Libya Awalan TV joins CNN’s global affiliate network

CNN International has announced that Libya Awalan TV (which translates as ‘Libya First’) is to join its global network of affiliates. The partnership is the first with a private network in Libya and adds to CNN’s global presence, as well as its strength in North Africa.

Libya Awalan TV was founded in March 2011, shortly after the conflict in Libya began, and made its inaugural broadcast a few weeks later on 1 April. It employs more than 200 people and has control rooms in Tripoli and Benghazi, as well as in Cairo. During the Libya conflict, Awalan’s reporters brought detailed reports from across the country, and the station continues to report on Libya’s ongoing recovery in five daily news bulletins and across breaking news.

Deborah Rayner, VP and managing editor at CNN International, said: “Libya Awalan’s bravery and commitment to independent journalism during the conflict in Libya was an example to any news network, and their ongoing commitment to serious reporting is there for all to see. They will be valuable partners to CNN International and we’re delighted to be welcoming them to our affiliate family.”
Hassan Tatanaki, founder and chairman of Libya Awalan TV, added: “CNN is the original 24-hour news channel and a network that continues to set the standard in global news. It has a long-standing presence in and passion for our region, so to become part of its affiliate network is a proud moment for us as a young channel. We hope we can make a strong contribution to CNN’s reporting in a new and free Libya and beyond.” read more

Exclusive- Another Libyan Club Chases Kotoko Striker Seidu Bancey

By Saddick Adams

Ghana league top scorer Asante Kotoko could be on his way out the club at the end of the season after top Libyan outfit Al Ahli SC of Benghazi offered a mouth-watering offer for the hitman, Ghanasportsonline.com can exclusively reveal.

The striker's contract, Ghanasportsonline.com understands has a year left and the Asante Kotoko chiefs are quietly confident of him signing a new deal but the offer will obviously deril their plans.
Bancey has been watched by the Benghazi-based side for months and they lodged a fresh inquiry this week, according to reports.

Al Ahli Benghazi, owned by Libyan Billionaire business mogul and philantrophist Hassan Tatanaki have made the ex Edubiase marksaman their first-choice target to strengthen their attack at the resumption of the Libyan league.

The Ghanaian giants have just crashed out of the Champions League to Liberian club Barrack Young Controllers in just the first qualification round and things doesnt seem well financiakky for the club as striker Yahaya Mohammed shockingly signed for Libyan side Al Ittihad Tripoli.
Seidu Bancey tops the First Capital Plus Bank Ghana Premier League with 7 goals in 10 matches.

Venture Capital Bank Acquires Stake in Major Oil Drilling Company

ANAMA, Bahrain, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Venture Capital Bank (VC Bank), a Bahrain-based investment bank, along with its partner, the US private equity firm Global Emerging markets (GEM), have acquired a significant stake in the MENA-based oil drilling contractor Challenger Limited. Established in 1991, Challenger currently owns and operates a fleet of 22 rigs in Libya providing drilling and work-over services of oil, gas and water wells, with offices in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The acquisition was co-funded by VC Bank and its strategic technical partner GEM illustrating VCBank's non-conventional pursuit to attract North American and European funds and sources of capital to investment opportunities in the MENA region. This significant transaction was completed by a team from VC Bank and GEM, not only strengthening the successful partnership between the two firms, but demonstrating that the region hosts many attractive, yet obscured, investment opportunities represented in privately held companies such as Challenger that operates mainly in Libya.

 The acquisition was co-funded by VC Bank and its strategic technical partner GEM illustrating VCBank's non-conventional pursuit to attract North American and European funds and sources of capital to investment opportunities in the MENA region. This significant transaction was completed by a team from VC Bank and GEM, not only strengthening the successful partnership between the two firms, but demonstrating that the region hosts many attractive, yet obscured, investment opportunities represented in privately held companies such as Challenger that operates mainly in Libya.continue reading

$25b needed to boost crude output

Tripoli: Libya's oil industry will need at least $25 billion (Dh91.8 billion) in investment to increase its oil production to two million barrels a day, said the chairman of drilling-rig operator Challenger Ltd.

