Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab has advised “those promoting presidential candidates abroad” not to support “a candidate whose election would violate the constitution, such as Army chief Joseph Aoun.”

The Free Patriotic Movement seems to be inclined to take part in the presidential dialogue that Speaker Nabih Berri has called for and is expected to be held in early October, despite FPM chief Jebran Bassil’s latest criticism of the Speaker’s “ambiguous format.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has kicked off his official meetings on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where he met with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland in the presence of caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

The meeting focused on Lebanese-American relations and the multiple issues currently facing Lebanon.

Hearings in the $1 billion lawsuit filed by auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn against Nissan and other defendants have started in Beirut with lawyers of both sides meeting the judge in charge of the case, judicial officials said.

The former Nissan CEO filed the case against Nissan in May in Beirut, alleging he was detained in Japan in 2018 on false charges because of what he calls the automaker's disinformation against him. The 69-year-old Ghosn is seeking half of the $1 billion in damages and half for compensation including salary, retirement funds and stock options.

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun on Monday announced that he does not “care” about the presidential file.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah continue to support Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh as a presidential candidate, Shiite Duo sources told al-Jadeed.

The only way to discuss names is through dialogue, the sources said.

The opposition has inched closer to endorsing the presidential nomination of Army chief General Joseph Aoun, the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will call for dialogue in early October.

"If nothing happens, I will head the dialogue with Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab," Berri told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Monday.

Qatari envoy Abou Fahad Jassem Al-Thani will arrive in Beirut today, Monday to kick off a visit related to Lebanon’s presidential file, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.

Almost one year has passed since former president Michel Aoun's term ended. The divided Parliament failed for 12 times to elect a new president, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the 86 votes required to elect one in a first round of voting.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who had refused to take part in a dialogue to agree on a president said there are no other choices but Jihad Azour or Suleiman Franjieh.