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Two depositors storm bank in Sin el-Fil in 4th break-in this week

Two depositors stormed Thursday a bank in Sin el-Fil and left the bank after receiving their trapped savings.

Salim Hatoum and Ashraf Salha respectively demanded their $5400 and $23200 frm Byblos Bank.

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Finance committee resumes oil sovereign fund discussion

The Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee convened Thursday to resume the discussion of the oil and gas sovereign fund bill.

Earlier this week, the Committee discussed the bill and said it endorses it "in terms of the commitment to the independence of the management of the sovereign fund and the transparency of its accounts and foreign investments."

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Pro-Hezbollah paper says Doha statement returns crisis to square one

A statement issued by the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt after a meeting in Doha has returned Lebanon’s presidential crisis to “square one,” the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said on Wednesday.

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Le Drian meets Saudi FM after Doha talks on Lebanon

French special presidential envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian has met in Jeddah with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, a day after representatives of France, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt met in Doha to discuss the Lebanese file.

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BDL vice governors tell MPs they won't give up their responsibilities

The Central Bank’s four vice governors – Wassim Mansouri, Bashir Yakzan, Salim Chahine and Alexander Mouradian – on Tuesday met in parliament with a number of MPs.

“We’re awaiting the list of demands that they want from the government,” MP George Adwan said after the meeting.

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Bou Saab says Geagea against 'traditional' dialogue but open to consultations

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab met Tuesday with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to discuss with him the possibility of holding a dialogue between parties or parliamentary blocs over the presidential file.

"Geagea is open to any consultation, communication or agreement with all parties without exception," Bou Saab said after the meeting. But the LF leader is not convinced of a "traditional" dialogue table, he added.

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5-nation group threatens 'measures' against presidential vote obstructors

The five-nation group on Lebanon has threatened “measures” against the Lebanese parties who are “blocking progress” in the stalled presidential election file, in a statement issued after a meeting in Doha.

"Today, representatives from Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United States met to discuss the urgent need for Lebanon's leadership to expedite presidential elections and implement imperative economic reforms in order to fulfill their responsibilities to their citizens. Rescuing the economy and securing a more prosperous future for the Lebanese people rests on their actions," the five nations said in a joint statement.

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Kanaan says MPs have every right to look at forensic audit report

Free Patriotic Movement MP Ibrahim Kanaan asked Tuesday caretaker Finance Minister Youssef al-Khalil for a copy of the Alvarez & Marsal forensic audit report.

The Finance Ministry had last month denied accusations that it has “hidden” the report, claiming that the report is just a draft, that it belongs to the Lebanese government and not the Finance Ministry and that it is confidential.

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Judge Abu Samra resumes Salameh's interrogation

Central Bank governor Riad Salameh showed up Tuesday for an interrogation session at the Justice Palace before Judge Charbel Abu Samra.

Last week, Abu Samra questioned Salameh and adjourned the interrogation until this week.

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Cabinet to hold successive sessions on state budget

The caretaker Cabinet will hold successive sessions to discuss the draft state budget, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

The first session will be held next Monday, NNA said.

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