UN mission condemns assault of lawyer in court by security guards
The UN Support Mission in Libya has criticized the Deterrence Force guards for their assault of lawyer Abdullah Ali Farahat in the Tripoli Court last Monday. "UNSMIL is concerned by the ongoing harassment, restrictions, and violence targeting lawyers, including the brutal 18 July beating of lawyer Abdullah Ali Farahat... by the Deterrence Apparatus for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism’ (DACOT) guards." The UNSMIL called for the protection of lawyers while performing their duties and said they have an essential role in the pursuit of justice, as it highlighted that in the past six months, three other lawyers have been assaulted and arbitrarily arrested and detained. It called for a full, independent investigation into all attacks against members of the legal profession and for all perpetrators of violence to be held accountable. Last Tuesday, Libya's Bar Association held an emergency meeting to condemn the assault of Lawyer Farahat and pledged to act in response.
Source:Libya Observer
July 24, 2022 15:40 UTC
US and Russia urge calm as violence in Libya escalates
At least 16 people were killed and 52 wounded in fighting between armed groups in Tripoli, the health ministry said on Saturday, while clashes also occurred in Misrata. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland have both called for calm and de-escalation in Libya after days of clashes have left several dead and dozens wounded across Tripoli and Misrata. “Today’s clashes in Misrata demonstrate the dangerous prospect that the recent violence will escalate,” said US Ambassador Richard Norland in a statement on Saturday. “The United States urges all political actors and their supporters among armed groups to stand down in order to avoid escalation and further loss of life”. At least 16 people were killed and 52 wounded in fighting between armed groups in Tripoli, the health ministry said on Saturday, following the latest politically driven violence to hit the Libyan capital.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 15:02 UTC
Nearly 700 migrants rescued off Italian coast, 5 found dead
Almost 700 migrants, including five dead bodies, were rescued on Saturday off the southern coast of Italy, a coastguard statement said on Sunday, as flows of migrants crossing the Mediterranean increase during favourable sea conditions. Most of the 674 migrants were found on a fishing boat 124 miles off the coast of Calabria, the boot of Italy. The migrants were transferred to port cities in Sicily and Calabria on Sunday morning, the statement added. Separately, on Saturday German NGO search and rescue ship Sea-Watch rescued over 400 migrants, including several young children and two pregnant woman, travelling on four overcrowded boats. According to Sea-Watch, flat seas and lack of wind have helped arrivals of migrants to the Italian coasts.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 12:40 UTC
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At least 16 dead, 52 wounded in Libya as rival militias clash
At least 16 people were killed and 52 others were wounded as armed groups loyal to Libya's rival governments continued to fight in the capital Tripoli and in Misurata, the seats of the country's competing leaders. Several sources told AFP that one of the armed groups detained a fighter belonging to the other, leading to violence in the capital. US ambassador Richard Norland called on all political groups and their supporters among armed groups to stand down. The United States urges all political actors and their supporters among armed groups to stand down in order to avoid escalation and further loss of life. The deaths in Tripoli were the first civilian casualties of fighting in the capital since the 2020 truce.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 12:32 UTC
Up in smoke: Cannabis Ponzi scheme leaves Maltese investors penniless
A number of Maltese retail investors have seen their investments disappear after a cannabis investment platform promising massive returns stopped operating, in mysterious circumstances. At least 40 other Maltese investors are believed to have lost their savings with Juicy Fields, filing criminal complaints with the police. The cannabis investment platform supposedly connected micro-investors with small cannabis farmers, to fund crop cultivation that was then legitimately sold. The allure of such lucrative returns was obvious – investors initially were paid out these high returns, convinced that Juicy Fields was a safe deal. The mystery for the thousands of Juicy Fields investors is who exactly the company’s owners are, and where have the millions – possibly billions – invested gone?
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 11:58 UTC
Red Crescent evacuates122 families stranded in the areas of clashes
The spokesman for the Tripoli branch of the Red Crescent, Karim Diab, said that 122 families were evacuated from areas of clashes; 117 from Al-Moaz project area and the rest from Al-Mashtal Road in Ain Zara. Diab explained in a press statement that the branch received 225 calls from the stranded families, adding that none of the families were injured, as they were transferred from the area of clashes to the nearest safe area to reach their families. He concluded that the evacuation operation was carried out in cooperation with the Deterrence Force and the Judicial Police.
Source:Libya Observer
July 24, 2022 11:36 UTC
NOC: Power cuts will ease following operation of Sarir plant
The Fargh field of the Waha Oil Company has restarted pumping gas to the Sarir power station, the National Oil Corporation announced on Saturday. The company said the operation would put the Sarir plant back in service and help reduce the massive power cuts experienced countrywide. "This comes at a time when crude production is approaching one million barrels per day (bpd), with work continuing to reach 1.2 million bpd during the next period," the NOC noted. Last month, the former Chairman of the state-run electricity company, Wiam Al-Abdali, warned that the power crisis would aggravate and called for urgent solutions to provide the company's needs of natural gas.
