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Coronavirus situation:
* In the last two days, 201 new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 4,385. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in two people over the weekend reached 91.
* The number of new coronavirus infections has already been below 100 in the last day, but specialists at the National Center for Public Health are in no rush to draw optimistic conclusions. The infection is spreading in Kaunas County, Raseiniai District, where stricter recommendations apply for wearing masks and gatherings over the weekend.
* Coronavirus infection was confirmed in seven more people associated with Blinstrubiškės welfare home in Raseiniai district. The infection was found in two workers, four patients, and one secondary case per relative. A total of 17 cases have already been confirmed.
* In the last two days, 51 cases have been detected in neighboring Latvia, 82 in Estonia and 15,390 in Russia.
Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the brink of war:
* Armenia declared a military situation and a military mobilization on Sunday following fierce clashes on the Nagorno-Karabakh front line, during which civilian casualties were reportedly unavoidable.
* Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that the “authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan had once again declared war on the Armenian people.” He added that “we are on the brink of a global war in the South Caucasus, which could have unpredictable consequences.”
* Azerbaijan reported occupying six of its front line villages, which were controlled by Armenian separatists.
* The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, called on the separatists of Azerbaijan and Armenia to end the fighting and “return to negotiations immediately”.
* Russia demanded an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations. At that time, Turkey pledged its full support to Baku and called on Armenia to end its “aggression”.
* Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius warns that the current situation could escalate into a disastrous conflict and claim many civilian lives. It encourages Yerevan and Baku to negotiate peacefully, as both sides have previously engaged.
Growing tensions in Belarus:
* Belarusian police tighten security measures in central Minsk, where opposition supporters plan to celebrate the inauguration of Sviatlan Cichanouskaya on Sunday. The Interfax news agency reports that officials surrounded Aliaksand Lukashenko’s residence. It also has at least five armored vehicles and military trucks.
* About 40 people have already been detained during unauthorized protests in Belarus on Sunday, according to the unregistered Vesna center for human rights in Belarus.
* The Belarusian Interior Ministry said that 10 protests were held in six cities and other settlements on Saturday. A ministry spokeswoman said 150 citizens had been detained. According to her, most of the people participated in the women’s march.
* Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladzimir McKay warned western states on Saturday not to impose sanctions on the country’s disputed presidential elections or crackdown on protesters. He said that “sanctions and other restrictions on Belarus will have the opposite effect and will be detrimental to absolutely everyone.”
* French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Lukashenko must resign. He told the French weekly Journal du Dimanche before his visit to Lithuania and Latvia.
* Many Lithuanian artists and academics addressed the president of France on Sunday to draw attention to Belarus, shaken by the political crisis. In a public address to the French leader, on the eve of his stay in Lithuania, they asked for a “voice demanding the freedom of the people” of Belarus.
Air accident in Ukraine:
* On Friday, the number of casualties of the An-26 military plane of the Ukrainian Air Force rose to 26, with the death of one man seriously injured and the bodies of three more dead among the wreckage of the plane. About two kilometers from the Kharkiv military air base, the plane flew 20 young cadets and seven crew members.
* On Saturday, investigators announced that they were considering four versions of the accident: technical failure, improper performance of crew duties, improper performance of duties by those responsible for flight control, improper maintenance of the aircraft and its preparation for the flight.
Trump’s nomination of a judge:
President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Amy Coney Barrett as justice to the nation’s Supreme Court as Republicans scramble to secure a conservative majority in court ahead of the next U.S. presidential election.
If this nomination is approved, ACBarrett will take the place of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and will likely turn the Supreme Court to the right for many more years.
Polish agreement:
Three parties in Poland’s conservative government signed a new coalition agreement on Saturday, rejecting disagreements sparked by power struggles. However, no information on the deal has been provided, so it is unclear what the cabinet will look like after the planned reorganization.
Romanians vote in local elections:
Romanians are voting in local elections on Sunday and electing mayors and council members, although a spread of the coronavirus could jeopardize the first test of the elections after years of political turmoil as many people do not go to the polls. These elections are considered a political test before the parliamentary elections in December.
Swiss referendum:
Swiss residents outside the European Union (EU) rejected a proposal to restrict immigration from the EU in a referendum on Sunday, according to a voter poll conducted by the gfs.bern institute. The referendum was alarming, as a possible “yes” could damage relations with the bloc.
Lebanon crisis:
In Lebanon, the ongoing political stalemate over government formation has led to the resignation of Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib, who took office less than a month ago. Adibo’s statement on Saturday dealt a blow to French President Macron’s efforts to find a way out of the country’s dangerous situation.
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