The Cabinet held another budget session on Tuesday amid reports that Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil plans to present an “initiative” that will help in slashing the state’s budget deficit.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement the sabotage attacks on four commercial civilian ships in the UAE's territorial waters.

The Ministry voiced calls on the United Nations and the international community to seek to maintain the security, safety and freedom of global maritime navigation.

In the framework of regular visits organized by the Association of Banks in Lebanon to financial capitals, a delegation from the Board of Directors of the Association of Banks last week visited New York and Washington, media reports said on Tuesday.

Lebanon’s Cabinet is holding successive meetings to finalize an already belated state budget which Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said requires more discussions probably until Friday, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“Currently we are studying the budgets to be allocated to the ministries, discussions are touching on the smallest details which makes it unlikely to finalize discussions today. We might need additional meetings probably until Friday,” Khalil told the daily.

Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab on Monday reassured that the salaries and other compensations of active and retired servicemen will not be touched, as the Cabinet held another budget session.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday strongly condemned the sabotage attacks on four commercial civilian ships in the UAE's territorial waters.

A Hizbullah delegation led by political council chief Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed on Monday offered condolences in Bkirki over the death of former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

The state-run National News Agency says a fishing boat that was illegally carrying eight Syrian refugees to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has capsized.

The report says the incident occurred on Monday off the northern Lebanese town of Chekka. It says that Lebanon's navy detained three of the Syrians when they returned to the coast and that the other five are still missing.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned the terrorist acts of sabotage against oil tankers off the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, saying they pose a serious threat to the safety of navigation in one of the world's most important waterways, the Premier press office said on Monday.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday stressed that diplomatic cables leak is “impermissible” especially if it comes in a “systematic or programmed manner.”