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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb. 12

Xinhua, February 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Diplomats participating in Syria support group talks here have agreed to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities soon in the war-torn Middle East country.

They told reporters that they have also agreed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in Syria and call for an early resumption of the Geneva peace talks. (Germany-Syria-Peace)

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BAGHDAD -- Russia on Thursday confirmed its support to Iraq in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) militant group which has seized large parts of the country.

Visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin held meetings with top Iraqi officials in Baghdad on Thursday, which concluded with a cooperation agreement to boost bilateral ties in various aspects. (Russia-Iraq-IS)

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WASHINGTON -- Scientists said Thursday they have detected the existence of gravitational waves, which were predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity 100 years ago.

The detected gravitational waves were produced during the final fraction of a second of the merger of two black holes to produce a single, more massive spinning black hole, they said at a news conference in Washington, D.C.. (U.S.-Gravitational Waves)

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WASHINGTON -- International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde is poised to win a second term as the leader of the Washington-based institution as no challenger emerged for the position.

"The period for submitting nominations for the position of the next Managing Director closed on Wednesday, February 10. One candidate, current Managing Director Christine Lagarde, has been nominated," Aleksei Mozhin, dean of the IMF executive board, said in a statement on Thursday. (IMF-Lagarde)

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BERLIN -- Germany will extend its border controls for another three months to ensure an orderly inflow of refugees and safeguard public order within the country, the German government announced on Thursday.

Germany's border controls will be extended until May 13, the German Interior Ministry said, adding that other European Union states have been informed of the latest extension. (Germany-Border Control) Endi