Lebanon's cash-strapped leaders are bribing their base with free Covid-19 jabs ahead of next year's elections, in what observers say is the latest variant on an old corruption trick. 

Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday evening on whether or not the current government formation efforts have made progress.

Sources close to Hizbullah secretary-general’s assistant Hussein Khalil, Hizbullah official Wafiq Safa and Speaker Nabih Berri’s aide Ali Hassan Khalil told al-Manar TV that the trio’s meeting with Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday evening was “positive.”

Protesters on Wednesday took to the streets in several Lebanese regions to denounce the dire economic situations, mainly the dollar, gasoline and electricity crises.

In Beirut’s Verdun area, demonstrators gathered at the Druze Council intersection, blocking the road with trash bins and tree branches.

The overnight meeting between Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil, Hizbullah secretary-general’s assistant Hussein Khalil and Speaker Nabih Berri’s aide Ali Hassan Khalil was “positive,” al-Jadeed TV said on Wednesday.

“The meeting broke the ice after the previous stormy meeting,” the TV network added.

In an acquaintance visit, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri met Wednesday with the newly appointed UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, Hariri’s press office said on

In April, the UN Secretary General António Guterres appointed Wronecka of Poland as Special Coordinator for Lebanon, succeeding Jab Kubis of the Slovak Republic.

To all the struggles of life in Lebanon — the pandemic, the power outages, the inflation, the punishing financial and political crises — add one more: shortages of crucial medications.

But as residents struggle to find the medicines they need, some are finding that their fellow Lebanese are doing what they can to help.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Jebran Bassil met at his residence in Bayyadah overnight with senior political aide to Berri, MP Ali Hassan Khalil; political aide to Hizbullah leader Hussein Khalil; and Hizbullah official Wafik Safa.

The Iraqi government approved to provide Lebanon with Iraqi oil increasing this support from 500,000 tons to one million tons, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

Syrian state media reported late Tuesday an Israeli aerial attack near the Syrian capital of Damascus and in the central province of Homs, prompting a response from national air defenses.

The Syrian state news agency said the Israeli attacks came over Lebanon.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called on Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to take a final decision regarding the formation of the new government.

“The Lebanese are still waiting for positive results from the parliament speaker’s initiative and for the PM-designate’s cooperation with it,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly e-meeting.