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.

A delegation from Oman visited Beirut in the past two weeks and met with a number of officials, especially from Hezbollah, a media report said.

The Israeli Army said that the man suspected of entering northern Israel from Lebanon and planting a bomb at the Megiddo Junction did not cross the border via a tunnel.

"The possibility of the terrorist crossing via a tunnel has been completely ruled out," The Times of Israel said.

Christian lawmakers who will take part in Bkirki’s upcoming “spiritual retreat” are not betting on achieving any progress regarding the presidential file, amid major disagreements over the vision, stances and solution mechanisms, a media report said on Tuesday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has described the calls for a bargain involving the presidency and the PM post as a “heresy,” stressing that there should be “a harmonious team.”