Ex-PM Saad Hariri’s special representative in Russia, Georges Shaaban, met Tuesday with Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Special Presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa and its Deputy Foreign Minister.

A statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry said the talks tackled “the current issues in Lebanon in light of the developments of the domestic crisis in the political and socioeconomic fields.”

The Consultative Gathering, a grouping of Sunni MPs, announced Tuesday that it will not vote for ex-PM Saad Hariri in the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new PM.

“With a lot of regret and astonishment, we ask if it is acceptable to downsize our major crises to the empty debate over respecting the National Pact in the designation of a premier or the formation of the cabinet?” the Gathering said in a statement, noting that the debate should be over “the government’s reformist rescue program that should be implemented.”

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon's Pre-Trial Judge, Daniel Fransen, will hold a third Status Conference November 4, the STL said on Tuesday.

"The hearing aims at reviewing the status of the Ayyash case and ensuring the expeditious preparation for trial, through an exchange between the Prosecution, Defense and Legal Representatives of the Victims," the court said in a statement.

Mount Lebanon Governor Mohammed Makkawi on Tuesday approved a request from the municipal union of Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, for enforcing strict lockdown measures aimed at curbing a spike in coronavirus cases.

The governor also approved a similar request from the municipality of the Aley district town of Deir Qoubel.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday hit out at the Presidency and President Michel Aoun’s close circle, accusing them of seeking to repress freedom of expression in the country, following the arrest of a social media user.

“It seems that the inclination of the presidential tenure or its clique is to stifle all forms of expression, the thing that did not happen even during the days of (communist leader) Enver Hoxha and his family in Albania,” Jumblat tweeted.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis said during talks with President Michel Aoun that participants in the first round of delineation talks between Lebanon and Israel “showed a great deal of responsibility and professionalism," the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

A Parliament session at UNESCO Palace on Tuesday lost quorum after MPs of the Lebanese Forces’ Strong Republic parliamentary bloc left the session to avoid a vote on a controversial general amnesty law which they oppose.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Tuesday he “will not name” ex-PM Saad Hariri for the premier post, because he believes no change is possible in the presence of the “ruling trio.”

Lebanon is looking forward to its parliamentary consultations this week, meanwhile France continues to “send signals Lebanon’s way” urging a swift process of designating a new PM followed by a government formation in the crisis-hit country, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

A meeting was held away from the media spotlight between Kataeb party chief Sami Gemayel and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker during the latter's visit to Beirut last week, media reports said on Tuesday.