Summary

• US President Donald Trump has directed a halt to payments to the World Health Organisation over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic
• The number of coronavirus cases around the world is now more than 1.9 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. More than 126,000 have died, while just over 485,000people have recovered
• The Australian death toll from coronavirus rose by one on Wednesday to 63
• The world economy in 2020 will suffer its worst year since the Great Depression, the IMF says
• The national cabinet will consider school closures when it meets on Thursday, as the rift deepens between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and states including Victoria and NSW on face-to-face learning