New landslides hit the outskirts of the town of Kfarnabrakh in the Chouf region and some residents were compelled to evacuate their homes, the state-run National News Agency said on Sunday.

A snowstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall hit the area leading to the collapse of major pathway that lies beneath the houses. The landslide blocked the Kfarnabrakh, Wadi al-Sitt and al-Fowara roads with soil and rocks, NNA added.

The March 14 General Secretariat reiterated the keenness to preserve Lebanon's stability and the necessity not to turn the nation to an arena to settle accounts of major events taking place around us in the region.

“Out of our keenness to preserve stability we stress the need not to turn Lebanon to a weak spot and a place to settle accounts of serious events,” the Secretariat said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh seems to be preparing for his withdrawal from the March 8 camp but without giving up on the relations with the alliance, the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily reported on Sunday.

“Marada chief Franjieh is preparing the step of withdrawal from the March 8 as a confirmation of his political independence from any internal alignments but without giving up on the relations with the said alliance and its political visions,” reported the daily.

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch thwarted a kidnapping attempt in return for ransom and were able to arrest the assailants in the northern border region of Wadi Khaled, the state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday.

"The ISF Intelligence Branch foiled the attempt to kidnap Syrian national M.Y. In return for ransom after luring him into Lebanon," the ISF said via its Twitter account.

Hundreds of people were trapped in their vehicles on mountainous roads on Friday as storm Vladimir that began two days ago blanketed the high altitudes with snow on New Year's Day.

“More than 700 cars are trapped between Aitou and Ehden and residents are urging the army to intervene,” LBCI television reported.

A huge fire ripped through a luxury Dubai hotel on Thursday near the world's tallest tower, where people were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations, police said.

The Dubai government media office tweeted that a "fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident swiftly and safely".

Syrian anti-aircrafts opened fire at a Lebanese helicopter near the al-Kabir River on the border with Syria in the North, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

The helicopter was slightly damaged but the pilots managed to return to the Qlaiaat base, it added.

Security forces warned that the vacuum at the top state post can pave way for a favorable environment for the assassination of prominent political figures, As Safir daily reported on Thursday.

“The most dangerous thing about extending the vacuum is that it could be a favorable environment for dramatic incidents inside Lebanon that could lead to the assassination of political figures,” security forces told the daily.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji assured that they have been officially notified that the Saudi grant to purchase French weapons is “on track” and that the arms are in the making process, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Thursday.

“The $3 million grant is on track and there is no backing down,” said Moqbel to the daily.

The Lebanese army is still waiting for the Saudi grant to purchase French weapons following declarations by some officials that it has kicked off, amid reports saying that it will make no statement before receiving the arms, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“The Lebanese army is waiting to see what will happen to the Saudi grant after announcements made by more than one official that it has kicked off. The army will not make any statement before receiving the arms particularly that it had already submitted a list of the weapons needed to the French authorities,” a senior military source told the daily.