15/04/20 COVID-19 Global News Update

PARIS (Reuters) - France’s insurers have pledged more money to help the country in its fight against the coronavirus, said a statement published on Wednesday from Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s department.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Tuesday he explained to his G7 counterparts that the central bank would not hesitate easing monetary policy further depending on how the coronavirus pandemic affects the country’s economy.

KRAKOW (Reuters) - Poland’s biggest coal producer, PGG, said on Tuesday it asked unions to accept a cut in hours and pay of up to 20% for three months, which would make the state-run company eligible for government help during the new coronavirus crisis.

Scottish firms shed jobs at the fastest rate for more than 20 years last month amid "shockwaves" from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey.

UK retail footfall fell to the lowest level on record last month after the government ordered all non-essential stores to close during the coronavirus lockdown.

LONDON (Reuters) - A rebound in economic growth, rather than tax rises or a long-term squeeze on spending, would be the best way to lower the burden of national debt created by the coronavirus shutdown, British finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday.

The head of the UK’s largest business lobbying group has said that the UK must begin to plan its economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic even while the death toll continues to rise.

All care home residents and staff with Covid-19 symptoms will be tested for coronavirus as laboratory capacity increases, the government has promised.

Some of the UK's attractions and museums will be lost due to the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on their finances, arts bodies have warned. Independent institutions that usually depend on entrance fees and are not backed by regular grants or funding are thought to be most at risk.

The families of children entitled to free school meals should receive cash payments while schools are closed, according to campaigners.

The Welsh Government has "sincerely apologised" after 13,000 letters meant for people most vulnerable to coronavirus were sent to the wrong addresses.

A mast providing mobile connectivity to the Nightingale hospital in Birmingham was among 20 suspected arson attacks against phone masts over the Easter weekend.

Inmates at a Lancashire prison have been transferred after a serious outbreak of Covid-19 and the death of a member of staff. Jo Farrar, head of Prison and Probation Service, told a hearing of the Commons Justice Committee some prisoners had been moved from HMP Wymott in Leyland.

'Too early' for conclusions on coronavirus response

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s parliament plans to restart some proceedings next week, the Speaker of the House of Commons said on Tuesday, adapting a centuries-old institution for the coronavirus outbreak by going largely virtual.

A day after extending a nationwide lockdown, India has relaxed restrictions on farming, banking and public works, but transport services and most businesses remain closed.

HANOI (Reuters) - A new decree took effect in Vietnam on Wednesday introducing fines for the dissemination of ‘fake news’ or rumours on social media, amid the rapid spread of comment online about the novel coronavirus in the Southeast Asian country.

New Zealand’s prime minister has said she and other ministers will take a 20% pay cut to show solidarity with those affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as the death toll continues to rise.

Many African countries have introduced lockdowns in order to halt the spread of coronavirus, but, as Alex de Waal and Paul Richards argue, ordinary people have to be involved in choosing the solutions that will work for them.

The World Health Organization "failed in its basic duty" over coronavirus, Donald Trump says.

The Cannes film festival will not take place “in its original form” this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers first postponed the festival last month, saying that they would aim to stage it in June or July this year.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday said he was extending a stop movement order to the U.S. military halting travel and movement abroad and that it was unclear how long coronavirus-related restrictions would remain on military personnel.

MADRID/LONDON (Reuters) - Spain and Austria allowed partial returns to work on Tuesday but Britain, France and India extended lockdowns to rein in the new coronavirus.

Suspected offenders are set to avoid criminal charges under unprecedented new guidance to ease the burden on the justice system during the coronavirus outbreak.

Press conference slides and data sets used by Professor Stephen Powis