Source:Libya Observer
July 24, 2022 11:36 UTC
Libya militia clashes kill 16: health ministry
At least 16 people were killed and 52 wounded in fighting between armed groups in Tripoli, the health ministry said Saturday, following the latest politically driven violence to hit the Libyan capital. The clashes were between two armed groups with major clout in the west of the war-torn country: the Al-Radaa force and the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade. Several sources said one group’s detention of a fighter belonging to the other had sparked the fighting, which extended to several districts of the capital. “All the wounded received medical care in hospitals” in Tripoli, the health ministry said in a statement. Mitiga, the capital’s sole functioning airport, was closed for several hours on Friday before it reopened late in the day.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 11:18 UTC
Libyan militia clashes kill 16: Ministry of Health
Sixteen people, including civilians in Clashes between rival armed groups in The Libyan Ministry of Health said, on Saturday, following the announcement of the Libyan Ministry of Health, Tripoli latest politically motivated hit The Libyan capital. Misurata is her hometown of Both of rival prime Ministers who compete for control of what or what remains of central government. Call US Ambassador Richard Norland on All political actors and their supporters among the armed groups to stand up down to me avoid escalation. “Clashes erupted in Tripoli between two armed groups with great influence in the West of War-torn country: deterrence force and the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade. in 2011, leaving a power The void was the armed groups arguing for years to fill.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 10:44 UTC
Libya militia clashes kill 16: Health Ministry
Sixteen people, including civilians, were killed in clashes among rival armed groups in the Libyan capital Tripoli, the Health Ministry said Saturday, following the latest politically driven violence to hit the Libyan capital. Misrata is the hometown of both of the rival prime ministers who are vying for control of what remains of a central government. Ambassador Richard Norland called on all political actors and their supporters among armed groups to stand down to avoid escalation. The Tripoli clashes were between two armed groups with major clout in the west of the war-torn country: the Al-Radaa force and the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade. Libya has been gripped by insecurity since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, leaving a power vacuum armed groups have been wrangling for years to fill.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 10:35 UTC
Dark Days Face Libya as 16 Killed 52 Injured
Can the ruling governments contain the dark reminders of a civil war? Rival militias are at each other's throats once again in Tripoli. At least 16 dead, 52 wounded in Libya as rival militias clash https://t.co/KTLJS9x0FX — The National (@TheNationalNews) July 24, 2022The clashes between two armed groups are trending on the social media. Militia battles in Tripoli on Friday, 13 dead, 30 wounded. Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 10:29 UTC
Misrata militia clashes increase Libyan tensions
Following Friday’s Tripoli militia clashes, state recognized militias clashed briefly in Misrata yesterday to add to tensions in western Libya. The Joint Operations Force (JOF), aligned to caretaker Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, came under gunfire at an unofficial roadblock at the western entrance of Misrata yesterday. Heightened tensions demonstrate the urgent necessity for electionsCommenting on the Misrata clashes, U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland said yesterday: “Today’s clashes in Misrata demonstrate the dangerous prospect that the recent violence will escalate. Libya is still a militia dominated state – states that are recognized and subsidised by the rentier state’s oil money.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 10:20 UTC
Calm in Libyan capital Tripoli after fighting claims 16 lives
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Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 09:26 UTC
Gaddafi widow appeals court decision ordering BOV to disburse €96 million to Libya
The widow of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has appealed a decision by a Malta court ordering Bank of Valletta to return to Libya over €96 million deposited by Gaddafi's late son Mutassim. Libya’s claims were opposed by Safia Farkash Gaddafi, the 69-year-old widow now living in Oman with sons Hannibal and Mohammad, and daughter Aisha. Oikonomopoulos insisted that Gaddafi’s Malta cash were his private funds and not government monies. “These funds were private funds, having nothing to do with the Libyan state.”Oikonomopoulos was assisted by lawyer Louis Cassar Pullicino. Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was nominated by the courts to act as deputy curator on behalf of the unknown heirs of Muatassin Gaddafi.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 06:48 UTC
Monkeypox outbreak declared public health emergency by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency over the monkeypox outbreak, the strongest call to action by the agency. Although cases are occasionally identified in countries where the virus is not endemic, the latest outbreak has been unprecedented. "For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern." Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci recently said that the cases seen in Europe were self-limiting, with minor rashes and requiring no hospital admission. This is the seventh public health emergency declaration made by the WHO since 2009, with the most recent being COVID-19.
Source:Libya Today
July 24, 2022 06:45 UTC