World News Briefs -- March 3, 3030

Daily Mail: US pledges ammunition and equipment to help Turkish troops in Syria after Erdogan's forces shot down another of Assad's jets

* America has pledged to give Turkey ammunition and equipment to fight in Syria
* Also mulling request for air defences after Turkey bought Russian S-400 system
* Comes after Turkish jet shot down another of Assad's warplanes on Tuesday
* Turkey and the Syrian government have been involved in escalating clashes as Ankara tries to stop an attack on Idlib amid fears it will trigger a refugee crisis

America has pledged to give Turkey ammunition and equipment in order to help in the fight against Syrian government forces in Idlib.

James Jeffrey, US envoy to Turkey, said Tuesday that Ankara will also receive humanitarian aid and intelligence briefings because it is a NATO ally.

David Satterfield, Washington's ambassador in Turkey, added that the US is also reviewing a Turkish request for air defences after the country controversially opted to buy Russian S-400 systems instead of American-made weapons.

It comes amid escalating clashes between Turkish forces and Assad's men in Idlib, where a Syrian government plane was shot down on Tuesday.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Turkey shoots down 3rd Syrian fighter jet in 3 days. Turkey shoots down third plane as Syrian forces retake town.

Erdogan demands Syrian army withdrawal, says its losses just beginning.

Iran's emergency services chief becomes country's highest ranking official to be infected with coronavirus, which has now affected eight per cent of regime's parliament.

Iran's enriched uranium stocks 5 times over nuke deal limit: IAEA.

US lawmakers seek to force intelligence release on Khashoggi death.

Netanyahu leading in Israeli election exit polls.

Israel election: Netanyahu begins coalition talks.

ASIA

Taliban attack Afghan army bases, throwing peace talks into doubt.

Coronavirus: Singapore extends entry ban to cover Italy, Iran and all South Korea.

Coronavirus: China orders travellers quarantined amid outbreak.

Coronavirus situation in North Korea remains unclear, could be specially deadly, expert says.

N. Korean leader Kim's sister condemns South over drill comments.

Pakistan calls on Kabul to abide by Taliban prisoner swap deal.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to US says her nation is warily hopeful they will finally live in peace.

Pakistan wants former PM Nawaz Sharif returned from Britain.

AFRICA

Lesotho politics: Prime minister under pressure to resign.

Libya civil war: Tribal loyalties tested as violence continues.

Libya conflict: 'Stressed' Ghassan Salame resigns as UN envoy.

Nile Dam: Ethiopia calls US view "totally unacceptable".

Ethiopia detains 13 Canadians accused of improperly practising medicine.

South Africa slips into 2nd recession in two years.

Somalia agrees offshore oil exploration roadmap with Shell/Exxon: minister.

Last Ebola patient in Congo leaves treatment centre.

EUROPE

EU offers Greece migration support amid mounting refugee crisis.

EU chief says Greece is Europe's shield in migrant crisis.

Russia rejects UN war crime accusations.

Swiss army strife: Country confines ALL of its soldiers to their military bases after one tested positive for coronavirus.

Vatican says pope only has a cold, symptoms not related 'to other pathologies'.

12 European nations urge EU for quicker climate goals.

UK universities strike: More than a million students miss class.

AMERICAS

Millions of US primary voters head to polls as 'Super Tuesday' gets under way.

Coronavirus: US in emergency rate cut as coronavirus spreads. Fed cuts interest rates by half a percentage point amid coronavirus fears.

Trump criticizes Fed rate cut as insufficient: 'More easing and cutting!'.

Sun Princess cruise ship met by violent protests upon docking at Réunion island amid coronavirus concerns.

At least 22 dead in US state of Tennessee following tornadoes.

Southwest Valley Constructors receives $175.4M for border wall in Texas.

Colombia coca crop: Trump tells Duque to resume spraying.

Haiti's president picks new prime minister to tackle socio-political crisis.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Egypt sentences 37 to death including top ISIL leader.

How ISIS operates in Iraq’s disputed territories.

A coordinated Jihadist campaign menaces the Sahel.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

OECD lowers global growth forecast by 0.5% over coronavirus, lowest since 2008 crisis.

Coronavirus: G7 finance ministers 'ready to tackle economic hit'.

OPEC to try to stem oil price plunge amid coronavirus slowdown.

Twitter tells ALL 5,000 employees around the world to work from home to avoid spread of coronavirus and makes it mandatory for those in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

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