The Cabinet on Thursday agreed to revoke customs and registration exemptions for cars owned by MPs and ministers and to slap fees on special number plates as part of austerity measures related to the 2019 state budget.

MPs from the Development and Liberation bloc of Speaker Nabih Berri and the al-Mustaqbal bloc of PM Saad Hariri held talks Thursday at the Center House.

Research teams from the Lebanese Army, Civil Defense and the Environment Ministry collected samples on Thursday from the oil leak spotted a day earlier offshore the Jiyeh coastal area, LBCI TV station.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks on Thursday with visiting Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the Grand Serail and discussed the latest developments, the situation in Lebanon and the Arab region and the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Egypt, the Premier’s media office said.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh assured during talks with the President on Thursday that the Lebanese Lira is stable, noting that the Bank will subsidize loans for the housing and productive sectors, the National News Agency said.

The relation between the Progressive Socialist Party and Hizbullah has “never” experienced a “break-like stalemate” and a “unilateral” decision taken by Hizbullah without prior “warning,” Asharq al-Awsat said on Thursday.

When the meeting of the Council of Ministers ended at the Grand Serail Wednesday, the Minister of Information Jamal Jarrah said the Cabinet plans to finalize discussions of the state budget this week.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail dedicated to resume discussions to approve the country's draft austerity budget.

Interior Minister Raya el-Hassan said in an interview with Saudi owned al-Arabiya television news channel that "the security situation in Lebanon is maintained, as is the case at the airport."

Following the protests staged by retired military personnel over possible cuts to their end of service benefits, President Michel Aoun held a meeting on Wednesday with six parliament deputies who are also retired military servicemen, the National News Agency said.