Al-Mustaqbal Movement on Thursday blasted the Military Court's acquittal of Internal Security Forces Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj in the case of “fabricating a spying for Israel case for theater actor Ziad Itani.”

Mustaqbal secretary-general Ahmed Hariri slammed the ruling as “politicized, vengeful and spiteful.”

The Military Court on Thursday acquitted Internal Security Forces Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj and sentenced the hacker Elie Ghabash to a year in prison in the case of “fabricating a spying for Israel case for theater actor Ziad Itani.”

The court, however, sentenced Hajj to two months in jail -- which can be substituted by a LBP 200,000 fine -- on charges of "withholding information."

Parliament has received the draft 2019 state budget and the head of the finance parliamentary committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan has called for a session at 10:30 am Monday, the National News Agency said on Thursday.

Committee members will discuss the budget's arguments and a law to extend extra-budgetary spending, NNA said.

The Ministry of Economy has launched a control campaign in the area of Furn el-Shebbak closing down illegal stores.

Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun affirms that any clash between the Lebanese army and Hizbullah “is out of question,” noting that Hizbullah is a basic “Lebanese component,” al-Akhbar daily reported on Thursday.

The Israeli army on Thursday said it destroyed the final cross-border tunnel allegedly dug by Hizbullah into the Israeli territory.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday called on Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil to “rein in his party members,” in connection with a war of words over LBP 40 billion earmarked for the Ministry of the Displaced.

“The last thing we want is to create any dispute with the FPM, or else we would not have backed President (Michel) Aoun's election,” Geagea said after a meeting for the Strong Republic parliamentary bloc.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Wednesday that lawmakers have the right to take their time in debating and approving the 2019 state budget although it has missed its constitutional deadline.

“MPs have the right to raise all issues and problems related to the draft state budget and the current draft is not at all binding for them,” Berri told lawmakers during the weekly Ain el-Tineh meeting.

President Michel Aoun on Wednesday hoped the 2019 draft state budget will be approved in Parliament “as quickly as possible.”

“The draft 2019 budget includes measures to strengthen the productive sectors in Lebanon, especially industry and agriculture, with the aim of gradual transformation to a productive economy rather than a services-based one as endorsed by the previous governments,” Aoun said.

“Who's gonna win? Team Nicolas or Team Sami?” An event organized by the Mouna Bustros Foundation promises to “bring Madrid to Beirut” on Saturday, June 1 at the Port of Beirut.

The event will start at 8pm and football fans and enthusiasts will enjoy free entrance and parking and have access to a food court.