Lebanon's banks have no problem in seeing the tax on deposits interest rise from 7% to 10%, as proposed in the draft state budget, ministerial sources said.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil kicked a visit to the district of Jbeil on Saturday and said during a meeting with industrialists that Lebanon is unable to protect its economy because of “political subordination to the outside.”

The syndicate of Banque du Liban employees on Saturday announced an open-ended strike in protest at the government’s possible plans to reduce their salaries and benefits as part of austerity measures to cut the budget deficit.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed the international community’s demand to “disarm” Hizbullah and “halt” its military operations in Syria.

The Lebanese-Egyptian talks were concluded by the signing of three memoranda of understanding, and an executive program to enhance trade and investment relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s press office said.

The Cabinet convened anew Friday to continue discussions over the 2019 draft state budget.

Defending free media around the world "has never been more pressing," the British embassy in Beirut said on Friday, adding that in April 2019 UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Canadian FM Chrystia Freeland launched a campaign to defend free media around the world.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday sent a letter to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif asking that Tehran free Lebanese national Nizar Zakka from its prisons.

President Michel Aoun on Friday warned a visiting European minister that Lebanon might soon become "obliged" to coordinate with Damascus on the thorny issue of refugee repatriation.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held talks Friday with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace.