Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, May 4

DAMASCUS -- The Syrian army on Thursday advanced in the Hajar al-Aswad area south of the capital Damascus after days of intense battles with Islamic State (IS) militants.

Syrian government troops split the main IS stronghold into two parts amid a wide-scale offensive to clear IS militants from the areas south of Damascus. (Syria-IS-Army Advance)

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NAIROBI -- Kenya's decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a continuation of the country's drive to diversify its core interests from the Western-led lending institutions, and to cement its relations with China that has emerged as a leading contractor of its key infrastructure projects, analysts said Thursday.

The AIIB announced Wednesday that its board of governors has adopted resolutions approving applications from Papua New Guinea and Kenya to join the bank, bringing its total approved membership to 86. (Kenya-China)

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RAMALLAH -- The Palestinian National Council (PNC), or the parliament of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), elected a new PLO executive committee and President Mahmoud Abbas as the PLO chairman, officials said early Friday.

The PNC convened Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Palestinian-PLO)

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Rescue teams have begun using excavators to clear the rubble of the 24-storey building which collapsed in Sao Paulo on Tuesday after a fire tore through it, saying that finding any more survivors was highly unlikely.

Two excavators began clearing the debris at the former headquarters of federal police, in which over 300 people were living. (Brazil-Survivors) Enditem