Lawyers for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday refused to turn over a computer used by the auto tycoon before he jumped bail and fled the country last month.

Prosecutors arrived at the offices of one of Ghosn's Japanese lawyers with a warrant for seizure of the machine -- only to be told to go away.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil announced Tuesday that the formation of a technocrat government is still an appropriate choice despite the escalation in the region, as he denied that he is obstructing the formation of the new Cabinet.

“Our stance is what pushed for moving from a techno-political government to a government of experts. It is normal to ask if a government of this type is still valid for this stage, especially after Qassem Soleimani’s assassination, and I believe that this format is still appropriate seeing as the priority is for the financial situation,” Bassil said in an interview on al-Jadeed TV.

Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab held a “positive” meeting with President Michel Aoun on Tuesday and the foreign affairs portfolio obstacle has been resolved, TV networks said.

“Aoun and Diab held a 45-minute meeting and the atmosphere was positive,” MTV and al-Jadeed TV said.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday warned of a perceived attempt to “repeat the experience of the year 1998 and its spiteful policies.”

The bloc’s warning refers to the year in which Rafik Hariri was replaced as premier by Salim al-Hoss during Emile Lahoud’s term as president.

President Michel Aoun says the country is working to prevent rising tensions in the region from affecting stability at home.

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun on Tuesday released Fadi al-Hashem, the husband of Lebanese popstar Nancy Ajram, the National News Agency said.

Protests against corruption and mismanagement continue in Lebanon amid ongoing attempts of PM-designate Hassan Diab to form a much-delayed government and the worst economic crisis since Lebanon's 1975-1990.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday voiced solidarity with Australia, where catastrophic bushfires have turned swathes of land into blackened hellscapes and destroyed an area about the size of the island of Ireland.

Bassil also instructed Lebanese diplomats in Australia’s Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne to inquire about the well-being of Lebanese expats and to stand by them.

Nasrallah: Fair Response to Soleimani Killing is Ouster of U.S. Forces from Region

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday said that the response to the assassination of Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani should be nothing short of the ouster of all U.S. forces from the region.

The husband of Lebanese popstar Nancy Ajram shot dead a burglar who broke into the couple’s villa in the Keserwan area of New Sehayleh at dawn Sunday.

The National News Agency identified the masked and armed robber as 31-year-old Syrian national Mohammed Hasan al-Moussa.