Biden’s Mideast trip aimed at reassuring wary leaders
Biden’s Mideast trip aimed at reassuring wary leadersBy AAMER MADHANI, AYA BATRAWY, ZEKE MILLER and CHRIS MEGERIAN - Associated PressEvan Vucci - staff, AP President Joe Biden arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Friday, July 15, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Evan Vucci - staff, AP President Joe Biden arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Friday, July 15, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Evan Vucci - staff, AP President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Saturday, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Evan Vucci - staff, AP President Joe Biden waves before departure, July 16, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Before stepping foot in Saudi Arabia, President Joe Biden knew there would be trouble.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 15:33 UTC
Libya arrested in connection with 22 robbers
A Libyan man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of thefts and robbery over the past few months. Libyan car atomizer 29-year-old Rashid Ramadan Ibrahim Aljabo has been arrested in connection with a total of 22 thefts in Valletta, Hamrun, and Colmi over the past few months. The suspect was identified after investigating a series of thefts from Valletta from March to July this year. Police then pursued him to Marsa’s building after the tip-off when he was arrested on Monday. Police said the arrest occurred after weeks of investigation and collaboration between the Valletta and Floriana regional police and the Valletta and Colmi district police.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 15:30 UTC
Italy welcomes lifting force majeure on Libya’s oil ports
“We hope that this positive development will herald a new dynamic among Libya’s main stakeholders that will lead to overcoming differences and divisions, including on the government;“We call on all parties to work constructively towards these goals, peacefully addressing all differences through judicial mechanisms and dialogue,” it added. It is noteworthy that the new Chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation, Farhat Bengdara, announced Friday from Benghazi the lifting of force majeure on the oil ports and the return of production and export. the urgent improvement of basic services to the population; and the renewal of the intra-Libyan political dialogue on a consensual electoral roadmap with UN support,” the Embassy tweeted.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 12:45 UTC
Will Zintan Determine Libya’s Future?
Yet with a power struggle between Libya’s two rival prime ministers setting the stage for further violence, Zintan’s militias are united again. Soon after Khalifa helped conclude peace between Zintan and Misrata, resentment of Tripoli militias’ “stranglehold” over state institutions grew. But for other Zintan militias, the 2014 war couldn’t be forgotten; several joined Haftar’s LNA. The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum resumed, with Dbeibah—from a powerful business family in Misrata—its surprise choice for interim prime minister. In Zintan, Juwaili and the military council appear united against Dbeibah, but that shouldn’t be conflated with united support for Haftar.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 10:39 UTC
US ambassador, Congolese president discuss Libya
U.S. Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland met in Brazzaville with Congolese President Sassou N’Guesso, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High Level Committee on Libya “to reaffirm U.S. support of the AU Agenda”, according to U.S. Embassy in Libya. “The United States is supportive of efforts by Libya and its international partners to build a unified and inclusive government that can both secure the country and meet the economic and humanitarian needs of the Libyan people,” the Embassy said in a statement. Norland visited Brazzaville from July 13-15 to consult with Sassou. “The United States recognizes President Sassou’s leadership and continued efforts in search of a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Libya,” the statement pointed out. “We support ongoing efforts by the AU, spearheaded by President Sassou N’Guesso in cooperation with Libya’s Presidential Council, to help implement a roadmap on reconciliation that will bring Libyan stakeholders from across the country as well as international partners together in support of durable peace, the unification of institutions, peaceful elections, a stable democratic transition, and economic prosperity for the Libyan people,” it added.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 10:37 UTC
SRM University-AP Organized Embassy Connect with 14 Countries
The office of International Relations and Higher Studies at SRM University-AP organized an Embassy Connect Programme, in which ambassadors, education attaches, cultural attaches of more than 14 countries and joint secretaries, and deputy secretaries of various regions from the Ministry of External Affairs participated. SRM University-AP organized Embassy Connect with 14 countriesDr. Naga Swetha Pasupuleti, Associate Director, Office of International Relations and Higher Studies at SRM University-AP, facilitated the Embassy Connect hosted in Delhi. Mr. Aldrin Herwany, Education Attache from Embassy of Indonesia expressed keen interest in collaborating with SRM University, AP for exchange programs, joint research and collaborations. He said India is bridging gaps between nations through one of the strongest pillars of education and knowledge transfer and applauded the contribution by SRM University-AP in this regard. She emphasized and shared that SRM University-AP is home to a diverse, vibrant, and talented international student body.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 08:15 UTC
US Embassy alarmed by power struggle at Libya’s oil company – Daily Ardmoreite
CAIRO (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Libya expressed concern Thursday over the struggle for control of Libya’s oil corporation after its chairman was sacked by one of the country’s two rival governments the day before. Log InJoin Now Subscribe Now to continue reading.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 06:05 UTC
Biden meets with Arab Gulf countries to counter Iran threat
In the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, Biden will meet with heads of state from six Arab Gulf countries, plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq for a regional summit. At the summit, Biden was set to hear a chorus of concern about the region’s stability and security, as well as concerns about food security, climate change and the continued threat of terrorism. For example, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are trying to isolate and squeeze Iran over its regional reach and proxies. Iraq has hosted around five rounds of direct talks between Saudi and Iranian officials since Biden took office, though the talks have produced little results. “But the Middle East is also a region that is increasingly facing those challenges together under a group of leaders pursuing positive change."
