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| - Duty Editor: Qasim Nauman Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + WHO raises global virus risk to maximum level + Turkey, Russia leaders hold Syria crisis talks + Biden aims to salvage campaign in South Carolina + Walkouts as Polanski awarded French 'Oscar' + Corona sales steady despite virus name confusion Health-virus,WRAP GENEVA The World Health Organization raises its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spreads to sub-Saharan Africa and financial markets slump. 800 words 0200 GMT by Dario Thuburn. Picture. Video. Graphic Syria-conflict,WRAP ISTANBUL The leaders of Russia and Turkey hold crisis talks after 33 Turkish soldiers died in a regime air strike in Syria, as Ankara ramps up pressure on Europe by threatening to flood in migrants. 900 words moved by Fulya Ozerkan, with Stuart Williams in Moscow and Shaun Tandon in Washington. Picture. Graphic. Video Also moved: Syria-conflict-Turkey-refugee-Greece,lead Syria-conflict-Turkey-Russia-diplomacy,FOCUS US-politics-vote,WRAP COLUMBIA, United States Joe Biden scrambles to salvage his flagging presidential hopes on the eve of South Carolina's Democratic primary, where nothing less than a decisive victory can help the former vice president rebound and challenge frontrunner Bernie Sanders. 800 words 0230 GMT by Leila Macor, with Michael Mathes in Washington. Picture Also moved: US-politics-vote-Obama,FOCUS US-politics-vote-slavery,FOCUS Entertainment-France-film-Cesars-Polanski,WRAP PARIS Roman Polanski wins best director for "An Officer and a Spy" at a fractious ceremony for the French Oscars, the Cesars, that ended in walkouts and recrimination in Paris. 700 words moved by Fiachra Gibbons. Picture. Video. Graphic Health-virus-US-Corona,lead NEW YORK Confusion between coronavirus and Corona beer has been a punchline of questionable taste during the outbreak, but for the brand, the matter may be no joke. 400 words moved -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-China-equipment,SCENE WENZHOU, China China's coronavirus is preventing clothing manufacturer Ugly Duck Industry from resuming its normal production of winter coats, so it has pivoted to another in-demand product: hazmat suits. 500 words 0300 GMT. Picture. Video US-China-economy-epidemic-virus,FOCUS WASHINGTON The world is coming to a standstill as the new coronavirus spreads: schools have closed in Japan, rallies are banned in Switzerland and flights are cancelled worldwide. 750 words moved by Delphine Touitou Also moved: Markets-world,WRAP Health-virus-Saudi-religion-Islam,FOCUS MECCA Cleaners scrub and sterilise the floors of Mecca's Grand Mosque after coronavirus fears led Saudi Arabia to suspend pilgrim visas, but worshippers appear unfazed -- confident of God's protection. 600 words moved by Haitham El Tabei. Picture. Video Health-virus-China-Indonesia-tourism-Bali,FOCUS DENPASAR, Indonesia Hundreds of Chinese tourists in Bali for vacation are scrambling to avoid going back home because of the coronavirus, fearing both infection and Beijing's handling of the epidemic. 650 words 0430 GMT by Agnes Anya and Peter Brieger. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- US-politics-vote-IT-disinformation,FOCUS WASHINGTON Social platforms are scrambling to cope with the onslaught of political messages involving celebrity endorsements, bots and manipulated videos as the US election campaign is shaken up by Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg's deep-pocketed efforts. 850 words 0130 GMT by Rob Lever US-politics-vote-California-Bernie-offbeat LOS ANGELES Until a few years ago, Jeff Jones was going on about his life, minding his own business and enjoying his passion for music. Then Bernie Sanders burst onto the national political stage, prompting many to do double-takes on seeing Jones, who bears a striking resemblance to the Democratic presidential candidate. 350 words 0200 GMT by Javier Tovar. Picture. Video -- ASIA-PACIFIC -- US-Afghanistan-conflict-Taliban,WRAP DOHA Washington and the Taliban are set to sign a long-sought deal in Doha on Saturday that would see the two foes agree to the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Afghanistan in return for insurgent guarantees. 600 words 0200 GMT by Gregory Walton. File video Afghanistan-conflict-US-Qatar-war,FOCUS WASHINGTON In making peace with the Taliban, the United States is moving to end its longest-ever war and also signalling a major shift: After two decades, an era of global US military interventionism is winding down. 850 words 0300 GMT by Shaun Tandon -- EUROPE -- Russia-politics-opposition,WRAP MOSCOW Russia's opposition holds its first major protest since President Vladimir Putin in January announced plans which critics fear will help him stay in power after his mandate ends in 2024. 600 words 0330 GMT by Anna Smolchenko Also moving: Russia-demonstration-murder-politics-Nemtsov,FACTS Slovakia-vote-politics BRATISLAVA Slovaks are poised to punish the governing populists in a general election amid outrage over the 2018 gangland-style murder of a journalist whose stories exposed high-level corruption plaguing the eurozone country. 800 words 0300 GMT by Laszlo Juhasz. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moving: Slovakia-vote-politics-leaders,POINTS Slovakia-vote-culture,FACTS Spain-refugees-restaurant,FOCUS MADRID Hala, Alex and Yoli, who were forced to flee Syria, Sudan and Venezuela respectively, are now the chefs at a unique Madrid restaurant that aims to change the lives of refugees and alter how people see them. 700 words 0400 GMT by Diego Urdaneta. Picture. Video -- MIDDLE EAST -- Israel-politics-religion-social,FOCUS JERUSALEM When Yossi Levy decided to quit studying at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva to join the Israeli army, his brother told him he would be better off dead -- but he went ahead and served. 700 words 0330 GMT by Jonah Mandel -- AFRICA -- Ethiopia-conflict-unrest-politics-election,FOCUS NEKEMTE, Ethiopia Desta Garuma, a 27-year-old rickshaw driver, never showed much interest in politics, so his family has no idea how soldiers concluded he was involved in a rebel movement active in Ethiopia's Oromia region. 800 words 0400 GMT. Picture -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Germany-film-festival-Nazis-history,FOCUS BERLIN As the Berlinale reels from revelations that its founding director Alfred Bauer was a high-ranking Nazi, the issue of memory politics looms large over the film festival's 70th anniversary. 600 words 0400 GMT by Kit Holden. Picture -- SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT -- Environment-US-politics-plastic,FOCUS NEW YORK Consumerist mecca New York targets its throwaway culture this weekend with a ban on single-use plastic bags that has been years in the making and is still rare in America. 650 words 0230 GMT by Peter Hutchison. Picture. Video afp
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