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.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday that General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim discussed, during Thursday’s ministerial crisis cell meeting, the latest developments over the Arsal captives dossier.
“Ibrahim tackled the negotiations being held with the Nusra Front and the list of demands the militant group submitted to the Qatari delegate to free the kidnapped Lebanese troops,” the daily said.
“The General Security chief also briefed the attendees on the reasons behind the stalled negotiations with the Islamic State group,” the newspaper quoted sources as saying, adding “mediation efforts have made a significant progress”.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday that the way Prime Minister Tammam Salam dealt with ministers during Thursday’s cabinet session was “different”.
“PM Salam stressed that he will no longer allow [ministers] to disrupt the government’s work,” the daily said, and quoted Salam as saying that “the decrees issued on regular affairs aren’t less important than the ones on governmental affairs”.
“In the past, decrees required the signature of 20-21 ministers to be passed. Why did this concept change during the last sessions? Why would the decrees require now the signature of 24 ministers?,” Salam asked.
Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi said on Friday that a positive atmosphere prevailed over Thursday’s cabinet session, noting that “the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, the agenda and the work mechanism remain unchanged”.
“The only thing that has changed is that the ministers have shown a renewed will to reach understanding on several items while avoiding attempts to disrupt the government’s work,” Azzi told Al-Joumhouria daily.
“The head of the Beirut Port Authority Hassan Qoraytem visited Bkerke where he met with Bishop Boulos Sayyah who has been tasked with following up on the [controversial] fourth basin at the port,” well-informed sources reported on Friday.
“Qoraytem briefed Sayyah on the capacity of the Beirut Port and each of its basins,” the sources told Al-Joumhouria newspaper.
Both Bkerke and the five Christian parties - Free Patriotic Movement, Kataeb Party, Lebanese Forces, Marada Movement and Tashnag – reject filling the 4th basin.