The central bank will give pre-approvals to all seven oil importing companies to import seven fuel ships, according to TV channels.

Israel's foreign minister has proposed improving living conditions in Gaza in exchange for calm from the enclave's Hamas Islamist leaders, aiming to solve "never-ending rounds of violence" as the two sides exchanged fresh fire over the weekend.

The plan, which includes infrastructure and employment benefits, aims to show Palestinians in the Israeli-blockaded enclave that Hamas's campaign of violence against Israel is "why they live in conditions of poverty, scarcity, violence and high unemployment, without hope", Yair Lapid said Sunday.

Children clutching glow sticks shrieked with delight and onlookers gazed awestruck as Blackpool's Illuminations lights festival launched to a spectacular volley of fireworks from its 158-metre Victorian tower.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati has said that since his designation as premier he has been communicating with Arab funds in order to reactivate support projects for Lebanon, noting that he talked to Kuwait to “revive a soft, long-term loan for accomplishing the electricity plan and building plants.”

Kuwait “has always been at the forefront of supporting Lebanon” and “has provided it with urgent and necessary aid during the major crises,” Miqati said in an interview with the Kuwaiti al-Jarida newspaper.

Lebanon's new government, finally formed in the throes of an accelerating economic meltdown after 13 months of political deadlock, has its work cut out.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi met Iran's recently-elected President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday to discuss the neighbors' economic relations, official sources said.

Hours after his third government was formed, Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped for progress in Lebanon’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

“We are implementing its conditions and awaiting its assistance,” Miqati said in an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Asharq TV.

Lebanon's new prime minister Najib Miqati has pledged to gain control of one of the world's worst economic meltdowns, saying lifting subsidies was a critical priority for the small country's government formed after a year of political stalemate.

It is a momentous task facing the 24-minister Cabinet, which includes fresh faces who are prominent experts in their fields, but which still reflects Lebanon's fractious politics.

Two decades after its destruction in the Sept. 11 attacks, the work to rebuild the World Trade Center complex remains incomplete.

Two planned skyscrapers, a performing arts center and a church are still unfinished at the site, which plays host Saturday to the annual ceremony honoring nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks.

Lebanon's long-awaited ration card plan was launched Thursday by caretaker Economy Minister Raoul Nehme and caretaker Social Affairs Minister Ramzi Msharrafiyeh.