Introduction to the evening news 18-03-2012

The upcoming week carries several challenges and complications on the Lebanese scene:   

On the financial forefront, stands the suspended file of “the billions” whose solution apparently hinges on the draft law to be forwarded by the minister of finance.    
As for the second issue, it will be marked by the statements put forth by the Deputy Secretary of State for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence who will kick off his meetings with Lebanese officials on Tuesday, including the governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank.   

As for the public safety issue, notably the food safety, the measures that the concerned authorities will take in this regard are expected to elucidate by next week especially that certain ministerial positions voiced today revealed a prolongation of the rotten food issue. Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan revealed today that the rotten food scandal is not only limited to meat but rather extend to involve yogurt, cheese, coffee, agricultural substance and “chips”.     

As for the Syrian issue, car bombs violence continues. Today, it was Aleppo’s turn as an explosion struck near a Syrian government security building in the northern city. Meanwhile, AFP reported that France filed a complaint against former Defense Minister General Mustafa Tleiss over war crimes. General Tleiss is currently in Paris.