Coronavirus: latest global developments

PANDEMIC

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

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France fears new lockdown

France prepares for tough new restrictions to halt a flare-up in cases that has alarmed doctors, with a second lockdown widely mooted.

President Emmanuel Macron will announce more measures in a televised address to the nation in the evening, following a crisis meeting with top ministers.

A government official says his announcements are likely to be "unpopular".

Curbs to save Christmas

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to push for drastic new restrictions in crisis talks with Germany's regional leaders to halt surging infections and save Christmas.

The proposed new curbs would limit contact outdoors to people from two households, with schools, daycare centres and shops remaining open but bars, cafes and restaurants closing, according to a draft of planned measures seen by AFP.

Australia celebrates

Meanwhile there are scenes of jubilation in Australia's second city Melbourne as people celebrate the end of a months-long lockdown.

More than 1.1 million dead

The virus has claimed at least 1,168,750 lives worldwide since it first emerged in China late last year, according to an AFP tally on Wednesday at 1100 GMT based on official sources.

At least 44,056,472 cases have been registered across the globe.

More than 500,000 new cases were reported worldwide on Tuesday in a new daily record.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 226,723 deaths, followed by Brazil with 157,946, India with 120,010, Mexico with 89,814 and Britain with 45,365.

Belgium hospitalisations

The number of people in Belgium admitted to hospital with the coronavirus has all but matched the level in the first wave of the epidemic in spring, figures show.

Boeing battering

Boeing announces additional job cuts that will lower headcount by 30,000 positions over two years, a drop of nearly 19 percent.

EU boosts rapid virus tests

Brussels has set aside 100 million euros for quicker virus tests, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says.

Heathrow loses top spot

London Heathrow says Paris Charles de Gaulle has overtaken it to become Europe's top airport in terms of passenger numbers, blaming delayed coronavirus testing and travel restrictions.

Market jitters

European stock markets tank as investors brace for the apparently imminent introduction of tighter measures in leading EU economies to combat soaring infection rates.

South African president quarantines

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has gone into self-quarantine after learning that a guest at a charity dinner he attended tested positive for the virus, his office says.