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.
Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday that the first dialogue session is set to be held in Ain El-Tineh during the first half of December.
"Hezbollah Secretary General's Political Assistant Hajj Hussein Khalil as well as a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc are likely to represent the Shi'ite group," the sources said.
"The Future Movement may be represented by adviser Nader Hariri and MP Jamal al-Jarrah," the same sources added.
In this regard, Speaker Berri told his guests that contacts will be revived this week as Nader Hariri and other officials are set to return after meeting with Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri.
A ministerial source has revealed to An-Nahar daily the reasons that prompted the government to hold direct negotiations with the kidnappers of Lebanese troops.
According to the source, one of the reasons was "the imminent threat to the lives of the captive soldiers, which has increased during the last few days," in addition to "the slow pace of negotiations by the Qatari mediator whose work plan is yet to be clarified".
"The release of a captive Hezbollah fighter by the Shi'ite group has also embarrassed the government before the public opinion," the same source said.
It added that the demands of kidnappers were not clear, saying "the abductors did not issue a list of names of those they seek to release".
Activists in Syria's Qalamoun said on Monday that Abu Talal al-Hamad, the Emir of the Islamic State militant group in the town, was expelled, noting that he was the "mastermind" in the Arsal captives dossier.
Sources also told Al-Akhbar daily that a new Emir in Qalamoun will be appointed soon, saying "the new IS leader is likely to be Tunisian".
"Such changes will definitely complicate negotiations aiming to secure the release of kidnapped Lebanese troops held by the Islamic State," the sources added.
Sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday that a delegation of senior army officers will head to Moscow today under the chairmanship of Lebanese Armed Forces' Chief of Staff Major General Walid Salman.
"The delegation will hold further discussions over the weapons and ammunition Lebanon is set to buy from Russia," the sources said, adding that they include tanks, military helicopters and various ammunition.