Coronavirus: latest global developments

The pandemic has killed at least 534,306 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year, according to an AFP tally on Monday based on official sources. 

The United States is the hardest-hit country with 129,947 deaths. It is followed by Brazil with 64,867, Britain with 44,220, Italy with 34,861 and Mexico with 30,639 fatalities.

- India passes into third case spot - 

India passes Russia to become the third-hardest-hit nation in the pandemic, announcing it has more than 697,400 cases, a rise of 24,000 in 24 hours, while Russia has just over 681,000. 

India's tally is not expected to peak for several more weeks and experts predict the one million figure will be passed this month. India has registered 19,693 deaths from the virus, a much lower number than many other badly hit countries.

- Stock markets optimistic -

Stock markets in Asia and Europe rally, choosing to pin their hopes on the economic recovery from the coronavirus as lockdowns end, rather than worry about the spread of cases.

In Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index rises 3.81 percent, tracking a surge in mainland Chinese markets, while European stock markets rebound strongly at the start of trading. 

- Australia seals off Victoria state -

Australian officials say they will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country after it announces a record 127 new cases as the virus spreads through Australia's second city Melbourne.

Meanwhile in the Balkans, Kosovo's government re-imposes nightly curfews in the capital Pristina and three other towns in a bid to curb an increase of coronavirus infections.

- Chinese critic detained -

Chinese authorities detain a law professor who published essays criticising President Xi Jinping over the coronavirus pandemic and his efforts to consolidate power, according to friends of the man. 

Xu Zhangrun, a rare outspoken critic of the government in China's heavily censored academia, published an essay in February blaming the culture of deception and censorship fostered by Xi for the spread of the coronavirus in China, where the pandemic started late last year.

- The Paris Louvre reopens -

The world's most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, reopens after nearly four months of coronavirus closure, with a restricted number of visitors enjoying a rare chance to view the "Mona Lisa", the "Venus de Milo", and the Louvre's vast antiquities collection.

- Online Paris fashion week starts -

The first-ever online Paris fashion week clicks off with the world of glitzy and sweaty catwalk shows thrown into an existential crisis by the coronavirus.

Paris haute couture and men's fashion weeks have been rolled into one, with labels making films to showcase their clothes instead of staging sometimes extravagant shows.

- British money for culture -

The British government says it will spend nearly $2 billion to help theatres, art galleries and other cultural institutions survive the coronavirus crisis.

A fund of 1.57 billion pounds ($1.96 billion, 1.73 billion euros) will help museums and historic palaces as well as companies involved in live music and independent cinema.