Press reports cite security, political and economic developments in Lebanon

Today's press reports cite major improvements to prisons and detention facilities التابعة to the General Directorate of General Security, and Director General Major General Hassan Shuqair inspected several of them to verify that conditions matched the reports submitted to him. Eight candidates are competing for the presidency of the Beirut Families Union. Around 1,000 tanker trucks carrying Iraqi oil are expected to reach Lebanon as Baghdad distributes stock after export disruptions and the lack of sufficient storage space. An النفط refining plant in northern Lebanon needs about 24 months to become ready for actual operation, and is expected to create 1,000 jobs and generate about $800 million a year for Lebanon. A political expert said all indications show that war is inevitable.