The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Al-Joumhouria
Presidential election not on Kerry’s agenda
Sources at the U.S. State Department told Al-Joumhouria that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Lebanon aims to show U.S. support for Lebanon during these circumstances, especially in terms of helping Lebanon cope with the Syrian refugee crisis.
The sources said Washington expects the refugee crisis to worsen, thus exposing Lebanon to serious risks.
The sources said Kerry would discuss with Lebanese officials a number of projects.
They said Kerry was also likely to discuss a decision taken by President Barack Obama regarding the establishment of a common fund to counter terrorism.
Al-Akhbar
Hariri sent checks to Alloush to be distributed in Tripoli
Future Movement head Saad Hariri had sent thousands of checks, each amounting to LL200,000, to former MP Mustafa Alloush to be distributed in Tripoli.
Information made available to Al-Akhbar said Hariri chose to use this way to “control spending, if not theft, that is.”
Separately, Al-Akhbar said rumors had it that Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk would push Antoine Sleiman to resign from his post as Mount Lebanon governor after his brother, former President Michel Sleiman, left Baabda Palace.
However, it was found that Machnouk has decided to ban Antoine Sleiman from signing any deal in violation of the law.
Al-Mustaqbal
Political parties hand over seized Syrian IDs to Syrian authorities
Sources told Al-Mustaqbal that certain political parties had seized the IDs of Syrians at refugee centers, mainly in Baalbek and Hermel, and handed them over to Syrian authorities.
Meanwhile, parties loyal to the Syrian regime put pressure on some refugees in the Western Bekaa, pushing them to coordinate with pro-regime mayors. However, this method failed in fulfilling their desires.
An-Nahar
Discussions on a Cabinet mechanism of action requires political decision
An-Nahar quoted a minister as saying that talks over a mechanism of action for the Cabinet were at a standstill, adding that the issue would need a political decision.
"The issue is not a matter to discuss a mechanism of action as much as it is an intention to disrupt the country under the pretext of defending the powers of the president," the minister said.
As-Safir
Berri, Salam threaten
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has sent a “harsh” message to boycotters as Parliament has been unable to pass laws due to some lawmakers’ boycott.
“It is no longer possible to remain silent about what is going on, and those who have harmed the Constitution will hear from me something they’ve never heard before,” Berri told As-Safir.
“Not only that, but they will see measures also," he warned.
As-Safir has also learned that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is frustrated over the delay in talks on a “mechanism of action” and the “powers of the prime minister.”
Salam has stressed during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday on the need to resolve the issue at Cabinet’s next session.
He also hinted that he “may be forced to take action in the event the issue remains unsettled.”
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