"Fields need to be developed, others redeveloped," Hassan Tatanaki said in a telephone interview on Friday. "The Libyan oil industry needs a lot of revamping. We have to reinvest to be able to get the proper cost effective amount into the industry in terms of the country's production level."

The armed conflict in Libya, holder of Africa's largest proven reserves, has reduced the nation's output to 100,000 barrels a day in July from the 1.6 million barrels pumped before the uprising started in February. A full recovery of production may take as long as three years, according to analysts' estimates.

Tatanaki, 53, said he intends to play a role in rebuilding Libya's oil industry, of which Challenger's 35 rigs across the country "are the core".

His Libya Al Hurra charity, set up shortly after the unrest began, has been providing humanitarian aid and relief to refugees and those displaced by the conflict in Libya operating out of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and the US.

"We're not just concentrating on just medical and food supplies," Tatanaki said. "We also want to play a part in other ways so that in the next year or so we have a proper constitution, transparency that helps create a democracy."

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi continued to battle revolutionaries in the Libyan capital Tripoli, as the opposition National Transitional Council said the North African nation's humanitarian aid needs are "urgent".

Rebel leaders worked to retrieve assets frozen by the United Nations and individual countries in an effort to obtain funding for food, and humanitarian and medical needs, transitional council Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil said at a press conference in Benghazi on Friday.

Since fighting began in Libya, the number of people killed has "exceeded 20,000", Abdul Jalil said. read more

Libya Needs $25 Billion in Investments for Oil Production, Challenger Says

Libya’s oil industry will need at least $25 billion in investment to increase its oil production to 2 million barrels a day, the chairman of drilling-rig operator Challenger Ltd. said.

“Fields need to be developed, others redeveloped,” Hassan Tatanaki said in a telephone interview today. “The Libyan oil industry needs a lot of revamping. We have to reinvest to be able to get the proper cost effective amount into the industry in terms of the country’s production level.”
The armed conflict in Libya, holder of Africa’s largest proven reserves, has reduced the nation’s output to 100,000 barrels a day in July from the 1.6 million barrels pumped before the uprising started in February. A full recovery of production may take as long as three years, according to analyst estimates.

Tatanaki, 53, said he intends to play a role in rebuilding Libya’s oil industry, of which Challenger’s 35 rigs across the country “are the core.” His Libya El Hurra charity, set up shortly after the unrest began, has been providing humanitarian aid and relief to refugees and those displaced by the conflict in Libya operating out of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and the U.S.

“We’re not just concentrating on just medical and food supplies,” Tatanaki said. “We also want to play a part in other ways so that in the next year or so we have a proper constitution, transparency that helps create a democracy.”

Forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi continued to battle rebels in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, as the opposition National Transitional Council said the North African nation’s humanitarian aid needs are “urgent.” read more

Challenger Limited announces the closing of a major international partnership deal

Challenger Limited announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Bronco Drilling Company, Inc. whereby Bronco acquires a significant stake in Challenger Limited in return for a combination of in-kind and cash contributions from Bronco. The Challenger shares acquired by Bronco are all newly-issued and will amount to 25% of Challenger's total issued and outstanding shares on fully diluted basis.

Bronco's in-kind contribution consists of six, different-capacity, land drilling rigs and ancillary equipment. Five of the contributed drilling rigs come from Bronco's existing marketed fleet and one rig is newly constructed by Bronco for the purpose of this transaction. This major partnership deal between Challenger and Bronco comes only one year after Venture Capital Bank (VC Bank), a Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank, and its partner, the US private equity firm Global Emerging Markets (GEM), made a sizable private equity investment in the MENA-based oil drilling contractor.

Challenger Limited is a company incorporated and organized under the laws of the Isle of Man, with branch offices in Libya, Egypt, and UAE, and a subsidiary company in Saudi Arabia. Challenger Limited currently owns and operates a premium fleet of 23, different-capacity, land drilling and work-over rigs, which at the moment, are all contracted for operations in Libya.

