Former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and ex-public works minister Ghazi Zoaiter have issued a joint statement saying they are ready to be questioned by lead investigative judge Tarek al-Bitar in the Beirut port blast probe.

Noting that they heard about the judge’s request to question them through the media, Khalil and Zoaiter said that they are both ready to appear before Bitar even before a permission is issued by parliament to have their immunity lifted.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Friday confirmed the presence in the country of three cases of the highly-contagious Delta variant of coronavirus.

Hassan also advised citizens and residents above 30 who opted not to take the AstraZeneca jab to take any available vaccine.

The Lebanese judge leading the investigation into last year's massive explosion at Beirut's port announced Friday he intends to pursue senior politicians and former and current security chiefs in the case, and requested permission for their prosecution, state media reported.

The move -- two days before the 11-month anniversary of the horrific blast -- was praised by families of the victims and survivors as a bold step by Bitar, whose predecessor was removed following legal challenges by two former ministers he had accused of negligence that led to the explosion.

President Michel Aoun expressed on Friday his deep gratitude to Pope Francis for the day of prayer and meditation for Lebanon.

He affirmed that the Lebanese of all sects have great respect for the Holy See and will respond to the Pope’s call to save their treasured homeland.

“The security of the city is our duty” and “your pain is our pain,” these were the words of Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun to Tripoli’s residents, as he visited the city on Friday.

Aoun affirmed that "it is not allowed for anyone to harm the security of the city, whoever they may be," adding that “all of us are responsible for maintaining the stability of the city.”

President Michel Aoun on Thursday presided over a meeting in Baabda that discussed the country’s medicine shortage crisis, in which it was decided to continue the subsidization of medicine and medical equipment despite the severe financial crisis.

A statement issued after the meeting said the scheme will be based on the Health Ministry’s priorities.

The Lebanese Press Syndicate emphasized on freedom of expression in times of distress, after the kidnapping of two foreign journalists in the southern suburbs of Beirut, in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the Syndicate, which strongly condemned the kidnapping, “the incident continues to receive local and international interactions, especially in Britain.”

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil tweeted on Thursday about the importance of the Vatican’s support for the role of Christians in Lebanon.

"The presence of Christians in Lebanon is linked to their role,” the FPM chief said.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Wednesday that the International Monetary Fund is expected to grant Lebanon’s central bank $900 million on September 23, as parliament approved the ration card plan during a legislative session at the UNESCO Palace.

“The IMF decided Monday to return the reserves lodged by some countries with it and Lebanon’s share from this issue is $900 million,” Berri told parliament, adding that the caretaker finance minister “has been informed of this.”

Turkish company Karpowership on Tuesday announced that it has decided to resume supplying Lebanon with electricity from its two power ships Fatmagul Sultan and Orhan Bey.

Noting that the move will take effect today, Tuesday, the firm said its decision comes as a “goodwill gesture” as it “looks forward to a constructive dialogue with the Lebanese state in order to find solutions for the pending issues within the coming days and weeks.”