In celebration of International Women’s Day under this year’s #BalanceforBetter theme, British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling hosted a reception at his residence in recognition of the embassy's “continued support to women across various fields and programs,” the UK embassy said on Thursday.

The event was attended by British Minister for Middle East and International Development Alistair Burt, Minister of State for Youth and Women Violette Safadi in addition to women and men across all disciplines of life.

U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Philippe Lazzarini has marked the occasion of International Women's Day, which the world celebrates on March 8, with an op-ed.

Below is the op-ed titled “Women in Lebanon - Unreached Potential for Growth”:

The Cabinet on Thursday approved the appointment of Brig. Gen. Elias al-Baysari as acting Director General of the General Security agency for a one-year period, the National News Agency said.

It also appointed Mahmoud Makkiyeh as Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers as it postponed naming new members to the Military Council to another session.

President Michel Aoun received on Thursday the former French President Francois Hollande who plans to make a series of meetings with Lebanese officials to discuss the economic aid for Lebanon agreed at the CEDRE support conference last year.

Hollande had arrived Wednesday in Beirut and met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri who threw a banquet in his honor.

Speaker Nabih Berri chaired the parliament’s legislative session on Thursday after a previous session on Wednesday that approved a law authorizing the government to borrow funds in foreign currencies.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday stressed that Lebanon “will not allow infringement of its rights and sovereignty” following Israel’s breach of Lebanon’s territorial waters.

Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate for the Mediterranean who is in charge of following up on the implementation of the CEDRE conference resolutions, is expected to visit Beirut again before the end of March, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

His visit aims to “identify the Lebanese seriousness to implement the CEDRE recommended reforms,” said the daily.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Wednesday evening at the Center House with former French president Francois Hollande, the premier's office said.

The meeting was held in the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher, MP Nazih Najm and ex-minister Ghattas Khoury.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday promised that his government will devise an electricity plan within three months, as Parliament approved a law authorizing the government to borrow funds in foreign currencies.

LBCI television said Hariri demanded slashing a loan requested for power generation to “LBP 794 billion over three months” pending the finalization of the electricity plan.

Nader Hariri, the former aide of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, hit back Wednesday at TV host-turned-MP Paula Yacoubian after she claimed that he was “sacked” by the premier for being involved in suspicious deals.

“It has become clear that in her quest for fake stardom, MP Paula Yacoubian is insisting on targeting Mr. Nader Hariri and tarnishing his reputation through launching wrong accusations in an arbitrary way without offering any details or specific information,” said a statement issued by Nader Hariri's lawyer, Nabil Maad.