Challenger Limited, a prominent provider of contract oil, gas and water land drilling and work-over services, has over 15 years experience in providing services to major and independent oil and gas companies. Over that period of time, Challenger Limited has been operating in; Libya, Egypt, Tanzania, Gabon, and the Republic of Niger. The company has a strong client base, including nearly all state-owned and major oil companies in Libya, as well as International players such as Agip/Eni, Total, Marathon, IPL, Veba and Verenex Energy.

Mr. Hassan Tatanaki, Chairman of Challenger Limited, declared that " In view of the vast opportunities of high growth in the MENA region, we along with our partners have decided to go into partnership with one of the best-regarded companies in the oil drilling industry; namely Bronco Drilling Company. This partnership will energize and undoubtedly increase our capacity to expand Challenger activities in both scope and scale. This was based on our full confidence and faith in the investment model and general direction". Mr. Tatanaki said that "This transaction shows that the growing cooperation amongst Libya, the U.S., and the Middle East, is creating an attractive investment environment for U.S. and International companies". read more

Al-Azhar plans satellite television channel about Islam

The channel will be broadcast on both main satellite channels operating in Egypt and will be accessible worldwide. It will initially transmit in Arabic with some English and French programming and there are plans to add content later in Urdu and Turkish. Azhari received its initial 15 million Egyptian pounds funding from a Libyan businessman and philathropist, Hassan Tatanaki.
Guindy told Reuters the plan really got going about a month ago, when he officiated at the wedding of Tatanaki’s daughter. “The father of the bride and I forgot completely about that wedding and started to talk about a new wedding, about how to introduce this new channel to the rest of the world,” he said.

Guindy is hopeful that a new age, which he dubs the Age of Obama, is dawning in which a dialogue between Islam and the West will flourish. And he hopes his channel will play an important role in that conversation. Yet for all his modern touches, Guindy retains a deeply traditional side. He preferred to conduct our interview not in English or everyday modern Arabic, but in precise classical Arabic.

Source:

• http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/05/31/idINIndia-39998720090531
• http://hassantatanaki.blogspot.com/2014/08/al-azhar-plans-satellite-television_26.html

INTERVIEW - Egypt's al-Azhar to launch Islamic TV channel

CAIRO: In a bid to bridge cultural gaps and clear misconceptions about Islam, Azhari TV is reaching out to a wider audience and is now available in English, French, Urdu and Pashto in addition to its original Arabic language programming.

Azhari TV was first launched following US President Barack Obama's address to the Muslim World in June 2009 where he called for a dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding between people of different faiths.

One year later, Azhari TV, the educational and entertainment satellite channel created to promote moderate Islam, has decided to expand.

“[Through Azhari TV] we're trying to show the people in the west and the rest of the world that the problem isn't in Islam but it's the misinterpretations by certain people that's the problem,” said Hassan Tatanaki, chairman of Azhari TV, in an interview with Daily News Egypt.

The satellite channel was founded with the aim of promoting a moderate interpretation of Islam and intends to counter extremist rhetoric which they saw dominating the debate.
Breaking language barriers

Operating on a new channel, Azhari TV 2, the dub of the Arabic language channel's original content into four additional languages, will enable the station to reach homes across Europe and Asia, spreading its message of reason and tolerance.

The channel aims to serve as a direct counterweight to more confrontational and aggressive interpretations of Islam that have proliferated in the last several years and exacerbated the turmoil that has plagued much of the Muslim world.

Through the expansion, Azhari will be reaching non-Arab Muslims that don't have access to a correct interpretation of Islam because they are limited to certain outlets.
The languages were not chosen after thorough research, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan and South East Asia. French and English were selected to cater to the Americans and Europeans, Arabs and non-Arabs residing there.

Azhari TV to cater to wider audience in four other languages

By Safaa Abdoun
Daily News Egypt

CAIRO: In a bid to bridge cultural gaps and clear misconceptions about Islam, Azhari TV is reaching out to a wider audience and is now available in English, French, Urdu and Pashto in addition to its original Arabic language programming.
Azhari TV was first launched following US President Barack Obama's address to the Muslim World in June 2009 where he called for a dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding between people of different faiths.

