Signs of a breakthrough in the government formation started to emerge, most importantly is the end of a “political breakup” between the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement after Wednesday’s meeting between FPM chief Jebran Bassil and LF Minister Melhem Riachi, Ashraq al-Awsat daily reported Thursday.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri received Wednesday evening at the Center House Sweden Crown Princess Victoria, her spouse Daniel and the accompanying delegation, Hariri’s media office said.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil held talks on Wednesday with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari where they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said in a statement on Wednesday that Ibrahim al-Amin, editor-in-chief of al-Akhbar daily, has satisfied the sentence imposed on him by the Contempt Judge Nicola Lettieri on 29 August 2016.

The fine of €20,000 was received by the Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on 14 August 2018, it said.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri intensifies efforts to ease obstacles hampering the formation process and has therefore held series of meetings with related parties.

The Kataeb parliamentary bloc has submitted a draft law suggesting that lifelong salaries for lawmakers be terminated, a move described as beneficial for Lebanon's treasury.

President Michel Aoun received Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari on Tuesday at the Baabda Presidential Palace, the National News Agency reported.

Efforts to lineup the government have not seized over the weekend, as meetings and contacts were intensified to ease the obstacles mainly the Druze and Christian representation.

President Michel Aoun hailed on Monday the reopening of a key trade route between Syria and Jordan, once vital for the transit of goods in the Middle East, describing it as beneficial for Lebanon’s productive sector.

Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia on Monday, condemning what he described as “political extortion” targeting it over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

Deryan expressed his resentment saying SA is being subject for “malicious goals intending to undermine its wise and rational policy led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.”