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
Minister told Opposition AFM patrol boat was on site of stricken vessel, Darren Carabott says
An Armed Forces of Malta vessel was on site of the stricken Russian LNG tanker on Tuesday evening, Opposition national security spokesperson Darren Carabott said. The information was divulged to the Opposition by the government during a meeting held on Tuesday between Carabott, Opposition leader Alex Borg, Prime Minister Robert Abela and National Security Minister Byron Camilleri. Among others, Carabott asked at what time did the explosion happen and at what time did the AFM know about it. Carabott also asked at what time did the AFM vessel arrive on site of the Russian tanker, calling for a clear timeline of developments. READ ALSO | Russian LNG tanker left with gaping hole in its hull after explosion, photos show
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 13:56 UTC
Russian LNG tanker sinks off Libyan coast after explosions
A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea within Libya’s search and rescue zone after a series of explosions and a major fire, Libyan maritime authorities have said. The ship was carrying 62,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas and had been sailing from Murmansk in Russia to Port Said in Egypt. Libyan officials said the vessel sank at coordinates 34°17.6’N and 017°04.0’E, about 130 nautical miles north of the port of Sirte. Earlier reports by Malta Today said a fire broke out on board the tanker south-east of Malta and off the Libyan coast. Authorities warned of possible leakage of LNG cargo or fuel from the sunken tanker, posing both fire and pollution risks.
Source:Libya Observer
March 04, 2026 13:21 UTC
Russia blames Ukrainian sea drones after tanker explodes and sinks in the Mediterranean
ShareCAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. Russia asserted that an attack by Ukrainian sea drones was to blame. Russia’s Transport Ministry said the vessel was hit by Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast. Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships have reportedly come from the Libyan coast, though Kyiv officials haven’t publicly confirmed those reports. In the past, Ukraine’s military has said it used sea drones to sink Russian vessels in the Black Sea as part of efforts to combat Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began just over four years ago.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 12:45 UTC
Libya 2011 offers playbook for S&P 500 in Iran conflict: Citi
Investing.com -- The evolving conflict with Iran is keeping markets on edge, and Citi analyst Scott Chronert said in a note this week that investors should look to historical precedent for clues. To frame the current moment, Citi drew parallels to the 2011 Libya intervention. However, Citi emphasised that other macro shocks ultimately shaped 2011 market performance, with the S&P 500 finishing the year essentially flat, underpinned by 12% earnings growth. The key takeaway, according to Citi, is to “be prepared for unintended consequences of the Iran conflict,” including potential pressure from higher oil, inflation effects and economic headwinds. Still, Chronert said the U.S. market “may be a relative safe haven as oil prices trend higher.”Related articlesLibya 2011 offers playbook for S&P 500 in Iran conflict: CitiBuy the dip in this AI chipmaker, HSBC saysBofA upgrades Unity as stock price has baked in much of downside risks
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 12:28 UTC
Misrata Free Zone launches digital cargo management system
Misrata Free Zone has announced the launch of an integrated electronic system to manage the counting, sorting and documentation of incoming goods, in a move aimed at modernising port operations. According to the zone’s administration, the system allows operators to manage voyage schedules and operational data, record container details and conditions, and document any damage with photographic evidence. It also tracks lashing and sealing procedures, monitors unloading stoppages and their causes, and provides real-time statistics and workflow charts. Officials described the project as a significant step towards improving efficiency and accuracy, reducing processing time, and enhancing transparency, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the port’s competitiveness and advance digital transformation.
