Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said that Lebanon’s state budget, which he referred a day earlier to the cabinet, will be approved by the government if the intentions of political factions were truthful, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

The trash management file has returned back to the spotlight after a deal to transport garbage from the streets of Metn, Keserwan and parts of the capital Beirut went to a halt due to the closure of the Bourj Hammoud storage location.

Trash is accumulating once again on the streets of Metn, Keserwan and a small section of Beirut that are included in the trash deal to transport garbage to a temporary site in Bourj Hammoud, said al-Akhbar daily on Saturday.

The Army intelligence arrested an Islamic State group firebrand suspected of leading smuggling operations, LBCI reported on Friday.

The Army Intelligence arrested on Friday two Syrian men accused of preparing explosive bombs in the northern district of al-Koura, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The two men, whose names were not identified, planned to carry out the bombing on the outskirts of Deddeh in Koura.

Civil Defense volunteers ended a 12-day protest on the Lebanese-Palestinian border on Friday after receiving vows from officials that their longtime demand for full-time employment will be met, the National News Agency reported.

The campaigners ended their protest and dismantled tents that they had erected on the border, NNA added.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea emphasized that he is keen on maintaining good relations with the army leadership and asked the Free Patriotic Movement not to “embarrass” him with threats to resort to the street if the term of the Army Commander was extended, al-Akhbar daily reported on Friday.

Speaker Nabih Berri said that boycotting the cabinet's sessions reaps no benefits other than obstructing the people's daily interests, as he stressed that the cabinet is the last chance to save the State's face, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.

“Tell me. What is the benefit that can be derived from obstructing the cabinet's work other than hindering the citizens' daily interests which are not being addressed properly because of the differences?” asked Berri.

The Lebanese army staged raids on Thursday in the border towns of al-Qasr and Fiysan in the Hermel district and arrested two fugitives wanted on several arrest warrants, the National News Agency reported.

The raids were carried out at dawn, NNA added.

Several contacts away from the media spotlight were made in an attempt to mend the rift that plagued the only operating constitutional institution, as reports said that General Security chief Major Gen. Abbas Ibrahim has intervened in that regard to give momentum to a cabinet meeting set for Thursday and prevent its postponement, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Ibrahim held a series of extensive meetings on Wednesday with officials, political leaders in addition to PM Tammam Salam in an attempt to find a solution, bring the conflicting points of views together to avoid further impasse, added the daily.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel issued a decision on Saturday postponing the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir until 21 August, 2017.

The decision came after a cabinet meeting held on Thursday failed to reach an agreement over the thorny issue of military appointments that included a decision on whether to extend the term of Kheir which ends August 28, or postpone it.