The British Embassy in Beirut said Friday that it has hosted a round-table for women economists and colleagues from the International Monetary Fund to discuss Lebanon’s 2023 Article IV Consultation report.

IMF’s Resident Representative in Lebanon, Frederico Lima, gave a summary of the last report which was issued few weeks ago. Open and honest discussions followed from the attendees highlighting the immense challenges facing Lebanon’s economy.

Hezbollah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Thursday welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement following months of tensions over the presidential file and the government’s work.

“This is an example of the unconditional dialogue we have always called for,” Qaouq said.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Thursday held talks in Diman with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

The National News Agency said the meeting tackled the current situations and the ongoing contacts regarding the presidential vacuum crisis.

Former prisoner at the Khiam detention center, Soha Bechara, has contacted lawmakers in her country of residence, Switzerland, after being briefly detained on Tuesday night at Athens airport.

The former prisoner had made a stop in Greece, while she was traveling from Beirut through Athens to Switzerland. She was detained and interrogated before being deported back to Lebanon, as Greek authorities said she was denied entry into the country for security reasons.

The European Parliament has called on the European Council to apply targeted sanctions against all of those who are infringing the democratic and electoral process in the Lebanese institutions, those involved in serious financial misconduct and those obstructing corruption investigations or the domestic investigation into the Beirut port explosion.

"The current situation in Lebanon is extremely alarming and deeply concerning," the European Parliament said, adding that Lebanon’s present situation is caused by politicians across the ruling class and by "illegally armed parties obstructing the democratic and constitutional process."

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution supporting the continued presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

"Conditions are not met for the voluntary, dignified return of refugees in conflict-prone areas in Syria," the European Parliament's resolution text said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said in a televised interview that he "will not waste additional time on a dialogue that will not lead anywhere."

"Hezbollah will never be an advocate of dialogue," Geagea said, stressing that the group has a pragmatic image and a specific plan that it would never deviate from.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday said that his party has erected a tent in the occupied Shebaa Farms to stir debate inside and outside the country over Israel's occupation of the northern part of the Ghajar village and other border points, urging a decisive Lebanese stance.

The five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, KSA, Qatar and Egypt, will meet Monday in Doha, media reports said.

French envoy Jean Yves Le Drian, Ambassador of France to Qatar Jean-Baptiste Faivre, a representative of U.S. diplomat Barbara Leaf, Saudi royal envoy Nizar al-Aloula and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Boukhari will attend the meeting, ad-Diyar newspaper reported Wednesday.

Former defense minister Yacoub Sarraf announced Wednesday that he will testify before the French judiciary on August 3 in the Beirut port blast case, after Lebanese judges refused to hear his testimony in Lebanon.

“Expect a big surprise during the coming weeks!!!” Sarraf had tweeted on July 5.