GLOBAL GROWTH TO 'DIP BELOW' LAST YEAR'S RATE: IMF CHIEFThe new coronavirus epidemic poses a "serious threat" and will slow growthin the world economy to below the 2.9 per cent posted last year, IMF chiefKristalina Georgieva said Wednesday.The COVID-19 outbreak "is no longer regional issue, it is a global problem(that) calls for global response", Georgieva told reporters.The epidemic's impact on confidence and steps to contain it are impactingeconomic activity, with the result that "global growth in 2020 will dipbelow last year's levels," she said.The IMF in January forecast growth this year of 3.3 percent, which means atleast a half point will be lost to the virus.But "how far it will fall and how long the impact will be is still difficultto predict," she said.Georgieva said the fund's analysis had assumed the virus would be largelyconfined to China, which would have led to a sharp but short economicslowdown, followed by a quick recovery."Unfortunately over past week we've seen a shift to a more adverse scenariofor the global economy," due to the "sheer geographic spread of the epidemicaround the world," impacting a third of the IMF's 189 member countries."We are determined to provide the necessary support to mitigate the impact,especially on the most vulnerable people and countries," the statement fromthe governing body, the IMFC, said.JOE BIDEN WINS 9 STATES IN SUPER TUESDAY RACE; BLOOMBERG DROPS OUTSuper Tuesday, when fourteen American States voted in the Democraticprimaries, was a watershed moment in former Vice-President Joseph R. BidenJr.'s quest for the nomination, as he surpassed his progressive rival,Bernie Sanders by winning strongly in the south.The crowded democratic field has now been reshaped into a Biden vs. Sanderscontest, and battle of identity for the Democratic party - between itscentrist or moderate wing represented by the former Vice-President and itsprogressive wing led by the independent Senator from Vermont, Mr. Sanders.Tuesday, however, went to Mr. Biden, who won nine of the 14 States incontest. Buoyed by a win in South Carolina on Saturday and with endorsementsfrom other Democrats, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, whodropped out of the race in the last few days, Mr. Biden had won at least 418delegates (so far) to the nominating convention, relative to Mr. Sanders'scount of 367 delegates.Mr. Biden had a surprise win in Texas, the State with second most number ofdelegates, which Mr. Sanders was leading in, according to opinion pollsbefore Super Tuesday. He also won Virginia, and North Carolina.California, which has the most number of delegates (415), is expected to bewon by Mr. Sanders, although by a narrower margin than first expected. Mr.Sanders has won 72 delegates relative to Mr. Biden's 21, with just under 80%reporting, as per the Associated Press.FRENCH PARLIAMENT CLEARS PATH FOR CONTROVERSIAL PENSION REFORMFrance's lower house of parliament approved a hotly debated overhaul of thecountry's byzantine pensions system early Wednesday, clearing a major hurdlefor one of President Emmanuel Macron's signature reforms.The law passed shortly after midnight after two no-confidence votesintroduced by the opposition failed against Mr. Macron's centrist majority.The attempt to topple the government came after it employed a rareconstitutional measure to cut short a debate that had become bogged down ina morass of opposition amendments, effectively forcing through the bill.Trade unions and opposition parties slammed the move as anti-democratic buttheir calls for fresh protests against a bill that triggered the longestFrench transport strike in decades fell largely on deaf ears.Critics say the introduction of a single, points-based system will forcepeople to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62, or face lowerpensions.The government argues that abolishing the country's 42 separate pensionregimes, which offer early retirement and other benefits mainly topublic-sector workers, will be fairer and end years of deficits.Prime Minister Edouard Philippe hailed the text as a victory for "socialjustice", saying that "those who defend the status quo... too often are justtalking nonsense."The text now goes to the Senate, where it is also expected to faceopposition, before returning to the National Assembly for final approval.TORNADOES TEAR THROUGH US STATE OF TENNESSEE, AT LEAST 25 DEADTornadoes ripped through Tennessee early on Tuesday, leaving at least 25people dead, destroying buildings and toppling power lines hours before thesouthern US state voted in Super Tuesday primaries.Voting hours were extended due to the devastation the twisters wrought whenthey touched down shortly after midnight-rubble was strewn across the statecapital Nashville.Residents ran for their lives as their homes came down around them. Tens ofthousands lost power to their homes, officials said."TAKE COVER NOW! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM!!!" the NationalWeather Service tweeted as one tornado tore through an area west ofNashville.Television broadcast showed cars piled up, hangars destroyed and whatappeared to be dozens of aircraft smashed into each other at Nashville'sJohn C. Tune Airport.The Nashville Police Department circulated aerial photographs of manybuildings missing roofs and homes destroyed-standing next to houses thatescaped damage."In the hours ahead, we will continue deploying search and rescue teams,opening shelters across the state, and sending emergency personnel to ourcommunities hit hardest," Governor Bill Lee wrote on Twitter.Lee said late Tuesday that the toll had risen to 25 during the day.