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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: The virus has claimed at least 1,250,879 lives worldwide since it first emerged in China late last year, according to an AFP tally on Sunday at 1100 GMT based on official sources. At least 49,910,936 cases have been registered across the globe. The United States remains the most affected country, with 237,123 deaths. The countries with the next-highest death tolls are Brazil with 162,269, India with 126,121, and Mexico with 94,808. President-elect Joe Biden vows to name a group of top scientists to his coronavirus task force as early as Monday, making the pledge during his first speech since being projected as winner of the US election. Portugal will introduce a curfew across most of the country from Monday in an effort to combat surging case numbers, Prime Minister Antonio Costa announces. The UK government caves in to a campaign by Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, promising to give free meals to poorer children over the coronavirus-afflicted Christmas holidays and beyond. The government has already made one U-turn over the free school meals scheme for the summer holidays. Britain falls in tribute to its war dead as royals and politicians commemorate a low-key Remembrance Day without the usual solemn pageantry, owing to the pandemic. A gymnastics competition in Japan provides a glimpse of what the delayed Tokyo Olympics may look like next summer as fans attend the country's first international sporting competition since the shutdown. The gymnastics "Friendship and Solidarity Competition" gathers around 30 athletes from Japan, China, Russia and the US to compete in tightly controlled bio-secure conditions. burs-eab/bp
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