**An-Nahar**
In a meeting between a senior official and the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, the latter stated: "If you want Sleiman Frangieh, we may not object, but the idea that we can sway Saudi Arabia to support him is incorrect." It was noteworthy what was written in one of the Gulf newspapers following a visit by a political leader to one of its countries, which criticized the ruling class in Lebanon, questioning how we can give money to this country amid the corruption we observe. The widening gap between two allied parties was observed following scathing criticisms from the leader of one party and the exacerbation of differences between them on several files. A large number of residents in mountain villages have excluded diesel from their home heating lexicon, increasing demand for firewood and raising concerns about random tree cutting. Six money exchangers accused of speculation against the Lebanese pound were released yesterday on financial bail. One pharmacist noted that rising prices have increased profit margins, but a decline in demand has reverted the situation to where it was.
**Al-Joumhouria**
A governmental figure stated during a meeting with his advisors that some ministers’ statements were hasty and contributed to the hysterical rise in the dollar exchange rate. A senior official expressed astonishment that investigations with a financial official did not address financial engineering and corruption issues, but were limited to a purely personal matter. Contacts are underway to organize political movements directed towards international and UN bodies to address the displaced persons issue more seriously.
**Al-Liwaa**
Citizens are questioning why Electricité du Liban has not provided a schedule for electricity supply, which has returned to most areas and governorates, to avoid arbitrariness and inconsistent measures. Influential party entities have issued directives to maintain calm with Arab moderate capitals and to rely solely on what is issued by the higher leadership sites. A high-ranking financial official has devised a plan that goes beyond merely confronting the judiciary to addressing unforeseen possibilities in the upcoming three months.
**Nidaa Al-Watan**
It has been revealed that there is a wave of public criticism aimed at caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati following the announcement of a new passenger terminal building in Beirut. This criticism did not spare Akkar MPs and the Chairman of the Works and Transport Committee, MP Saji Attieh, who had prioritized the inauguration of Qlayaat Airport in his program before the elections. Rumors suggest that caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil received advice from Hezbollah officials not to raise the ceiling of his positions during the "Free Patriotic Movement" funding dinner, so as not to sever ties with the party. Information indicates that some political entities are broadly covering construction in public lands in coordination with a sovereign ministry under the pretext of economic conditions and preparing the popular ground for municipal elections.
**Al-Binaa**
A political source stated that the level of attendance in Riad Solh Square today will reveal the increase or decrease in funding for civil society organizations from the West, thus reflecting the investment in chaos or stability, rather than the perception of public anger or the popularity of change MPs. A Gulf diplomatic source indicated that the Syrian state has been a partner in the preliminary efforts for solving the Yemen crisis and remains active in the background communications, with the positive mutual appreciation between Yemenis and Syrians evident to all Arab and international parties that have engaged with negotiation files regarding the solution in Yemen.
**Al-Anbaa**
Temporary measures are a hallmark of the policy adopted by a related authority regarding the ongoing crisis, meaning the results will remain transitional. The fate of an anticipated step next week remains uncertain due to the stances being issued on this matter.
**Al-Akhbar**
Former Minister Mohammed Shuqair intends to participate in the municipal and optional elections in Beirut by forming a list, rumored to be led by former Beirut City Council member Rola Al-Ajjouz Saydani. It is noteworthy that she has moved between several positions in recent years, being proposed in the previous municipal elections as associated with the Future Movement, as well as in the parliamentary elections held last May to replace former MP Rola Tabash before Prime Minister Saad Hariri decided to retreat. She attempted to run on civil society lists and then with businessman Bahaa Hariri before withdrawing her candidacy. Officers and military personnel complain about being charged around 300,000 Lebanese pounds monthly to receive food aid (milk, rice, oil, etc.) that is distributed to them, noting that these are external aids provided as grants and that soldiers are responsible for packing and transporting them in military vehicles. Moreover, officers expressed surprise at the military leadership paying amounts in fresh dollars to insurance companies to insure approximately 80 pharmacies affiliated with military health centers against fire and theft, questioning how security agencies tasked with protecting citizens and combating crime are securing themselves against theft. Despite the reconciliation efforts led by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati between Defense Minister Maurice Sleem and Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, matters remain unchanged, with neither backing down from their decisions, contrary to previous reports. The guards of the Ministry of Defense prevented two retired officers visiting the Defense Minister from parking their cars in the designated area for the minister's visitors.
