The French embassy issued a press release Thursday on the conclusions of the co-presidencies (France and United Nations) - conference in support of the Lebanese population.

President Michel Aoun signed a law on Thursday approving compensation for individuals affected by the colossal Beirut port blast, the National News Agency reported.

NNA said Aoun signed law number 196 aimed at providing compensation and pensions to the victims’ families, and enabling health benefits for the disabled from the National Social Security Fund, and from a law related to the rights of people with special needs.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed that Lebanese nationals kidnapped earlier this week in Nigeria were all "safe," amid ongoing efforts to free them, the National News Agency reported Thursday.

NNA said Lebanon’s Ambassador to Nigeria Hossam Diab, informed the Ministry that the kidnapped Lebanese were all doing well.

Countering reports published in Lebanese media, France said it handed Lebanese authorities as requested the satellite images of the port of Beirut before the August 4 blast ripped through the capital, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Basketball player Charles Tabet was once a national hero blocking shots for Lebanon, but a crumbling economy has forced him into a new life selling cars in Michigan.

Israeli warplanes overflew Beirut, Dahiyeh, Metn, the South and a number of regions at low and medium altitudes on Wednesday evening, media reports said.

The roaring of the fighter jets was clearly heard over the capital Beirut and its suburbs.

President Michel Aoun on Wednesday urged the international community not to “abandon the country of the cedars,” as he noted that the priority is to “form a government while applying the same criteria to all political forces.”

Speaking at a Paris-organized international virtual conference for rallying humanitarian aid for Lebanon, Aoun thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for “the unwavering support he is always demonstrating for Lebanon.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that he will visit Lebanon for a third time this year in order to “pressure the political class.”

“I'll return to Lebanon this month to pressure the political class and politicians must form a government to conduct reforms or else there will not be international aid,” Macron said at the start of an international videoconference on humanitarian aid for Lebanon.

Retired customs brigadier general M. A. R. was on Wednesday found dead inside his home in Qartaba, Jbeil district, the National News Agency said.

He suffered blows to the head from a sharp object, NNA added.

State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Wednesday heard the testimony of caretaker Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi over his latest remarks about the judiciary.

In his testimony, Fahmi said he “did not mean to insult the judicial authority,” the National News Agency said.