Officially, the parliamentary council approved the extension of municipal and optional councils until the latest date of May 31, 2025. Meanwhile, the formation of the Lebanese presidential picture remains in a state of uncertainty, as it continues to be mired in a circle of failure amid a series of movements that have yet to bridge the gaps between the involved parties.
In the context of the French endeavor to separate the squares, Mikati discussed with the French Ambassador Hervé Magro the preparations for the visit of the French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné to Lebanon and the talks he will hold on Sunday.
To the southern borders, where security confrontations persist amidst renewed international warnings of expanding the conflict to an unpredictable outcome.
Regionally, an Egyptian delegation will arrive in Israel tomorrow as part of Egyptian efforts to bring both parties back to the negotiation table.
Meanwhile, Hamas considered that American pressures on the movement to release hostages "have no value," in response to a statement from 18 countries, including the United States.
A US official affirmed that Hamas' prisoner release initiative meets almost all requirements, noting that the movement should release the weaker category of hostages to advance negotiations.
In turn, the Israeli army announced the withdrawal of the "Nahal" brigade from the Gaza Strip and the deployment of two reserve brigades in preparation for an operation in Rafah.
On another note, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian demanded that the White House "immediately stop supporting the war crimes committed by the Israeli regime and take responsibility for them."
Internationally, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to confront the challenges of a changing world, warning that "Europe today is fleeting and may die."
In fresh sanctions, Britain added 6 more individuals to the sanctions regime targeting Iran. Washington also imposed "new sanctions on Iran targeting drones and Iranian primary goods, including Russia's use of Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine."
In another context, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that President Joe Biden has appointed Leez Grandi as the new Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs in the Middle East, succeeding former envoy David Satterfield.
Economically, the Saudi oil company Aramco announced a four-year global partnership agreement with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), months before the announcement of the host country for the 2034 World Cup, for which the Kingdom is the sole candidate.
