Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Dec. 29

MONROVIA -- The candidate of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change George Weah has taken the lead in Liberia's presidential run-off election, the country's electoral body said on Thursday.

With 98.1 percent of the vote counted, Weah came far ahead with 61.5 percent, while his rival, incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai is trailing behind with 38.5 percent, head of the National Election Commission Jerome Korkoya told reporters. (Liberia-Election)

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Doug Jones was officially certified by election officials Thursday as the winner of the U.S. Senate race held in the southern state of Alabama earlier this month, despite fraud claims by his opponent, Roy Moore.

Jones defeated Moore on Dec. 12 by about 22,000 votes, making him the first Democrat in 25 years to win a Senate seat in deeply-red Alabama. (US-Senate-Race)

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has registered a group of voters who support the self-nomination of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the 2018 presidential election and gave him permission to open a special account for the formation of the electoral fund.

Thus, the commission allows him to officially launch the presidential campaign and collect signatures of voters in his support, according to a video report of the CEC meeting posted on its website on Thursday.

(Russia-Election-Putin)

- - - -

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday condemned the attacks on the Tabyan Cultural Center as well as a media outlet in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.

In a statement, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that "the Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured." (UN-Afghanistan) Enditem