Coronavirus live updates: Global cases top 2 million

CNN says global cases of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 2 million people and killed at least 126,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. 

In the US, Trump has halted the US financing for the World Health Organisation while a review into its handling of coronavirus is conducted. 

Meanwhile, in a last-minute Treasury Department order, Trump’s name will appear on cheques sent to millions of Americans to combat the economic effects of Covid-19. 

Read the full story on CNN

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Untraceable cases in Japan raise fear outbreak is spiralling out of control 

Japan Times says the rising number of new cases of Covid-19 in Tokyo and nationwide is making headlines. But more alarming is the increasing number of instances where authorities can’t track where the patient got it from. 

Tracing the source of infection is vital in curbing the outbreak, sparking concerns among medicine and virology experts that the situation in Japan may get out of control – similar to what has happened in the west.

Read the full story on Japan Times

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UK economy could shrink by 35% with 2m job losses, warns OBR

The Guardian says Britain’s economy could shrink by 35% this spring and unemployment soar by more than 2 million due to the coronavirus crisis, the government’s independent economic forecaster has warned. 

In a stark assessment of the economic fallout from Covid-19 as lockdown measures bring much of the country to a standstill, the Office for Budget Responsibility said that gross domestic product (GPD) could plunge by more than a third in the second quarter of the year and by 13% for 2020 as a whole.

Read the full story on The Guardian

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UN defends WHO after Trump attack

BBC News says the chief of the United Nations has criticised President Trump for wanting to cut funding to the World Health Organisation. He said this was “not the time” to reduce resources for the WHO. 

“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” UN Secretary-General said.

Earlier, Trump had accused the WHO if “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus” and said the US would halt funding pending a review of the situation. 

Read the full story on BBC News

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Leaked footage shows Emmanual Macron arguing with hospital worker just days before extending lockdown

RT News says a video has emerged of the French president having a blazing row with a medic just days before he admitted France had been under-prepared for the coronavirus outbreak.

Macron was filmed arguing with a hospital worker whilst visiting the Kremlin-Bicetre hospital in Paris on April 9. In the footage of the argument, he can be seen telling hospital workers “we haven’t made up for 15 years of hospital tariff cuts, you’re right.” Adding, “but I won’t take responsibility for anything that’s been done before [taking office]. 

Read the full story on RT News

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World economy in intensive care

Arab News reports the global economy is facing its worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has halted economic activity across great swaths of the world and economies are expected to shrink by 3 per cent this year. “This crisis is like no other,” said IMF economic counsellor Gita Gopinath. 

“It is very likely that this year the global economy will experience its worst recession since the Great Depression, surpassing that seen during the financial crisis a decade ago. The Great Lockdown, as one might call it, is projected to shrink global growth dramatically.”

Read the full story on Arab News

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