Hello and welcome to bbc news. The World Health Organisation has raised the global threat level from coronavirus to very high the highest possible level of alert. Theyre planning to send a mission to iran next week. Officials there say 3a people have died, but Health Sources have told the bbc the actual figure is more than 200. In south korea, where 16 people have died, there have been a thousand new cases in the past 48 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 2,300. Thereve been sharp falls in Global Stock Markets because of concerns over coronavirus the total cost of this weeks plunge in values has been more than five trillion dollars. Well take a closer look at some of the news around the markets in a moment. But first, the latest on the virus around the world. Rich preston has this report. The number of countries reporting new incidents of covid19 reporting new incidents of covid 19 continues to rise. New zealand, lithuania and belarus are the latest confirm their first cases. The World Health Organization has upgraded the global risk of the virus. It calls for all countries to educate the populations. To expand surveillance. To find, isolate and care for every case, to trace every contact and to take and all of government and all of society approach. It iran is now the biggest cause for concern with over 200 people reported to have died as authorities they try to get control of the situation, friday prayers were cancelled for the first time in 40 cancelled for the first time in a0 yea rs. Cancelled for the first time in a0 years. Worldwide there have been more than 2500 deaths from this strain of coronavirus. The United Nations is each country needs to do its bit. We know containment is possible but the window of opportunity is narrowing. And so i appealfor solidarity and full Global Support between all countries, fully assuming their responsibilities. Italy continues to be europes biggest cause for concern with over 650 cases in several towns in the north of the country are still on lockdown. The uk has reported its first case of a patient to court virus within britain. In the us, a second case of community contagion in california is the number of infections across the reaches 50. We have not lost anyone else yet and hopefully we can keep that it intact. We have lost no one in the us and much of that is attributable to the fact we close the border early otherwise it could be a different story. Other countries that have not yet had any confirmed cases of the virus are preparing, bracing themselves for what is likely themselves for what is likely the inevitable. Us Financial Markets continued to fall dramatically on friday, following sharp declines on european and asian markets. Investors are expecting the Central Banks to cut the cost of borrowing in the us, japan and other Major Economies. More from our Business Correspondent samira hussain. Us Financial Market were battered in a way not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. The dowjones fell by more than i2 this week although on friday trading was able to come back from a 1000 point loss to close only 350 points lower. Wall street continues to worry about the coronavirus and if the increasing number of cases outside china pushes the deadly virus into an epidemic. The white house has been trying to calm nervous investors. The trump Administrations National economic director says he does not believe the stock market plunge will have a long term effect. The president himself spoke to reporters late on friday saying that some of these big drops can be attributed to investor fears of the unknown. Earlier in the day, the us central bank, the federal reserve, released a statement saying the us economy remains fundamentally strong but if there is a need for the fed to step in, it will. Traders interpreted that as a possible cut to borrowing rates, something that other Major Economies are also considering. Lets get some of the days other news crisis talks have been taking place to prevent a Major International escalation of the civil war in northern syria. It comes after a surge in fighting between turkish and syrian forces. 33 turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike, and turkey has responded by targeting hundreds of Syrian Government sites. Our International Correspondent orla guerin has sent this report. Payback. The Turkish Military hitting hard today. Pounding more than 200 Syrian Government targets in idlib province. It was retaliation for this. The killing of 33 turkish troops in idlib yesterday. These massive airstrikes have triggered a dangerous escalation. Turkey has blamed the Syrian Regime but serials ally, russia, controls the airspace. As the Fallen Soldiers were given a heros funeral, turkeys defence minister hulusi akar says russia has no excuse. Translation even though we told russia in advance the location of our troops, the attack happened. After the first strike, we warned them again, but it continued. Even ambulances were hit. The battle for idlib is continuing. The regime trying to drive the revels that make rebels from this final stronghold. But in the last two months, the Bombing Campaign has also driven almosti Million People from their homes, many towards the turkish border. President putin and president erdogan, seen here meeting last year, have held urgent talks over the phone but they are supporting opposite sides in idlib and so far neither appears to be backing down. As turkey struggles with the fallout in idlib, it wants the west to feel its pain. Here is how. By allowing refugees to head for europe. Small groups began leaving today after word went out the authorities here would no longer try to stop them. 25 year old mohammed hit the road fast. He fled damascus four years ago. We are going to greek on foot. Today, at least, he could not reach europe. Now we are trying to cross the river but greek commandos said no, no. And here in istanbul, a clamour to board a bus for the border without the risk of being detained. Turkey