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 04:45 UTC
Libya National Oil’s New Chief Says Production Will Be Fully Back in a Week
Libya is restarting its oil exports and production from all of its fields after reaching a deal with protesters, ending months-long blockade that had halved the OPEC nation’s output. “The National Oil Corporation declares the lifting of force majeure and the end of all closures of all Libyan oil fields and ports,” the new NOC Chairman Farhat bin Qadara said in a televised presser after securing an agreement with protesters and tribal heads to reopen the fields and export terminals that had been largely down since mid-April.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 03:30 UTC
Libya lifts force majeure on oil production in end to blockade
Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) on Friday announced it had lifted force majeure on the country's oil fields and ports. Force majeure allows a firm to get out of contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances. The announcement followed a decision by tribal groups to drop a monthslong blockade of facilities after the government in Tripoli appointed Farhat Bengdara as new head of the NOC Thursday. The oil sector has fallen prey to political struggles, but we will work to prevent political interference." Last year, Libyan oil production at times reached 1.2 billion bpd.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 03:13 UTC
Libya’s ‘New’ NOC Chair Vows Oil Will Flow Within A Week
After an armed takeover of Libya’s National Oil Company (NOC) on Thursday, newly appointed chairman Farhat Bengdara has told media that he is in full control and that force majeure could be lifted on Libya’s oil exports within a week. In an interview with Bloomberg, Bengdara said he would double Libya’s crude oil production to 1.2 million bpd. He also reiterated assurances to foreign partners that all existing contracts would be honored. Sanalla has also filed a complaint demanding the takeover decree be revoked and accusing the Dbeibah government of acting to appease the UAE. In the meantime, the NOC’s website and social media accounts have not published any updates since Thursday, further questioning who is in control.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 03:01 UTC
Libya announces full resumption of oil production after 3-month suspension amid protests
TRIPOLI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya on Friday announced full resumption of operation at all oil fields and ports in the country after about three months of closure amid waves of protests. "Upon resumption of oil production in all of the oil locations, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Oil and Gas to raise the daily production to the highest possible rates," said Farhat Gdora, the newly-appointed chairman of NOC, told a press conference in the eastern city of Benghazi. In mid-April, many oil fields and ports in Libya were shut down by local protesters who demanded Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah hand over power to the government appointed by the parliament in March. Dbeibah, however, has been refusing to do so, saying his government will only hand over power to an elected government. Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021, because of disagreements on the election laws among the parties.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 02:57 UTC
Libya reaches deal to reopen oil fields and export terminals
General view of the Libyan state National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Tripoli, Libya, July 14, 2022. (REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed)BloombergLibya’s government, National Oil Corp. and protesters have reached an agreement to reopen oil fields and export terminals, officials said. The deal follows a pledge from the new head of Libya’s National Oil Corp. to end a blockade and double crude production to 1.2 million barrels a day within a week. The slump has exacerbated a supply shortage in oil markets, putting upward pressure on prices that have added to inflation across the globe. US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland said on Twitter on Thursday that the embassy is "following with deep concern” the developments at the oil company.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 01:55 UTC
Ex-CIA engineer was convicted of causing a massive leak
Copy LinkA former CIA software engineer has been convicted in federal court of carrying out one of the largest data leaks in the spy agency’s history. Joshua Schulte, 33, was found guilty by a jury in Manhattan of passing along classified information to whistle-blower website Wikileaks in 2013, according to multiple reports. Schulte was reportedly convicted of eight espionage charges and one obstruction charge. “Today, Schulte has been convicted for one of the most brazen and damaging acts of espionage in American history,” he added. The following February Wikileaks began its Vault 7 releases.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 01:52 UTC
Libya interim PM, fighting ouster, promises populist spending plan
How Aramco became synonymous with the time-tested Saudi-US partnershipDHAHRAN: Saudi Aramco has become synonymous with the longstanding partnership between the Kingdom and the US, and is arguably one of the world’s most successful financial collaborations. A subsidiary company, the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, was created to manage that agreement. With the advent of computational power from IBM and Cray in the 1990s and early 2000s, Aramco was able to deploy 3D seismic technology. In 1988, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, or Aramco, was born and Ali Al-Naimi famously became the first Saudi president and CEO. The magazine rebranded as Saudi Aramco World in 2000 and renamed AramcoWorld in 2015.
Source:Libya Today
July 16, 2022 01:31 UTC