REUTERS NEWS SCHEDULE AT 11 a.m. GMT/6 a.m. ET

Governments ramped up measures on Thursday to battle a looming global pandemic of the coronavirus as the number of new infections outside China for the first time surpassed new cases in the country where the outbreak began.

SYRIA-SECURITY/ Turkish-backed rebels say they regain pivotal Syrian town Saraqeb

AMMAN/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish military said on Thursday they had recaptured the strategic town of Saraqeb in what would be the first major reverse for the Syrian army in a Russian-backed offensive that had made swift gains. U.S.

WISCONSIN-SHOOTING/ Gunman kills five co-workers and himself in Molson Coors brewery shooting in Milwaukee

Milwaukee (Reuters) - A gunman opened fire at the Molson Coors Beverage Co brewing complex in Milwaukee on Wednesday, killing five co-workers before he was found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, the city’s police chief said. UTAH-POLYGAMY/

Decriminalization of polygamy in Utah clears key hurdle in state legislature SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Legislation to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults in Utah overwhelmingly passed the state House of Representatives in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, moving it a step closer to becoming law.

BUSINESS IKEA-EMISSIONS/

IKEA reduces climate footprint for the first time STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Carbon emissions throughout the full value chain of IKEA furniture fell for the first time last year, brand owner Inter IKEA said on Thursday citing increased use of renewable energy.

TESCO-M-A-THAILAND/ Thai tycoons in fray as Tesco sets bid deadline for $9 billion Asia business: sources

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - British retailer Tesco has asked bidders to submit binding offers for its Asian business by Friday, in a deal that will see Thai billionaires fight for an asset valued at up to $9 billion, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE-HARVEY-WEINSTEIN-APPEAL/ Weinstein's acquittal on some charges may hamper appeal of sex crimes conviction

Harvey Weinstein will seek to overturn his sex crimes conviction by arguing that the jury was prejudiced by testimony from women unconnected to prosecutors’ underlying case, his lawyers have said. But, according to experts, he faces a legal hurdle: his acquittal on some of the most serious charges. SPORTS

CHINA-HEALTH-OLYMPICS-THORPE/ Athletes should not risk health for Tokyo Games: Thorpe

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe says athletes should not put their Olympic dreams before their health in deciding whether to compete at the Tokyo Games as global health authorities battle to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. CHINA-HEALTH-SHOOTING-INDIA/

Shooting: India cancels pre-Olympic base in Korea amid coronavirus outbreak NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian shooting federation has dropped Italy as a training venue for its shooters and also canceled plans to set up a pre-Olympic base in South Korea following the coronavirus outbreak, its president told Reuters on Thursday.

UPCOMING DISASTERS / ACCIDENTS

AFRICA-LOCUSTS/ (PIX) (TV) (GRAPHIC) East Africa braces as next locust plague looms, supplies run out

As a plague of locusts devastates crops around the Red Sea, countries on the frontline are running out of vital supplies. Kenya ran out of pesticides. Ethiopia needs more planes. Somalia and Yemen, wracked by civil war, can't offer security to exterminators. Governments across the region are scrambling to deal with the outbreak. 27 Feb 07:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

BUSINESS / ECONOMICS SAFRICA-ECONOMY/WAGES

EXPLAINER-Why South Africa's public wage bill is such a problem South Africa says it will cut its public sector wage bill to contain a rising budget deficit. How bad is it, and will the proposed cuts be enough?

27 Feb 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT USA-FED/EVANS (PIX)

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Evans delivers speech during the Global Interdependence Center Members Delegation Event Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans delivers speech during the Global Interdependence Center Members Delegation Event

27 Feb 11:30 ET / 16:30 GMT MYLAN NL-RESULTS/

Q4 2019 Mylan NV Earnings Release Mylan NV is due to report fourth quarter results on Thursday after the bell. Investors will be keen to see the impact of slowly improving generic prices on the bottom line of the company and will watch out for the full year forecast as it closes its merger with Pfizer's Upjohn unit.

27 Feb 16:00 ET / 21:00 GMT USA-FED/MESTER

Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Mester is panelist at women in economics symposium Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester participates in closing panel before the "Women in Economics" Symposium hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, in Cleveland, Ohio.

27 Feb 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT AUTOS-AUTONOMOUS/CONFERENCE

Autonomous Vehicle Summit in Silicon Valley People attend the Autonomous Vehicle Summit, a three-day conference in Silicon Valley focused on the self-driving vehicle industry.

