The Gulf’s stance towards Lebanon’s economic crisis is “not clear yet” after recent meetings held by General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim in Kuwait and Qatar, but it was reportedly affirmed that none of the Gulf countries plan to deposit funds at Lebanese banks, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

Zakaria al-Omar was walking through Beirut when a stranger robbed him at knifepoint, a desperate crime of a kind that has become increasingly common in crisis-torn Lebanon. 

MP Hasan Fadlallah of Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc lashed out Tuesday at Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najem, accusing her of doing nothing after receiving 10 files documenting suspected corruption.

“Two months ago, the Justice Minister received 10 corruption files along with their documents and papers, which we had previously lodged with the Parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee,” said Fadlallah in a statement.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday said it is “awaiting along with the Lebanese” the verdict that will be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on August 7 in the case of the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting, the bloc stressed its “respect for what the Tribunal will issue” and its “keenness on knowing the full truth ahead ahead of bringing the accused to justice so that they can get their punishment.”

Lebanon on Tuesday recorded 32 new coronavirus cases, a significant drop in the country's daily tally after a several-day spike.

Lebanon’s daily power supply has increased by 2.5 hours and a ‘Grade A’ fuel oil ship is expected to arrive Wednesday evening, which would allow the activation of the Zouk and Jiye power plants, Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar said on Tuesday.

“Four days will pass before we will be able to benefit from the ship’s load and we might witness improvement as of Thursday evening,” Ghajar added.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday blasted Hassan Diab’s government as “the ruling gang.”

In a tweet, Jumblat accused Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Education Minister Tarek al-Majzoub, without naming them, of “issuing a decree licensing additional branches for the LIU university at the expense of the Lebanese University and the renowned and historic universities.”

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday cautioned that “the resurgence and spread of the coronavirus pandemic requires the review of some measures and stricter implementation of the precautionary instructions.”

Speaking at a Cabinet session, Aoun also stressed the need to “put into action the measures stipulated in the financial and economic rescue plan, especially those related to reforms and slashing expenditure in order to curb the deficit.”

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim reportedly summoned the resigned director general at the finance ministry Alain Bifani over his remarks to international daily newspaper the Financial Times, MTV station reported on Tuesday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi again on Tuesday renewed calls for Lebanon’s neutrality towards regional conflicts, stressing that Lebanon has become isolated and is losing its original identity.