There have been 1 674 new infections, taking the total positive cases to 34 357

Paris – The novel coronavirus has killed at least 372 047 people since the outbreak first emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 11:00 (GMT) on Monday.

After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Britain with 38 489 deaths from 274 762 cases, Italy with 33 415 deaths from 233 019 cases, Brazil with 29 314 deaths and 514 849 cases and France with 28 802 deaths and 188 882 cases.

Europe pushes ahead with easing lockdowns, as Latin America cases pass one million

Moscow – Countries across Europe took bolder steps in easing coronavirus lockdowns, with schools, pubs, parks and pools reopening in places, while in Latin America the outbreak grew more dire with infections passing the one million mark.

Britain has the second highest death toll in the world after the US, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under fire for bungling the response to the outbreak early on.

West Bank poverty may double over pandemic as annexation looms

Ramallah, Palestinian Territories – Poverty in the occupied West Bank may double as Palestinians are hit by the coronavirus, the World Bank warned on Monday, just weeks before Israel aims to kick-start plans to annex parts of the territory.