'There will be more martyrs', a warning four years on from Christian beheadings on Libya beach
The believers - the vast majority of whom were day labourers from neighbouring Egypt - prompted the Coptic Orthodox Church to declare a day to commemorate all modern-day martyrs around the world. Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Archbishop of London, told Premier the men displayed a "godly peace" in footage capturing the moments before their deaths. Scores of Coptic Christians in Egypt have died since the massacre in the Libyan city of Sirte - through subsequent attacks on the country's Christian minority. Archbishop Angaelos said: "We've had Coptic Christians killed in church bombings and shootings in targeted attacks..."And so, today marks the Libya martyrs but everyone since. He told Premier: "These were not all at houses of mourning where I came.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 15:00 UTC
NEMA receives 160 Nigerians from Libya
- NEMA has received another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya- The coordinator, Lagos territorial office of the agency, said the returnees are made up of 68 female adults, one female child and five female infants. Also, there are 79 male adults, two male children and five male infants making up 74 females and 86 males, including a psychologically traumatised adult male." Muhammed advised young Nigerians to desist from embarking on irregular migration which removes the fundamental rights that such migrants could have enjoyed. Komolafe said: "Despite the bad situation in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, December 7, received another batch of 193 stranded Nigerians from Libya.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 10:01 UTC
Tripoli forces brand Khalifa Haftar war criminal, say ready to fight his project
Tripoli Protection Force (TPF), a coalition of armed brigades in the capital, has declared its rejection to the military dictatorship, accusing warlord Khalifa Haftar of attempting to rule the country by mean of force, denying the Libyan people from electing their representatives through democratic means. “We express our utter rejection to the project of war criminal Khalifa Haftar who seeks to rule the country with the blood of the Libyan people and with funding from an external agenda that does not seek stability and prosperity of Libya.” A statement by the TPF said late on Thursday. The TPF also rejected the military operation in the south by Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled army. It said the operation aims to “destroy capabilities, wealth and social fabric of the south.”The force affirmed its readiness to fight those who try to undermine security and stability of Libya, in an implicit reference to Haftar, calling for transparent elections to build a state of law and institutions.
Source:Libya Observer
February 15, 2019 09:45 UTC
NEMA receives another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya ▷ Nigeria news
- NEMA has a new batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya- The emergency agency advised young Nigerians to desist from embarking on irregular migration which removes their fundamental rights- The returnees were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) ProgrammeThe National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya. “Also, there are 79 male adults, two male children and five male infants making up 74 females and 86 males, including a psychologically traumatised adult male. Muhammed advised young Nigerians to desist from embarking on irregular migration which removes the fundamental rights that such migrants could have enjoyed. Komolafe said: “Despite the bad situation in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them. “If Nigerians can avoid blaming government for everything, with faith and sincerity, our prayers will be accepted by God.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 09:45 UTC
159 Eritrean asylum seekers safe after months of detention in Libya – African Daily Voice
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a United Nations (UN) refugee agency has evacuated 159 Eritrean asylum seekers from Tripoli airport. This UNHCR’s move forms part of its effort in continuing its commitment to offer protection to the most vulnerable. According to a statement released by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), most of these asylum seekers who were released from different detention centres across the country were extremely overcrowded and they lacked basic standards. One of the asylum seekers, a young Eritrean man only known as Angusum, who has long left his country fleeing persecution, expressed relief and happiness after his release. A total number of 6 205 migrants and refugees are still detained in Libya, and 4327 are of concern to the UNHCR.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 09:11 UTC
Trudeau to face more questions on SNC-Lavalin controversy dogging his government
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to face a fresh round of questions on the SNC-Lavalin controversy today when he hands out some money to a technology firm. OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to face a fresh round of questions on the SNC-Lavalin controversy today when he hands out some money to a technology firm. Trudeau will be in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata to announce $40 million of federal money for BlackBerry, the one-time smartphone leader that is now working on software to enable self-driving cars. A government official says the federal money, to come from the Strategic Innovation Fund, will go towards software development and skills training for workers. Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from the federal cabinet this week, leaving unanswered questions about whether Trudeau's aides leaned on her to help engineering firm SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 09:00 UTC
Compilation of evidence against Daphne Caruana Galizia murder suspects continues
The compilation of evidence against the three men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017 resumed on Friday. The key courtroom players:William Cuschieri and Martha Muscat are appearing for Alfred Degiorgio, known as il-Fulu, 53. Martin Fenech is appearing for Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, 55. Josette Sultana is appearing for George Degiorgio, known as iċ-Ċiniz, 55. George Degiorgio 55, unemployed, lives in St Paul’s Bay, known as Ic-CinizAlfred Degiorgio, 53, unemployed lives in St Paul’s Bay, known as il-FuluVincent Muscat, 55, unemployed lives in Msida, known as il-Kohhu
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 08:59 UTC
NEMA receives 160 returnees from Libya
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has received a fresh batch of returnees from Libya. They were brought back by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of EU’s special intervention on Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme. “Despite the bad situations in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them. In Libya, you don’t have freedom, once they hear you are a Nigerian, trouble starts. “Libya is far better than Nigeria” Ibrahim said, advising anyone making plans to travel illegally to desist from such.
