DUBAI: Countries across the world have emphasized the importance of collective action against the coronavirus pandemic, with some pledging millions of dollars to fund global efforts. Saudi Arabia on Thursday pledged $500 million to several international organizations and groups that tackle the outbreak, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations. The global toll of COVID-19 stood at around 2,150,000 on Friday, with more than 144,000 fatalities. Friday, April 17, 2020 (All times in GMT) 19:37 - The number of deaths linked to the novel coronavirus reached 150,000 on Friday, according to a Reuters tally. 17:45 - France registered 761 more deaths from coronavirus infections on Friday, bringing the total to 18,681, the fourth-highest tally in the world, but the number of people in hospital has declined for a third day running. And, in another sign that the lockdown put in place a month ago is working, Jerome Salomon, head of the public health authority, said the total of people in intensive care units (ICU) fell for the ninth day in a row, at 6,027, a low point since April 1. At 18,681 the number of fatalities is up 4,2% over 24 hours, with the rate of increase decelerating for the second day running. 17:36 - The UAE reported 477 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths from COVID-19 on Friday. 17:32 - Morocco announced 281 cases of coronavirus on Friday taking the total number of cases to 2,564. 17:30 - Jordan announced five new cases of coronavirus and a plan to evacuate students stranded abroad on Friday. 17:25 - Syria announced five new cases of coronavirus on Friday bringing the total number of cases in the country to 38. 17:03 - The Kurdish-led administration that runs much of northeastern Syria said it had recorded its first death from the new coronavirus, according to a statement on Friday in which it cited the World Health Organisation. The administration said in the statement that a 53-year-old man had died at a hospital in Qamishli on April 2 and that a sample sent to Damascus for testing was later confirmed as positive. 16:46 - President Donald Trump on Friday said China"s real death toll from coronavirus was "far higher," even after officials issued a new count doubling the number of dead in Wuhan, where the pandemic began. "China has just announced a doubling in the number of their deaths from the Invisible Enemy. It is far higher than that and far higher than the US, not even close!" Trump tweeted. 16:22 - Britain launched a new coronavirus taskforce on Friday to support efforts to make a vaccine available to the public as quickly as possible. The government said 21 new research projects would get funding from a 14 million pound investment pool "to rapidly progress treatments and vaccines". 16:18 - Egypt announced 170 new cases of coronavirus and 9 deaths from the illness on Friday. 16:05 - Algeria records 150 new cases of coronavirus infections and 16 new deaths. 15:22 - Dubai extends comprehensive sterilization program to prevent coronavirus outbreaks for one week. 15:12 - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged creditors to grant a debt standstill for all developing countries, not just the poorest, warning that many faced debt distress due to a global recession triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Guterres told a virtual conference on Africa hosted by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund that the continent needed more than $200 billion to respond to the pandemic and mitigate its economic impact. 13:55 - The United Kingdom has extended by a month until the end of June the furlough scheme for workers at companies hurt by the coronavirus outbreak, finance minister Rishi Sunak said. 13:20 - UK said on Friday its coronavirus death toll had risen by 847 to 14,576 in hospitals. 13:00 - Saudi Arabia announced it has recorded four new deaths from COVID19 and recorded 59 cases of recovery, bringing the total of recovered cases to 1,049. The total number of infections in the Kingdom stands at 7,142. 12:15 – Bahrain has confirmed that 40 people have been tested positive for coronavirus; half of them have arrived from Iran. 12:00 – Iraq’s Basra has reported 17 new coronavirus cases. 11:32 – Qatar has confirmed 560 new cases of coronavirus, bringing total to 4,663. 11:21 – Singapore has recorded 623 new infections of coronavirus, raising toll to 5,050. 11:08 – Kuwait has reported 134 new cases of coronavirus, bringing total to 1,658. 11:03 – Tarawih and Eid prayers will be performed at home if the coronavirus continues, Saudi Arabia"s Grand Mufti said. 10:37 – Egypt has tested the Avigan drug on 50 people with coronavirus. 10:35 – Morocco has confirmed that 245 people have been tested for coronavirus, bringing total to 2,528. 09:47 – Spain’s number of coronavirus cases has risen to 188,068 on Friday from 182,816 on Thursday, the health ministry said. 08:27 – The coronavirus pandemic in Germany is “again under control” thanks to a month of lockdown imposed after an early surge in cases, Health Minister Jens Spahn said. READ THE STORY 08:20 – Abu Dhabi will open free-of-charge COVID-19 testing facilities for workers, the emirate’s media office announced on social media. 08:10 – The Philippines’ health ministry on Friday reported 25 new coronavirus deaths and 218 additional infections. 08:01 – Russia confirmed 4,069 new cases, bringing total to 32,007; another 41 people meanwhile have also died, raising the death toll 273. 07:40 – Kuwait has reported 33 new coronavirus recoveries, raising total to 258. 07:33 – Oman has confirmed that 50 people have been tested positive for coronavirus, bringing total to 1,169. 07:00 – Israel’s health ministry has said 97 people have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing total to 12,855. 04:39 – Germany has confirmed 3,380 new cases of COVID-19, raising toll to 133,830. The country has reported 3,868 deaths in total. 04:35 – Thailand has reported 28 new cases of coronavirus, and one more death. 03:04 – China’s Wuhan city, where the virus was believed to have originated from, has revised its coronavirus cases and death tolls, addressing incorrect reporting, delays, and omissions. Total number of infections in the city stood at 50,333 with 3,869 fatalities. Thursday, April 16, 2020 (All times in GMT) 19:54 – Jordan will shoulder part of private sector workers’ salaries while employers will pay 50 percent of the wages in accordance with the Defense Order No.6 of 2020, labor minister Nidal Bataineh said, in a report from state news agency Petra. 18:10 – The UAE has announced 460 new cases of COVID-19 after conducting 25,000 tests. The country’s total infections stood at 5,825. 05:15 – Oman has opened two health centers in Muscat that would examine expatriates in the governorate for possible coronavirus infections, state news agency ONA reported