After a dangerous spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Lebanon, Health Minister Hamad Hasan stressed the need to abide by safety measures, noting that a “14-day assessment” is expected when repatriation flights are concluded on Sunday, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

The Bekaa town of Majdal Anjar and the Iqlim al-Kharroub town of Mazboud were on Thursday ordered isolated by regional governors after they recorded 47 coronavirus cases in a single day.

Mount Lebanon Governor Mohammed Mekkawi ordered Mazboud's isolation after it recorses 15 infections, as Bekaa Governor Kamal Abu Jaoude ordered Majdal Anjar's isolation after he said 32 cases were recorded in the town.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Thursday urged parliament to approve a capital control draft law and another for recovering funds transferred abroad in a suspicious manner despite informal capital controls imposed by the banks.

Judge Faisal Makki on Thursday ordered the preventive freeze of the assets of MP Hadi Hbeish of al-Mustaqbal bloc in connection with the lawsuit filed against him by the Lebanese state and Judge Ghada Aoun.

The Israeli military said Thursday that it would be prepared to respond to any Hizbullah attack by striking homes, factories and other civilian infrastructure used by the group.

The government on Thursday approved a recommendation from the Higher Defense Council to extend the state of general mobilization over coronavirus until June 7.

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim on Thursday charged a bank manager and money changers with manipulating the exchange rate and money laundering in an ongoing currency crisis probe, official media and judicial sources said.

Lebanon is in the midst of its worst economic crunch in decades, compounded by a coronavirus lockdown.

Lebanon on Thursday recorded at least 69 new COVID-19 coronavirus cases, which is a significant uptick compared to its usual daily tally.

Japanese prosecutors said Thursday they would seek the extradition of a former special forces soldier and his son, arrested in the United States and accused of helping fugitive former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn jump bail and flee Japan.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab is warning of a major food crisis in Lebanon which is facing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post late Wednesday, Diab also warns of eventual "starvation" in the Middle East that he says may spark a new migration flow to Europe.