The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
Future movement leader MP Saad Hariri confirmed to Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, in a meeting held two days ago, that the Future bloc is adamant on holding dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement, Al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.
Hariri told Bassil however that he cannot support the candidacy of FPM leader MP Michel Aoun for the presidential race, noting that Aoun's political stances do not come in line with that of the Future bloc.
Well-informed sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday that President Michel Sleiman is set to deliver a speech on Friday whereby he will highlight the need to abide by Lebanon's international commitments and the implementation of international resolutions, mainly UN resolution 1701.
Sleiman will also shed light on the importance of the Baabda Declaration while stressing the need to adhere to the dissociation policy regarding incidents taking place in neighboring Arab countries, namely Syria.
In this regard, Sleiman will call for a peaceful settlement that ends the bloodshed in Syria and preserves the country's territorial integrity, the sources said.
The US administration has voiced support to the March 14 forces that continue to "play a key role in Lebanon," well-informed sources told Al-Hayat daily on Thursday.
"The US administration and US ambassador to Lebanon David Hale are keen on upholding relations with several Lebanese officials," the sources said.
The same sources added that "Washington has a strong confidence in Future movement leader MP Saad Hariri," noting that the US administration and Paris are keen on the election of a new president who abides by national standards, such as the Baabda Declaration and the dissociation policy.
The Joint Parliamentary Committees have made progress over the funding of the new pay scale, An-Nahar daily reported on Thursday.
Well informed sources told the daily that the committees finalized discussions on articles linked to its funding, and agreed that the cost of the scale will reach L.L. 1,740 billion.
The latest committee talks also included tax amendments, such as raising the Value Added Tax from 10 to 12 percent.
The raise will exclude taxes on fuel, electricity, water resources, and essential goods.