Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 8

ADEN, Yemen -- Airstrikes launched by fighter jets of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition killed eight Yemeni civilians in the war-torn Arab country on Thursday, a medical official told Xinhua.

The first airstrike was carried out against Shiite Houthi rebels in the western port city of Hodeidah, but mistakenly hit a chicken run and killed three workers at the scene, the local source said on condition of anonymity.(Yemen-Saudi)

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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani security officials have confirmed that a U.S. pilotless aircraft fired missile on a camp of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan's border region and killed 21 militants.

Intelligence officials said on Thursday that a U.S. drone fired two missiles on the militants of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Shaltan area of Kunar province of Afghanistan on Wednesday.(Pakistan-U.S.-Drone)

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JUBA -- A meningitis outbreak in South Sudan's former Eastern Equatorial state has claimed 28 lives as new infections reach 107, a World Health Organization (WHO) official revealed on Thursday.

Ramadan Otim, the WHO Technical Officer for Emergency, Preparedness and Response told Xinhua that meningitis outbreak could claim additional lives if mitigation measures are not rolled out urgently in affected regions like Lyire and Imurok payams in Torit county, Imatong state. Payam is the second-lowest administrative division below counties.(South Sudan-Health)

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan -- At least five armed insurgents have been killed and six others wounded in an airstrike conducted by Afghan air force in Faryab province, north of Afghanistan on Wednesday night, an army source said Thursday.

"Afghan National Army (ANA) Air Force targeted hideout of militants in Pashton Kot district, Faryab province, killing five militants and injuring six others last night," Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir based in the northern region, told Xinhua.(Afghanistan-Militants)

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COLOMBO -- A total of 81 people, including the main suspect, had been arrested for triggering deadly communal clashes in Sri Lanka's central Kandy region, police said Thursday.

"We have arrested the main suspect along with nine others. A thorough probe will be conducted and tight security will remain in place throughout the district," a police official told Xinhua.(Sri Lanka-Arrest) Enditem