The Israeli cabinet is holding a meeting on Sunday to discuss the maritime border demarcating with Lebanon and Hezbollah's threats, an Israeli media report said.

On Sunday, U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon with a response to Lebanon's demands. Lebanese and Israeli media reports have said that the solution to the border dispute is near and that Hochstein will present a framework for an agreement.

Israeli Energy Minister Karen Elharrar said Thursday that Israel is not negotiating with Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over sea border demarcation with Lebanon.

Caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam confirmed Thursday that a Syrian ship carrying stolen Ukrainian barley and wheat is docked at Tripoli’s port, after Kyiv warned over bilateral relations.

“The Directorate General of Customs is following up with the Agriculture Ministry on the issue of the Syrian ship that is under sanctions and has docked at Tripoli’s port carrying stolen Ukrainian barley and wheat,” Salam told Annahar newspaper.

Leading international auditing firm KPMG, which is tasked by the International Monetary Fund to audit the work of Lebanon’s central bank between 2015 and 2020, has not found any violations, LBCI television reported on Thursday.

The firm has also been tasked with auditing the bank’s work between 2020 and 2021, LBCI noted.

MP Cynthia Zarazir announced Thursday in remarks to al-Jadeed TV that she is “afraid” but “has not bought a gun,” clarifying earlier statements published by Annahar newspaper.

In her remarks to al-Jadeed, Zarazir denied that she has asked Army chief General Joseph Aoun for a permission to carry a gun into parliament’s building.

Caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam announced Thursday that the country will witness “breakthroughs” in the bread shortage crisis in the “next two days.”

“There is an operations room at the Interior Ministry that will coordinate with the Economy Ministry to monitor all things in the market,” Salam said.

The Premiership on Thursday declared August 4 as a national mourning day, in an administrative memorandum.

All public administrations, institutions and municipalities will be closed on Thursday, August 4, 2022, in commemoration of the tragic anniversary of the Beirut Port blast.

Head of Finance Committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan said Thursday that the committee has asked the Ministry of Finance to review the state budget for the last time and to submit clarifications before the committee's next session on Tuesday.

Kanaan accused the Cabinet and the Parliament of shifting responsibility, as he urged for "more transparency and less selectivity."

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said Thursday that achieving food security is a priority for Arab countries.

Mikati, in an Arab agriculture ministers summit in Lebanon, urged the sisterly Arab countries to support Lebanon during its crisis.

Al-Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh met Thursday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Franjiyeh left without making a statement, but answered journalists who asked him about his opinion regarding the name of Army chief Joseph Aoun as a candidate for Presidency. "We support everything that is in Lebanon's interest," Franjieh said.