Spotlight
Parliament's secretary-general Adnan al-Daher sent Friday a memo to the public prosecution saying that the lead investigator into Beirut's massive port explosion Judge Tarek Bitar “has no jurisdiction to subpoena caretaker premier Hassan Diab.”
The memo stated that Diab had received a subpoena to appear before Bitar on August 26, adding that Bitar has “no jurisdiction, according to the constitution and law.”

The press office of caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced Friday that “things are getting better” after the raids carried out by the minister on medicine warehouses.

Judge Tarek Bitar’s decision to issue a subpoena ordering security forces to bring caretaker PM Hassan Diab to interrogation has infuriated the so-called club of former premiers, which comprises ex-PMs Saad Hariri, Najib Miqati, Fouad Saniora and Tammam Salam.

As if her cancer treatment was not already agonizing enough, Rita is now wracked with worry about the medication she needs as Lebanon's crippling economic crisis sparks drug shortages.
"The treatment is like fire shooting through your body," the 53-year-old patient told AFP, asking that her real name not be given. "But now on top of that, we have to go hunting for the drugs."

The meeting between President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Miqati on Thursday in Baabda was “negative,” media reports said on Friday.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed "deep concern" over the "rapidly deteriorating" socio-economic situation in Lebanon.
"The people of Lebanon are struggling every day with hyperinflation, acute shortages of fuel, electricity, medicine and even access to clean water," Guterres said in a statement by his spokesman.

Acting State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Fadi Akiki charged on Thursday three people with causing the deadly fuel explosion in al-Tleil, the National News Agency said.
The horrific explosion killed dozens and injured scores of people. Soldiers were among the victims.

EU Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf announced that he met Thursday with President Michel Aoun, PM-designate Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri, carrying “an urgent message from the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell.”

The lead investigative judge into the port blast, Tarek Bitar, on Thursday issued a subpoena ordering security forces to bring caretaker PM Hassan Diab to an interrogation session on September 20.

State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Thursday denied that he has rejected to grant Judge Tarek Bitar permissions for the prosecution of State Security chief Tony Saliba and General Security head Abbas Ibrahim in the port blast case.
