Duty Editor: Kelly Macnamara Tel: +33 1 40.41.46.36 -- TOP STORIES -- + China virus toll nears 1,400 + Biggest jump in world defence spending in 10 years + Arrests in German far right terror swoop + 'French Oscars' board quits after Polanski row + Indonesia says no to Valentine's Day China-health-virus,WRAP BEIJING The death toll from China's virus epidemic nears 1,400 with six medical workers among the victims, underscoring the country's struggle to contain a deepening health crisis. 750 words 1500 GMT by Laurent Thomet and Eva Xiao. Picture. Video. Graphic Germany-defence-diplomacy-spending-US-China,WRAP MUNICH Global spending on defence rose by four percent in 2019, the largest growth in 10 years, led by big increases from the US and China, a study says. 600 words 1500 GMT by Damon Wake. Picture. Video Germany-investigation-farright-terrorism-police, WRAP BERLIN Police in Germany arrest 12 men in a nationwide probe into an extreme-right group suspected of planning "attacks on politicians, asylum-seekers and people of Muslim faith". 450 words 1430 GMT France-entertainment-film-award,WRAP PARIS France's Cesar Academy, which awards its version of the Oscars, is in crisis after its entire board resigns, overwhelmed by a series of rows that have infuriated both women's activists and industry insiders. 600 words moved by Aurelie Mayembo Also moved: Entertainment-France-film-Cesar,FACTS Indonesia-Valentine-lifestyle-religion MAKASSAR, Indonesia Indonesia isn't feeling the love for Valentine's Day as authorities arrest couples in one city, scold stores over condom displays and warn students they would be reprimanded for amorous activities. 400 words moved -- CORONAVIRUS -- China-health-virus-Cambodia-cruise,WRAP SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia Passengers on a cruise ship that was turned away from ports around Asia over fears they could be carrying the new coronavirus finally begin disembarking in Cambodia. 500 words moved by Suy Se. Picture. Video China-health-Japan-ship-virus,WRAP YOKOHAMA, Japan Japan begins allowing elderly passengers who test negative for the new coronavirus to leave a quarantined cruise ship and finish their isolation in government-designated lodging. 750 words moved by Hiroshi Hiyama with Natsuko Fukue in Tokyo. Picture. Video. Graphic China-health-virus-holiday,FOCUS BEIJING Love in the time of coronavirus: Couples around China are settling for a quiet Valentine's Day this year, with COVID-19 intruding as an unwelcome third-wheel in romantic celebrations. 800 words moved by Eva Xiao, Beiyi Seow and Jing Xuan Teng. Picture. Video. Graphic China-epidemic-health-France-virus CARRY-LE-ROUET, France French authorities discharge 181 people repatriated from the Chinese city at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, after two weeks of quarantine in a seaside resort. 400 words moved. Picture. Video China-health-virus-Japan-ship-Valentines,SCENE TOKYO "Cupid's avocado" for dinner, heart-shaped messages for the crew, but also painful separation: for those trapped on board the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship, Friday is no ordinary Valentine's Day. 600 words moved by Richard Carter and Sara Hussein. Picture. Video China-health-virus-Fbl-Asia-CHN,FOCUS HONG KONG The new coronavirus has scattered Chinese football clubs across the globe, with homesick players training for a season that has no start date and teams from other countries too scared to play them. 650 words moved by Peter Stebbings. File picture -- EUROPE -- France-politics-vote-sex,WRAP PARIS Emmanuel Macron's candidate for Paris mayor, Benjamin Griveaux, withdraws from the race over a leaked sex video, in a blow for the French president's party ahead of March local elections. 700 words 1500 GMT by Ambre Tosunoglu. Picture. Video Montenegro-Serbia-church-politics,INTERVIEW PODGORICA Montenegro needs its own Orthodox church to cement its identity and ward off meddling from Serbia, President Milo Djukanovic tells AFP as tensions seethe over who controls a faith shared by both countries. 650 words moved by Emmy Varley and Sally Mairs. Picture. Video -- MIDDLE EAST -- Syria-conflict-Israel-Iran,WRAP BEIRUT Israeli strikes on Damascus airport kill seven fighters, a war monitor says, the latest in a string of attacks targeting Iran's military presence in Syria. 600 words moved by Tony Gamal-Gabriel with Rim Haddad in Damascus. Video Also moving: Syria-conflict-Idlib,2ndlead Yemen-conflict-UN-aid,WRAP DUBAI Yemen's Huthi rebels say they have dropped a threat to impose a tax on aid, in a significant step towards resolving a crisis that has jeopardised the world's biggest humanitarian operation. 700 words moved by Sarah Stewart Climate-Morocco-oasis-drought,FOCUS SKOURA, Morocco Dead palm trees lie on dry, yellowish earth near an abandoned adobe house in Morocco's arid southeast, as drought threatens ancient oases. 600 words moved by Ismail Bellaouali. Picture. Video Israel-Palestinians-conflict-weaponry-balloons,FOCUS BUREIJI, Palestinian Territories As the bunch of brightly coloured balloons floated into Gaza's evening sky, there was a piercing crackle of gunfire. 700 words moved by Adel Zaanoun. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- US-politics-vote-Bloomberg HOUSTON, United States US billionaire Michael Bloomberg launches a charm offensive to convince black voters, an important bloc in Democratic politics, that he is the right candidate to take on President Donald Trump in November. 600 words moved by Julia Benarrous. Picture. Video -- AFRICA -- Mali-unrest-minorities,WRAP BAMAKO At least five people were killed in a Fulani village in central Mali overnight, in an apparent bout of ethnic violence. Some 160 people Fulani people were killed in the very same village in March last year. 500 words by 1500 GMT -- BUSINESS -- Germany-automobile-diesel-pollution-Volkswagen, WRAP FRANKFURT Consumer representatives and car giant Volkswagen each blame the other for a breakdown in talks over an 830-million-euro ($900 million) settlement for German customers in the firm's "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal, although customers could still see a payout. 500 words 1430 GMT by Yann Schreiber. File Picture Britain-banking-earnings-climate-RBS,WRAP LONDON Royal Bank of Scotland, a lender synonymous with the financial crisis, is to be renamed, new chief executive Alison Rose says as she also placed climate top of her agenda. 600 words moved by Ben Perry -- LIFESTYLE -- US-entertainment-abuse-trial-Weinstein,WRAP NEW YORK Prosecutors urge jurors to convict Harvey Weinstein of rape and sexual assault, focusing on the accusers' harrowing accounts of abuse and countering the claim they were opportunists who agreed to sex to further their careers. 500 words 1630 GMT. Picture. Video Britain-London-fashion,WRAP LONDON London Fashion Week opens with more than 60 shows scheduled over five days, including from Burberry and Tommy Hilfiger, but with participation dented by the novel coronavirus epidemic. 650 words moved by Pauline Froissart. Picture AFP