165 Bangladeshis repatriated from Libya
Photo: CollectedDHAKA, March 6, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 165 Bangladeshi nationals who had been detained or living in distress in Libya were repatriated early today through coordinated efforts of the Bangladesh government, Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The returnees arrived in Dhaka at 5:30am aboard a Buraq Air flight, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant ministries and the IOM received the returnees at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon arrival. Most of the repatriated Bangladeshis had entered Libya irregularly after being lured by human traffickers with promises of reaching Europe by sea. To raise public awareness about the risks of irregular migration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the returnees to share their painful experiences with others.
Source:Libya Today
March 06, 2026 11:31 UTC
Libya Backs Bangladesh Candidate for UNGA Presidency
Libya today (on Thursday) expressed full support for Bangladesh’s candidature of Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly for the 2026–2027 term. Suliman paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon this afternoon. Read More BNP Delegation Discusses Foreign Policy with Visiting US Assistant Secretary During the meeting, the Libyan envoy formally expressed his country’s support for Bangladesh’s candidate in the upcoming election for the UNGA presidency. বিজ্ঞাপনHumayun Kabir expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to the government of Libya for its support, saying such backing in the international arena would further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries. The two sides also discussed Bangladesh–Libya bilateral relations, ways to enhance mutual cooperation and opportunities for working together on various international issues.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 11:25 UTC
Libya backs Bangladesh candidate for UNGA presidency
Libya today expressed full support for Bangladesh’s candidature of Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly for the 2026–2027 term. The assurance was conveyed when Libyan Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulmutalib SM Suliman paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon this afternoon. During the meeting, the Libyan envoy formally expressed his country’s support for Bangladesh’s candidate in the upcoming UNGA presidential election. Humayun Kabir expressed sincere thanks and gratitude to the government of Libya for its support, saying such backing in the international arena would further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries. The two sides also discussed Bangladesh–Libya bilateral relations, ways to enhance mutual cooperation, and opportunities to work together on various international issues.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 10:50 UTC
Tanker attacked in Mediterranean was carrying sanctioned Arctic gas
Atle StaalesenTanker attacked in Mediterranean was carrying sanctioned Arctic gas269Only days after the Arctic Metagaz loaded liquefied natural gas in the Ura Bay, Kola Peninsula, the carrier was hit by a drone outside Malta. The 277-metre-long Arctic Metagaz was attacked in the early hours of March 3 while sailing east of Malta. The Arctic Metagaz is a frequent presence in Russian Arctic waters. Like several other carriers, the Arctic Metagaz has been used by Russian gas producer Novatek to transport LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project. Both the Arctic LNG 2 project and the floating storage unit are under US sanctions.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 08:02 UTC
Power without a throne: how Khalifa Haftar controls Libya
Neither controls the oil, military bases or the migration routes that make Libya matter to Europe. “They can claim to support Libya’s sovereignty while backing the man who undermines it.”View image in fullscreen Khalifa Haftar in Athens in 2020. Gaddafi had always denied any Libyan military presence in Chad, and he did not acknowledge the humiliation at Ouadi Doum. Haftar was not there but in leaked audio of the meeting, Gaddafi told his eldest son that Haftar was like a brother to him. “I control everybody,” Haftar told the New York Times that April.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 05:08 UTC
Rise in Eid clothes prices burdens Libyan families
Instead, it is on the heated debate over clothing prices for both children and adults. The average monthly income for citizens ranges from 1000 to 3000 dinars. Some shops raise prices without convincing justifications.”In contrast, Youssef, a clothing store owner, clarified the situation. Nevertheless, we try to offer options suitable for different segments of society.”The Gap Between Income and PricesEconomic specialists indicate a widening gap. Some families resort to installments or borrowing to secure Eid necessities.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 04:53 UTC
Russia blames Ukraine for gas tanker explosions in Libya
The Libyan Port Authority said the Russian tanker, Arctic Metagaz, sank after "sudden explosions" north of the port of Sirte. Moscow said the tanker was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones in "an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy." The Russian transport ministry said the attack was "launched from the coast of Libya by Ukrainian naval drones," without providing further details. The Libyan Port Authority said the ship was carrying about 62,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on its way to Port Said, Egypt. The Russian ministry said it had departed from the northern Russian port of Murmansk.
