Over 60 people have drowned in the capsizing of a migrant vessel off Libya, the UN says
According to the IOM’s missing migrants project, at least 940 migrants were reported dead and 1,248 missing off Libya between Jan. 1 and Nov. 18. The project, which tracks migration movements, said about 14,900 migrants, including over 1,000 women and more than 530 children, were intercepted and returned to Libya this year. In 2022, the project reported 529 dead and 848 missing off Libya. Over 24,600 were intercepted and returned to Libya. Human traffickers in recent years have benefited from the chaos in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the country’s lengthy borders, which it shares with six nations.
Source:Libya Today
December 17, 2023 06:18 UTC
Over 60 drown in a migrant vessel off Libya while trying to reach Europe, UN says
CAIRO (AP) — A boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving more than 60 people — including women and children — dead, the U.N. migration agency said. Saturday’s shipwreck was the latest tragedy in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, a key dangerous route for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, where, according to officials, thousands have died. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The country is a major launching point for migrants trying to reach the European shores through the deadly central Mediterranean. The abuse often accompanies attempts to extort money from the families of those held, before the imprisoned migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers’ boats to Europe.
Source:Libya Today
December 17, 2023 06:13 UTC
Children Among 61 Migrants Feared Drowned Off Libya While Crossing Mediterranean Sea
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said that 61 migrants, including children, are believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya while they were trying to cross the Mediterranean seat to enter Europe, reported BBC. The agency further said that high waves inundated the boar and 61 migrants have been missing since then, presumed dead. BBC reported that Libya is among the main departure points for migrants who want to enter Europe. In June this year, at least 78 people died while 100 others were rescued after a fishing boat sank off southern Greece. According to the UN's refugee agency, BBC reported, over 153,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya.
Source:Libya Today
December 17, 2023 06:11 UTC
Libya Moves Forward: Preparatory Committee Concludes Third Meeting, Charts Course for National Reconciliation
Libya Moves Forward: Preparatory Committee Concludes Third Meeting, Charts Course for National ReconciliationNoteworthy progress was marked in Libya’s journey towards national reconciliation, as the third regular meeting of the Preparatory Committee concluded in Sabha. The agenda of the meeting centred around key decisions for the upcoming National Reconciliation Conference. Establishing the Preparatory CommitteeThe Sabha meeting also saw the establishment of a mechanism for creating the Preparatory Committee for the conference. The next preparatory meeting of the committee was decided to be held in the city of Zuwara, marking the end of the current month. The upcoming National Reconciliation Conference aims to rectify these issues, marking a new chapter in Libya’s political landscape.
Source:Libya Today
December 16, 2023 02:14 UTC
Orbex Gets a Funding Boost from ESA
Orbex has secured another 3.3 million pounds ($4.14 million) in funding, the company announced Dec. 13. The funding is from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ‘Boost!’ initiative. The initiative, which is part of ESA’s Commercial Space Transportation Services and Support program, is designed to further the development of world-leading space launch technologies. Orbex will use the funding to undertake activities to build the Launch Complex at Sutherland Spaceport, located on the north coast of Scotland. program is not only very welcome, it’s further validation of our commitment to delivering low-carbon, high-performance space launch services in a way that respects the environment.
Source:Libya Today
December 16, 2023 00:08 UTC
Eutelsat OneWeb Wins Hybrid LEO/GEO Deal In Libya
Eutelsat OneWeb is beginning to see the benefits of offering multi-orbit services. It has won a new contract to deliver connectivity services, on both Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), to Libya. Eutelsat OneWeb announced the deal Dec. 13. Eutelsat OneWeb will provide exclusive access to its LEO powered connectivity constellation, delivering full connectivity over Libya from early 2024. The multi-million-dollar, multi-year contract further cements the existing relationship between Eutelsat Group and RLTT.
Source:Libya Today
December 15, 2023 20:01 UTC
Libya Oil Output Boost
Libya’s state-owned Sirte Oil company says its output has hit 93,500 b/d with the Raguba field producing at 13,300 b/d, the highest level since 2011. This comes as Libya’s self-reported output hit 1.206mn b/d for November, the highest since Tripoli began ‘direct reporting’ of figures to the Opec secretariat earlier this year. NOC’s daily figure of 1.240mn b/d on 14 September is also the highest since NOC began reporting such data on an irregular basis in July 2022. MEES assesses Libya’s November crude output somewhat lower at 1.90mn b/d, up 20,000 b/d on October but only slightly above the 1.83mn b/d year-to-date average. (CONTINUED - 165 WORDS)
Source:Libya Today
December 15, 2023 15:58 UTC
Libya Renewables Strategy
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh on 11 December launched a new renewable energy strategy in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to a government statement, the “National Strategy for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency” will focus mainly on energy diversification and reducing consumption. (CONTINUED - 160 WORDS)
Source:Libya Today
December 15, 2023 15:58 UTC
Social partners agree on need for flexible retirement incentives
Social partners support flexible retirement among other measures aimed at addressing labour shortages. Incentives for people over 61 years old were among the subjects discussed during a Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) council meeting, where the Malta Chamber and the General Workers’ Union (GWU) presented research on active ageing. Fiscal incentives, the avoidance of imposing active ageing, and recognizing the resource potential of older workers were highlighted as considerations. Parliamentary secretary for social dialogue, Andy Ellul thanked the MCESD for its work throughout 2023 and outlined impactful initiatives for 2024. These include launching an entity for public consultation on EU-related matters, addressing workplace democracy, green collective bargaining, AI in the workplace, and union membership for low-wage earners.
