BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, The headlines are Israeli PM Netanyahu is projected to win the Israeli election but will likely be just short of a majority.
Shortest peace deal ever? The Taliban ends partial truce with the US, announces plans to resume Afghan military ‘operations’ after Afghanistan refuses to release 5,000 prisoners.
Coronavirus, in the US the death toll has now risen to six – after four more Washington citizens died. Saudi Arabia has announced its first case of COVID-19 amid growing fears the surge in numbers of those infected in Iran is threatening the whole region. In the UK, a Devon school pupil has been confirmed to have the virus.
Entertainment, James Lipton – host of Inside The Actors Studio – has died at the age of 93 from bladder cancer. Lipton is famed for his in-depth interviews with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
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US coronavirus death toll rises to six
Aljazeera says four more people have died in Washington after being infected with the coronavirus. The death toll in the state and country is now six said authorities. 
Dr Jeff Duchin announced the increase in COVID-19 deaths at a news conference on Monday. US authorities across the country are scrambling to prepare for more infections.
Researchers believe the virus may have been circulating in Washington state for weeks. After the first death, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency.
Read the full story on Aljazeera
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Saudi Arabia announces its first case of coronavirus
Arab News says Saudi Arabia has reported its first case of the COVID-19 virus on Monday amid growing fears that a surge in the number of those infected in Iran is threatening the whole region. 
The kingdom had been free from the virus for more than three months as it spread from China to 66 countries.
Almost all those infected in the Middle East have recently travelled to Iran or have been in contact with someone who has been there.
Read the full story on Arab News
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Netanyahu projected to win Israeli election, but exit polls suggest bloc just short of a majority
CNN says counting is underway in Israel’s unprecedented third election in 11 months. The initial exit polls projected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party as the winners. 
But even if the final results bear out these projections from Israel’s three main news channels, Netanyahu will still need to find partners to form a coalition government with a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
Just after the polling stations closed across Israel at 10.pm local time, Israeli TV stations flashed the results of their individual exit polls — all showing Netanyahu’s right-wing party ahead of former military chief, Benny Gantz’s centralist Blue and White Party.
Read the full story on CNN
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Taliban reject talks until 5,000 prisoners released in accordance with US deal
France24 says the Taliban will not take part in intra-Afghan talks until 5,000 of their prisoners are released in 
accordance with a deal struck with Washington a spokesman said on Monday, with the militants warning of new attacks on Afghan forces as a partial truce agreement expired.
Under an accord between the US and the Taliban signed on Saturday, the two sides are committed to working towards the release of combat and political prisoners as a confidence-building measure.
The agreement calls for up to 5,000 jailed Taliban prisoners to be released in exchange for 1,000 Afghan government captives by March 10.
Read the full story on France24
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Coronavirus UK: Pupil confirmed with the virus at Devon school
BBC News says a pupil at a secondary school in Devon has tested positive for coronavirus. 
Churston Ferrers Grammer School confirmed the case and said the student was “getting all necessary support and advice from health services.”
It is the second case of the virus in the county after another South Devon resident tested positive, Public Health England (PHE) said.
The number of cases in the UK rose by four to 39 on Monday.
Read the full story on BBC News
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‘Inside The Actors Studio’ host James Lipton dies
Sky News says James Lipton has died at the age of 93. He was the host of the long-running TV show Inside The Actors Studio. 
The host was famed for his in-depth interviews with hundreds of Hollywood stars including Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Al Pacino.
Lipton’s wife confirmed her husband had died from bladder cancer at his home in New York, telling the Hollywood Reporter: “His work was his passion, [he] loved what he did and all the people he worked with.”
Read the full story on Sky News
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