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| - Duty Editor: Anita Chang Beattie Tel: +1 202 351 1256 -- TOP STORIES -- + Nearly one billion ordered to stay home as virus toll tops 12,000 + Trump sent letter to NKorea's Kim with plan to 'propel' ties: KCNA + Pressure mounts for Tokyo Olympic Games postponement + Iran frees French researcher in prisoner swap + Country music legend Kenny Rogers dead at 81 Health-virus,WRAP NEW YORK Nearly one billion people were confined to their homes worldwide Saturday as US states implemented stay-at-home orders similar to Europe's and deaths from the global coronavirus pandemic surged past 12,000. 900 words 2130 GMT by Peter Hutchison with AFP bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic NKorea-US-diplomacy-defence,WRAP SEOUL US President Donald Trump sends a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un detailing a plan to develop ties, state media say, citing Kim's powerful sister, who warns that the good personal relationship between the two men is not enough. 650 words 2030 GMT. File picture Oly-2020-health-virus-postpone,WRAP PARIS Pressure mounts on organisers to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after the powerful US track and field federation urges this summer's event be pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. 600 words 2000 GMT by Terry Daley Iran-France-diplomacy-prisoners,WRAP PARIS A French researcher imprisoned in Iran for more than nine months arrives home in a prisoner swap after France released an Iranian threatened with extradition to the US. 700 words 2000 GMT by Valerie Leroux. Picture. Video Entertainment-US-music-Rogers,OBIT LOS ANGELES Country music legend Kenny Rogers, who helped bring the genre into the mainstream during a career spanning six decades, has died at the age of 81. 650 words 1930 GMT. File picture -- AMERICAS -- Health-virus-US-military,FOCUS WASHINGTON The US retreat from Afghanistan is delayed, troops have pulled back from Iraq, crucial readiness exercises are cancelled, and soldiers are confined to bases: coronavirus is handicapping the world's most powerful military. 750 words moved by Sylvie Lanteaume. File picture Health-virus US-wedding-Judaism,FOCUS NEW YORK Once a run-of-the-mill soundtrack to New York's streets, cars honking their horns is a way to throw a socially distanced wedding reception in the time of the coronavirus outbreak. 650 words moved by Maggy Donaldson. Picture. Video Health-virus-Argentina,FOCUS BUENOS AIRES Argentines knew 2020 would be a tough year as the country struggles to pay off its debts, but no one could have imagined that a pandemic would also leave people locked up in their own homes. 650 words moved by Maria Lorente. Picture. Video -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-Italy ROME Italy reports nearly 800 new coronavirus deaths and sees its total for the past month reach 4,825 -- well over a third of the world's total and a grim reminder that the pandemic remains out of control. 500 words 2000 GMT by Dmitry Zaks. Picture Health-virus-Italy-pandemic,FOCUS ROME Why Italy? Many people have been wondering why the beautiful Mediterranean country has become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. Experts list several factors that add up to a disaster not seen in generations. 700 words moved by Dmitry Zaks. Picture Also moved: Health-virus-Italy,SCENE Health-virus-Germany-economy,2ndlead BERLIN Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is planning to unveil an economic rescue package worth 822 billion euros -- the biggest in Germany's post-war history -- to fund the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, according to a draft bill seen by AFP. 500 words moved by Hui Min Neo. Health-virus-France PARIS France is calling up helicopters and drones to boost the government's attempts to keep people in their homes, say police officials. 500 words 2030 GMT. Picture -- MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA -- Health-virus-Iran-toll TEHRAN Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says authorities' efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic will produce significant results within 15 days, as the country's official death toll from the virus surpasses 1,500. 400 words moved. Picture. Video -- ASIA -- Health-virus-Australia-Bondi,lead SYDNEY Sunbathers, surfers and tourists are banned from Bondi Beach in efforts to contain the coronavirus, which has now infected more than 1,000 people in Australia. 300 words moved. Picture. Video -- ENTERTAINMENT -- Health-virus-Europe-entertainment-streaming,ADVANCER PARIS Princess Elsa from "Frozen" will be unleashed across Europe in her glitter heels next week as Disney launches its digital streaming platform on the continent. 600 words moved by Severine Rouby Also moved: Health-virus-Europe-entertainment-streaming,FACTS afp
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