Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Monday that his initiative for resolving the government formation deadlock enjoys “Arab, regional, international and Western support, including from France.”

He, however, expressed grave concern that “the insistence of some parties on crippling demands will further complicate matters instead of leading to a breakthrough.”

Al-Mustaqbal Movement deputy head Mustafa Alloush on Monday stressed that he is convinced that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri “will submit a new (cabinet) line-up comprising 24 ministers.”

“The real obstructor will be exposed,” Alloush added, in an interview with al-Jadeed television.

Americans Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor go on trial in Tokyo on Monday on charges they helped Nissan's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, skip bail and flee to Lebanon in December 2019.

HOW DID THE TAYLORS END UP IN JAPAN?

Carlos Ghosn's 2019 escape from Japan, where he was awaiting trial, was virtually made for Hollywood, complete with private jets, a former special forces operative and a giant case to hide inside.

Lebanon's currency hit a new low against the dollar on the black market Monday, continuing its freefall in a country gripped by political deadlock, an economic crisis and increasing shortages.

President Michel Aoun met at Baabda Palace on Monday with John Desrocher, the head of the US delegation sponsoring the indirect maritime demarcation talks between Lebanon and Israel, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi on Monday accused Lebanon’s political leaders of “complete negligence” and of obstructing the formation of a government.

The maritime demarcation negotiations between Lebanon and Israeli reportedly jumped back to the forefront once the head of the US delegation sponsoring the Naqoura talks, American Ambassador John Desrocher, arrived in Beirut yesterday afternoon, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

An American father-son duo admitted their role in orchestrating former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn's audacious escape from Japan as they made their first appearance before a Tokyo court on Monday.

Lebanon's local currency hit a new record low on Sunday, with the country's economic and political crisis worsening with no apparent solutions in the near future.

The currency has lost more than 90% of its value since October 2019, when anti-government protests erupted. Inflation and prices of basic goods have skyrocketed in the country, which imports more than 80% of its basic goods.