The Free Patriotic Movement will not allow caretaker PM Najib Mikati to “rule” the country with his caretaker government in the event of a presidential vacuum, FPM sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Friday.

A Lebanese activist group has vowed to organize more bank heists to help people retrieve their locked savings as the country's years-long economic crisis continues to worsen.

Activists from Depositors' Outcry group accompanied Sali Hafez into a Beirut bank branch on Wednesday, and she was able to retrieve some $13,000 in her savings to fund her sister's cancer treatment.

All parties, including Hezbollah, are awaiting the next two weeks to decide on the next steps, and Lebanese sides concerned with the sea border negotiations have received signals that Israel wants an “understanding” and not a “full agreement” over demarcation, a media report said on Thursday.

“The American side is showing clear desire to finalize the agreement before October, and it has advised the Israeli side not to postpone the matter until after the Israeli elections,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday noted that calling for a presidential vote session without at least “some consensus” would be an “adventure.”

“This is my jurisdiction and when I assess that there is some sort of consensus, I will call for a session,” Berri said when asked by MP Paula Yacoubian about setting a date for a session to elect a new president.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Thursday that “if (Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah wants to try and harm the Karish rig, he’s welcome to do so, but the price will be Lebanon.”

“Israel is ready to reach a deal that will assist both countries economically and energy-wise. I believe there will be two gas rigs in the sea, one on the Israeli side and one on the Lebanese side,” he said.

Parliament on Thursday began discussing the draft 2022 state budget, a day after lack of quorum forced the postponement of a scheduled first session.

Outside the legislature, sit-ins by retired servicemen, bank depositors and several associations and unions got underway in protest at the proposed state budget.

Shell on Thursday announced the exit of chief executive Ben van Beurden as the British oil and gas giant looks to reinvent itself under group renewables boss Wael Sawan.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati held talks Thursday in Baabda with President Michel Aoun.

Al-Jadeed television said the focus of the meeting was Mikati’s asking of permission from Aoun to travel to Britain to take part in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and to New You to represent Lebanon at the U.N. General Assembly meetings.

The news of a Lebanese dance group winning the TV competition show America's Got Talent brought a rare moment of joy on Thursday to many in the crisis-hit country.

Mayyas, an all-female dance troupe, dazzled the show's judges and audience on the competition's 17th season before winning $1 million and a headlining show at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The group paid tribute to Lebanon during their performances and on social media in the buildup to the finale.

President Michel Aoun on Wednesday stressed that “the completion of the southern sea border demarcation file will enable Lebanon to launch the process of exploring for oil and gas in the specified fields within the Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“This will give the Lebanese economy a positive impetus to begin exiting the crisis it has been reeling under for years,” the president added.