G7 leaders agreed Thursday to coordinate the reopening of their economies after the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure "trusted supply chains" in the future, the White House said.

As countries consider how to restart their virus-halted economies, the early experiences in China and parts of Europe show it will be no easy task.

Workers back on the job are wary of spending much or going out. Shoppers are staying away from the few stores reopening. Masks and social distancing measures are not fading. And pervasive is the fear the coronavirus could return if lockdowns meant to stop its spread are eased too much, too quickly.

Anglo-Dutch oil giant  Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050, matching a commitment by rival BP.

Oil languished at multi-year lows on Thursday, with WTI crude remaining around $20 a barrel as dire warnings about a virus-triggered demand shock overshadowed a deal to cut output.

The Lebanese pound fell in value Wednesday to more than 3,000 to the dollar on the parallel market, half the official rate, foreign exchange bureaus said.

The devastation caused to the US economy by the coronavirus pandemic was thrown into even sharper relief Wednesday with the release of data showing deep damage to retail sales and manufacturing.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz hailed a Wednesday agreement by G20 nations to pause debt payments by the world's poorest nations as "an act of international solidarity of historic dimensions."

With the global economy plunged into the worst recession in a century, the Group of 20 nations on Wednesday announced a one-year debt standstill for the world's poorest nations as they struggle to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Global stocks sank Wednesday as the coronavirus infects the global economic outlook, while oil prices slumped as OPEC-led output cuts were deemed insufficient to soak up a vast supply glut.

Aviation giant Emirates has launched a 10-minute coronavirus blood test for passengers departing from its Dubai home base, in what it claimed Wednesday as a first for the industry.