Libya news

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) overseen by the UN has elected an interim prime minister and three-member Presidency Council to lead the war-ravaged country until elections at the end of this year.

Libya has begun pumping crude to its biggest port again a week after it was forced to shut down a worn-out pipeline due to a leak. With the link back online, the country’s output may exceed 1.2 million barrels a day again.

Crude output of OPEC member Libya has fallen by up to 200,000 barrels a day due to a leaking pipeline, the country’s oil major has announced, noting that production levels can further decrease.

Ankara has condemned the seizure of a Turkish vessel in the Mediterranean by forces from east Libya, promising a robust response to the interception and calling for the ship to be allowed to continue its journey.

Authorities in Beirut have reportedly arrested a French-Lebanese businessman linked to allegations of illicit Libyan financing for Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 French presidential election campaign, on foot of an Interpol request.

Self-proclaimed President-elect Joe Biden has chosen a budget director, Neera Tanden, who once argued the US should ease funding shortages for left-wing social programs by making countries like Libya pay for being bombed.