Madrid, Mar 26: More than three billion people around the world were living under lockdown on Wednesday as governments stepped up their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic which has left more than 20,000 people dead.
As the number of confirmed cases worldwide soared past 450,000, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that only a concerted global effort could stop the spread of the virus.
In Spain, the number of fatalities surpassed those of China, where the novel coronavirus first emerged three months ago, making it the hardest-hit nation after Italy.
A total of more than 20,800 deaths have now been reported in 182 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally.
Stock markets rebounded after the US Congress moved closer to passing a $2.2 trillion relief package to prop up a teetering US economy.
In Washington, President Donald Trump said New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak with over 30,000 cases, likely has a few "tough weeks" ahead but he would decide soon whether unaffected parts of the country can get back to work.
"We want to get our country going again," Trump said. "I'm not going to do anything rash or hastily.
"By Easter we'll have a recommendation and maybe before Easter," said Trump, who had been touting a strong US economy as he faces an election in November.
UN chief Guterres said the world needs to ban together to stem the pandemic.
"COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity -- and the whole of humanity must fight back," Guterres said, launching an appeal for $2 billion to help the world's poor.
"Global action and solidarity are crucial," he said. "Individual country responses are not going to be enough."
India's stay-at-home order for its 1.3 billion people is now the biggest, taking the total number of individuals facing restrictions on their daily lives to more than three billion.
Anxious Indians raced for supplies after the world's second-biggest population was ordered not to leave their houses for three weeks.
Russia, which announced the death of two patients who tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, is expected to follow suit.
President Vladimir Putin declared next week a public holiday and postponed a public vote on controversial constitutional reforms, urging people to follow instructions given by authorities.
In Britain, heir to the throne Prince Charles became the latest high-profile figure to be infected, though he has suffered only mild symptoms.
The G20 major economies will hold an emergency videoconference on Thursday to discuss a global response to the crisis, as will the 27 leaders of the European Union, the outbreak's new epicenter.
China has begun to relax its own draconian restrictions on free movement in the province of Hubei -- where the outbreak began in December -- after the country reported no new cases.
Crowds jammed trains and buses in the province as people took their first opportunity to travel.
But Spain saw the number of deaths surge to more than 3,400 after 738 people died in the past 24 hours and the government announced a 432-million-euro ($467 million) deal to buy medical supplies from Beijing.
The death toll in Italy jumped in 24 hours by 683 to 7,503 -- by far the highest of any country.
The number of French deaths was up by 231 on Wednesday to more than 1,330, and metro and rail services in Paris were cut to a minimum.
Spain and Italy were joined by France and six more EU countries in urging Germany and the Netherlands to allow the issue of joint European bonds to cut borrowing costs and stabilise the eurozone economy.
The call is likely to fall on deaf ears when EU leaders talk on Thursday -- with northern members wary of pooling debt with big spenders -- but they will sign off on an "unprecedented" recovery plan.
At La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, nurse Guillen del Barrio sounded bereft as he related what happened overnight.
"It is really hard, we had feverish people for many hours in the waiting room," the 30-year-old told AFP.
"Many of my colleagues were crying because there were people who are dying alone, without seeing their family for the last time."
Coronavirus cases are also spreading in the Middle East, where Iran's death toll topped 2,000, and in Africa, where Mali declared its first case and several nations announced states of emergency.
In Japan, which has postponed this year's Olympic Games, Tokyo's governor urged residents to stay home this weekend, warning of a possible "explosion" of the coronavirus.
Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by Christians to house Christ's tomb, was shut as Israel tightened movement restrictions.
The impact of the pandemic is also hitting European football, with leagues and tournaments cancelled, while the fate of the Wimbledon tennis tournament could be decided next week.
The economic damage of the virus -- and the lockdowns -- could also be devastating, with fears of a worldwide recession worse than the financial meltdown more than a decade ago.
But financial markets rose after US leaders reached agreement on a stimulus package worth roughly 10 percent of the US economy, an injection Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said represented a "wartime level of investment."
Meanwhile, more than half of all Americans have been told to stay at home, including residents of the largest state, California.
The United States has at least 65,700 cases and 942 people have died.
The 42-year-old Beary artiste-cum-politician, who had earlier served as the vice president of the Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Minority Morcha, will now also be in-charge of the minority unit of the saffron party in twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Comments
Please watch PK Movie, you will understand what does PK means... Cheddis alwz see Pakistan in their dream, its your fault for not using your mind to recognize the cheddi deception. Till when will you submit to the cheddi's lies and follow & support their evil agenda..
Use your intellect and be honest. We all clearly see their Lies and deception. Never think they will not be accountable...
DONT BE A WATCHMAN OF BJP AND RSS
Mr.Raheem, You have the right to join any political party. But please do not misquote Quran & Hadees for your benefit. i watched many debates in local channels , you were misquoted some ayath & Hadees about Go Hatya & Conversion. Political position is temporary but atleast show little bit ethics in your life. Do not justify Kalladka Bhat Hate speech /Soolibele about madrasa.
People are ready to release their families for their personal benefits. This guy doesnt even know what is Hajj Subsidy. He was claiming in one of his speech that \Muslim are receiving subsidy which was supported during AB Vajipaye govt time\" and muslims should support BJP. My dear, there is provision of subsidy to all religion if they are travelling abroad as pilgrim. Search it. Dont be so cheap to claim against own religion. Shame on you."
