this is the news live from berlin italy since the great break old in the struggle against the corona virus almost 1000 people have died today in the past 24 hours who would die guys with me in fiction it's the highest by the death toll since the outbreak was the take to italy in food court also on the program. has passed the biggest stimulus package in modern history some 2 trillion dollars will be rushed to states and businesses struggling and middle income financing process the legislation also provides direct payments to tens of millions of american

households. and germany moves to massively expanded its testing capacity to fight the spread of the bars the country is already tasting cough a 1000000 people of weight that number could double i think in depicts month. a method to how to welcome to the program italy has set another record for the most deaths from corona virus in a single day almost 1000 people have died in the last 24 hours bringing the total death toll to of 9000 that's the highest number of any country and health officials cite the worst nightmare yet to come hospital wards a still full although doctors say the number of patients is now steady contagion rights appear to be slowing giving hope that the strict social controls might be worse. but the lockdown is having the attack in qana me at the heart of us are

among the most affected churches and charities are overloaded with people looking for basic supplies. well earlier we spoke to journalists ima go up to who is in a run following events there we asked her how authorities have been explaining these record numbers of fatalities shocking figures really but earlier on friday you had representatives from italy's national health institute essentially saying it cautiously optimistic despite these immense big is because they say that of contagion is flattening any it's has been just slow ever so slightly since march 20th and so you even had the governor of the lumba the region saying that their region needs start to see a decline in infections in the next few days the lobby for a recall is the hardest really hit region in the north of italy so we're nowhere

near the peak in terms of number of it for actions and we're not in a declining phase i do here in italy but there is a sign that days are diminishing in terms of the number of infections and still containment there already is a saying it's even more important now for everyone to stay at home and stick to those knock down measures simak to end run there well as in italy markets deadliest day of the pandemic pope francis held a special service in iran to pray for an end to the suffering in an historic 1st he performed the et orbi blessing to an empty supporter square. when it comes to social distancing the pope is leading by example just a few scattered visit to see fall of the point of prayer service from a far it's think peter's square he compares the pandemic to storm the to sit almost the entire globe. for weeks now it has been

evening thick darkness has gathered over our squares our streets and our cities we feel it in the air we notice in people's gestures their glances give them away we find ourselves afraid and last. i feel that the pope himself likely shares 5 cases of coverage 19 have been diagnosed in the vatican so far one of them reportedly inside the papal residency. realize that we are on the same boat all of us fragile and disoriented but at the same time important and needed all of us called to road together each of us having to comfort the other. on this boat we are all together.

after his address francis went on to perform the world premiere he did live at the . blessing that is usually served for holy ceremonies easter and christmas it is the blessing to pursue tea in the world even though this time almost no one will spare to receive it in person. don't trump has signed a 2 trillion dollar coronavirus relief bill into law following its passage through the house of representatives lawmakers approved the legislation in a dramatic voice but it's the biggest economic stimulus bill in the nation's history and passed with strong support from both republicans and democrats earlier this week that had already passed in the senate. on meanwhile the number of confirmed cases of corona virus in the united states is now past 100000 earlier on friday president trump issued an order forcing general motors to produce

ventilators and he also defended his administration's handling of the emergency the media's been pretty good and the governors have been really good except for a couple and with them it's just political has trumped or well i don't know you know that's right because we have done we have done a job the likes of which nobody seems. conservative thinkers are appreciative because you know what when they're not appreciative to me they're not appreciative to the army corps they're not appreciative defamer it's not right let's go now to washington correspondent stephanie stephan we heard donald trump there calling for appreciation from the states what's the status of that crucial relationship. yeah the president nieces be in need of some law from the governors in the states and they're not giving it to him the way he thinks they should because again on the ground in those states and for those governors they are looking at a set of problems and that is we are still at the beginning of

a major crisis there's no peek inside yet not for new york not for new all and not for other cities like chicago or detroit they're all looking at models and data. which do not look really really good for those metropolitan areas and states and they need again ventilators ventilators ventilators to be prepared for what's coming their way and protective gear for their health care workers for the nurses for the for the doctors the president wants to be appreciated for what he and the federal governments do or what their what the government is going to do for those states but that doesn't help them right now and this is where the disconnect is sia while that's going on and unprecedented $2.00 trillion dollars relief package is now what's driving this raise show of unity in congress. desperation that's the unifying drive and motivation here and that is the economy

