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| - Duty Editor: Karl Malakunas Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Western powers on 'war' footing against virus + ECB unveils huge bond package to counter virus + Australia bans all non-residents in virus fight + Sanders mulls next step after drubbing by Biden + 'Do bogart that joint', cannabis industry says Health-virus,WRAP ROME Western powers say they are on a war footing against the coronavirus as they unleash nearly one trillion dollars to rescue the global economy, with Italy reporting the highest single-day death toll of the pandemic. 900 words 0800 GMT by Dmitry Zaks. Pictures. Video. Graphic. Videographic Health-virus-ECB-bank,2ndlead FRANKFURT The European Central Bank unexpectedly says it will spend 750 billion euros on "emergency" bond purchases, as it joins other central banks in stepping up efforts to contain the economic damage from the coronavirus. 600 words moved by Michelle Fitzpatrick. File picture US-politics-vote-health-virus,WRAP WASHINGTON Bernie Sanders is talking to advisers as pressure mounts on the leftist senator to end his White House campaign following a drubbing by Joe Biden in the latest Democratic primaries. 750 words moved by Chirs Lefkow and Paul Handley. Picture. Video Health-virus-Australia-NZealand,WRAP SYDNEY Australia bans all non-residents and flag carrier Qantas halts all international flights in a bid to protect the island nation from the coronavirus. 500 words 0630 GMT by Andrew Beatty. Picture Health-virus-US-cannabis WASHINGTON To avoid spreading the novel coronavirus, marijuana smokers should avoid sharing joints and should favor edible products, US cannabis industry figures says. 250 words moved -- ASIA -- Health-virus-transport-aviation,FOCUS HONG KONG With commercial airlines engulfed by the maelstrom of the coronavirus pandemic, one sector of the industry favoured by the wealthy is thriving: private jets. 650 words moved by Rose Troup Buchanan Health-virus-Philippines-poverty,FOCUS TONDO, Philippines Mary Grace Aves is terrified of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, but the best weapons to protect her family -- isolation and sanitation -- are unreachable luxuries in the Manila shantytown they call home. 700 words moved by Joshua Melvin and Ron Lopez. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-US NEW YORK The United States is to deploy military hospital ships to fight the coronavirus, Donald Trump says, as he likens himself to a "wartime president" and invokes a Korean War-era law. 700 words moved by Peter Hutchison with Sebastian Smith in Washington. Picture. Video Health-virus-LatAm MONTEVIDEO Chile's President Sebastian Pinera declares a "state of catastrophe" over the coronavirus outbreak, while Cuba records its first death and a slew of countries announce nighttime curfews in a widening Latin American lockdown. 650 words 0630 GMT. Picture. Video Health-virus-US-millennial,FOCUS NEW YORK Before shutdowns swept the globe and many were urged -- or mandated -- to stay indoors to stymie coronavirus's spread, Divya Sonti sensed the worst was yet to come. 750 words 0530 GMT by Maggy Donaldson. Picture Also moved: US-social-lifestyle-technology-dating,FOCUS US-health-virus-Florida-students,FOCUS Health-virus-US-music-economy,FOCUS Health-virus-US-retail-Amazon,FOCUS Also moved: Health-virus-US-IT-Facebook,lead US-China-media-politics-health-virus,2ndlead WASHINGTON President Donald Trump criticizes China's unprecedented decision to expel American journalists from three major US newspapers, as media advocates fear that tensions between the two powers provided cover for Beijing to target the press. 700 words moved by Shaun Tandon Colombia-drugs-military,FOCUS TUMACO, Colombia For years, they were referred to in hushed tones simply as "Bigfoot" -- a mythical creature rumored but never seen -- but these days, the narco-submarines used by Colombia's drug cartels have become almost commonplace. And the navy is fighting back. 900 words moved by Florence Panoussian. Picture. Video -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-Britain,WRAP LONDON Britain announces it will be closing schools in the coming days and placing 20,000 troops on standby in efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll tops 100. 750 words moved by Alice Ritchie, Joe Jackson, Phil Hazlewood. Picture. Video We have also moved: Health-virus-Germany-Merkel,3rdlead -- MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA -- Health-virus-Israel-Palestinians-tourism-economy,FOCUS JERUSALEM Munib Abu Assab, a tour operator in Jerusalem's Old City, has seen deserted streets before, but he says not even past conflicts over the contested land compare to the impact of coronavirus. 700 words moved by Claire Gounon. Picture. Video Iraq-oil-economy-crisis-politics,FOCUS BAGHDAD Between plummeting oil prices, political deadlock and reduced global appetite for a bail-out, Iraq is on the cusp of financial calamity that could force austerity measures and renew anti-government protests. 800 words moved by Maya Gebeily Health-virus-Iran,lead TEHRAN Iran says its novel coronavirus death toll has surpassed 1,000 as President Hassan Rouhani defends the response of his administration, which has yet to impose a lockdown. 700 words moved by Amir Havasi. Picture. Video -- AFRICA -- Health-virus-Africa-Burkina,WRAP OUAGADOUGOU Sub-Saharan Africa records its first COVID-19 death, a high-ranking politician in Burkina Faso, as the head of the World Health Organisation urges the continent to "prepare for the worst". 750 words moved by Armel Baily with David Esnault in Abidjan. Picture -- ENTERTAINMENT -- SKorea-music-social-people,INTERVIEW SEOUL Thirty years ago, his floppy hair, make-up, and flamboyant fashion sense outraged audiences, who threw stones at him as he performed on stage and threatened to beat him at shows. Today, 50-year-old Korean-American singer Yang Joon-il is enjoying an unlikely comeback. 800 words 0330 GMT by Claire Lee. Picture. Video -- SPORTS -- Golf-Asia-health-virus-Oly-2020-Cho,INTERVIEW HONG KONG The Olympics going ahead in Tokyo this year is "highly unlikely", the boss of Asian golf tells AFP. 600 words by Daniel Hicks 0630 GMT Oly-2020-surfing-JPN-Igarashi-Japan-health-virus,INTERVIEW TOKYO Japan's top surfer Kanoa Igarashi is already seeing his training for the Tokyo 2020 games hit by the coronavirus outbreak, but he's still hoping a 'heartbreaking' Olympic cancellation can be avoided. 550 words moved by Shingo Ito. File picture afp
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