Libya Audit Bureau wants to freeze bank accounts of firms accused of money smuggling
Libya’s Audit Bureau announced the names of figures and local and international firms involved in smuggling foreign currency, accusing them of greatly damaging Libya’s economy. The Audit Bureau sent a letter to the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), the Head of the Commission of Imports Budget, and the banks’ managers urging them to stop dealing with the bank accounts of the involved figures ad firms. 44 local companies and 24 foreign companies as well as names of persons were announced by the Audit Bureau. It also revealed money smuggling involving a group of companies and figures by using letters of credit, thus damaging Libya's economy, saying it is a form of organized crime. The Audit Bureau also said that there should be no letters of credit until the money smuggled is counted and then the file is sent to the concerned authorities.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 21:11 UTC
Center for Humanitarian Dialogue: First phase of Libya National Conference preparations ended
The Center for Humanitarian Dialogue announced in Geneva on Friday that the first preparations stage of Libyan National Conference has ended. In a presser in Tunisia, the center said it had held 42 meetings across Libya with over 2500 attendees, saying Libyans called for a united country with united military institutions that can defend Libyan sovereignty and foil political interventions, besides being committed to national reconciliation. The center also said that the parties taking part in the dialogues in Libya urged for a government of qualified officials and a qualified police to secure the country from the inside. “20 meetings will be also held in different Libyan cities to prepare for the Libyan National Conference this year, in addition to holding a constitution referendum and elections by the end of 2018.” The center added. The Center for Humanitarian Dialogue is Geneva-based NGO that helps resolve crises in different countries and helps hold dialogues among conflicting parties.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 18:56 UTC
Make way for Mediterranean cuisine
Even the Mediterranean cuisine that originates from the Mediterranean basin offers comforting, rich and vegetable dominant diverse cuisine. The city’s newest cravingWith restaurants like Flechazo, Olive Bistro, Spice 6, 4 Seasons, and Casbah offering the best of Mediterranean cuisine – the foodies in the city are delighted with this new culinary trend that never stops teasing their palate. These are probably the most sought-after and known dishes from the Mediterranean cuisine. A lot of fresh vegetables go into this cuisine, whereas meat is dominated by seafood, when it comes to non-veg. Chef speakJust like their moderate climate – sunny, yet mild, the moderation reflects in the cuisine as well.
Source:Libya Today
May 19, 2018 18:33 UTC
Tunisian and Libyan artists ‘breaking the ice’ through culture project
The exhibition, held between May 5-8, was the second activity of the cultural project, which was launched May 4 with a concert in Tunis featuring musicians from Libya and Tunisia. “Libyans and Tunisians worked on this project, which strives to break this wall between the two countries through art, and we found a great reaction from Tunisian and Libyan artists who expressed their eagerness to work on this. We called the project ‘Breaking the Ice’ to highlight the contradictions that exist in the relationship between Tunisians and Libyans,” said Henda Chennaoui, director of the project’s communications. “Now we are focusing on a new project of art in a public space, which is a huge challenge. The reasons it is important for artists to continue their work despite difficult conditions in Libya.
Source:Libya Today
May 19, 2018 17:48 UTC
Derna security official: UN envoy Salame refused to meet Derna people due to orders from UAE, Egypt and France
A senior commander of Derna Protection Force (DPF) has unveiled contacts made with him by a state official to arrange a meeting for the DPF and Derna people with UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame. Mohammed Dango said the official, whose name and position was not revealed, contacted him personally and conveyed Ghassan Salame’s request to meet them. Dango said they accepted the request, but the official contacted him again three days later to convey Salame’s apology for not being able to meet with Derna people or the DPF. According to Dango, the official, whom he said was in frequent contact with the UN envoy, justified Salame’s apology to the pressure which was exerted on him (Salame) by Egypt, the UAE and France to not meet with anyone from Derna. Dango said they lost confidence in the United Nations mission in Libya, describing it as “venal.”He also called on the residents of Tripoli, Misrata, Zawiya and the western region to stage protests to condemn the UN mission.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 17:03 UTC
UNDP to rehabilitate schools in 13 Greater Tripoli municipalities
The Libyan Stabilization Fund, supported by the UNDP, has started the rehabilitation of three schools in the Janzour municipality. The UNDP Libya said on Facebook on Thursday that the three schools were handed over to a contractor. “The rehabilitation of Al Watan Al Arabi and Janzour West Schools, and Janzour High School is the first of a long list of projects that the Stabilization Facility for Libya (SFL) will undertake in Greater Tripoli.” The UNDP said. The event marks the beginning of a series of projects that the Facility will implement in the 13 Municipalities of Greater Tripoli, the UNDP added.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 12:22 UTC
New Al-Naser football coach assigned
Al-Naser Football Club administration has chosen Fawzi Issawi to take over as coach of the first football team. The decision came after the cancellation of the contract with coach, Abdul Hafiz Arbesh, by mutual consent against the backdrop of the loss against Al-Ahli Benghazi 2-0 in the crucial quartet of the Libyan Football League. Al-Naser is scheduled play with Ittehad in the third round of the Quartet in Tripoli next Monday.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 12:22 UTC
History reveals the differences in denuclearizing Libya and North Korea
The reality is, the Libya situation that led to Gaddafi’s deposition and death was much different than that of North Korea today. “The Libyan model isn’t a model that we have at all when we’re thinking of North Korea,” he said. Another difference: unlike North Korea, Libya did not have a significant missile capability. But a missile test last fall by North Korea showed it has the capability of reaching the U.S. mainland. Given all this, it is a mistake to compare the situations of Libya and North Korea.