has been coping with almost a million Syrian Refugees for years. Many have built new lives here. But the threat of an exodus gives turkey leverage with the international community. Orla guerin, bbc news. Roman polanski has won best director at the cesars, the annual awards for frances film industry, for his film an officer and a spy. Mr polanski was a controversial nominee, having been a fugitive from justice in the United States since 1978, after admitting unlawful sex with a 13 year old girl. He did not attend the event, saying that he feared for his safety. More than 100 womens rights activists protested at the award nomination, clashing with police near the venue. After he was announced as the winner, several actresses left the ceremony in protest. Heavy downpours are expected to bring more flooding across england and wales as another weekend storm is due on saturday. Up to 80 millimetres of rain is expected to fall when storm jorge arrives, delivering another heavy blow for communities whove already been hit by floods. Danny savage reports from the east Yorkshire Village of east cowik. In the village of east cowick, numerous houses are now flooded. The east yorkshire flood plains have ove rflowed into settlements. Why have they flooded us . Why havent they done something about it . Never underestimate the misery flooding can cause when your home is ruined. Im absolutely devastated. Devastated. Weve been here 20 years, weve got a beautiful home and just look at it. The emotional impact is far worse than the actual impact of the work that youve got to do. People were so desperate to get back in, they were taking risks. The water is still rising, so sandbags are in front of nearly every door. Villagers have been told to move out. The drains have finally started backing up and we have had to move sharpish. The firemen came, didnt they, and said really advise you get out. On the river severn at iron bridge in shropshire, the temporary flood defences which were battered and broken by the highest waters here are being repaired. People who live and work here recall with alarm the point at which they failed. It was horrific, to see them go back three foot, your breathjust like. Inhales sharply. And then everything was all right, luckily. Christine is back in her shop, but things are a long way from returning to normal. The most severe warnings have been lifted for now, but emergency workers remain. For us, we havent really paused yet, we are still in response, we havent got to recovery, so we havent been able to do a Lessons Learned or a review of what happened. There will inevitably be things we want to learn. Dozens of flood warnings remain along the length of the severn, but, with more rain to come, the worry has to be that levels will shoot up again. Back in yorkshire the flood plains of rivers ouse and aire now stretch for miles. One area is nearly the size of windermere in the lake district. The problem is they are brimming water is running off into villages and homes that these washlands are supposed to protect. The last thing needed is another storm. A man convicted of murdering a pensioner with a crossbow in north wales has been jailed for life and told hell spend at least 31 years behind bars. 7a year old gerald corrigan, a retired lecturer, was killed in anglesey in april last year. His killer, terence whall, carried out what the police described as a medieval style execution. The 39 year old has refused to say why he did it. Three former barclays executives have been cleared of fraud charges in the only criminal trial of senior bankers in the uk for events linked to the 2008 financial crisis. Rogerjenkins, tom kalaris and Richard Boath were charged in connection with a four billion pound investment deal with qatar, which enabled the bank to avoid being nationalised. The acquittal is a major blow to the Serious Fraud office which brought the case. Search teams looking for a forty year old man, thought to have been climbing ben nevis, have found a body. Thomas gafrik from slovakia was reported missing, after posting a video of himself on social media last week. Police scotland said a mans body was found in the river nevis. The body has yet to be formally identified, but mr grafriks family have been informed. This is bbc news. The headlines the World Health Organization has raised its assessment of the coronavirus threat to the highest level. There was a frantic day on the markets. Theyve been hit with their worst week since the financial crisis. Back to our main story and the spread of covid 19 around the world. Mike mulvaney, the acting white house chief of staff, says the media is stoking a virus panic to bring down President Trump. Heres Professor Rachel van landingham, an expert in National Security law, from Southwestern School of law in california. The scientists are saying it is not a matter of when but if in the United States and i have lived in Southern California and there was an announcement a few moments ago that another case has come to light of an individual that has not travelled recently to china or in contact with an individual from china so it does seem that in fact there probably will be an outbreak here and i like the fa ct an outbreak here and i like the fact that our government officials, our scientists and oui officials, our scientists and our Health Experts are out there giving us some facts. President trump has highlighted that the media and exaggerated account of what is happening. Would you agree with that . Well, lets just say it is part and parcel of an overall bigger issue and that is his disturbing authoritarian campaign to undermine the free press, to undermine media s role in our constitutional democracy. Our role in our constitutional democracy. 