The Associated Press said that a Libyan delegation visited Beirut this week to reopen talks with Lebanese officials about the release of Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Hannibal, who has been detained in Lebanon for years. The agency cited a legal official familiar with the case as saying that the Libyan delegation left Beirut after spending several days in Lebanon, where they met with the Minister of Justice and a judge heading the investigation committee into Al-Sadr’s disappearance. The official described the talks as “positive” but did not say whether they had achieved any results, adding that the delegation is expected to return next week, and that the Lebanese and Libyan authorities are dealing with the two cases separately. Hannibal Gaddafi has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 after being kidnapped from Syria, where he was living as a political refugee. The Lebanese authorities released him and then arrested him, accusing him of concealing information about Al-Sadr’s disappearance.

Libya's deadly flash flood in September constituted a climate and environmental catastrophe that requires $1.8 billion in reconstruction and recovery, an international report said on Wednesday. Huge swathes of the city of Derna were destroyed in the flood, after heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel crashed through two aging dams, sweeping entire districts into the Mediterranean. Population growth and development downstream, limited weather forecasting in the region and inadequate early warning systems to ensure evacuation accentuated the disaster, the report said. Climate change had made the rainfall unleashed by Storm Daniel up to 50 times more likely and 50 percent more intense, according to the report. Despite calls by the UN for Libya's ruling factions to put aside their differences to formulate a coordinated response to the Derna disaster, there has been little sign they are willing to do so.

Repsol Energy announced that it will resume in the Al-Sharara oil field after Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has lifted force majeure from the field, which was shut down three weeks ago. Al-Sharara is operated by Akakus, a joint venture of the Libyan National Oil Corporation, in partnership with Repsol, TotalEnergies, OMV and Equinor. Repsol has highlighted its plans to restart exploration and production activities in Libya in April. Repsol began E&P activities in Libya in the 1960s. Oil production in block NC115 started in 1996, while the same for NC186 began in 2003.

On September 10, Storm Daniel hit the east coast of Libya, causing floods that collapsed two dams in Derna and released a deluge of water that razed entire neighbourhoods. UN humanitarian agency OCHA has confirmed 4,352 deaths and more than 8,000 missing persons, "making Storm Daniel the deadliest storm in Africa since 1900", reads the report published by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. According to the report, 20 municipalities were affected by Storm Daniel and will require an estimated $1.8 billion over three years for reconstruction and recovery. The housing sector was hit the hardest, with around 18,500 homes destroyed or damaged, the equivalent of 7 percent of housing, reads the report. Libya has been battered by armed conflict and political chaos since a NATO-backed uprising led to the toppling of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The Libya Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) analyses damages and losses – as well as recovery and reconstruction needs – using a globally established methodology across almost all sectors of the Libyan economy. The report estimates 70 per cent of the needed reconstruction costs would be for infrastructure, with housing the largest component. In addition to outlining the recovery and reconstruction needs, the RDNA analyses the cost of physical damages caused by the flooding and the economic losses in its aftermath. The $1.65 billion total of damages and losses account for 3.6 per cent of Libya’s GDP in 2022. About the Libya Rapid Damage & Needs Assessment The Libya Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report follows a globally established and recognized damage, loss, and needs assessment methodology developed by the World Bank with contributions from the UN, and the EU.

Strong Group Athletics against Al Ahli Tripoli in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. (Photo: UAE Basketball Association/FB)The Strong Group Athletics completed a sweep of its group stage games after squeaking past Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli, 91-89, on early Thursday in the Dubai International Basketball Championship. Wajdi Omran Dawo split his free throws as he was fouled by Heading, before Strong Group eventually took their fifth win. The Strong Group led, 51-50, at the end of the first half as they erased a 12-point advantage by the Libya team in the first quarter. Strong Group will be heading to the quarterfinals with a 5-0 card.

“Civilian casualties during the conduct of these attacks cannot be ruled out,” the Danish internal review, previously marked secret, concluded. Extract of the document sent in May 2012 from Danish military command to the country’s Nato representatives. In each case, a second country was involved, but its name remains redacted, meaning it remains possible another country’s military delivered the deadly bombs. Having been shown the documents, he said he would discuss with his lawyer about bringing a claim against the Danish military. Pilots were supposed to abort missions if they suspected attacks would cause civilian casualties.

