National Struggle Front members led by MP Walid Jumblat submitted on Thursday to the interior ministry their candidacies for the parliamentary elections.
The National News Agency said the seven candidates are Jumblat, Nehme Tohme, Elie Aoun and Alaeddine Terro from the Shouf district, Akram Shehhayeb representing electorates in Aley, Ayman Shuqair from Baabda and Wael Abu Faour from the Western Bekaa.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is expected to head to Paris on Monday on a four-day official visit to meet with senior French officials.
An Nahar newspaper reported on Thursday that al-Rahi will hold talks with French President Francois Hollande on the second day of his visit.

Binding consultations for naming a prime minister-designate are likely to result in nearly 60 MPs in favor of the March 14 alliance's candidate, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday as MP Tammam Salam held talks with al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri, a sign that he is the coalition's candidate.
The newspaper said that another 58 MPs would come in support of the March 8 camp's nominee while the rest of the lawmakers would not name any PM-designate who will be tasked with forming the new cabinet less than a month after the resignation of Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is holding on to the carrying out of the upcoming parliamentary elections on time to "preserve the democratic system in the country."
Hariri, according to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Thursday, hailed the stances of President Michel Suleiman, considering that he is implementing the constitution and the national pact.

The Bulgarian Charge d'Affaires in Lebanon, Plamen Tzolov, said his government was still waiting for the cooperation of the Lebanese authorities on the investigation into the bus bombing on Israeli tourists last year.
In remarks to As Safir daily published Thursday, Tzolov said: “The Bulgarian government is still waiting for the response of the Lebanese government and mainly the justice ministry on a request made by Bulgaria to cooperate on this security file.”

A Lebanese businessman, who is suspected by Saudi authorities of espionage for a foreign country, is reported to be the key player in spy cell that was unveiled by Saudi in March.
Sources said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Thursday that the Lebanese suspect, a Shiite, is the most “dangerous” detainee in the network.

The U.S. State Department urged “all parties in the Syria conflict to respect the sovereignty of Lebanon” after Syrian warplanes pounded earlier on Wednesday a house on the outskirts of the eastern border town of Arsal.
“We’re frankly not in a position to confirm this ourselves at the moment. But if in fact it is confirmed by the Lebanese side, it would represent the latest and most egregious violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty … in the Syrian conflict,” said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.

Christian leaders meeting in Bkirki on Wednesday decided not to submit any nomination for a parliamentary elections based on the 1960's law, announcing the suspension of discussions over the Orthodox Gathering's proposal.
"The leaders consider that the 1960's law further strengthens injustice against Christians,” a released statement after the meeting explained.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks on Wednesday with Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan on naming a new prime minister-designate.
Arslan said after the talks: “We hope that the parliamentary consultations over naming a new premier will be postponed in order to pave way for an agreement over a candidate.”

The Higher Committee for Consultations at the Justice Ministry responded on Wednesday to inquiries submitted by the Interior Ministry on the legality of civil marriage in Lebanon.
The committee reiterated its support for civil marriage in Lebanon.
