Lebanon’s Economic Committees, a grouping of Lebanon's main businessmen and owners of major firms, on Thursday proposed an economic recovery plan that entails recovering 74% of the funds of bank depositors.

President Michel Aoun has hinted that he might eventually choose not to leave the Baabda Palace upon the end of his presidential term on October 31.

The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday noted that Lebanon has not requested the omission of U.N. resolutions 1559 and 1680 from a U.N. resolution that has extended UNIFIL’s mandate, denying media reports in this regard.

“Lebanon respects all U.N. Security Council resolutions and abides by them, and it is out of the question for it to request, and it has not requested, the omission of the mention of the aforementioned resolutions,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The Higher Judicial Council has agreed to a proposal from caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury to name an alternate investigator in the Beirut port blast case, sparking political and judicial controversy after the move was seen as illegal and politically motivated.

Dozens of relatives of the victims of the blast protested Wednesday against the decision, calling the move an attempt by the country's political class to prevent justice into one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday hit back at both Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Speaker Nabih Berri and said that the FPM “will not recognize the legitimacy of the resigned government” should there be a presidential vacuum.

“We stress that the caretaker cabinet cannot convene or practice the president's powers. This would lead to constitutional chaos,” Bassil warned in a press conference that followed a meeting for the FPM’s political council.

A meeting Tuesday between a Free Patriotic Movement parliamentary delegation and Higher Judicial Council chief Judge Suheil Abboud witnessed a “verbal clash” between Abboud and MP Charbel Maroun, the FPM said.

The meeting was dedicated to discussing the file of detained Customs chief Badri Daher, who has been in custody since August 2020 in connection with the Beirut port blast case.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati held talks Tuesday in Ain el-Tineh with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The 30-minute meeting tackled the general situations, especially the issue of the state budget and legislative files.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab held talks Tuesday in Baabda with President Michel Aoun over a host of issues.

Referring to the sea border negotiations with Israel, Bou Saab said the talks are “going in the right direction.”

Yes in Beirut this September, MIDDLE EAST CLEAN ENERGY 2022

Caretaker PM and PM-designate Najib Mikati stressed Monday that the constitution allows the caretaker cabinet to assume presidential powers in the event of a presidential void.