Dear brother Rahim uchil,
Congratulations for getting new responsibility. Hope to see some positive results this time from saffron party towards muslims. Take those comments as challenge and do something good for community. Hope to see you in more and more good positions. Wish you all the best.
Rahim, Uchila, you give answer in Mashara OR jahannam.....who bothers ???? your answer proves that you do not have guts to face the people........ Some one compared you to abbas naqvi and shanawaz hussain...... they married to young Hindu women .
If possible, do one more thing, work for the cancellation of Haj Subsidy..... Owaisi is struggling to put this in Modis Bheja, but it is not going.... try your best and tell the Muslims, that Allah do not need the haj from us with the begging from Indian govt.
Congratulations brother.
Masha Allah. Congrats Rahim Uchil. You are doing good job. BJP is far better than Congress and Rahim Uchil is far better than all Congress leaders from the coastal. He is a pious Muslim and a die hard fan of internationally acclaimed scholar Shaikh AP Abubakar Musliyar.
My message to Rahim sir: Dont care wahhabis and salafis. Our prophet has said muslims will be divided into 73 sects and only one will enter jannah. Who knows that sect might be the one which is with BJP!
Good answer brother Rahim Uchil. Dont care about jealousy people. We are all with you. In fact this news portal has more Wahhabi commentors. Just dont care them. Let them keep blaming. As Rohan sir rightly said, you may one day become a minister. Then those who are blaming you now, will be at ur threshold for your permission to bring their zakir naik to mangaluru. hahaha.
Bjp and RSS is behind minorities and daliths, they are doing every efforts to curb these two relegion. Their paid servants are asking our leaders head for lacs of rupees. So any one who go behind these RSS is not our men. He is against our relegion and against us.
I really dont understand why some people are so much narrow minded. he has given some responsibility. Muslims must congratulate him and try to take maximum benefits from his position. Who knows after next election he may also become a minister.
Anyways. All the best Mr Uchil. Go ahead and do good for the society and also for your community.
Just reward for defending communal news paper which published article against Islam and our prophet. He losing religion/people for Duniya's political career.
Mr PK (Comment No.8)
Your name also suggests that u r a pakistani fan. by the way Mr Rahim Uchil is appointed as BJP Minority Morcha vice president. And you are advising him to do the works of Mukri Morcha vice president! thats very funny!
Dear raheem uchil, may allah guide you to understand islam...aameen
Before answering to all the above questions you need to prepare yourself here in this world.
Congrats Rahim Bhai. You are one of a very few nationalist Muslim. We are all proud of you. Hope you will change the fate of ur community and teach them nationalism.
His life style fits into BJP which is built on corrupt foundation. The man never hesitates to do anything crime for personal benefits. This is the quality against the Islamic values.
EFFECT OF DIGITAL INDIAAAA.....
Dear Uchil,
Now that cheddis have given you the certificate for your commitment. from president to vice president.
Atleast save them from falling into the fire.
Tell them : Idol worship is wrong, its also mentioned in vedas (na tasya pratima asti - there is no image of God)
Tell them : There is no god worthy of Worship except ALLAH and Muhammad pbuh is the final messenger of ALLAH.
Tell them : Every deed in this life will be accounted and will be judged for an enternal life of heaven or hell.
Tell them Good deed will take you to heaven
Tell them if anybody did evil... ask forgiveness with God and promise never to commit again. & also ask forgiveness with the person they committed crime.
Tell them :
Dont hoist pakistan flag and blame muslims
Dont create JNU and doctored videos
Dont keep news anchors who decieve public with Lies.
Dont create unrest with false love jehad
Dont create face book page in the name of Muslim identity
Dont catch innocent MUSLIMs and DALITS & torture.
Dont Make bombs, they were already caught many times while doing it.
Dont kill humans for cows. it doesnt look better when we see international news.
Govts are not permanent, tomorrow it may be out of power.. People already know now who is a leader and who is a deciever.. Y dont YOU recognize it?
Another Naqvi or Shanwaz he too will be fit in nothing
Poor Chap what a pity.
I will give answers in mahshara.. In sha Allah
Clearly Cheddis are barking against Muslims and Dalits... and this Cheddi chela blind to see it...
Cheddis are very cunning in deceiving the people including their own cheddi members.
U have already become a weapon for cheddis to fight our own BROTHERS in faith.
They use dalit members to attack innocent which we now know .... whats their fate (Some spending their life in prison and some are on the run to the courts and some even in hideouts)
Only ALLAH knows Whats your intention by joining the haters of Muslims who opening deceive public about the peaceful religion.
Head Master of the school where there is only one master in the entire school.
Congrats Rahim Yachil, Engage Praising R.S.S an BD Goons acts and following kalladka Bhat, you will be prosperous future in National level.
Congratulations Master Rahim, For Saffron Terrorist team Have to Have a good Speaker like you Uchilas keep it up so far you doing great work for Saffron Criminals, you criminals forgotten about Master Chaddi Anwar Manippady, he might have seen this message sure he will do like before how he left our great National party Congiieee!!!!! look like nowadays barking dog never bites.
any way master uchil you lucky man become a member of Yeddianna group.
BJP needs such muslims who are ready to sell themselves for the sake of money and seat though their own people are suffering from this hate mongers of BJP.
I hope this man was there in the sangh parivar processions who attacked Muslims and ransacked their propertities plus places of worship.
Dear Rahim, i could not understand what will be your fate on the Day of Judgement for your injustice to your own people You are supporting the terrorists who are after Muslims. shame on you.
Add new comment