Duty Editor: Karl Malakunas Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Virus toll passes 1,000 in China + US indicts China military 'hackers' + Democrats battle in New Hampshire + Sinn Fein set for Irish gov't role + Insect extinction a 'warning to humanity' China-health-virus,WRAP BEIJING The death toll from a new coronavirus outbreak surges past 1,000 as the World Health Organization warns infected people who have not travelled to China could be the spark for a "bigger fire". 750 words 0700 GMT by Laurent Thomet. Picture. Graphic. Video US-China-military-hacking-Equifax,WRAP WASHINGTON The US Justice Department announces indictments of four members of China's People's Liberation Army for alleged involvement in the massive 2017 hack of the database of giant US credit rating agency Equifax. 700 words moved by Paul Handley. Picture. Video US-politics-vote,WRAP DURHAM, New Hampshire US Democrats brace for a volatile, consequential primary in New Hampshire as leftist Bernie Sanders and youthful challenger Pete Buttigieg fight for pole position in the race for who faces Donald Trump in November's presidential election. 900 words moved by Michael Mathes. Picture. Video. Graphic Ireland-vote,WRAP DUBLIN Sinn Fein becomes Ireland's second largest parliamentary party after winning the popular vote in a weekend election -- shattering the political landscape and thrusting the one-time fringe party with historic links to paramilitaries into a likely role in the next government. 700 words moved by Joe Stenson. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moved: Ireland-vote-McDonald,PROFILE Ireland-vote-SinnFein,FACTS Environment-insects-agriculture-pollution-extinction PARIS Half of the one million animal and plant species on Earth facing extinction are insects, and their disappearance could be catastrophic for humankind, scientists say in a "warning to humanity". 550 words moved -- CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC -- China-health-virus-Wuhan,FOCUS WUHAN, China For eight days, an AFP team lived and worked at the centre of a global health emergency, witnessing how life in the Chinese city of Wuhan was turned upside down as it was cut off from the world. 1,300 words moved by Sebastien Ricci. Video. Picture Asia-Singapore-China-health-virus-aviation,WRAP SINGAPORE Asia's biggest air show opens in Singapore under the shadow of a deadly coronavirus outbreak that has prompted dozens of companies to withdraw and threatens to hammer the aviation industry. 600 words 0800 GMT by Martin Abbugao. Picture. Video China-virus-health-HongKong HONG KONG More than 100 people are evacuated from a 35-storey Hong Kong housing block after two residents in different apartments test positive for the new coronavirus. 400 words moved. Picture -- EUROPE -- Europe-weather-storms,WRAP FRANKFURT, Germany Fierce winds and heavy rains claim at least six lives across northern Europe as Storm Ciara disrupts travel, grounds hundreds of flights, floods roads and leaves vast areas without power. 650 words moved. Picture. Graphic. Video Britain-NIreland-marriage-gay-rights CARRICKFERGUS, United Kingdom A Belfast couple are set to become the first same-sex couple to get married in Northern Ireland after a change in the law. 350 words moved Britain-transport-economy,ADVANCER LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set to announce his plans for the HS2 high-speed railway, with reports suggesting he will stick with the long-running project despite soaring costs. 500 words moved. Pope-Vatican-religion,FOCUS VATICAN CITY Seven years after his surprise resignation, Benedict XVI -- weakened by age but still intellectually spry -- appears unable to remain in the shadow of his Argentinean successor Francis, creating the appearance of "two popes" at odds. 700 words moved by Catherine Marciano. File picture -- AMERICAS -- US-politics-vote,PROFILE NEW YORK He may be the oldest candidate in the field, but Bernie Sanders is the pick of the Democratic presidential hopefuls among young progressives seduced by a fiery anti-establishment rhetoric and vigor belying his 78 years. 800 words moved by Peter Hutchinson. Picture. Video US-politics-vote,FOCUS NASHUA, New Hampshire Amy Klobuchar, running for president as an experienced unifier who gets things done, has surged in polling ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire Democratic primary and is making a late bid to capitalize on her momentum. 650 words moved by Michael Mathes. Picture -- ASIA -- Afghanistan-attack, WRAP KABUL A suicide attack rocks the Afghan capital Kabul, the interior ministry says, with civilian casualties feared in what appeared to be the first major assault in the city in months. 500 words by Emal Haidary at 0530 GMT. Graphic -- MIDDLE EAST -- Palestinian-Israel-conflict-diplomacy-UN,WRAP UNITED NATIONS The Palestinians have abandoned a request for a vote at the UN Security Council that they hoped would reject the Middle East plan of President Donald Trump, whose administration has put heavy pressure on critics, diplomats say. 700 words moved by Philippe Rater Egypt-urban-planning-heritage-environment,FOCUS CAIRO In the traffic-choked megacity of Cairo, the historic Heliopolis district has long stood out for its leafy boulevards, but now construction crews are cutting new highways through it and uprooting its century-old trees. 700 words moved by Farid Farid. Picture -- AFRICA -- AU-diplomacy-summit-Libya-SSudan,WRAP ADDIS ABABA African Union leaders vow to push peace efforts in Libya, a sign of the bloc's desire to play a bigger role in resolving the continent's conflicts. 650 words moved by Robbie Corey-Boulet. Picture. Video Mali-conflict,WRAP BAMAKO Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita raises the prospect of talks with jihadists behind years of bloodshed, as troops redeploy to a symbolic northern city that has eluded government control since 2012. 650 words moved by Serge Daniel. File picture. Video Lesotho-politics-crime,FOCUS MASERU, Lesotho Murder, mystery, suspense and political drama -- the cocktail of events playing out in Lesotho belong in a best-selling thriller. But it is the lived reality of a small southern African kingdom teetering on the brink. 750 words moved by Susan Njanji. Video. Picture -- ECONOMY -- US-economy-budget-politics-Trump,WRAP WASHINGTON With months left before US elections, President Donald Trump unveils a budget roadmap that abandons key deficit cutting promises based on lofty and unlikely economic growth assumptions. 650 words moved by Heather Scott afp