Cuba, Bolivia close borders, Brazil slashes growth
expectations
AFP, Montevideo
Cuba and Bolivia announced on Friday they were closing their borders while Brazil drastically slashed its growth projections for 2020 over the coronavirus pandemic.
Latin American countries continued to ramp up measures to contain the virus outbreak with more than 30 deaths from the COVID-19 disease and total cases soaring over 3,000.
Lebanon FM summons US envoy over American being flown out
AP, Beirut
Lebanon’s foreign minister summoned the U.S. ambassador Friday after an American on trial in Beirut was taken out of the country by a U.S. warplane – a move that the powerful militant group Hezbollah called a “blatant violation” of Lebanese sovereignty and laws.
The Lebanese-American man, Amer Fakhoury, was ordered released Monday by a judge in Lebanon because more than 10 years had passed since he allegedly tortured prisoners at a jail run by an Israel-backed Lebanese militia. Fakhoury has denied the charges.
East Timor confirms first case of coronavirus
Reuters, Dili
East Timor reported its first case of coronavirus, its Ministry of Health said on Saturday, adding that the case was from someone who had just returned from abroad.
The ministry said the patient posed little risk to the public, as he immediately consulted with doctors after showing symptoms of the coronavirus.
Central Asia tightens restrictions as
coronavirus spreads
Reuters, Almaty
Authorities in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have announced fresh restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus as the number of cases in Central Asia snowballed.
In Kazakhstan, where 52 cases have been confirmed, authorities said on Saturday they were closing all parks in Almaty, the country’s biggest city, which was this week was put on lockdown along with capital city Nur-Sultan.
