LEBANON ORDERS 111 TOWNS CLOSED TO CURB PANDEMIC: Authorities on Friday ordered the lockdown of more than 100 towns and villages across Lebanon after hundreds of people tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days and amid a shortage of hospital beds. Outgoing Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi said in a statement the complete lockdown of 111 towns and villages will go into effect Sunday morning and last until Oct. 12. Lebanon has witnessed a sharp increase of cases in recent weeks with more than 40,000 cases registered since February in the small country of 5 million. The country has registered 386 deaths so far. On Friday, a new daily record was registered with 1,291 new cases over 24 hours, including 12 deaths, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The total registered cases now stand at 42,159.