Spotlight
Depositors and activists rallied Monday near Parliament to protest a capital control law as joint parliamentary committees discussed it today.
The committees had convened last week to discuss the law, completing six clauses. They decided to resume the talks today, Monday.

Hezbollah has informed Free Patriotic Movement head Jebran Bassil that it will support Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh’s presidential nomination and will “offer any facilitations that can broaden consensus over his elections,” a media report said on Sunday.

The French are seeking a new roadmap for presenting a clear initiative for Lebanon’s presidential election that would be also be accompanied by a governmental and economic initiative, a media report said on Saturday.

Hip hop star Nicki Minaj has teamed up with Colombian singer-songwriter Maluma and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares for the latest addition to the official soundtrack of the World Cup in Qatar.
The single "Tukoh Taka," with lyrics in English, Spanish and Arabic, was released on Friday, two days ahead of the start of the tournament.

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh has stressed that he “will not conspire against the resistance nor against its rivals and enemies,” days after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah openly announced that his party wants a president for Lebanon who “would reassure the resistance.”
“I’m ready for all possibilities. For the presidency and for failure to reach it. Others are fighting over it today as if it is a lottery prize whereas in fact it is a real ball of fire,” al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Franjieh as telling sources informed on his stance.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil's office said Friday in a statement that a meeting he had with Speaker Nabih Berri was not behind Hezbollah's back.
Al-Jadeed TV had reported Friday that Bassil had tried and failed to make a presidential deal with Berri in a meeting on Tuesday.

Free Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil would run for presidency if he finds that the chosen candidate is "a bad president."
"I will not accept to have a bad president and in that case of course I would run," Jebran said in a press interview, as he reiterated that his party is trying to reach a solution and a consensual candidate who would be able to make reforms.

Police in Lebanon, where a banking crisis has forced people to stash cash at home, said Friday that three people have been arrested after stealing over $1 million from a private residence.

France and Qatar are coordinating with Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil over the presidential file and other topics, al-Akhbar newspaper said.
The daily elaborated Friday that France would support a presidential candidate that Bassil and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi would agree upon without announcing his name, within a framework that guarantees an exit from the political and economic crisis.

Free Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil had met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, days before a leaked audio of Bassil speaking in Paris infuriated the speaker, media reports said.
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Friday that the meeting happened away from the media, after Bassil contacted the Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of Lebanon in Qatar, Farah Berri, and asked her to arrange a meeting between him and Berri.
