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| - Duty Editor: Tanya Willmer Tel: +33 1 40.41.46.36 -- TOP STORIES -- + European nations in lockdown + Biden-Sanders vote in 3 US states + Iraq names new PM after unrest + UEFA delays Euro to 2021 + Brady leaves New England Patriots Health-virus,WRAP PARIS France and other European nations are in near total lockdown in a bid to halt the rapid spread of the coronavirus, as the World Health Organization calls for the "boldest actions" against the pandemic in Europe, the outbreak's new global epicentre. 850 words 1530 GMT by Mariette le Roux and Joseph Schmid, with AFP bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic. Videographic US-politics-vote-health-virus,WRAP MIAMI Millions of anxious Americans troop to polling stations in three states as the coronavirus pandemic roils the nation's Democratic primaries featuring frontrunner Joe Biden and his rival Bernie Sanders. 750 words 1430 GMT by Leila Macor with Michael Mathes in Washington. Picture Iraq-politics-unrest,WRAP BAGHDAD Iraq's president names ex-Najaf city governor Adnan Zurfi as the new prime minister, tasked with ruling a country hit by street protests, military unrest and now the coronavirus pandemic. 750 words 1500 GMT by Sarah Benhaida. Picture Also moved: Iraq-politics-Zurfi,PROFILE Health-virus-Fbl-Euro-2020-UEFA-postponement,3rdlead LAUSANNE UEFA postpones this year's European Championship until 2021 as the continent battles with the coronavirus pandemic. 700 words 1500 GMT by Eric Bernaudeau with Andy Scott in Paris. File picture. Live video Amfoot-NFL-Patriots-Brady,WRAP LOS ANGELES Tom Brady announces his departure from the New England Patriots, ending a glittering 20-year run with the team which saw him become the most successful quarterback in NFL history. 600 words 1430 GMT by Rob Woollard. File picture -- CORONAVIRUS -- Health-virus-US-vaccine,2ndlead WASHINGTON The first human trial to evaluate a candidate vaccine against the new coronavirus has begun in Seattle, US health officials say, raising hopes in the global fight against the disease. 600 words moved by Issam Ahmed. Picture Health-virus-lexicon,FACTS PARIS Social distancing, fourteen-ine, super-spreader: as the novel coronavirus balloons across the globe, new vocabulary associated with the illness is taking hold. 500 words moved by Olivier Thibault Also moving: Health-virus-world,FACTS Heath-virus-Europe-measures,FACTS Markets-world,WRAP LONDON US stocks rebound following Wall Street's sharpest daily drop in more than three decades, while equities elsewhere wobble as governments and central banks scramble to try and calm the panic. 850 words 1700 GMT -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-EU-summit BRUSSELS The European Union hosts a videophone summit of the bloc's 27 national leaders to coordinate responses to the coronavirus epidemic, with many members imposing draconian public lockdowns and border closures. 550 words 1830 GMT by Dave Clark. Video Health-virus-France-lockdown,FOCUS PARIS As France entered lockdown, city streets are largely deserted after a panicky exodus to countryside homes where many prepared to wait out what the president described as a "war" on the coronavirus. 700 words 1500 GMT by Piere Donadieu Health-virus-Britain LONDON Britain ramps up its response to the escalating coronavirus outbreak after the government imposed unprecedented peacetime measures prompted by scientific advice that infections and deaths would spiral without drastic action. 700 words moved by Joe Jackson, Phil Hazlewood and Alice Ritchie. Picture. Video. Graphic Also moving: Health-virus-Britain-schools Also moved: Health-virus-Ireland-StPatrick,FOCUS Health-virus-Italy-offbeat,FACTS ROME From walking fake dogs to donning skin suits while cycling, here are five very Italian ways of keeping boredom at bay during a national lockdown. 600 words 1500 GMT by Ella Ide. Picture Britain-Scotland-trial-politics-Salmond,2ndlead EDINBURGH Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond claims some of the sexual assault claims against him were fabricated for political reasons, as he began giving evidence at his trial. 500 words 1600 GMT by Stuart Graham. File picture -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-US-economy-politics WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump will ask Congress to approve a massive $850 billion emergency spending package to contain the growing economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, pulling out more firepower than during the 2008 global financial crisis. 