An initiative made by Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab in a bid to ease the government formation hurdle, is "unable" to make any progress because the problem rests with President Michel Aoun, the Saudi Asharq el-Awsat reported on Wednesday.

Lebanon on Tuesday announced a new record high daily toll of 61 coronavirus deaths, after 53 fatalities were registered on Monday.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday reiterated the call for Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to communicate with President Michel Aoun over the formation of the new government.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Tuesday emphasized the need to form the new government as soon as possible and promised further efforts to secure Lebanon quantities of much-needed anti-coronavirus vaccines.

The Lebanon Renaissance Foundation on Tuesday released its 2020 version of the ‘State of Our State’ index, which evaluates the country’s situation in several key fields on yearly basis.

The Foundation has released yearly reports since 2010.

Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab held separate meetings Tuesday with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM-designate Saad Hariri in an initiative aimed at facilitating the formation of the new government.

President Michel Aoun called the Higher Defense Council for an “urgent” meeting on January 21 at Baabda Presidential Palace.

Caretaker Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm announced on Tuesday that she had received a request from judicial authorities in Switzerland to cooperate on an inquiry into financial transfers made by the Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, media reports said.

Spokesperson of the Lebanese Higher Defense Council Brig. Gen Mahmoud al-Asmar warned on Tuesday of the latest alarming death rate in Lebanon as the result of coronavirus, noting that a decision to extend or not the lockdown is up to the government.

Lebanon is reeling under multiple crises including a deteriorating health sector and a shortage in medicines as a result of the exchange rate crisis, which also reflected on a shortage in infant milk formula strictly sold at pharmacies, Asharq el-Awsat reported on Tuesday.