Source:Libya Today
March 05, 2026 04:09 UTC
Security Council affirms role of UN in Libya and Tetteh’s road map – calls for Libyans to demonstrate political will, refrain from unilateral action, and unification of institutions and budget
The UN Security Council issued a press statement yesterday by Council President Michael G. Waltz (United States) in which it affirmed the central role of the UN in Libya and UNSMIL head Tetteh’s road map. It called for Libyans stakeholders to demonstrate political will, refrain from unilateral action, and unify Libya’s institutions and budget. They therefore urged all Libyan stakeholders to engage fully, seriously and without delay with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya’s political road map. The members of the Security Council noted the importance of progress towards the unification of all institutions, including military and security institutions, and underscored the importance of safeguarding the unity and independence of the judicial system. The members of the Security Council called for the implementation of the Unified Development Programme and stressed the importance of establishing a unified budget to prevent further economic deterioration.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 23:24 UTC
Russian LNG tanker sinks in Mediterranean; Moscow blames Ukrainian drones
A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) sank in the Mediterranean on Wednesday after what Moscow described as an attack by Ukrainian drones launched from Libya. The Arctic Metagaz sank in waters between Libya and Malta after catching fire a day earlier, Libya's maritime rescue agency said in an advisory seen by Reuters. Ukraine has frequently targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to deprive Russia's war machine of funding, but if confirmed, this would be its first attack on an LNG tanker. "The tanker is not listed under any contracts to supply or receive LNG cargoes to Egypt," the ministry said. The ship's Russia-based manager, LLC SMP Techmanagement, and Russian LNG producer Novatek have not commented on the incident.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 21:42 UTC
LIA Chairman Hassan meets Russian Ambassador Aganin – discusses reinvesting Libyan assets previously frozen by the UN Security Council
The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) reported today that, yesterday, its Chairman, Ali Mahmoud Hassan, received the Russian Ambassador to Libya, Aydar Aganin. The LIA reported that the meeting addressed the progress of the LIA’s investments in the Russian financial markets. Discussions also focused on supporting the LIA in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2769 (2025) and the related procedures for its application, with the aim of strengthening the protection of the LIA’s assets and preserving their market value.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:54 UTC
A Russian-flagged tanker erupts in a massive fire and sinks off Libya
CAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. The tanker was under Western sanctions, suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet of energy tankers trying to bypass sanctions imposed on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The tanker, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, “completely sank” between Libya and Malta, a statement said. All 30 crew members were rescued and put on another vessel heading to the Libyan city of Benghazi, it said. Its last reported position was in the western Mediterranean off the coast of Malta, according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:47 UTC
Closing Syria’s border crossing with Lebanon to those departing
Damascus – The Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Crossings closed its border crossing with Lebanon. A media official at the Jdeidet Yabous crossing issued a statement. Mazen Alloush is the Director of Relations at the General Authority for Crossings and Customs. Movement through the Jdeidet Yabous crossing ceased in both directions. This followed a warning issued to the Lebanese side.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:15 UTC
Former Culture Minister declared yesterday that she does not accept her sacking by PM Aldabaiba – today she is prevented from entering the ministry
Following the appointment of Salem Al-Alem as Minister of Culture, the former incumbent, Mabrouka Tougui, revealed that she was prevented from entering to her former ministry’s headquarters this morning. Tougui said there was no official handover procedures between her and the new minister. This comes after Tougui had asserted in a statement yesterday that she did not accept her technical sacking by Tripoli Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba, and that she was not giving up her position. It will be recalled that there is opposition to Aldabaiba’s unilateral ministerial appointments which have not passed through the relevant legislative bodies. As Tripoli PM Aldabaiba fills two vacant ministerial posts, Presidency Council expresses a split over the legality of their appointment
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:00 UTC
Russian tanker on fire in Mediterranean Sea, Moscow accuses Ukraine of sea drone attack
A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, reportedly caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea, multiple media outlets reported on March 3. Russian state media TASS claimed on March 4, citing the Russian Ministry of Transport, that the gas tanker Arctic Metagas was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones. Kyiv continues to escalate its campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, a key source of Moscow's revenues helping to fuel its all-out invasion of Ukraine. In recent months, Ukraine has ramped up its attacks on Russian tankers using sea drone, with Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claiming to have struck two sanctioned Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, off Turkey's Black Sea coast in late November. In December 2025, Kyiv struck a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, a source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent, in neutral waters more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 17:24 UTC
Moscow raised alarm over LNG tanker explosion with Malta's armed forces
Camilleri said the case unfolded at 1:10pm on 3 March 2026 when Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted to a vessel in distress outside Malta’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone. Camilleri said the Armed Forces of Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was informed of the situation following communication from the Moscow Coordination Centre and the vessel’s company. In coordination with the competent Libyan authorities, the Armed Forces of Malta deployed a King Air aircraft, which located the vessel at 3:58pm. Acting on behalf of the Libyan coordination centre, Malta requested the nearest vessel, MT Respect, which was 33 nautical miles away, to assist those aboard the lifeboat. Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was subsequently informed by MT Respect that all crew members had been found safe and accounted for.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 16:37 UTC