Prime Minister Saad Hariri shoved aside exaggerations on the number of Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon, announcing that only 174,422 live on Lebanese soil as he blamed their deteriorating conditions worldwide to the international community's inaction.

A number of civil society groups rallied Thursday outside the Justice Palace in Beirut in support of press freedom and to reject “the muzzling of voices.”

The activists raised pens in the air as a symbol of freedom of speech and carried banners defending the press.

Lebanon's Interior Ministry and the Traffic Management Center released on Thursday the new license plates.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq told reporters that plates can not be forged and will limit the ability of culprits for terror acts.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh assured on Thursday that Lebanon enjoys monetary stability, thus appeasing concerns that it may have been affected by a political crisis that emerged following the, now-reversed resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Salameh's remarks came during his meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Babada Palace.

A major suspect involved in the 2014 bombing that targeted Beirut's southern suburb of Haret Hreik was arrested late on Wednesday along with 10 other militants in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the National News Agency reported.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Wednesday evening in Clemenceau with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

A PSP statement said the meeting was held in the presence of Jumblat's son Taimur and MP Wael Abu Faour.

Mount Lebanon Examining Magistrate Hanna Breidi on Wednesday ordered the handover of the body of slain British diplomat Rebecca Dykes to the UK embassy in Beirut after he interrogated the suspect and remanded him in custody, the National News Agency said.

The embassy will repatriate the body to London aboard a private jet, NNA said.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq warned on Wednesday against using Uber after a driver for the ride-hailing service was arrested in connection with the murder of a British woman who worked at the U.K. Embassy.

Mashnouq said the driver had a criminal record, without elaborating, but said that should have been an alarm for anyone seeking to hire him. Mashnouq urged Lebanese to use "traditional" taxis, saying Uber is a "virtual" entity that has no physical representation.

President Michel Aoun stressed Wednesday that the Presidency will not interfere in the work of the judiciary.

“The ceiling of press freedom is truth,” Aoun said during a meeting with financial prosecution judges.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel wrapped up a several-day visit to Paris on Wednesday by meeting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The French minister “expressed interest in exploring in detail the (Lebanese) opposition's opinions and stances regarding a lot of files, especially the current issues in the Lebanese and regional arenas,” a statement distributed by Kataeb's Media Council said.