No new developments are expected in the presidential file before the return of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to Beirut next month, a media report said.

“He will specify the nature of his next steps in light of consultations between Paris and Riyadh in particular and within the five-nation, international-Arab group in general,” al-Joumhouria newspaper said.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil is still keen on the FPM's understanding with Hezbollah despite many disagreements.

During a late Sunday meeting in Baabda, Bassil claimed that his party has made sacrifices because of its understanding with Hezbollah and has paid the price "in order to preserve the unity of Lebanon," as he accused Hezbollah of imposing a president on the Christians.

The French President's Personal Envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has said that he “will work to facilitate a constructive and inclusive dialogue among the Lebanese in order to reach a solution that is at the same time consensual and effective to get out of the institutional vacuum.”

The outcome of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Beirut was not encouraging, informed sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Saturday.

Carlos Ghosn has said that the $1 billion lawsuit he recently filed against Nissan and others is just the beginning of his fight.

The former Nissan CEO said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut that had he been an American citizen filing a lawsuit in the United States, "I would not be asking for $1 billion, but for much more," given his suffering.

France's special envoy for Lebanon who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday on a "consultative" mission has discussed with Lebanese leaders names of centrist presidential candidates, Nidaa-al Watan said.

The daily reported Friday that Jean-Yves Le Drian has discussed with those he met possible solutions to the impasse, as he asked them if they consider that a centrist candidate might be a solution. Le Drian also asked whether certain presidential candidates are considered centrist, the daily said.

Outgoing Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat is "disgusted" from the presidential impasse, a media report published Friday in al-Liwaa newspaper said.

The report said that Jubmlat has told his visitors that he is pessimistic and is not seeing any light at the end of the presidential tunnel.

The Free Patriotic Movement has mulled referring MPs Elias Bou Saab and Alain Aoun to the Movement’s Council of Elders, which is a body that issues nonbinding recommendations but has major influence, following the two legislators’ decision to refrain from voting for Jihad Azour in the latest presidential election session, a media report said.

The Council of Elders comprises ex-president and FPM founder Michel Aoun, co-founders Khalil Hamadeh and Raya Daouk, the FPM’s former deputy head Roumel Saber, ex-MP Naji Gharios and incumbent MP Nicolas Sehnaoui.

French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday met with MP and ex-presidential candidate Michel Mouawad, Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel, and other Tajaddod and Kataeb MPs, as he continued his "consultative" mission to push for a solution to the country's presidential deadlock.

He had met on Thursday caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil, and Marada leader and presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, who called the encounter "positive and constructive".

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani voiced optimism over the developments in Lebanon and the region, after attending a dinner banquet hosted by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari.

Thanking Bukhari for his “dear invitation,” Amani said in a tweet that he is optimistic over the current efforts and developments.