600 words 1800 GMT by Heather Scott Health-virus-health-US-politics,FOCUS WASHINGTON As the US government's top scientists urge increasingly dramatic measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, is the message being undermined by President Donald Trump? 650 words 1800 GMT by Issam Ahmed and Catherine Triomphe Health-virus-US-hospital,FOCUS WASHINGTON Beds, ventilators and masks soon could all be in short supply in US hospitals rocked by the novel coronavirus, with doctors worrying they may have to start choosing which patients to treat. 700 words moved by Charlotte Plantive Also moved: Health-virus-US-Washington-quarantine,FOCUS Health-virus-US-casinos,FOCUS LOS ANGELES Slot machines switched off, blackjack tables deserted... several of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas shut their doors to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus. 550 words moved by Javier Tovar Health-virus-US-lifestyle-survivalists,FOCUS MATHIAS, West Virginia The narrow, worn track in West Virginia leads to a camp set back in the woods, where a group of US survivalists began preparing for the collapse of civilization long before the arrival of the new coronavirus. 750 words moved by Sebastien Duval. Picture -- MIDDLE EAST -- Health-virus-Israel-espionage JERUSALEM Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet says it has been mandated to collect information about citizens to fight the spread of the deadly coronavirus, a task it is undertaking with "immediate" effect. 650 words 1630 GMT by Jonah Mandel Health-virus-Iran,lead TEHRAN Iran says 135 new coronavirus deaths have taken the country's overall toll to nearly 1,000, as it curtails celebrations for a fire festival in a bid to contain the disease. 600 words moved by Amir Havasi. Picture. Video -- AFRICA -- Health-virus-Africa,FACTS NAIROBI African countries have been among the last to be hit by the global coronavirus epidemic but as cases rise, many nations are now taking strict measures to block the deadly illness. 700 words moved by Fran Blandy and Francois Ausseill -- ASIA-PACIFIC -- Health-virus-Australia-US-Hanks-entertainment,lead GOLD COAST, Australia Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have been released from the Australian hospital where they were in isolation since testing positive for the coronavirus last week, their son Chet says. 200 words moved Health-virus-US-China-diplomacy,4thlead BEIJING A spat between the US and China over the novel coronavirus escalates as President Donald Trump angers Beijing by referring to the pathogen as the "Chinese Virus." 750 words moved by Sebastien Ricci with Shaun Tandon in Washington. Video -- BUSINESS -- Health-virus-US-banking-buyback,FOCUS NEW YORK The economic wallop from the coronavirus offers an opening for large US banks to win back points from the public after the industry was pilloried over the 2008 financial crisis. 550 words moved by Luc Olinga Health-virus-US-economy-retail,FOCUS NEW YORK The coronavirus outbreak has transformed virtually overnight the US economy from a consumer hub to one suddenly constrained by nesting and social distancing. 800 words 1530 GMT by John Biers Health-virus-Italy-Alitalia,2ndlead ROME Italy's government vows to re-nationalise the bankrupt former national carrier Alitalia to make sure crises like the coronavirus pandemic never strand its compatriots abroad. 500 words 1500 GMT by Dmitry Zaks. File picture Also moved: Health-virus-aviation,FOCUS Health-virus-business,FOCUS PARIS Layoffs and cutting costs... companies are trying to adapt as the coronavirus hits demand and the draconian measures taken to contain the spread of the illness undercut both production and demand. 600 words moved -- SPORTS -- Sport-AUS-health-virus,FOCUS SYDNEY As events are scrapped around the world to counter the threat of coronavirus, a handful of Australia's main sports are doggedly pressing ahead, spurred by fear of financial ruin. 750 words moved by Martin Parry Oly-2020-health-virus-Japan-JPN-1940-history,FOCUS TOKYO Fears are growing that this year's Olympics may be postponed or axed because of the coronavirus pandemic but Japan has been here before -- the cancelled summer Games of 1940 were also due to be hosted in Tokyo. 800 words moved by Richard Carter Swim-CHN-Sun-doping-Oly-2020-Wang SHANGHAI A former team-mate of Sun Yang has given AFP a rare insight into how China drives its swimmers in the ultimate pursuit of Olympic gold, starting from a young age. 600 words moved by Peter Stebbings with Jessica Yang. 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