had to be shut down because of the coronavirus as the president said before and everybody else has been for life saving life saving lives saving comes 1st then we restart the economy democrats and republicans had no other choice and no other chance is working together on this relief package or aid package for the for the economy there are grants made sure that a few points there are really eager about having in there are actually even then this is control about where this money will be spent how it will be spent by big corporations and business and businesses they're going to do not want a repeat of 2008 where big companies used relief and bailout money to increase c.e.o. salaries and a buyback program for stock so this is not happening both parties had a little bit wiggle room and found a compromise and now we have a 2 trillion relief package president trump has now reversed course and is forcing all the giant general motors to quickly produce much needed vangelis how are

americans viewing he's management of this crisis now. it was for a week plus now a lot ahead scratching why the president would come out and say i'm invoking the defense production act and then day or 2 later saying up i just invoked it but i'm not going to use it now finally a week later and this is also a sign for the immense pressure this trumpet of ministration is under from the governors from the states he actually used the defense productive production act and ordering g.m. to produce ventilators because again ventilators is what this country needs to save lives that's what the experts say in the coming weeks stefanski months in washington thank you. time to take a look now at more of the latest developments in the corona virus pandemic british prime minister barres johnson has tested positive for copd 19 johnson is says he

will continue to lead the fight against the penn dimmick spine is in its highest one day rise in virus fatalities with $769.00 people dying in 24 hours and zimbabwe has announced a 3 week total lockdown to stop on monday the measures taken will mike live even more difficult for millions in the country which is already mired in and economic crisis well here in germany there are $49000.00 cases of the infection but the death toll has remained follow up then europe's too hot as he countries italy and spain officials have credited widespread testing with helping to keep germany's mortality right low but the country's latest still caution like other nations germany has placed strict restrictions on public life to control the spread of covert 19 but the chancellor says now is not the time to relax. in germany too public life has come to a near standstill german chancellor angela merkel is asking germans for patience

speaking on the phone from her precautionary quarantine. i would like to stress that right now is not the moment to talk about easing the measures we've put in place when you look at the figures we still have a fast rise of new infections and the a must for all is to prevent our health care system from being overstretched. mark on all sides. yet germany has so far been spared from spiking death rates these days politicians like to have the man who developed the corona test at their side he says that's down to a simple fact. of the reason why we have so few fatalities in relation to the number of those infected down to the extremely high level of laboratory testing we're conducting here in germany extreme feel of what you're going to stick much and watch and around 500000 tests per week and as clinics brace themselves for

a sudden influx of patients a record 750000000000 rescue package to shield the economy was signed into law according to a leaked interior ministry paper the government is already exploring best and worst case scenarios on the effects of the corona crisis that's before us that even that of this paper deals with the question of how this situation which is currently focused on health could have an impact on the security situation which scenarios are possible and what measures would then be necessary to react to that of the votes that we are given germany is increasingly sending the signal it's as ready as it can. but no government truly can be it seems but lynn already sees itself accused of not showing enough solidarity despite taking in intensive care patients from the city and it's an open question whether europe can emerge from

this crisis as strong as it used to be or where there will be more divided than ever. the sporting world has come to a standstill amid the can run a virus crisis but many of its biggest names have used the free time to help out in the battle against the pandemic serbian tennis superstar is the latest to step up for the save the 7 figure donation. novak djokovic is a man more used to picking up 7 figure checks them to during the moat but the 17 time major winners pledge of 1000000 euros to buy medical equipment in his native serbia sees him join a growing line of sporting stars and institutions who are using their financial muscle to help battle the coronavirus pandemic in football by a munich's prolific. said goodbye to a few of his gold bonuses as he pledged a 1000000 euros to germany's fighting fund. a separate initiative called

we kick corona teammates leon gorecki and you're sure commish raised more than 2500000 euros in its 1st few days in france paris and german raised over 200000 euros for local medical staff battling the coronavirus by selling it a new special edition strip bearing the words need all the united. reigning european champions liverpool meanwhile had a simple message of support designed to give medical workers a much needed lift. thank you to all the incredible people who are. services. workers who want their. believe what you are doing. on behalf of all of us from elop see i would like to say thank you. always. a typical show of solidarity from the club whose motto is being echoed across the

sporting world you'll never walk alone. you're watching the. monitor that before we go that you can always get over let's news and information around the. that website that's the w dot com more news coming at the top of the output for now matthew help us watch. combating the corona pandemic. where does research stand. what are scientists learning. background information and news. hour daily corrupt a. covert 19 special next on detail.