Global COVID-19 cases top 34.1 million / Photo by Anadolu

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have exceeded 34.1 million globally, with over one million fatalities and more than 23.7 million recoveries, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University.

Iran PressAmerica: The US has registered over 207,000 deaths and more than 7.2 million cases – both the highest in the world. Hope Hicks, one of US President Donald Trump's closest advisers, has tested positive for COVID-19

Brazil reported 728 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's death toll to 144,680, the health ministry said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, about 36,157 new infections were reported, taking the total caseload to 4,847,092, said the ministry.

In Spain, Madrid's regional authorities have voiced anger and rejections over the Spanish government's plan to place the capital city and nine surrounding municipalities under confinement. The new regulation is due to come into force in days.

Italian PM Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday he would ask parliament to extend the country's COVID-19 state of emergency to the end of January, as the government tries to avoid the surge in cases seen in other European countries.

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