Strong Group escapes Libyan squadJordan Heading (15) led SGA in scoring with 19 points off the bench. MANILA, Philippines -- Strong Group Athletics (SGA) swept the group stage of the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship after squeaking past Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli, 91-89, early Thursday morning (Manila time). On the other end, the Libyan team missed two attempts from beyond the arc, which would have tied the contest. Badrush spearheaded Al Ahly Tripoli with 27 points. The Philippine side, however, scored five straight points to cut the deficit to seven, 20-27, heading into the second quarter.

The Criminal Court ruled to imprison the official of the deposits and seizures at the Customs Authority for five years on charges of abusing his position. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the accused was convicted of two charges, one of which was embezzlement of public funds. The court also ruled to fine the accused an amount estimated at 508,400 US dollars, 850,000 Tunisian dinars, and 70,960 Libyan dinars.

A Libyan delegation visited Beirut this week to reopen talks with Lebanese officials on the fate of a prominent Lebanese cleric who has been missing in Libya for decades, and the release of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s son who has been held in Lebanon for years, officials said. The fate of the cleric has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The delegation is expected to return next week, he said and added that Lebanese and Libyan authorities are treating the two cases as separate. The Libyan delegation's visit was not publicly announced by either Lebanon or Libya. Libyan justice officials and an attorney for Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, Hannibal’s brother, did not respond to a request for comment.

New US envoy to Egypt lauds Cairo’s role in fighting for Middle East peaceCAIRO: America’s new ambassador to Egypt has praised the decades of “courage” shown by Cairo in fighting for peace and stability in the Middle East. She added that her priorities were to strengthen the economic, security, and diplomatic partnership between the peoples of Egypt and the US. “Expanding our strong partnership is essential to respond to the current regional conflict. “I look forward to discovering the rich culture, history, and traditions of Umm El-Dunya (mother of the world). “I can’t wait to start working together to chart a prosperous and hopeful path forward for our two nations,” Garg said.

…… Nigeria will be ready against CameroonThe head coach of Nigeria men’s handball team, Rafiu Salami has heaped praises on his wards for overcoming Libya 31 to 24 goals at the ongoing 2024 African Senior Men’s Handball Nations Cup in Egypt on Wednesday. Salami told www.aclsports.com that the team played with more confidence and dictated the pace of the game for Libya. “If the team has good preparations before the next Nations Cup, they have the prospect and we can do something better. He added that the team will remain focused till they surpass their previous record set at the last Nations Cup. Nigeria were there before at the last Nations Cup.

UN Envoy and the President of the Libyan Presidential Council agreed to continue close cooperation towards reaching consensus for a unified government to lead Libya to elections, according to Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily. “Today, I met with President of the Presidential Council Mr. Mohammed Al Menfi. We discussed ways to advance the Libyan political process,” Bathily said on X.

STRONG Group survived its toughest test to date against Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli, 91-89, in a nail-biting finish to remain unscathed in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship on Thursday morning. Strong Group now brings a perfect 5-0 (win-loss) card to the knockout stage as the top-seeded club from Group B and willl face the eventual fourth-seeds from Group A in the quarterfinals. But a cool-headed fightback from Heading & Co. saw the Philippine side soar to the knockouts in style with a hard-earned triumph. CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓ Watch NowThe scores:Strong Group (91) - Heading 19, Howard 17, Quiambao 17, Roberson 13, Blatche 10, Moore 7, Baltazar 3, Liwag 3, Escandor 2, Ynot 0, Cagulangan DNP, Sanchez DNP. Al Ahli Tripoli (89) - Badrush 27, Sadi 22, Munoz 17, West 10, Wesley 6, Dawo 5, Ramadan 2, Abdrahim 0, A Sedek 0, Alakrimi DNP, Munam M Fellah DNP, Sawie DNP.

Lebanese MPs row as draft budget debated in parliamentBEIRUT: A parliamentary debate on Lebanon’s 2024 draft budget broke out into a row on Wednesday, with MPs accusing the government of “starving citizens” and promoting corruption. The parliament’s General Assembly began discussion on the budget after the government’s initial version was radically amended by the Finance and Budget Committee. An argument broke out between reformist MP Melhem Khalaf and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The MP stormed out of the hall, warning: “I will not violate the constitution.”Another row also took place between MP Ali Hassan Khalil (Amal Movement) and reformist MP Firas Hamdan. That will destroy all of Lebanon, and the Lebanese are left unable to determine their fate.”In September, the caretaker government approved the 2024 draft budget.