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| - Duty Editor: James Edgar Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + A billion told to stay home, Italy virus toll spikes + Huge virus rescue deal neared in US congress + N. Korea praises Trump but warns on ties + Washington in full cherry blossom bloom Health-virus,WRAP ROME Nearly one billion people around the world are confined to their homes, as the coronavirus death toll surged beyond 13,000 and worst-hit Italy shut its factories after reporting a record spike in fatalities. 800 words 0300 GMT by Dmitry Zaks. Picture. Video. Graphic Health-virus-US-politics-economy-Congress,3rdlead WASHINGTON Senate leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans and Democrats are nearing a deal on an economic rescue plan estimated worth well over $1 trillion as the coronavirus pandemic continues to pummel the US economy. 500 words 0230 GMT NKorea-US-diplomacy-defence,WRAP SEOUL US President Donald Trump sends a letter to Kim Jong Un detailing a plan to develop ties, state media says, citing the North Korean leader's powerful sister, who warns that the good personal relationship between the two men is not enough. 750 words 0200 GMT by Claire Lee. Picture. File picture Health-virus-US-Washington-blossoms,SCENE WASHINGTON As Washingtonians muddle through coronavirus-induced isolation, the city's famed cherry blossoms reached maximum bloom, offering an enticing temptation to test the limits of self-distancing. 650 words 0230 GMT by Becca Milfeld. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-LatAm MONTEVIDEO Bolivia's government orders the country to go under quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic as the top electoral court indefinitely postpones May's general election. 600 words moved. Picture. Video Health-virus-US-census,FOCUS NEW YORK Thousands of doors were to be knocked on, but just a few days into the start of the US census, the coronavirus pandemic has halted field operations -- threatening the crucial count that is conducted every ten years. 650 words 0130 GMT by Laura Bonilla. Picture. Video Health-virus-US-China-minorities-racism,FOCUS WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's insistence on speaking of a "Chinese virus" has a dark historical precedent for some Asian Americans, who say his word choice is fueling an at times violent backlash. 750 words 0130 GMT by Shaun Tandon. File picture Health-virus-US-homeless,FOCUS LOS ANGELES Officials in California are scrambling to protect the state's huge homeless population from COVID-19 amid warnings that should the virus spread within that community it could prove impossible to contain. 650 words 0130 GMT by Jocelyne Zablit. Picture -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-Italy,3rdlead ROME Italy shuts all non-essential factories after recording another record coronavirus toll that brought its fatalities to 4,825 -- over a third of the world's total and a grim reminder that the pandemic remains out of control. 600 words moved by Dmitry Zaks. Picture. Video Also moved: Health-virus-Italy,SCENE Health-virus-Italy-pandemic,FOCUS Health virus social masks Europe Czech,FOCUS PISEK, Czech Republic What do prisoners, a former first lady and textile makers have in common? All have threaded their needles to combat a dire global shortage of face masks that risks the health of millions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 750 words 0330 GMT by Jan Flemr. Picture. Video -- MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA -- Health-virus-religion-mideast,FOCUS JERUSALEM In the Middle East, where the three main monotheistic faiths shape daily life, the coronavirus pandemic has seen religious leaders support constraints unthinkable just a few weeks ago. 700 words 0300 GMT by Ben Simon. File picture -- AFRICA -- Guinea-vote CONAKRY Voters in the West African state Guinea are being called to the polls for a bitterly-disputed referendum that critics say is a ploy by President Alpha Conde to stay in power. 500 words 0400 GMT by Mouctar Bah Health-virus-Zimbabwe,FOCUS HARARE In Chitungwiza, a town of half-a-million people south of Harare, several women are waiting at the water pump with large cans, concern etched on their faces, fearful of the growing threat of the coronavirus. 550 words moved by Vitalis Jeremiah. Picture. Video -- BUSINESS & ECONOMY -- Health-virus-energy-oil PARIS Confronted with a dizzying drop in prices, oil firms face a real challenge as they try to cut investment spending in order to survive a coronavirus-induced collapse in demand coupled with a Russia-Saudi Arabia price war. 800 words 0300 GMT by Julien Mivielle Health-virus-US-IT-computers WASHINGTON Gamers, bitcoin "miners" and companies large and small have teamed up for an unprecedented data-crunching effort that aims to harness idle computing power to accelerate research for a coronavirus treatment. 650 words 0130 GMT by Rob Lever Health-virus-economy,FOCUS HONG KONG The coronavirus pandemic has sent stock markets into freefall and industries to the wall, however many firms enabling more private, online and tech-based living are emerging as potential winners. 750 words 0400 GMT by India Bourke. Graphic SKorea-telecommunication-Samsung-book,FOCUS SEOUL Military-style management and an unquestioning reverence for the founding Lee family have fuelled Samsung's transition from the world's most ridiculed phonemaker to its biggest, says the author of a new book. 800 words 0300 GMT by Sunghee Hwang. File picture -- SPORTS -- Health-Virus-Fbl-Eur-transfers,FOCUS PARIS With football having ground to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, the usual transfer rumour mill has fallen silent and nobody cares much where Neymar or Paul Pogba might be playing next season. 600 words 0300 GMT by Andy Scott with AFP bureaux afp
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