Libanon

Lebanon's political parties have chosen Saad Hariri to be prime minister, a year after he stepped down in the face of mass anti-government protests.

Recent Lebanese-Israeli maritime border talks have offered a rare twig of peace. Amid Lebanon's current turmoil, some hold quiet hope for a wider rapprochement. For others, the trauma of war makes trust impossible.

The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the launch of ground-breaking discussions on Wednesday, over the disputed maritime border between Lebanon and Israel in the eastern Mediterranean, following a framework agreement between the two nations at the beginning of the month.

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday parliamentary consultations to choose a new prime minister will begin on Oct. 15, in an effort to push Lebanon’s fractious political class to move on forming the country’s next government.

Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a framework for the United States-mediated talks aimed at ending a long-running dispute over borders that have been the front line of several conflicts.

Mustapha Adib was only named to take over as prime minister less than a month ago. His decision to quit comes amid a deadlock over forming the next Cabinet.

France backed on Wednesday a proposal by a former Lebanese prime minister that could help break a deadlock blocking formation of Lebanon’s new cabinet amid the Middle East nation’s worst crisis since its 1975-90 civil war.

French presidency says Lebanese politicians must back prime minister-designate's efforts after they missed deadline this week to create cabinet.

[UNIFIL spokesman Andrea] Tenenti said that UNIFIL’s operations along the Lebanon-Israel border are not affected by the new virus cases.

French President Emmanuel Macron has given Lebanese politicians three months to take concrete steps to rebuild the country, or face sanctions and lose out on crucial aid.