Demonstrators in the three states have staged public rallies this week to demand an end to lockdown restrictions. China under scrutinyBeijing hits back at growing criticism from world leaders for its handling of the pandemic, saying it did not conceal information about the illness. On Friday, China sharply raised its death toll, adding another 1,290 fatalities for the city of Wuhan where the respiratory disease first emerged, pushing the nationwide death toll up to 4,632. Spain extends lockdownSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces an extension of the lockdown to May 9, hours after the official death toll there reaches 20,043. Undoing gains in poor countriesThe World Bank warns the pandemic could wipe out recent development progress made in poor countries.

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 19, 2020 04:18 UTC