0ur press, role in our constitutional democracy. Our press, the media, is hardwired for constitutional protections in the first amendment. Why . Because it is essential for democracy. I give it to him. I give the president and his staff credit because this is a tough hole and sing act, they have to balance Common People s fears ensuring there is not fears with real information and getting facts in order to promote and protect the health of communities. But you do that by promulgating facts in a calm, assuring manner. You do not do it by telling asked to shut up in ourface and President Trump and administration blames the press and have done so since day one. They call the New York Times lying and the enemy of the people and this is just them trying to undermine a democratic institution. And they are adding another argument, saying it is a strategy to bringing down President Trump, looking ahead to elections later in the year . He also mentioned today that he is hoping for a miracle, a miracle from god to stop this. Im hoping for scientists and a tea m im hoping for scientists and a team of professionals at the cdc who have in the state planners, who have primary responsibility to ensure this virus is properly controlled and contained. And handled in a professional manner. If we are looking for conspiracy theories, were looking in the wrong direction, it should be talking to scientists and not only does he try to undermine press, he does it to facts and expertise in this is one more example. In 2010 a christian woman from pakistan, asia bibi, was sentenced to death after being convicted for blasphemy after an argument with neighbours. She spent eight years in jail before her conviction was overturned. Her case Drew International attention to pakistans blasphemy laws, and to the question of religious tolerance. Fears for her safety led her to flee to france. She spoke to my colleague mishal husain. The fury in pakistan just over a year ago as a woman sentenced to death for blasphemy was acquitted. Asia bibi had been convicted on the flimsiest of evidence. Now, she has broken her silence about the nightmare that began when she was accused of insulting the prophet muhammad. Translation i was very scared. I couldnt even imagine Something Like this would happen to me. For a year and a half, i kept going to court, not once did the judge hear my side of the story. They sentenced me to death without letting me speak. Asia bibi told me she was working in the fields near her home in Punjab Province when the mob came to drag her away. Her daughters, then aged eight and nine, saw it happen. They have since been reunited with their mother. Translation it was so strange to see my husband and children after so long. I couldnt make sense of my emotions. But when i think about my daughters childhood. I see them crying at being separated from me. That i cannot forget. After International Campaigns and eight years on death row, Pakistans Supreme Court dismissed the charges but there are still christians and muslims being targeted by the blasphemy law. What would your message be to the government of pakistan . Translation to Prime Minister imran khan i say, whenever Something Like this happens, it should be properly investigated. Innocence should not be punished and innocent people jailed for this should be freed. In a statement, the government of pakistan told us it had taken considerable steps to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law and that minorities are treated as equal citizens. This afternoon, asia bibi went to meet president macron. She may be granted asylum here in france or in canada, but this period is one of huge adjustment for her. She told us she isnt sure yet what the future holds. Now onto the democratic race to take on donald trump in the 2020 election. Former Vice President joe biden has a lot riding on tomorrows critical primary in South Carolina. In order to stay competitive in this race he is counting on a resounding win. Barbara plett usher is in South Carolina. This isjoe this is joe biden this isjoe biden country, South Carolina, a Southern State he cannot afford to lose. His loyal supporters are working overtime to make sure he wins. This woman and her crew trustjoe biden, his history with barack obama carries weight with them and other African Americans and carries weight with them and other african america ns and the critical vote he needs here to stay in the race. They think hes the best man to beat donald trump. We need everybody out forjoe biden. This country need someone who knows whats going on. He knows where the bones are buried. I think that if we do not elect someone like joe biden, theres going to be a lot more trouble than we think. Joe biden is getting a warm South Carolina embrace but he has been the one in trouble. He has struggled for most of his campaign, outspent by rivals and on down by rhetoric and the primary has become a make or break moment for him this was significant. I know joe, we knowjoe. But, most importantly, joe, we knowjoe. But, most importantly, joe knows us. Joe, we knowjoe. But, most importantly, joe knows us. An endorsement from the state s godfather of Democratic Politics but with the backing of the establishment be enough . One ofjoe biden s most serious challenges comes from Bernie Sanders, the left wing front runner. He has been packing venues and attracting black venues you think thatjoe biden is no longer a man for the times. I feelthat biden is no longer a man for the times. I feel that Bernie Sanders or poor change into the country instead of someone who is going to go with whatever is happening. People always going on the same topics and thats why i like earning more than bite impersonally. Do you think Betty Sanders can do well in joe biden country . Betty sanders can do well in joe biden country . I think so, he stands his own, i think it can stand by his own. I think so. Can stand by his own. I think so. I think more people are on his side in this area than you think. Younger people, yes. The what . Younger people. Bernie sanders is looking for a week used in southern carolina but joe biden has had a bounce back in the polling this week and will need a win this week to score victories on super tuesday and a big win if he is to emerge