Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday said that he is fully keen on the re-designation of caretaker PM Saad Hariri as premier.

“I’m insisting on his designation because it is in Lebanon’s interest and I support Lebanon’s interest,” Berri told NBN television.

Caretaker Education Minister Akram Shehayyeb on Thursday attributed “claims about the loss of $9 million in the file of refugee education” to “a shortage in funding according to UNICEF.”

“To boost transparency over the file, I sent a memo to the Central Inspection Board asking it to look into the file to unveil the truth,” Shehayyeb said at a press conference.

Former premier Fouad Saniora on Thursday gave a three-hour testimony before Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim in the case of “the $11 billion spent between 2006 and 2008,” the National News Agency said.

The hearing session was held in the presence of Saniora’s lawyer – ex-minister Rashid Derbas.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks with President Michel Aoun Thursday afternoon at the Baabda Palace.

"I visited the president for consultations on the issue of the government and we’ll continue the consultations with the rest of the parties," Hariri said after the meeting.

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim pressed charges of “squandering public funds" against Director General of the Lebanese Customs Badri Daher.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat slammed the authority’s intent to “revive” a settlement related to the presidency post, adding that his party will not participate in the upcoming government.

Caretaker Economy Minister Mansour Bteish issued a memorandum related to local currency pricing, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

Thousands skipped universities and school for the second day on Thursday joining nationwide anti-government demonstrations that continued for the 22nd day against a corrupt political class.

Pupils carrying their schoolbags picked up the baton from thousands of women who ignited the main protest site in Beirut on Wednesday evening by banging pots and pans to demand their rights.

French police evacuated hundreds of migrants from two camps in northern Paris on Thursday, a day after the government unveiled a series of measures to a "take back control" of immigration.

Around 600 police officers escorted the migrants from tents where coaches transported them to reception centres, in an operation that began under steady rain at around 6:00 am (0500 GMT), an AFP reporter said.

Thousands of women gathered Wednesday evening near the seat of government in Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square, carrying candles as some banged on saucepans.

"O patriarchal powers, women's rights are not a footnote," they chanted.