FACTBOX-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus

A fresh wave of U.S. layoffs are expected due to deepening economic damage from the outbreak that has killed more than 100,000 people in the United States, even as lockdowns ease and businesses gradually resume operations.

Millions of women worldwide are facing shortages of sanitary products, price hikes and stigma while managing periods during the pandemic, Plan International warned. About three-quarters of health professionals surveyed across 30 countries reported supply shortages, while 58% complained of prohibitive prices. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* More than 5.72 million people have been reported infected with the novel coronavirus globally and 355,108 have died, according to a Reuters tally as of 0919 GMT on Thursday. * For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.

* For a U.S.-focused tracker with state-by-state and county map, open https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in an external browser. * For Eikon users, click on MacroVitals cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?navid=1592404098 for a case tracker and a summary of developments.

EUROPE * Britain's government faced questions over how closely people would abide by its new test and trace service, as a row persisted over a top adviser taking a long-distance journey during lockdown. The health minister said employers should pay the wages of anyone told to stay at home by the system.

* Russia's President Putin said Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, had succeeded in preventing what he called the worst-case scenario as the city looked to ease lockdowns soon. Russia on Thursday matched its record daily rise for fatalities, taking the overall death toll to 4,142. * Finland has seen no evidence of the coronavirus spreading faster since schools started to reopen, its top health official said.

* France, Italy and Belgium acted to halt the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, amid questions about its safety. AMERICAS

* Google sent 1,755 warnings in April to users whose accounts were targets of government-backed attackers, following a COVID-19-related resurgence in hacking and phishing attempts. * Venezuela reached a deal with the U.N. to use part of its gold for the purchase of food and medicine.

* Brazil's death toll surpassed 25,000, with 1,086 deaths in the last 24 hours. * Intensive care units in Mexico's Acapulco beach resort are close to capacity while authorities scramble to dig more graves. Mexico on Wednesday registered 3,463 new cases and 463 deaths.

* Doctors in hospitals across Chile's capital Santiago said beds were fast running short, forcing urgent care wards to make tough decisions. * Uruguay is easing open the economy, including a staggered restarting of schools. It has kept rates among the lowest levels in Latin America, even as the region becomes an epicentre.

ASIA-PACIFIC * China should remain vigilant and prevent any rebound, its premier said, adding that no cover-up of cases will be allowed.

* South Korea reported 79 new cases on Thursday, the most in nearly eight weeks, triggering the return of tougher social distancing curbs amid the spectre of a second wave. * Singapore jailed a taxi driver for four months over a Facebook post in which he falsely claimed food outlets would close and urged people to stock up due to impending restrictions.

* The Philippines saw its biggest spike in cases on Thursday, just after a panel recommended easing one of the world's toughest and longest lockdowns in the capital Manila. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* In Egypt, at least three doctors have been arrested after speaking out over a lack of protective equipment or calling for better infection control measures, lawyers said. * Turkey began operating intercity trains as it gradually eases curbs.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT * European shares rose for the fourth straight session and the euro perched at a two-month high, as businesses returned to work and a 750 billion euro EU stimulus plan outweighed rising U.S.-China tensions.

* China will strive for positive economic growth this year, its premier said, promising more support if the economy faced further disruption. * The German economy is likely to shrink by 6.6% this year before growing by 10.2% in 2021, the Ifo Institute said.

* Remote working policies put in place by financial institutions have caused an increase in operational risk, according to Hong Kong' top securities watchdog. * Japan gave a bleaker view on exports in a monthly report in May. The government also lowered its view on the labour market and corporate investment.

(Compiled by Sarah Morland, and Devikia Syamnath; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Shounak Dasgupta)