Ambassador Christina Lassen, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, met with the Head of the Environment Parliamentary Committee, MP Akram Shehayeb, and discussed with him the urgent challenges that Lebanon is facing in managing solid waste, particularly in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, a press release said.

Lassen addressed with Shehayeb the need to move forward with the review and adoption of the law on integrated solid waste management.

Police in the northern district of Akkar arrested a suspect over his alleged involvement in arms trade across the country's border, the National News Agency said Saturday.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said that the country's 2017 draft state budget will soon be ratified and promulgated, as he stressed keenness on maintaining the country's monetary stability, al-Joumhouria daily reported Saturday.

“The State budget will soon be ratified and published. The cabinet has sent a request adding an article that allows us to publish it as soon as it is approved,” said Khalil to the daily.

President Michel Aoun stressed during a meeting with US Central Command, General Charles Brown at the Baabda Palace, that Lebanon is continuing its efforts to combat terrorism and pursue sleeper cells, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

"Lebanon is continuing to fight terrorism after liberating its eastern border from the Islamic State group," said Aoun, pointing out that "the current efforts are focused on pursuing sleeper cells and arresting their members."

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said on Friday that the parliament is supposed to convene next week so as to approve the draft laws related to the wage scale agreed during Friday's cabinet meeting.

Minister of Information Melhem Riachi said on Friday that it is the "duty of Christians" to look beyond worldwide extremism and to opt for real peace with Muslim partners, the National News Agency reported.

After four cabinet meetings dedicated to address the controversial wage hike crisis, Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Friday that the cabinet has reached an agreement on the issue.

Hariri announced that the “cabinet has agreed on an expedited draft law that includes tax adjustments,” noting that “it will be referred to the parliament.”

After the cabinet agreed on Thursday to pay the salaries according to the new wage hikes, the Lebanese Forces emphasized the need to secure revenues to fund the scale for future disbursement of salaries to “prevent financial deterioration,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday strongly defended his latest meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, which sparked controversy in Lebanon, as he reassured on the firmness of the FPM's ties with each of al-Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah.

“I don't want anyone to attack the premiership, but I won't accept that my jurisdiction be encroached on,” Bassil said in an interview on LBCI television.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, chaired by Republican Representative Ed Royce, on Thursday passed a bill to further sanction Hizbullah, according to a statement posted on its website.

“Hizbullah and Iran are reportedly introducing game-changing facilities into the region – independent factories that can produce rockets to be used against Israel and our allies. We also have reports of missile factories opening up in Lebanon near mosques, homes, hospitals, and schools,” Royce noted.