as the moderate candidate to take on Bernie Sanders. If you are a beatles fan, you may recognise this. It is prince harry and bond on bravely jon prince harry and bond on bravely jon bon jovi, prince harry and bond on bravely jon bonjovi, and they are mimicking the fabless board and the american rocker is recording one of his song within victors charity. Jon bonjovi he was looking forward with the artist formerly known as prince. Clever now have you noticed yet that its a leap year . That means that people born on february 29th theyre apparently called leaplings or leapers only get to mark their actual birthday every four years and a 100 year old lady from portsmouth will this weekend get to enjoy whats offically her 25th birthday. Tom hepworth reports. This Surprise Party was planned with military precision. Applause. I didnt know i was so popular shes lovely, very independent, very lovely. Shes, she fits in so well at brunel. Shes got a real twinkle in her eye, doesnt she . Definitely, she has a lot of character. There arent many 25 year olds with two great great grandchildren. You dont look a day over 25 oh, thank you i know, i mean, you dont have to tell me. Doris cleife is actually 100 tomorrow. When she was 25, the Second World War was in its final months. The raf had just bombed dresden, and churchill, roosevelt and stalin met to discuss how to carve up germany at the yalta conference. Doris worked as an electrician at the airspeed factory on de havilland aircraft, and has vivid memories of that time. You know, we were bombed three times. I was walking along one saturday with my baby in the pram and a plane came over the roof, and it was a nazi, and this pilot looked at me and i looked at him and this is true and hejust swooped off, and i thought he was going to shoot me or something. Doris has lived in portsmouth all her life. She was a hairdresser for 20 years and was always active. Im sure walking helps. Dont know about running and jogging at all that business. I think if you take a jolly good walk, it keeps you fit. Happy birthday to you happy birthday, dear doris. Doris has another party tomorrow, and she told me shes really going to let her hair down for that one. Our best wishes to her. You can reach me on twitter back with their headlines in a moment, but first, the weather. Hello. Friday brought more rain to areas which didnt need it. Another 10 15mm fell across shropshire. Around a0mm of rain fell in around 12 hours in cardiff. Meanwhile, across scotland, further snow. Through the weekend, parts of the highlands could see another 20 30cm of snow, and all eyes this weekend are on this area of low pressure. This is storm jorge, which was named by the spanish met service. Through the early hours of saturday morning we will see squally rain pushing east. Cold air coming in behind, we could see icy conditions across parts of Northern Ireland first thing on saturday. But the main focus this weekend is the strength of the wind. Gales, if not severe gales, across a large swathe of the uk, gradually easing down through sunday. Wet and windy first thing across the eastern side of england. Sunshine following. Showers pushing in from the west, likely to be wintry. Wet and windy across the Northern Isles through the afternoon. More persistent rain and maybe hill snow across Northern England and into southern scotland. A cold day, particularly when you factor in the strength of the wind. Temperatures not much higher than 6 7 celsius in places, and some gusty winds, quite widely a0 50 miles an hour, but through the afternoon, some really strong winds developing across parts of wales, Northern England and into southern scotland, where they could gust up to 75 miles an hour, maybe even 80 miles an hour on the western coast of scotland. Also some heavy persistent rain for a time across Northern England, southern scotland, Northern Ireland and also some snow once again over higher ground. Through the early hours of sunday morning we keep this focus of rain and hill snow across Northern England and southern scotland. To the north and south of this, clear spells, but squally, blustery showers. The strength of the wind should keep the frost at bay first thing on sunday morning. Storm jorge slowly pulls away north through sunday. Were keeping an eye on this feature here, which will start to push outbreaks of rain into south east england through sunday morning. Two things to keep an eye on. The winds will be slowly easing down, but still some outbreaks of rain and snow across Northern England and southern scotland. Rain for a time perhaps across south eastern england. We will need to keep an eye on the timings of that. Between all of this, spells of sunshine, wintry showers, the wind slowly easing down, but its still a windy day. Certainly still feeling cold given the strength of the wind. We start to lose those severe gales as we go through sunday. Its a blustery day and for most therell be a mixture of sunshine and showers. Thats the theme into next week. It wont be as windy. It will be somewhat drierfor a time. Still, some showers around. Goodbye. This is bbc news. The headlines the World Health Organization raises its assessment of the coronavirus threat to the highest level as more than 50 countries report infections. But the head of the organisation says there is still a chance to contain the virus if its chain of transmission can be broken. Fears that the outbreak could hit the Global Economy led to a sixth day of sell offs in stocks and shares. In the us and london, markets suffered their biggest weekly loss since the financial crisis in 2008. Companies around the world have lost more than 3. 5 trillion in value. Thereve been violent scenes outside frances most prestigious film awards, the cesars, after Roman Polanski won best director for his film for his film an officer and a spy. More than 100 womens rights activists protested at the award nomination, clashing with police near the venue. After he was announced as the winner, several actresses