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EU Envoy, Miqati Hold 'Constructive, Action-Oriented Meeting'

European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf on Tuesday held a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

In a tweet after the talks, Tarraf said the meeting was "constructive and action-oriented."

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Miqati Urges Bitar to 'Abide by Constitution', Says Won't Visit Syria

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday called on the lead investigative judge into the Beirut port blast Tarek Bitar to “abide by the constitution,” as he noted that he will not visit Syria if that will subject Lebanon to sanctions.

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Families of Port Victims Threaten to 'Change Face of Lebanon' if Probe Obstructed

Relatives of the Beirut port blast victims on Tuesday warned that they would take action that would “change the face of Lebanon” if the probe into the catastrophic explosion came to an end, a day after the investigation was suspended following a lawsuit from ex-minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq.

“We call on the Lebanese to gather outside the Justice Palace tomorrow at 1:00 pm and we will announced the plan that will change the face of Lebanon,” the families said.

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Solh and Sakr Referred to Judiciary for 'Selling, Purchasing Nitrates'

Saadallah al-Solh – owner of the ammonium nitrate truck seized in Bekaa – was referred to the competent judiciary, along with Maroun al-Sakr and two Syrian workers, the army said Tuesday.

The army added that al-Solh had bought the dangerous chemical in March from Maroun al-Sakr and the two Syrian workers had transported the nitrates.

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Security Council Urges Reforms in Lebanon to 'Ensure Effective Int'l Support'

The members of the U.N. Security Council have welcomed the announcement of the formation of a new government in Lebanon led by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and the September 20 vote of confidence by parliament as “necessary first steps towards the resolution of Lebanon’s crisis.”

In a statement, they reaffirmed their “strong support for the stability, security, territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon, consistent with Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1680 (2006), 1559 (2004), and 2591 (2021), as well as other relevant Security Council resolutions and statements of the President of the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon.”

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Finance Committee Refuses BDL Requested Delay for Raising Bank Exchange Rate

Head of Parliament's Finance and Budget Committee MP Ibrahim Kanaan said Monday that the central bank has requested a grace period until the end of the year to study the issue of raising the value of withdrawals.

The Finance and Budget Committee had met with representatives of BDL and the depositors, in the presence of the minister of finance and the association of banks to discuss raising the exchange rate for bank withdrawals, currently set at LBP 3,900/USD.

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Bitar's Probe into Port Case Suspended after Mashnouq Lawsuit

Judge Tarek Bitar on Monday received a request demanding his removal from the Beirut port blast case, which effectively suspends his probe pending a decision from the Court of Appeals.

The development follows a lawsuit filed by ex-interior minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq.

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Jumblat to 'Defiance Axis': We Believe in a Free Diverse Lebanon that You Want to Abolish

Head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblat slammed Monday the “Axis of Defiance” in a tweet.

“They only utter threats,” Jumblat said.

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Aoun Chairs Meeting to Discuss Negotiations with IMF

President Michel Aoun chaired a meeting Monday to proceed with the discussions concerning the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Deputy PM Saadeh al-Shami, and the two ministers of Finance and Economy Youssef al-Khalil and Amin Salam.

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Al-Rahi Slams Attacks on Judiciary, 'Double Standards' in Port Case

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday deplored those attacking the judiciary with the aim of “obstructing the investigation” into the catastrophic Beirut port explosion.

“The Lebanese state’s top officials should condemn the attacks on the judiciary and support the work of the investigative judge so that he can reach the truth,” al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon.

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