Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb. 9

WASHINGTON -- China and the United States should keep close contact and make good use of the established four high-level dialogue mechanisms to further promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation, said visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi here on Thursday.

Yang, during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, also said that the two sides have decided to hold the second round of diplomatic and security dialogue in China at the first half of this year. (US-China-Ties)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said here Thursday that the United States remains committed to the one-China policy.

Tillerson made the remarks when meeting here with visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern. (US-China-Taiwan)

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DAMASCUS -- Turkey carried out airstrikes on the city of Afrin in northern Syria on Thursday night, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.

The 20-day-long Turkish military campaign against Afrin used to be focused on the countryside of the Kurdish-controlled enclave, but on Thursday night Turkish warplanes struck the city, the report said. (Syria-Turkey-Afrin Airstrikes)

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BERLIN -- Berlin Zoo pocketed three panda prizes in the Giant Panda Global Awards, its was announced at an official awarding ceremony held in Berlin on Thursday, after more than 300,000 panda fans from all over the world cast their votes.

Berlin Zoo was nominated in five of the twelve categories, and picked up three awards in total, including a gold in the category of "Panda Moment of the Year" for the official opening of its Panda Garden, a gold in the category of "Favorite Panda Outside of China" for its panda star Meng Meng, and a bronze in the category "Most Beautiful Panda Zoo Enclosure". (Germany-Panda-Awards)

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TIKRIT, Iraq -- Six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Thursday during an operation in a mountainous area in Iraq's central province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said.

A joint force from the police and provincial special forces, known as Rapid Response, backed by Sunni tribal fighters, carried out an operation in the mountain ranges of Himreen and Makhoul in east of the provincial capital Tikrit, Major Salih al-Obeidi told Xinhua. (IS-Iraq) Enditem