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'Anti-government' Samosa Theft Prompts India Police Probe

Missing samosas sparked a police probe in India with five officers facing disciplinary action for allegedly eating a plate intended for a senior politician - AFP
Missing samosas sparked a police probe in India with five officers facing disciplinary action for allegedly eating a plate intended for a senior politician - AFP
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'Anti-government' Samosa Theft Prompts India Police Probe

Missing samosas sparked a police probe in India with five officers facing disciplinary action for allegedly eating a plate intended for a senior politician - AFP
Missing samosas sparked a police probe in India with five officers facing disciplinary action for allegedly eating a plate intended for a senior politician - AFP

Missing samosas sparked a police probe in India with five officers facing disciplinary action for allegedly eating a plate of the savoury treats intended for a senior politician, media reports said Friday.

Samosas -- pockets of meat or vegetable filling cooked inside a blanket of deep-fried pastry -- are a mainstay of Indian snack cuisine, served on train carriages and street corners around the country.

They are also a staple of government receptions, including one staged last month by police in Himachal Pradesh for an official visit by the northern state's chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

According to AFP, the resulting high-level enquiry culminated in a report by the state's Crime Investigation Department that dubbed the affair an "anti-government act".

"The report added that all personnel involved acted according to their own agenda, raising concerns about intentional misconduct," the Economic Times reported.

The Indian Express newspaper said the five police personnel accused of feasting on the chief minister's samosas had been served notices demanding they explain their conduct.

They were now in the process of recording their final statements before a senior officer expected to recommend strict disciplinary action.

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Cafe in Libya Champions Recycling and Sustainability

The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
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Cafe in Libya Champions Recycling and Sustainability

The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP

In Libya's capital, a cafe's sleek exterior gives little hint of the vibrant space inside, built entirely from recycled materials to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war.

Lamma, which means "gathering" or "hangout" in Arabic, has become a cultural hub for locals and other visitors, featuring an art gallery that showcases Libyan artists, and hosts events and workshops.

But its central mission, its owner said, is raising awareness of an eco-friendly lifestyle in Libya, where green initiatives are scarce as people grapple with the aftermath of a gruelling conflict.

"We use materials that were abandoned in the streets, such as rubber from tyres, wood from trees and construction waste" to build the cafe, said Louay Omran Burwais, an architect who designed and founded Lamma.

"The idea is to show people that what is thrown in the street and may seem ugly or useless is actually still valuable," he told AFP.

- 'New mindset' -

Behind the long, narrow door into Lamma, visitors are greeted with a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.

The plant-covered walls contrast with a web of suspended metal scraps, alcoves and slide tunnels that children swoop down through.

"There are no places like this in Libya," said Roula Ajjawi, Lamma's art director. "We base everything on one aspect that we consider very important: recycling."

Families gather at Lamma on Thursdays, the start of the Libyan weekend, when the cafe holds art workshops for children.

Others borrow books from the venue's small library.

Burwais says his team hopes recycling and other eco-friendly practices, which remain rare, start up in Libya, which currently has no recycling facilities.

Visitors to Lamma will recognize familiar everyday objects repurposed throughout the space, Burwais said, but they will "start seeing them differently. We are here to foster a new mindset".

In Libya, the plastic, metal, and glass left from over a decade of civil war destruction are rarely, if ever, reused or recycled, Ajjawi said.

More often, they are abandoned in nature and on the streets, occasionally washed into the Mediterranean by rain and wind.

But with initiatives like Lamma, objects once destined for the landfill are transformed into works of art -- a concept now catching on with locals.

"I love this place," said Riyad Youssef, now a Lamma regular. "The food is great, the service is excellent, and I appreciate the commitment to reducing waste. Every idea here is amazing."