UN calls for halt to Libya migrant detention, expulsion
TRIPOLI: The United Nations on Monday called on Libya to treat migrants and asylum seekers with dignity, highlighting concerns over their treatment including arbitrary detention and mass expulsion. War-torn Libya is regularly criticised for its handling of migrants, with rights groups alleging horrific treatment by smuggling gangs and inside state-run detention centres. “Libyan authorities have arrested thousands of men, women and children from the streets and their homes or following raids on alleged traffickers´ camps and warehouses,” the UN´s Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement. Many, including “pregnant women and children”, are held in “overcrowded and unsanitary” conditions, UNSMIL said.
Source:Libya Today
June 13, 2023 01:23 UTC
'Stealth Soldier' Attacks Target Libyan Government Entities With Surveillance Malware
A wave of advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks aimed at Libyans has been detected, using malware that conducts surveillance functions. Spotted by Check Point Research, the Stealth Soldier malware primarily conducts surveillance functions such as file exfiltration, screen and microphone recording, keystroke logging, and stealing browser information. Check Point researchers said the oldest version was compiled last October, and believe the command-and-control (C2) network is part of a larger set of infrastructure, used for spear-phishing campaigns against government entities. The Stealth Soldier infrastructure has some overlaps with infrastructure used in the "Eye on the Nile" campaign, which operated against Egyptian targets in 2019. Shykevich confirms there has been no detection of attacks on Egyptian users using the Stealth Soldier malware.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 22:37 UTC
Turkey's Erdogan runs soccer diplomacy with UAE, Libya at Champions League final
The Emirati leader’s one-day working visit to Istanbul on Saturday saw the two discussing bilateral ties, watching a soccer game together and walking hand-in-hand after dining at an Istanbul restaurant. The encounter is likely a soccer diplomacy push by Ankara to further advance the detente between Dbeibah’s government and Abu Dhabi, which has backed the Tripoli-based government’s rival in the conflict. Ankara and Abu Dhabi are backing rival sides in the Libyan civil war. Abu Dhabi ratified the agreement on May 31 after Erdogan’s reelection. Both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have now embraced the country’s ruler Bashar al-Assad, while Ankara hasn’t.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 22:18 UTC
At the ‘‘localisation of healthcare’’ conference Aldabaiba inaugurates several new services
Tripoli-based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba inaugurated the “National System for Treatment and Rationalization of Expenditure”, the “Our Health” app, and the “Electronic Signature” system, which was introduced for the first time in the Libyan health sector. The initiatives are part of the government’s digitisation policy of the health system. This came during the activities of the International Conference on Localization of Treatment opened in Tripoli today, organized by the Support and Development of Therapeutic Services Department in and sponsored by the state telecommunications holding company, LPTIC. Government worked on several paths to develop the health sectorIn his opening speech at the conference, Aldabaiba stressed that the government worked on several paths to develop the health sector, starting with restructuring it. The national strategy for early detection of cancerThe Prime Minister also revealed the national strategy for early detection of cancer after the formation of an anti-cancer body, stressing the launch of the first experimental phase for early detection of breast cancer, for the most vulnerable segments, in 6 different locations.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 19:26 UTC
Attempt to smuggle 20,000 litres of diesel from Misrata Free Zone thwarted by authorities
An attempt to smuggle 20,000 litres of diesel from Misrata Free Zone was thwarted by authorities today. The seizure was conducted by the Joint Operations Force in cooperation with the Misrata Free Zone Customs Centre. The diesel was hidden inside 14 twenty-foot containers intended for export from the customs hangar at Misrata Free Zone port. It was seized during a routine inspection carried out by the force after the submission of documents purporting they contained used oils. The Joint Operations Force reported that those involved in the attempted export of the containers have been seized in preparation for presenting them to the prosecution authorities to take the necessary measures.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 19:01 UTC
Libya: UN Raises Concerns Over Arbitrary Migrant Arrests
According to the U.N. mission, Libyan authorities have detained thousands of men, women and children from the streets and their homes, or following raids on alleged traffickers’ camps and warehouses. Last week eastern Libya authorities deported thousands of migrants into Egypt, making them cross the border by foot. In Tripoli, migration police have recently deployed at a major city roundabout where many migrants gathered daily for work. Despite insecurity in Libya, where political control is contested and armed factions control most territory, the country is home to about half a million migrants. Both Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah in Tripoli and eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar recently travelled to Rome where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pushing to reduce migrant crossings to Italy.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 18:50 UTC
The first since 2011: the Benghazi Turkish Trade Exhibition is opened by Turkish ambassador Yilmaz
For the first time since 2011, a Turkish trade exhibition opens in Benghazi (12 to 15 June) and is also inaugurated by the Turkish ambassador to Libya, Kenan Yilmaz. The importance of the Benghazi Turkish Trade Exhibition’s (BTTE) presence in eastern Libya to the eastern authorities was manifested in the fact that the inauguration included the mayor of Benghazi municipality, Sager Bujwari, a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Aisha al-Tubagi, the head of the Internal Security Agency, Lieutenant-General Osama Muhammad al-Darsi, the head of the Municipal Executive Council, the Director of the Benghazi-Derna Reconstruction Fund, the President of the Benghazi Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Saleh Al-Obeidi, and the Director of the General Authority for Investment and Privatization Affairs, Nasser Najm. There were 38 Turkish companies and 65 Turkish business leaders participating, in the fields of furniture, home supplies, household electrical appliances, medical and food materials, agricultural products, metal works, auto parts, equipment, oils, and building materials. Benghazi Turkish Trade Exhibition postponed to 12-15 June (libyaherald.com)
