Libya

At least eight people, including five foreigners, were killed when gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday, a local security official said.
   

Security black holes around Turkey are getting bigger, yet the government is not vocalizing the threat is becoming more serious, warns an analyst. 'Being Muslim will not protect Turkey from radicalism,' says security expert Mete Yarar.

Turkey held talks with Algeria on the crisis in Libya as part of efforts made by Algeria to convince rival parties in the restive Arab country to sit down at the negotiation table, according to an Algerian diplomatic source.

The five-member crew of a Maltese tanker vessel, including two Bulgarian nationals, has been arrested in Libya for alleged smuggling of oil products.

The Moldova-flagged ship, Sunoil I, and its crew were detained in Tripoli on 3 January, Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

In 2012, Mexico was the first emerging economy to lead the G20. So Turkey is not the first. But those out there with unhealthy ?first time ever? obsessions can take solace in Turkey being the first Muslim-majority country to chair the G20. This is one more ?first time ever? for you. No one says it out loud, but I can see it in their eyes ?

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu will attend, on Monday, the reunion of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European Union (FAC), that will take place in Brussels.

Photo credit: (c) Liviu SOVA / AGERPRES PHOTO

The army of Libya's internationally recognized government announced on Jan. 18 that it would cease fire, two days after an Islamist-backed militia alliance announced a truce.
      
"We declare a ceasefire from midnight (2200 GMT) Sunday," said the army said, stressing however that it would continue to pursue "terrorists", as UN-brokered peace talks resume in Geneva next week.

Almost half of French oppose publication of cartoons depicting Islam's Prophet Mohammed, according to a poll Jan. 18, as global debate deepened on the limits of free speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo killings.
      

BELGRADE - Libyan Ambassador to Belgrade Shradi Tajouri has hosted a reception to mark Libya's Independence Day, and the event was also attended by Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic.

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has suggested renewal in relations with Russia in the spheres of global diplomacy, trade and other issues on Wednesday.