One year later, Azhari TV, the educational and entertainment satellite channel created to promote moderate Islam, has decided to expand.
“[Through Azhari TV] we're trying to show the people in the west and the rest of the world that the problem isn't in Islam but it's the misinterpretations by certain people that's the problem,” said Hassan Tatanaki, chairman of Azhari TV, in an interview with Daily News Egypt.
The satellite channel was founded with the aim of promoting a moderate interpretation of Islam and intends to counter extremist rhetoric which they saw dominating the debate.

Breaking language barriers

Operating on a new channel, Azhari TV 2, the dub of the Arabic language channel's original content into four additional languages, will enable the station to reach homes across Europe and Asia, spreading its message of reason and tolerance.


The channel aims to serve as a direct counterweight to more confrontational and aggressive interpretations of Islam that have proliferated in the last several years and exacerbated the turmoil that has plagued much of the Muslim world.
Through the expansion, Azhari will be reaching non-Arab Muslims that don't have access to a correct interpretation of Islam because they are limited to certain outlets.
The languages were not chosen after thorough research, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan and South East Asia. French and English were selected to cater to the Americans and Europeans, Arabs and non-Arabs residing there.
Faces of Azhari TV
Prominent television presenters and journalist Mahmoud Saad is the head of Azhari TV. “Mahmoud Saad, highly educated in religious matters in a civil way, a subject close to his heart, truly believes in the mission,” said Tatanaki.
“What happened during the past period is that there has been many television stations coming out which present fatwas and extremist views by people that aren't scholars, we need to fight this trend and the only way to do that is through the media, not by attacking but by presenting another view since this view is far from true Islam,” Saad told Daily News Egypt.
“[The channel will present] a viewpoint that is moderate, rational, scholarly to present a true image of Islam which has been marred,” he explained.
Azhari TV faces the challenge of attracting viewers and distinguishing itself from other religious channels that are available in abundance.

“I will get popular religious preachers and scholars,” Saad said, “and we are giving the audience the correct viewpoint, by time you will know that this is the correct interpretation.”
“We need to explain that Islam is about moderation, forgiveness, understanding, we need to show the west and non-Muslims in general so that they understand,” said Tatanaki. “We also need to understand that we have to fix ourselves before we fix the view of others of us, instead of just blaming the west for being anti-Islam we have to do something about it,” he noted.
Tatanaki cited the misinterpretation of the world ‘jihad.' “It was misused by extremists and it now means ‘to kill yourself' to the world, and it's because of us not them,” he said.
Azhari TV is named for and is closely affiliated with Al-Azhar, Islam's oldest and most venerable institution and seat of learning. Programming includes news programs, cartoons for children, drama series, lectures and call-in shows.

Al-Azhar plans satellite television channel about Islam

Dressed in his robe and turban, Sheikh Khaled Al-Guindy sits in the plush offices of the main benefactor of his new satellite television channel and speaks about how modern technology can be turned to service for Islam. The al-Azhar scholar, who in 2000 launched a phone-in service for Muslims seeking religious guidance, is one of the founders of Azhari, a 24-hour channel due to launch on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year will start in mid-August.

The channel will be broadcast on both main satellite channels operating in Egypt and will be accessible worldwide. It will initially transmit in Arabic with some English and French programming and there are plans to add content later in Urdu and Turkish. Azhari received its initial 15 million Egyptian pounds funding from a Libyan businessman and philathropist, Hassan Tatanaki.
Guindy told Reuters the plan really got going about a month ago, when he officiated at the wedding of Tatanaki’s daughter. “The father of the bride and I forgot completely about that wedding and started to talk about a new wedding, about how to introduce this new channel to the rest of the world,” he said.


Guindy is hopeful that a new age, which he dubs the Age of Obama, is dawning in which a dialogue between Islam and the West will flourish. And he hopes his channel will play an important role in that conversation. Yet for all his modern touches, Guindy retains a deeply traditional side. He preferred to conduct our interview not in English or everyday modern Arabic, but in precise classical Arabic.

