The world grappled with the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic as bitterly divided European Union leaders tried to hammer out a rescue package and US jobless claims soared to a staggering 26 million.

According to an AFP report, European Central Bank boss Christine Lagarde warned her colleagues against "doing too little, too late" but Europe remains deeply split between virus-hit southern nations like Italy and Spain, and richer northern countries.

In the United States — the hardest-hit country on earth — data showed another 4.4 million US workers filed claims for jobless benefits, bringing the total since the pandemic struck there in mid-March to 26.4 million.

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