President Michel Aoun on Wednesday stressed that “Lebanon is committed to carrying out the necessary reforms in order to continue the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund as part of the economic recovery plan.”

Aoun voiced his remarks in a meeting in Baabda with the new World Bank regional director Jean-Christophe Carret and the outgoing director Saroj Kumar Jha.

A Ministerial Committee approved Wednesday a financial aid for public sector employees.

Employees would be given an aid that is worth a full salary, and a daily transport allowance of LBP 95,000.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea called the Lebanese government on Wednesday to accept an Iranian fuel offer after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said he is willing to secure free fuel from Iran for Lebanon’s power plants.

Geagea said that the reason of his demand is not that he believes that "this will happen" but rather to avoid "leaving the Lebanese exposed to false rumors."

Public sector employees have been on an open strike for weeks now to demand an adjustment of their salaries, amid dire living conditions in Lebanon.

The strike has paralyzed all public administrations, frustrating the Lebanese citizens who need to get an identity card, a diploma for university or a driving license.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea urged Lebanon Wednesday to hold presidential elections on time and not to lose time in carrying out reforms that would satisfy the World Bank.

Shea said that the reforms requested by the International Monetary Fund are also for Lebanon's interest.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will arrive Sunday in Lebanon with a framework for an agreement, an Israeli media report said.

Hochstein's awaited response will be a compromise between Israel and Lebanon's demands, the report said.

Three indictments have been unsealed in federal court, detailing charges against three men, two formerly of Northeast Ohio, who are believed to be currently residing in Lebanon, the U.S. department of justice said in a statement.

George Nakhle Ajaltouni, 47, formerly of North Olmsted and Jean Youssef Issa, 48, of Batroun were charged "for their roles in a scheme to smuggle and illegally ship firearms from Cleveland to Lebanon."

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Tuesday urged Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to avoid a war with Israel, as he called for electing a new president who has a “clear program.”

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday said that “the framework agreement which they are trying to disavow does not talk about lines, but rather about demarcation and indirect negotiations in Naqoura” with the Israelis.

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday voiced concern that a new government might not be formed in the few remaining weeks of his tenure as he noted that there is still “hope” to see that happening.