Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has welcomed a statement by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regarding Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the Gulf.

"We look forward to carry on with the constructive measures aiming at restoring the Lebanon-Gulf ties," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed a statement issued by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regrading Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the kingdom and the other Arab Gulf nations.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes the positive points” included in Miqati’s remarks, hoping that will contribute to “restoring Lebanon’s role and standing in the Arab and international arenas.”

Raja Salameh, the detained brother of Central Bank chief Riad Salameh, was questioned Tuesday by Financial Attorney General Judge Jean Tannous over the file of the brokerage firm that he owns, Forry Associates Ltd, al-Jadeed TV said.

The TV network added that Salameh was not interrogated by Mount Lebanon First Examining Magistrate Nicolas Mansour due to the Covid-19 infection of a judicial clerk at Mt. Lebanon’s investigations department.

The detained harbormaster of Beirut’s port, Mohammed al-Mawla, has filed a request through his lawyer for transferring the port blast case from the hands of Judge Tarek Bitar to another lead investigative judge.

The request cites the current suspension of investigations and keenness on the proper conduct of justice.

Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday on whether a court of appeals has ordered the removal of red wax seals from the assets of Fransabank.

"The reports saying the seals have been removed from Fransabank's assets are baseless and the Court of Appeals' ruling prevents the removal of the seals, contrary to what is being rumored," the United for Lebanon activist group said.

President Michel Aoun has defended Hizbullah in an interview in Rome with leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

“Hizbullah has no influence in any way on the security situation of the Lebanese inside the country. As for the southern border, there is ongoing cooperation between the army and the UNIFIL forces,” Aoun said.

The Vatican has informed Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi of the need to “modify” his rhetoric regarding the relation with Hizbullah, al-Akhbar newspaper, which is close to the group, has quoted unnamed sources as saying.

The Holy See asked al-Rahi to “restore communication” with Hizbullah, telling him that “a rupture is not favored, even if there are divergent viewpoints,” the sources told the daily in remarks published Tuesday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres takes note of the judgement delivered by the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon in which Hassan Merhi and Hussein Oneissi were convicted in relation to the 14 February 2005 attack in Beirut that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others and injured 226 more, his spokesman said.

Noting that Merhi and Oneissi “remain at large,” the spokesman said “the Secretary-General’s thoughts are with the victims of the 14 February attack and their families.”

President Michel Aoun on Monday called, from Rome, for setting up a Vatican-sponsored Lebanon support fund and for boosting aid programs for Lebanon, the Presidency said.

The head of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, and the head of the U.N.’s World Food Program, David Beasley, both said that Aoun’s suggestion will be taken into consideration, the Presidency added.

UNIFIL on Monday marked the 44th anniversary of the U.N. mission’s establishment with its newly-appointed head and Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lázaro, calling on the parties to make “meaningful steps” towards a sustainable peace.