Source:Libya Today
May 19, 2018 12:00 UTC
Camp used by ISIS to make bombs discovered by Sirte Protection Force
The Information Center for Bunyan Marsoos Operation said on Thursday that the Protection and Security Force of Sirte and Bunyan Marsoos Mine Dismantling Unit had found a camp used by ISIS for making bombs, south of the city. The Information Center stated in a post on their official Facebook page that 11 Hauser shells were found along with 15 aerial bombs weighing 40 kg each during routine patrols by the force to secure and comb the valleys south of Sirte and to pursue the remnants of ISIS.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 10:41 UTC
Abu Salim Municipal Council says examinations should not be held in university halls
The Abu Salim Municipal Council has called for the Education Ministry’s decision to hold secondary school certificate exams within the halls of universities to be looked at again. In a statement, the council said that any decision regarding examinations should be preceded by a thorough study in coordination with security authorities in light of threats that could affect the safety and security of students as well as members of the university. The statement confirmed the full support of the council to provide all the proper conditions for conducting the examinations away from any steps they described as non-studied.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 10:30 UTC
Death toll rises as war intensifies in Derna
At least six civilians were killed and 14 injured, including a child, during the latest incursion in Derna, said Maria Ribeiro, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Head of its mission in Libya. In a statement, Ribeiro said 300 to 500 families had fled the area of Fatayeh, in eastern Derna and headed towards the city center for safety. She also pointed out that the fighting is raging and approaching densely populated areas, thus raising concerns about the protection of civilians. Ribeiro noted that humanitarian access to Derna is very limited and humanitarian aid materials are still pending approval.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 10:30 UTC
Southern roads completely unsafe as hijackers kidnap truck drivers
According to the information office of the Municipality of Albuanis, a number of truck drivers were kidnapped by an armed group on Thursday on the road between Sabha and Jufra. The office reported that the armed group set up a fake checkpoint then forced passengers to stop on the road. It added that the group kidnapped a number of truck drivers and drove them to an unknown destination, pointing out that among the trucks were three fuel tankers and three truckloads of goods. The office noted that the gunmen kidnapped an 11-year-old boy who was on board one of the trucks. The gunmen also seized money, mobile phones and the contents of a family travelling in a car from the Murzuq town.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 10:18 UTC
Zintan security chief murdered; elders demand killers to surrender
Fathi Aun, the head of the Support Force for the Security Directorates in the western and southern region, a.k.a the 200th Committee, was killed on Thursday after being shot in the city of Zintan. A source in Zintan said gunmen fired a barrage of bullets at Aun in the center of the town just before Maghreb prayer. Zintan Council of Elders called for the urgent punishment of the killers of Fathi Aun, saying that those who defend or conceal the crime of the killers or justify their actions are considered accomplices in all crimes committed. The Zintan 200th Committee is responsible for solving security problems and social issues in the town, especially murder cases and fighting trade of drugs and alcohol.
Source:Libya Observer
May 19, 2018 10:18 UTC
Joe Cassar, former ambassador to Libya, passes away
The former Maltese ambassador to Libya, Joe Cassar passed away Saturday, at the age of 70. Cassar was ambassador to Libya between 2005 and 2009, and authored a book on the Libyan revolution from Malta's perspective. Following the 1987 election, he was appointed acting information secretary of the Nationalist Party and later president of the administrative council. In 1990, Cassar was appointed ambassador to Eastern Europe and later adviser to Guido de Marco, then Foreign Minister and president of the United Nations General assembly. In a statement, the Nationalist Party said Cassar was an expert diplomat who served the country in several countries.
Source:Libya Today
May 19, 2018 08:26 UTC
Trump nominates Pacific commander Harris as U.S. ambassador to Seoul
FILE PHOTO - Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, waits for arrival of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not in picture) before their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Issei Kato/WASHINGTON - 19 May 2018: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday nominated Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, as U.S. ambassador to South Korea ahead of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled next month but since called into question by Pyongyang.If confirmed by the Senate, Harris would fill a post that has been vacant since Trump took office in January 2017.Harris was initially nominated by Trump to be U.S. ambassador to Australia but was asked last month by Mike Pompeo, now secretary of state, to take the post in Seoul instead, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons intensified.His formal nomination, announced by the White House, comes days after North Korea raised doubts about whether an unprecedented June 12 summit in Singapore between Kim Jong Un and Trump would go ahead, and Pyongyang called off talks with South Korea, whose president, Moon Jae-in, is due to meet Trump at the White House on Tuesday.Despite professed unity, Trump has often taken a harder line on North Korea than Moon, and the U.S. president has repeatedly criticized South Korea over trade while questioning the usefulness of the long-standing U.S. alliance with Seoul.On Thursday, Trump sought to placate North Korea after it threatened to call off the summit, saying Kim's security would be guaranteed in any deal and that his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.But in rambling comments mixing words of reassurance with threat, Trump also stressed that North Korea would have to abandon its nuclear weapons and warned that if no deal was reached, it could be "decimated" like Libya or Iraq.Harris, who is known for hawkish views on China's military expansion, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in March that Washington could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with "eyes wide open. "He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but North Korea remained the biggest Asia-Pacific security threat.Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state last month that filling Seoul and a handful of other diplomatic posts required "immediate attention. "The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea that was mulled by the administration earlier this year.
Source:Libya Today
May 18, 2018 21:45 UTC