U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea answered three Lebanese officials weeks ago by saying that Suleiman Franjieh would be a “legitimate president,” a media report said on Wednesday.

On the occasion of World Water Day, the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (EBML) in partnership with UNICEF and the European Union inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Tallet el-Khayat station, one of the oldest water pumping stations in Beirut. 

Joint parliamentary committees convened Wednesday to discuss the financial situation and to question the government represented by Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Shami and Minister of Finance Youssef el-Khalil.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said that the dialogue was constructive and calm during the session.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Wednesday pledged that measures will be taken to limit the threats of birds and gunfire in the vicinity of Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport.

Security forces fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters, mainly retired soldiers, who tried to break through the fence leading to the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut.

Retired members of the armed forces protested their low salaries at Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square. They rallied earlier Wednesday in front of Parliament as joint parliamentary committees convened to discuss the financial situation in the country.

Lebanon’s struggling banks resumed work Wednesday on the occasion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, after a day of protests and sharp currency swings.

The Association of Banks announced Tuesday night that all lenders in the country will suspend the strike and resume work Wednesday.

The Lebanese pound recovered by around LBP 30,000 on the black market on Tuesday, after Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh announced a new Sayrafa platform scheme.

Several Israeli soldiers were wounded Tuesday when a landmine exploded under a military Humvee vehicle on the border with the Lebanese town of Aita al-Shaab, al-Manar TV reported.

The Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon on Tuesday called on pharmacies to "close as of this moment," after the black market dollar exchange rate hit the LBP 143,000 mark.

A new round of consultations might be held between the French and the Saudis, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported Tuesday.

The daily said it has learned from Diplomatic sources in Paris that France and KSA are committed to helping Lebanon and that the consultations won't necessarly be held in Paris.