Source:Libya Observer
March 04, 2026 12:15 UTC
Libya needs unified institutions to restore economic vitality through UNSMIL’s efforts: Trumps Advisor Boulos
President Donald Trump’s U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, commented today on the UN Security Council statement on Libya released yesterday saying:‘‘Libya’s path to lasting stability requires a credible, Libyan-led political process that unifies institutions and restores economic vitality. The United States supports SRSG Hanna Tetteh and UNSMIL as they work to facilitate this effort. We will continue engaging Libyan stakeholders in a pragmatic and coordinated approach to create the conditions necessary for secure political institutions and long-term economic prosperity’’. 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 budgetUS working for economic and military integration by bringing together senior officials from eastern and western Libya: Massad Boulos at Security Council
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 11:29 UTC
Flights evacuate stranded travellers in Middle East
(EPA Images pic)PARIS : Governments and airlines scrambled Tuesday to repatriate tens of thousands of travellers stranded in the Middle East following the eruption of a regional conflict sparked by Israel-US strikes on Iran. Some Emirates flights took off Tuesday morning, according to the Flightradar24 flight tracking website, flying south out of the Gulf region. Flights continued to come in and out of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman, though no civilian flights passed through airspace over Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Libya or Qatar. Britain said a charter flight would bring home nationals from Oman in the coming days, with Ireland and Spain making similar announcements. Airlines including Air France, British Airways, LOT, Norwegian and SAS have all suspended flights to the Middle East for the coming days.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:39 UTC
Russian shadow fleet LNG tanker sinks after 'sudden explosions' off Libya coast
India Confident To Evade Fuel Crisis Amid War As Russia Offers Energy Support Despite Trump ThreatsA Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Arctic Metagaz, has sunk in the central Mediterranean between Libya and Malta after a "sudden explosion" triggered a massive blaze on board, Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said on Wednesday.They added that all 30 crew members were rescued in nearby Libyan waters.Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said Arctic Metagaz tanker "had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking," ultimately led to the tanker’s complete sinking north of the Libyan coast.There have been no immediate reports of casualties among the crew.According to local reports, Russia’s transport ministry later accused Ukraine of launching a naval‑drone attack against the tanker from the Libyan coast, claiming that the Arctic Metagaz was struck by uncrewed surface vessels, but Kyiv has not publicly commented on the allegation.Maltese armed forces, whose Rescue Coordination Centre helped coordinate the response, said survivors from the Arctic Metagaz were found in a lifeboat inside Libya’s search‑and‑rescue area and were all reported safe.Tracking data showed the ship had earlier loaded LNG at a Russian floating storage unit before sailing around Western Europe into the Mediterranean, where its Automatic Identification System signal disappeared roughly 30 nautical miles off Malta’s northeastern coast prior to the fire.The Armed Forces of Malta said they were alerted to a distress situation involving the Arctic Metagaz outside Malta’s search‑and‑rescue region and initiated verification procedures, locating the vessel and working with international partners before survivors were later found in a lifeboat in Libyan waters.According to Maltese and Libyan authorities, the crew abandoned ship as the fire spread, and were subsequently transferred to another vessel after rescue coordination messages were broadcast to nearby shipping.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:30 UTC
Russian LNG tanker catches fire and sinks off the coast of Libya
A Russian LNG tanker caught fire off the coast of Libya, with all 30 crew members on board the vessel unharmed and rescued, Moscow said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENTThe Libyan port authority said the carrier sunk after "sudden explosions" north of the port of Sirte. The Arctic Metagaz tanker "had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking" on Tuesday night, the authority said. Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking the tanker from the Libyan coast by naval drones, according to a statement by Russia’s transport ministry. The vessel was loaded and en route from the northern Russian port of Murmansk, according to Moscow.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:09 UTC
Old video of Pelosi defending Obama administration striking Libya resurfaces
A video clip of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resurfaced online of her defending former President Obama’s decision to strike Libya without congressional approval. Pelosi recently said that President Donald Trump should have gotten approval from Congress before striking Iran. "You’re saying that the president did not need authorization initially and still does not need any authorization from Congress on Libya?" a reporter from the video is heard asking Pelosi in 2011. Trump has not weighed out boots on the ground in Iran, according to an exclusive interview with the New York Post.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 08:37 UTC
Sanctioned Russian LNG Tanker Explodes in Mediterranean — A First of Its Kind?
The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, was reportedly destroyed around 4 a.m. local time between Malta and Libya. Shipping and maritime security sources told Reuters the tanker was ablaze, though no official distress signal had been recorded. If confirmed, the destruction of the Arctic Metagaz could mark the first known instance of an LNG carrier being blown up in a conflict-related attack. Authorities said environmental damage was unlikely, as the vessel was believed to be carrying LNG rather than crude oil. The incident marks a sharp escalation in maritime risk across the Mediterranean, a region increasingly touched by the widening conflict.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 07:59 UTC
The Iran dilemma: Can bad motives still have a good outcome?
He recognises that Iran is a complex and diverse reality, without discounting that a sizeable minority of Iranian society still supports the murderous regime. In his role as Vice President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iran, Attard has championed human rights in Iran, pushed resolutions condemning repression, advocated targeted sanctions, and crucially called for the IRGC’s designation as a terrorist group. He has also engaged Iranian diaspora communities, urging the EU to link diplomacy to accountability and rights. “In the absence of military intervention, it was hard to imagine change in Iran. “Iran before 1979, despite being itself repressive, was a sort of cultural beacon for the rest of the region,” Attard says.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 05:06 UTC
The Central Bank reveals digital trading indicators and launches the electronic scanning service
Their total volume was 2,235,176,369 dinars during the same period. The total volume for these was 11,735,207,353 dinars. The total operations executed via electronic applications reached 43,304,277. Their total transactions reached 44,638,566,521 dinars. Their acceptance points reached 6,096.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 04:46 UTC
UNSC Issues Press Statement on Libya
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. The members of the Council reaffirmed their respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya, and the need to refrain from external interference. They called upon the international community to support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in the implementation of their mandate.
Source:Libya Today
March 03, 2026 23:13 UTC