Source:Libya Today
December 15, 2023 11:28 UTC
Hungary blocks €50bn Ukraine aid, calling off veto as Brussels releases frozen cash
Orban, who in the past has also delayed some EU sanctions against Russia, said Ukraine should only get aid after 2024’s European elections. Hungary’s objections to Ukraine’s formal membership talks and long-term funding are seen as an effort by Orban to extract the frozen EU funds earmarked for Hungary. On Wednesday, the European Commission released some €10 billion in frozen aid, after Hungry fulfilled demands for judicial reforms. ‼️BREAKING‼️EU-Commission releases 10bn Euros of EU funds to the Orban regime. “The signal is fatal: the EU Commission is showing today that Viktor Orban’s blackmail tactics are paying off.
Source:Libya Today
December 15, 2023 11:14 UTC
Low-Pressure System to Impact Northwest and Northeast Regions of Libya
Low-Pressure System to Impact Northwest and Northeast Regions of LibyaThe National Meteorological Center (NMC) of Libya has predicted a significant drop in temperature in the northwest regions of the country. This is due to the anticipated extension of a low-pressure system, which is expected to impact the area starting from the evening of the following day. The influence of this weather system is also expected to extend to the northeastern regions of the country. Low-Pressure System: A Weather PhenomenonA low-pressure system, often associated with unstable weather conditions, is an atmospheric phenomenon characterized by lower atmospheric pressure at its center than the areas around it. Anticipated Effects on Northwest and Northeast LibyaAs the low-pressure system gradually moves to the east, it is expected to develop into a significant storm system over the weekend.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2023 18:31 UTC
Libya and Greece to strengthen cooperation in the Electrical Interconnection Project
The Tripoli based Libyan government reported the Adviser to the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy Affairs, Osama Al-Darrat, discussed with Greek Ambassador Nikos Dendias the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the field of electricity and renewable energies. The two parties stressed the continuation of communication through the Electrical Interconnection Committee, to coordinate efforts to follow up on the Electrical Interconnection Project between Libya and Greece. Libya discusses cooperation in renewables with Greece (libyaherald.com)Libya and Malta discuss strengthening energy cooperation and follow up on June’s MoU (libyaherald.com)Libya and Malta sign MoU on electricity connectivity during Maltese PM’s Tripoli visit (libyaherald.com)The International Conference on Renewable Energies and Green Hydrogen in Benghazi discusses several key topics (libyaherald.com)Beyond the controversial Turkish maritime agreement: Greece seeks cooperation in energy, construction, maritime transport, health, security, tourism, education and culture (libyaherald.com)
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2023 18:27 UTC
Supreme E-Government Committee to launch pilot phase of Unified Electronic Services package next February
The Supreme E-Government Committee, headed by Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid Al-Lafi, followed up on preparations for launching the pilot phase of the Unified Electronic Services package last Tuesday. In its meeting on Tuesday held in Tripoli, the committee approved the general plan for the project’s stages, the distribution of its sections, the documentary evidence, and the definition of the package scheduled to be launched next February, within the vision approved by the Council of Ministers for the digital transformation project, which would contribute to developing the services provided to citizens. It will be recalled that last December, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba issued Circular No. 16 regarding the implementation of the Secure Government Network for data exchange, so that the Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Company would prepare and implement digital transformation projects, in coordination with the General Information Authority to ensure the protection and confidentiality of government data.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2023 17:57 UTC
Jumhouria bank main sponsor of Bahrain’s AAOIFI Annual Conference
Libya’s largest bank, the state-owned and managed Jumhouria Bank, was one of the main sponsors of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) – Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB)18th Annual Islamic Banking and Finance Conference. The AAOIFI is a Bahrain-based not-for-profit organization that was established to maintain and promote Shariah standards for Islamic financial institutions, participants and the overall industry. The conference was held from 29-30 November in Bahrain under the banner “Strategies for the Impending Economic Slowdown and a Post Oil World: Through Economic Diversification and Leveraging Islamic Finance”. Supporting the Islamic finance industryJumhouria Bank said its sponsorship comes within its keenness to support the Islamic financial industry and its institutions, foremost of which is the AAOIFI, which is the most prominent issuer of international Islamic financial industry standards. We are also pleased that Jumhouria Bank is a sponsor of this world-leading conference, and we are confident that its discussions and deliberations will contribute to enhancing the knowledge dimension in the field of Sharia financial transactions, as well as providing solutions to many pressing intellectual and practical issues and problems today’’.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2023 15:50 UTC
Airports Authority participates in French Libyan Transport Forum
The head of Libya’s Airports Authority, Mohamed Bait Al-Mal, participated with an official delegation representing the Ministry of Transport in the activities of the French-Libyan Transport Forum. The forum was organized by the Libyan French Chamber of Commerce, the General Libyan Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the French business association MEDEF. The Airports Authority reported that the forum aims to consolidate relations, expand the scope of partnership, and build bridges of cooperation between the Libyan and French sides in the field of transportation, as it is one of the important pillars in developing the Libyan economy. Representatives of several French institutions and companies specialized in the transport sector in its various types, air, sea and land, participated in the forum, in the presence of several officials and specialists from the Libyan side. The Airports Authority said the aim was to learn about the capabilities of the French side, learn about the modern technologies used in the various fields of transport, and the experience gained on their part.
Source:Libya Today
December 14, 2023 14:54 UTC