Feb 28 POLITICS / INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-FAMILY (PIX) (TV) WIDER IMAGE - In the migrant camp of Moria, a family living in limbo

Back in Afghanistan,Talibshah Hosini 35, was an action movie actor. Now, almost two months since he crossed the sea borders of Greece with Turkey with his wife Yasamin, 25, and their three daughters to the island of Lesbos, he is playing the hardest role of his life as they have to wait for a year and a half for the asylum interview. Living in a makeshift shelter in the migrant camp of Moria, the Hosini family tries to maintain a daily routine as they have to fight their fears, weather conditions, poor quality of food, lack of safety, diseases and violence in the camp. 27 Feb 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

USA-ELECTION/SUPER TUESDAY EXPLAINER - What you need to know to understand Super Tuesday

A story on what Super Tuesday on March 3 is, the states and delegates involved, what’s different this year, why it’s important Feb 28

IRAN-NUCLEAR/IAEA Quarterly IAEA report on Iran

The U.N. nuclear watchdog issues a quarterly report detailing Iran's atomic activities, as required by Tehran's deal with major powers, which it is policing. The date is not set and is subject to change. Feb 28

GUINEA-ELECTION/ (TV) Tensions run high as Guinea prepares for referendum on constitution

Guinea holds a contentious referendum on Sunday to reform the constitution that the opposition says is a ruse to allow 81-year-old President Alpha Conde to extend his stay in power beyond the legally-allotted term limits. In other West African countries, constitutional reform has been used as an excuse by rulers to reset the clock on their presidential mandates. In Guinea, protests have been going on for months against the reform, in which several have died. Experts fear for further unrest if the changes are voted through. Feb 28

BRITAIN-EU/ France's minister for Europe speaks in London

Amélie de Montchalin, France's Minister of State in Charge of European Affairs, speaks in London Feb 28

MALAYSIA-POLITICS/ (TV) Outwatching upheaval in Malaysian politics after Mahathir resigns

Malaysia politics are in political turmoil as factions vie for power after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad stepped down on Monday. Mahathir was also immediately named as interim prime minister by Malaysia's king - a role that carries all the authority of a permanent premier. Feb 28

CRIME / LAW / JUSTICE USA-MEXICO/CORRUPTION

Bail hearing for former A bail hearing is scheduled for former Mexican security secretary Genaro Garcia Luna in Brooklyn federal court. Garcia Luna is charged with cocaine trafficking and making false statements to investigators in a case linked to imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

27 Feb 11:00 ET / 16:00 GMT CAPEVERDE-DRUGS/

Verdict announced in record Cape Verde cocaine bust A Cape Verde court is due to announce its verdict in the trial of 11 Russian crew members of a ship from which a record 9.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized at the port of Praia in January 2019. The defendants have either denied knowing that the cocaine was on board or said they were threatened by the ship's owner into transporting the drugs.

Feb 28 CONFLICTS / WAR / PEACE

THAILAND-USA/MILITARY DRILL (PIX) (TV) Troops from Thailand and U.S. conduct amphibious assault drill at Cobra Gold

Thai, U.S.troops and soldiers from other participating countries take part in an amphibious assault drill during the annual Cobra Gold, Asia's largest multilateral military exercise. 28 Feb 21:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

ARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT NIGERIA-ENVIRONMENT/FASHION (PIX) (TV)

Nigerian artist uses fashion in plastic pollution awareness drive Emmanuel Adebayo has launched a fashion line called ECO featuring accessories made from leather and crystal stones. The contemporary artist is using his fashion line as an advocacy tool for a plastic-free planet and also to create awareness of the threat posed by plastic.

Feb 28 BRITAIN-ROYALS/HARRY (PIX) (TV)

Prince Harry and John Bon Jovi at Abbey Road studios Prince Harry is to meet with Jon Bon Jovi and members of the Invictus Games Choir at Abbey Road Studios.

Feb 28 SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY

USA-TRANSGENDER/UNDERWEAR (PIX) (TV) Body scans, heart-to-heart talks help Delaware student design transgender underwear

The challenge of designing transgender underwear drove graduate student Haobo Zhang into a University of Delaware laboratory to invent skivvies for people who may require tucking in some places and padding in others. Feb 28

CLIMATECHANGE-GRETA/BRITAIN (PIX) (TV) Greta Thunberg will visit the UK

Greta Thunberg will visit the UK to take part in a youth protest in Bristol. Feb 28

SPORTS SPORT-DOPING/RUSSIA-ATHLETICS (PIX) (TV)

Athletics-Russia's suspended federation elects president Russia's suspended athletics federation names a new president after its head resigned after being provisionally suspended last year for serious anti-doping breaches.

Feb 28