The mandate of Lebanon’s parliament --which extended its own mandate for three consecutive times since its election in 2009-- ends at midnight Monday, meanwhile the government gears for its final meeting at Baabda Palace to tackle 59 items before it turns into a caretaker government on Tuesday.

The cabinet will convene at the Presidential Palace and will be chaired by President Michel Aoun to discuss several issues including the problematic electricity file, said al-Joumhouria daily.

The Marada Movement of MP Suleiman Franjieh said that negotiations with ex-PM and MP-elect Najib Miqati to form a joint parliamentary bloc “did not lead to positive results,” al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

“Discussions with the former prime minister about joining the parliamentary bloc which Franjieh seeks to form in the parliament did not heap positive results,” Marada sources told the daily.

Hizbullah party is reportedly eyeing an increased share in Lebanon’s new government amid reports it could “foil its formation” shall Prime Minister Saad Hariri respond to the U.S. “veto” against the party, Saudi daily Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Saturday.

Despite concerns that the U.S. sanctions against Iran and Hizbullah could affect Lebanon’s economy, the former Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Riad Tabbara assured that Washington is keen on “distancing Lebanon’s economy and banking sector” from measures it takes in that regard, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

In an interview to the daily, Tabbara said: “What matters to Lebanon is the sanctions on Hizbullah and its financiers, and perhaps also on those who support it politically, which of course constitutes an economic threat to Lebanon.

President Michel Aoun on Friday said that the international community must respect the Lebanese will to stay distant from the turmoil and developments around it in the region.

Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil presented at a press conference on Friday the technical terms of conditions for the project of importing liquefied natural gas to Lebanon.

Abi Khalil said the plan to import LNG vessels to Lebanon “has been delayed since 2010, resulting in government losses of around $27 billion due to the “agendas” of some, and previous mistaken decisions.”

Hizbullah described the latest U.S. sanctions against the party’s leadership as “worthless,” saying they will have no impact on the upcoming political entitlements in Lebanon including the election of a parliament speaker and the government formation, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi sounded the alarm over a looming education crisis following the wage increase of Lebanon's private school teachers, as he called for devising plans that make Lebanese youth dismiss thoughts of emigration, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

Central Bank (BDL) Governor Riad Salameh said on Thursday that staging the parliamentary elections has had a positive impact in the international and domestic financial circles.

“The reactions were good. Holding the elections has had a positive effect in financial circles,” Salameh told President Michel Aoun during their meeting at Baabda Palace.

A new leaf in relations has been turned over between the Lebanese Forces and al-Mustaqbal Movement following the Geagea-Hariri meeting at the latter’s residence early this week, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.