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 18:30 UTC
Lilu King's brothers and girlfriend told witness to lie, court hears
But while on the witness stand the man became increasingly evasive in his answers, earning him a warning from the court. Inspector Mercieca told the court that Nancy had told the witness that the private numbers were phone calls from Elmushraty from prison, but pointed out to the court that such calls are not received as private numbers. The Court asked the witness about the reason for this arrangement. Elmushraty’s brothers had pressured the witness to tell the court that the car was his, the court was told. No progress was made, however, leading the police Inspector to request the court declare the witness hostile.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 16:35 UTC
U.N. says concerned over Libya migrant arrests
The mission said Libyan authorities had detained thousands of men, women and children from the streets and their homes, or following raids on alleged traffickers camps and warehouses. Last week eastern Libya authorities deported thousands of migrants into Egypt, making them cross the border by foot. In eastern Libya, authorities said on Monday they had detained 20 Bangladeshi citizens aboard a boat attempting to cross illegally to Italy and that "all legal measures" had been taken against them. "I'm frightened of detention, kidnapping, being held for ransom and forcible deportation... it's difficult to survive in Libya," he said. The Government of National Unity in Tripoli and local authorities in eastern Libya did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the U.N. mission's statement.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 14:14 UTC
High Council of State, House of Representatives hold separate talks on electoral laws
Libya’s High Council of State and House of Representatives are scheduled to convene separate sessions today to discuss electoral laws. Members of both chambers jointly form the 6+6 committee, which have been holding talks in Morocco to draft legislations that would eventually serve as the legal framework for holding elections in the country. On Saturday, June 3, the 6+6 Committee unanimously voted in favor of the laws
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 12:23 UTC
After anti-trafficking campaign, UN “concerned” over expelling migrants from Libya
The U.N. Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is “concerned about the mass arbitrary arrest of migrants and asylum-seekers across the country”. In a statement released today via Twitter, the U.N. said “many of these migrants, including pregnant women and children, are being detained in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.”“Thousands of others, including migrants who have entered Libya legally, have been collectively expelled without screening or due process,” it said. “The campaign of arbitrary arrests and deportations has been accompanied by a disturbing rise in hate speech and racist discourse against foreigners online and in the media,” added the U.N. mission. The mission called Libyan authorities to “halt these actions and treat migrants with dignity and humanity in line with their international obligations.”“Libyan authorities must grant UN agencies and INGOs unimpeded access to detainees in need of urgent protection,” it concluded.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 11:37 UTC
Libya-Italy Military Cooperation Committee holds first meeting in Tripoli
The first meeting of the Libya-Italy Military Cooperation Committee in 2023 was held in Tripoli between 7 and 8 June, revealed the Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity of Libya (GNU) in a statement on its Facebook page yesterday. The meeting is part of the joint technical-military cooperation between the Libyan and Italian defense ministries. During the talks, the parties discussed “a series of issues of common interest […] aimed at developing joint bilateral cooperation in the field of defence”. Furthermore, the revision of the “cooperation plan for the year 2022-2023” and the “preparation of the objective plan for the year 2024” were addressed. Finally, the meeting provided the occasion for an “exchange of views on cooperation and consultation”.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 10:16 UTC
Libyan sales of hydrocarbons hit $1.66 billion of net revenues in May
Libya’s National Oil Corporation reached net revenues of over $1.66 billion from sales of crude oil, gas, condensates, petroleum products and petrochemical products during May 2023. The company itself reported it in a press release posted on its Facebook page. Net revenues from crude oil sales in April totaled $1.57 billion, while those from petroleum products totaled $59.9 million. Data indicate that gas and condensate sales revenues amounted to $29.1 million, while petrochemicals revenues amounted to $616,000.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 09:16 UTC
Remembering our vets: Hunger leads to 20 years with Air Force
He always had been interested in flying and even was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an Air Force auxiliary that conducted search-and-rescue missions, so the day after he turned 17, he joined the Air Force. Basic training in 1954 was at Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, N.Y. Then he attended school in Wichita Falls, Texas, to become a mechanic. After two years at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, he was transferred to Tripoli, the capital of Libya. He said his next assignment was Headquarters Command at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., an entry point for foreign dignitaries. Asked to sum up his experiences, he said simply, “All in all, I enjoyed the Air Force.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 06:57 UTC
Vice President of Libyan Presidential Council meets Qatar’s Ambassador
The PeninsulaVice President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya H E Abdullah Al Lafi met yesterday with H E Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Libya Khalid Mohammed bin Zabin Al Dosari. During the meeting, they discussed relations of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Source:Libya Today
June 12, 2023 06:32 UTC