Opposition candidate Luis Abinader swept to victory in the Dominican Republic's presidential election, early results showed Monday, ending 16 years of unbroken rule by the Caribbean nation's center-left PLD party after voters braved a worsening coronavirus outbreak to cast their ballots.

Abinader, the candidate of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), took 52.51 percent of the vote with 82 percent of polling station returns counted, the Central Electoral Board said.

Lebanon on Monday recorded 12 more COVID-19 cases, which raises the overall tally to 1,885 -- among them 1,311 recoveries and 36 deaths.

Eleven of the new cases were recorded among residents while the 12th case is an expat who arrived from Nigeria, the Health Ministry said.

Judge Ghada Aoun on Monday demanded the prosecution of top oil officials and several firms and employees in the counterfeit fuel case.

The National News Agency said Aoun called for prosecuting the Director General of Oil at the Energy Ministry, Aurore Feghali, and the Director General of Oil Facilities, Sarkis Hleis, on charges of professional negligence, an offense who penalty can reach two years in jail.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held talks Monday in Ain el-Tineh with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul-Al al-Qinai.

The National News Agency said discussions tackled “the general situations in Lebanon and the region and bilateral ties between Lebanon and Kuwait.”

The Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) announced in a statement on Monday a 3,900 Lebanese Pounds as an exchange rate for food industry importers and manufacturers.

Member of Parliament Nicolas Nahhas said on Monday that a capital control draft bill is ready to be sent to the Finance and Budget parliamentary committee after introducing some changes based on suggestions by the International Monetary Fund.

In remarks to the Voice of Lebanon radio station, the MP said: “The new text of the capital control law proposal is ready after adding some ideas and taking into account the comments of the International Monetary Fund.  The draft law will be submitted soon to the Finance and Budget Committee."

Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi stressed the government’s determination to face the campaigns against it, assuring that PM Hassan Diab's cabinet is “staying until further notice,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Lebanon on Sunday hosted its annual music festival in the ancient northeastern city of Baalbek without an audience for the first time, a move organizers dubbed "an act of cultural resilience" to the coronavirus pandemic as well as the country's unprecedented economic meltdown.

Held amid soaring Roman columns, the Baalbek International Festival was founded in 1956. This year, it's being broadcast on local and regional TV stations and livestreamed on social media in an effort to spread "unity and hope."

Arab Tawhid Party leader Wiam Wahhab on Sunday hit out at Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and warned him against the “use of arms” in the Chouf and Aley regions.

“The use of arms in Mount Lebanon is prohibited and do not end your life in this manner. We love you and respect your intelligence and that of the people, but do not use your brain to underestimate people’s intelligence. We are defending Mount Lebanon and we’re keener on it more than you,” Wahhab said during meetings with popular and partisan delegations.

Lebanon on Sunday recorded eighteen more COVID-19 cases and another death, the Health Ministry said.

The cases raise the country’s tally to 1,873 and the fatality takes the death toll to 36. The number of recoveries has meanwhile reached 1,311.