Source:Libya Today
February 15, 2019 08:48 UTC
Quebec premier wants Ottawa to 'settle' with SNC-Lavalin so firm avoids trial
Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he wants the federal government to settle with engineering firm SNC-Lavalin "as soon as possible" in order to protect jobs and the company's corporate headquarters in Montreal. Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he wants the federal government to settle with engineering firm SNC-Lavalin "as soon as possible" in order to protect jobs and the company's corporate headquarters in Montreal. The embattled firm is vulnerable to a foreign takeover, Legault told reporters Thursday in Quebec City. "I want to do all we can do to protect this headquarters and protect the thousands of good, well-paying jobs we have at SNC-Lavalin." While Legault had plenty to say about the federal charges, he stayed away from commenting on the provincial allegations.
Source:Libya Today
February 14, 2019 23:15 UTC
Reconciliation outlasts Wilson-Raybould: Indigenous senators
OTTAWA — Indigenous parliamentarians say Jody Wilson-Raybould's controversial exit from the cabinet doesn't signal the end of reconciliation efforts between the federal government and Indigenous Peoples. OTTAWA — Indigenous parliamentarians say Jody Wilson-Raybould's controversial exit from the cabinet doesn't signal the end of reconciliation efforts between the federal government and Indigenous Peoples. An Indigenous Liberal MP offered a similar sentiment. Wilson-Raybould was justice minister and attorney general at the time but was demoted to veterans affairs in a January cabinet shuffle. Wilson-Raybould made history when she became the first Indigenous justice minister back in 2015.
Source:Libya Today
February 14, 2019 21:12 UTC
In the hometown of 21 Coptic Christians murdered by ISIS, miracles are being reported
Reuters An ISIS video released in February 2015 shows 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians at a beach in Libya moments before they were beheaded. Mosebach was inspired by a picture he saw on the cover or a German Catholic magazine to tell the story of the 21 Coptic martyrs. Mosebach decided to visit El-Aour, the town where 13 of the 21 Coptic martyrs came from. The church has become a pilgrimage site as it is the final resting spot for the bodies of the Coptic martyrs. From the point of the views of Christians, Christians have more security, more protection when the state is led by a strong dictator."
Source:Libya Today
February 14, 2019 20:26 UTC
Serraj government sources stand by airstrike comment
Serraj government sources stand by airstrike commentBy Sami Zaptia. London, 14 February 2019:Highly placed sources at the Faiez Serraj Presidency Council and Government of National Accord (PC/GNA) said they stand by their statement that the PC/GNA had conducted joint airstrikes with the “Government” of the United States near Ubari yesterday. Yesterday, El-Sallak said a site with a number of Al- Qaeda members near Ubari was raided by joint “U.S.-Libyan” forces. In fact, Becky Farmer, AFRICOM Media Relations Officer, was quoted as saying that AFRICOM had not carried out any airstrikes in Libya in 2019. Nevertheless, speaking to Libya Herald today, sources at the PC/GNA were still refusing to go on record on the matter.
Source:Libya Today
February 14, 2019 18:56 UTC
Libya's Presidential Council wants oilfields to be outside political conflicts
The Presidential Council (PC) in Libya has renewed its call for leaving oil facilities outside political conflicts in the country. Mohammed El Sallak, the spokesman for the Head of the PC Fayez Al-Sirraj, said the oil facilities should remain under the oversight of the International-recognized National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG.) El Sallak indicated. El Sallak added. He said that Al-Sirraj also backs up holding the Libyan National Conference under the auspices of the UN.
Source:Libya Observer
February 14, 2019 18:33 UTC
Libya's Presidential Council appoints Mohammed Al-Sharif as new Chief of Staff
The Presidential Council (PC) has appointed Mohammed Al-Sharif as the new Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army - loyal to the government based in Tripoli. Al-Sharif's appointment replaces Abdelrahman Al-Taweel who was named Chief of Staff in September 2017. The PC also issues an order appointing Salim Juha an Assistant Chief of Staff for training affairs. The PC also appointed on February 5 Ali Kanna as the commander of Sabha military zone. According to observers, those appointments are a reaction to the military operation launched by Khalifa Haftar in southern Libya.
Source:Libya Observer
February 14, 2019 17:48 UTC
FRONTEX: Migratory route to Europe via Central Mediterranean saw sharp drop
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) said in a report that the Central Mediterranean route saw the biggest drop in the number of illegal migrants in 2019. "There were nearly 150 migrants detected on this route, a fall of 73% compared to December and 96% compared to January 2018." It also said that the Western Mediterranean route remained under the most intensive migratory pressure, accounting for more than half of the irregular migrants reaching Europe in January. "In the first month of the year, the number of detections on this route fell 18% from the previous month to nearly 3 780. Similar reports said earlier that migratory routes via Morocco toward Spain had seen some boost after strict measures prevailed on the Libya-Italy route, leading to a sharp drop in arrival numbers of illegal immigrants via the Central Mediterranean.
Source:Libya Observer
February 14, 2019 17:48 UTC