Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday lashed out at what he called the “approach of thuggery” in Lebanon's political life.

“Our battle today is between two concepts: the concept of the state and the concept of authoritarianism,” Bassil said in a speech at a graduation ceremony at the Antonine University.

Ex-minister Ashraf Rifi has issued a warning to Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on the eve of the latter's visit to the northern city of Tripoli.

Rifi appeared in a social media video in which he described Bassil as “the Daesh of Christians.”

Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP and ex-interior minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Friday criticized Justice Minister Albert Serhan, who is one of the ministers who are loyal to President Michel Aoun in the government.

“It is obvious that the justice minister has favored his political affiliation over his professional reputation,” Mashnouq tweeted.

Sheikh Ali Daamoush, the deputy head of Hizbullah's Executive Council, on Friday stressed that “harming, insulting, intimidating and killing people is something rejected,” in reference to the unrest and deadly incident in the Aley district.

“Imposing new norms in Lebanon, which is the country of diversity, coexistence and openness, is something that does not serve the interest of any Lebanese, and it is not beneficial to establish things that harm the image of coexistence and rapprochement among the Lebanese,” Daamoush added.

Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan on Friday called on President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri not to “mix blood with politics,” in reference to the ongoing political efforts to contain the repercussions of the deadly Qabrshmoun incident.

Speaking at the funeral of Rami Salman in the town of Ramliyeh, Arslan said it saddens him to “bid farewell to any young man from the Druze community.”

The funeral procession of Lebanese Democratic Party member, Rami Salman who was killed in Sunday’s Qabrshmoun clashes, kicked off on Friday in his hometown of Ramlieh.

President Michel Aoun on Friday delivered a message addressing the Lebanese youth saying “because you are the future of Lebanon, my message today is dedicated to you,” the address began.

The Lebanese Democratic Party has set the date for the funeral of two guards of State Minister for Refugee Affairs Saleh al-Gharib, who were killed in Sunday's Qabrshmoun clash, after it had linked the funeral with the extradition of the perpetrators and referring the case to the Judicial Council, Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Friday.

A protest was staged Thursday outside the headquarters of Beirut Municipality in the center of the capital ahead of a session for discussing and approving the terms of reference for setting up a controversial waste incinerator in the city.

The decision on the move was however postponed amid reservations voiced by council members belonging to the Lebanese Forces, the Free Patriotic Movement and other parties.

Game Cooks, a leading gaming studio of mobile and Virtual Reality (VR) content based in San Francisco and Beirut, has won the “VR and Beyond” challenge organized by Dubai Future Accelerators in partnership with Burj Khalifa and HTC Vive Middle East.

Game Cooks competed with around 115 VR companies from around the world and was shortlisted among 6 finalists before earning the first rank. The event organizers had invited VR developers and companies to build VR content for Burj Khalifa to enhance visitors’ experience. The competition rewards the most captivating and memorable user experience in virtual reality.