."

ANC President Delcy Rodriguez said Canadian Craig Kowalik was designated an unwelcome foreign visitor due to his "constant, insistent and rude meddling in Venezuela's internal affairs." (Venezuela-Diplomacy)

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DAVAO CITY, the Philippines -- At least 37 people may have died in the massive fire that ravaged a shopping mall here on Saturday, authorities said on Sunday as firefighters continued battling pockets of flames 16 hours after the blaze broke.

Distraught relatives wailed in grief as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced the firefighters' grim assessment on the victims' fate. (Philippines-Massive Fire)

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KABUL -- At least seven civilians were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Sunday, provincial government spokesman said.

The incident occurred in the morning after a minibus touched off a roadside bombing in Marja district, Helmand province, spokesman Omar Zwak told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Blast-Death) Enditem