U.S. suffers steep decline in imports and exports

U.S. exports and imports took a hammering in March, with the trade deficit rising 11.6 per cent to 44.4 billion U.S. dollars- thanks to the economic shock of the coronavirus.

The U.S. Commerce Department says imports declined 6.2 per cent to 232.2 billion U.S. dollars, and exports were down 9.6 per cent.

Nina-Maria Potts reports from Washington:

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Coronavirus in prisons is a 'major concern', says UN

The level of coronavirus in prisons in the United States and Latin
America has been described as a 'major concern'.

The United Nations says the virus is spreading because of overcrowding
and poor hygiene.

Sarah Walton reports

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UK COVID-19 DEATH TOLL HIGHEST IN EUROPE

The UK now has the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe.

The Office for National Statistics reports over 32,000 people have died from COVID-19, surpassing Italy's total of 29,000.

Stuart Smith has more from London.

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VIRGIN ATLANTIC TO CUT OVER 3,000 STAFF

Virgin Atlantic has announced it is axing up to a third of its workforce as it battles to survive the coronavirus crisis.

The airline is to cut just over 3,000 jobs in a move that will spell the end of it's operations at Gatwick.

Holly Hudson has more.

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Top German court rules part of ECB asset-buying scheme illegal

A top German court has ruled that a bond buying scheme from the European Central bank partially contravenes the law. 

Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank,

must stop buying government bonds under the ECB's stimulus scheme in 3 months - unless the ECB can prove the purchases are needed.

Lucy Hough is our Europe Correspondent. 

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Post-Brexit trade talks between UK and US kick off, despite coronavirus

It's a big day for transatlantic trade as negotiations between Britain and the US finally get underway — albeit via videoconference, due to coronavirus. 

 

The UK hopes striking an agreement with its largest trading partner could help the economy bounce back from the Covid-19 crisis. 

 

From London, Benji Hyer reports. 

 

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Delhi open liquor sale across the state but with a 70% price hike

More than six weeks into the world's largest stay at home order, India's has begun relaxing some of its lockdown restrictions.

As standalone shops open up in many parts of the country, the longest lines and the biggest crowds are being seen outside liquor stores.

Sreoshi Mukherjee has more from Delhi.

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Coronavirus: Nigerian govt plans to disinfect schools nationwide

Nigeria's government says plans are underway to disinfect all school facilities nationwide. 

It says this is part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Correspondent Phil Ihaza reports from Abuja.

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Dutch Researchers Neutralize Coronavirus

Scientists in the Netherlands say they have created an experimental antibody that prevents the coronavirus from infecting human cells. It is too early to know if this will lead to an effective covid 19 treatment, but it's being viewed as "groundbreaking research".  Toni Waterman has more from Brussels.


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Uganda Extends Lock down By Another Two Weeks

SUGGESTED LEAD

Uganda has extended the coronavirus lockdown by two weeks but eased some measures.

The East African Country is dealing with rising COVID-19 cases from Truck drivers that are threatening the country's fight against the disease.

Isabel Nakirya reports

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German court to rule on ECB QE scheme legality

A German court will today decide whether the quantitive easing programme launched by the European Central Bank is legal. 

The ECB announced in March it would buy 750 billion euros in euro zone government bonds this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, expanding a scheme launched in 2015. 

If the court decides with the plaintiffs, it could stop Germany's central bank from executing the policy. 

Lucy Hough is our Europe Correspondent. 

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French patient who had the coronavirus last year speaks out

A patient in France who had the coronavirus last year has been speaking to the French media.

Amirouche Hammar says that he was told at the time that what he had was "very serious".

It comes after a doctor revealed that retrospective samples show the coronavirus was already present in France in late December 2019.

Ross Cullen has more from Paris.

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Russia braces for surge in cases

Russia is bracing itself for a surge in cases of coronavirus, after daily rises of more than 10,000 for two days in a row. The government puts the rise down to increased testing, but there are reports of hospitals and ambulance crews becoming overwhelmed. 

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UK STARTS CONTACT TRACING APP TRIALS

The UK is starting a trial of a tracing app it hopes will be a key part of its future strategy against coronavirus.

Council and healthcare workers on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, are the first to try the app.

It'll be rolled out to the rest of the island later in the week, and could be available across the UK in weeks.

The government insists privacy concerns have been addressed.

Isle of Wight reporter Nick Codling explains how the app works.

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India observes highest ever rise in COVID 19 cases; government maintains no community transmission

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With over 3900 new cases in 24 hours, India saw its highest-ever spike in infections.

This comes just 2 days after the government relaxed the country-wide lockdown.

Ishan Garg has more from New Delhi.

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--

Ishan Garg

Correspondent, New Delhi

+919319659030

Tweet @ishangarg93

AUSTRALIA: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern won't open Kiwi borders except perhaps to Australia

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says her nation won't have
open borders with the rest of the world for a long time to come.
Ms Ardern was involved in Australia's cabinet meeting via video link.
Arthur Stevens has more

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Abe admits Japan's coronavirus testing is insufficient

Japan has extended its state of emergency until the end of May, though businesses and residents have become increasingly restless. The government is already planning to relax some of its measures, but a full exit from its stay-at-home request will be difficult because of one key problem: the lack of testing. Grace Lee reports from Tokyo.

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Korean baseball coming to U.S. audiences on ESPN

South Korea's professional baseball organization has announced its games will be broadcast on ESPN to an American audience. The Korean Baseball Organization or KBO is one of few professional leagues globally to restart amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Bruce Harrison reports from Seoul.

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White House's favoured model increases covid-19 death toll projections

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington is projecting nearly 135 thousand deaths in the US through the beginning of August.

This is an increase from its previous forecast of 72 thousand.

Our Washington Correspondent Jagruti Dave reports.

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California easing restrictions this week

California will begin the first phase of re-opening the economy this week after more than a month of lockdown.

The Governor says that some retail stores across the state can reopen with modifications amid growing pressure to ease the stay-at-home order.

Danielle Robertson has more from Los Angeles.

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