Source: Al-Azhar plans satellite television channel about Islam

Libyan Awalan TV

Hassan Tatanaki

Hassan Tatanaki on Challenger's history and plans for future expansion, as well as the benefits and difficulties presented by operating in Libya.

Another Interview-please watch!

Libya businessman Hassan Tatanaki Aiding Fellow Libyans

Kharijites

Arabic: حقيقة الخوارج الجدد باتت واضحة أمام الليبيين ، وما أرتكبه أولئك الخوارج من جرائم يندى لها جبين الإنسانية يجعل أمر الالتحاق بعملية الكرامة في حكم الضرورة .
وقديماً قال الفيلسوف الصيني كونفوشيوس : من يرى الصواب ولا يفعله ، فهو جبان . وأنا على يقين بأن الليبيين على قدر عال من الشجاعة ، ولن يرضوا بحفنة تعيش خارج العصر أن تتحكم في مصير وطن يتطلع إلى بناء دولة مدنية ديمقراطية تسع الجميع

English Translation 

Kharijites new fact has become clear in front of the Libyans, and those committed by the Kharijites of crimes insanity of humanity makes the enrollment process is dignity in the rule of necessity.
As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said: He who sees not do the right thing, he is a coward. I am sure that the Libyans on a high degree of courage, and would not live outside a handful liked afternoon to control the fate of the nation is looking forward to building a democratic civil state nine everyone

This election was about change, and we hope this includes a change in how the world sees Africa, said Libya's Hassan Tatanaki

                  Obama's African Roots on Center Stage at Pan-Africa

Inaugural Ball

Sarah Obama, Robert De Niro, Rev. Desmond Tutu to Help Boost Africa's New

Special Relationship

Much was made during the campaign about President Barack Obama's African
heritage. His roots will be definitely showing at the pan-Africa ball, where African
political leaders, NGOs, and activists will be turning up en masse to show their
support for America's first African-American President, and to symbolize the
special new relationship the continent shares with America. Among the special
guests who will welcome the new President: the President-elect's Kenyan
Grandmother Sarah Obama, actor Robert DeNiro, Nobel Peace Prize winners
Reverend Desmond Tutu and Wangari Maathai.

"This election was about change, and we hope this includes a change in how the
world sees Africa," said Libya's Hassan Tatanaki, Chairman of the Tatanaki
Foundation and one of the event's sponsors. "Africa is more than famine and
poverty and war. It is a place of beauty and history and culture as well. We are
grateful for the humanitarian commitment of previous Presidents to Africa, but we
feel Africa now has a personal connection to America, at the highest level."

To secure interviews, exclusive photos and b-roll, please contact Ethan Wagner:
1-646-673-2469 or ethanw@brownlloydjames.com

WHAT: "Africa on the Potomac," the 2009 Pan- Africa
Inaugural Ball

WHERE: 1 700 Jefferson Davis
WHEN: 6:00pm, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day)

2 K>

This material is distributed by Brown Lloyd James on behalf of Challenger Limited. Additional information
is available at the Dept. Of Justice. Washington DC.  continue reading 

Libya requires emergency government

The following interview with Libyan businessman Hassan Tatanaki was conducted a few days before the sudden events took place in Libya. The General National Congress (GNC) was surprised by the military deployment led by retired Maj. Gen. Khalifa Hifter in Benghazi, Tripoli and other areas. This operation was supported by sectors of the army and has pushed the GNC to announce, in a shocking step, the election of a new parliament on June 25 to replace the GNC, whose term has expired.

Summary 

 Libyan businessman Hassan Tatanaki talked to Al-Hayat about the necessity of forming an emergency government in Libya to strengthen the army, police and judiciary, before the country becomes a source of terrorism.

Author Mohammad Ali Farhat Posted May 23, 2014

Translator(s)Joelle El-Khoury

 

Original Article  

  اقرا المقال الأصلي باللغة العربية

The elections may not be held on schedule because the events on the ground keep changing around the clock. Meanwhile, neighboring countries are closing their borders to people, the Arab League is taking action and the Maghreb countries are calling for a meeting to discuss the developments in Libya. For their part, the United Nations, the United States and Europe are watching with a great level of suspense.