President Michel Aoun extended his condolences on Saturday over the passing of Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret Saturday over the UN announcement that Lebanon is among the countries losing their voting privileges in the 193-member General Assembly for being behind in paying their dues.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is scheduled to set a legislative session next week for discussing the 2020 state budget as soon as caretaker PM Saad Hariri returns from a trip abroad, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

The United Nations says seven countries are so far behind in paying their dues that they are losing their voting privileges in the 193-member General Assembly, including Venezuela and Lebanon.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that three other countries — Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia — are also in arrears by the assembly decided in October that they can retain their vote until September.

Scuffles erupted in downtown Beirut on Friday between protesters demanding the resignation of Beirut governor and mayor, and another group defending them amid heavy security deployment of anti-riot police.

President Michel Aoun discussed the financial situation with Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh amid unprecedented capital controls and a tightening economic and political crisis gripping the country since October.

Out of Japan and free to speak to the media, a fugitive Carlos Ghosn is proving a fresh headache for his old firm Nissan as it struggles to rebuild its reputation.

The tycoon who once headed the automaker jumped bail and fled Japan last month while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges. And he has not pulled any punches when it comes to the firm he helped turn around.

PM-designate Hassan Diab “insists” on completing his mission and considers the latest developments in the region all the more call for forming a government of non-partisan experts, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Protesters in the northern city of Tripoli blocked al-Beddawi highway to protest the detention of a group of activists arrested by the Lebanese army overnight, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on Thursday ruled out an imminent financial collapse in the country as he reassured that no bank will go bankrupt.

“There is a crisis and difficulties, but not a collapse,” Salameh said in an interview with Lebanon’s MTV.