Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumbat held talks Monday in Ain el-Tineh with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

“The country cannot remain in this state of collapse,” Jumblat said after the meeting.

Lebanon's representative to the U.N. Monday said the crisis-hit country has paid outstanding dues it owes the international body after it lost voting privileges because it was behind on payments.

"Lebanon paid its dues that were delayed (a) few days... and everything is back to normal," Amal Mudallali, the country's ambassador to the U.N., said in a post on Twitter.

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun on Monday noted that “a day will come when it will be said that the army has rescued Lebanon,” referring to the military’s approach in dealing with the unprecedented protests that have been rocking the country since October 17.

“The army’s approach towards civilians is based on the military institution’s belief in the right to assembly and freedom of expression, but this does not at all stand for leniency with any security violator, unethical actions or road-blocking moves,” Aoun said as he inspected the command of the Sixth Intervention Regiment in Riyaq.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday said that Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab “has imposed on himself conditions which were not required from him, which has made the formation process more difficult for him.”

Calling for the formation of “a government that combats corruption and rescues the country,” Berri added: “I don’t want Hassan Diab to confine me or to confine himself. If he doesn’t want to support me I will still support him.”

The former chief executive of Renault Carlos Ghosn, who fled Japan while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges, is seeking the payment of a retirement payment by the French carmaker that he says was unfairly withheld.

The Lebanon Renaissance Foundation has released its 2019 version of the ‘State of Our State’ index, which exposes further deterioration at most levels in Lebanon in 2019.

“Some of the worst scores (related to quality of political leadership and debt settlement record) were offset by three improvements induced by the October 17th uprising: efficiency of civil society; limiting corruption and freedom of speech,” LRF said in a statement emailed to Naharnet.

Yamaha has warned musicians in Japan against stuffing themselves into their instrument cases to mimic the escape technique allegedly used by fugitive ex-tycoon Carlos Ghosn.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday denied “fabricated” reports accusing him of insisting on the formation of a techno-political government which defies the people’s will and the announcement of PM-designate Hassan Diab.

In a statement released by the minister’s media office, Bassil said Nidaa al-Watan daily published “fabricated report” accusing the minister of “turning against the formation of a government of specialists.”

A US Marine Corps force of 35 soldiers arrived in Lebanon a few days ago, with the aim of intensifying security measures at the U.S. Embassy located in Awkar, al-Akhbar daily reported on Monday.

France has reportedly warned of an “economic collapse” and an “explosion of protests” in Lebanon shall the PM-designate form a government of politicians as desired by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement and his allies,Nidaa al-Watan daily reported on Monday.