Afghanistan ceasefire; Russia-backed attack in Ukraine; Arms flow into Libya; Bracelet of silence; And a bit more.
Taliban, U.S. set ceasefire deal. Ukraine’s military says Russia-backed forces launched an attack near a demilitarized city in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, AP reports from Kyiv. Ukraine’s President President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Facebook that the violence was “not just a cynical provocation… it is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in the Donbass, which had begun to move through small but continuous steps,” More from AP, here; or from Reuters, here. The attack happened this past August in Berlin, and in typical Bellingcat fashion, involves a lot of evidence and back story. “A large, somewhat ungainly white cuff with spiky transducers, the bracelet has 24 speakers that emit ultrasonic signals when the wearer turns it on.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 15:33 UTC
Russia reiterates call for a peaceful solution to Libya's crisis
Libya's permanent representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni held discussions Tuesday with his Russian counterpart, Vasily Nebenzya in relation to the developing conditions in Libya and the national and international repercussions from the situation. According to the Libyan Mission's Facebook page, the most important topics for discussion were the Security Council's Resolution 2510, its implementation and methods on the most effective way to activate it in order to guarantee success, whilst achieving agreement by all parties involved. The Russian delegate, Vasily Nebenzya, on his part reconfirmed Moscow’s eagerness to support all efforts towards a peaceful solution to the present crisis, paving the way for positive dialogue. He said,” the hope is that, without any outside interference, the discussions will draw all sides in the conflict together paving the way to success”.
Source:Libya Observer
February 18, 2020 14:15 UTC
The National Center for Disease Control announces evacuation of Libyan citizens for medical treatment from China
The General Manager of the National Center for Disease Control, Badr Al-Din Al-Najjar, said that several Libyan patients receiving treatment in China have been evacuated back to their homeland in coordination with the Health Attache of the Libyan embassy in Beijing. In a telephone conversation with the Libyan FM Health Channel of the National Center for Disease Control, Al-Najjar said that the total number of citizens at risk in China, is twelve, nine of whom were evacuated, while the remaining three will stay in situ for the purpose of completing any further travel arrangements. Al-Najjar stressed that the patients underwent a complete medical examination by the Chinese authorities before leaving for Dubai, to then continue their journey on to the Republic of Tunisia. Al-Najjar voiced his appreciation for the role played by the health authorities in Tunisia in following up the health condition of Libyan citizens through coordination and communication with the National Center for Disease Control. It is worth noting that the National Center for Disease Control had issued a statement three days ago confirming that no cases of Corona virus have been registered in Libya to date.
Source:Libya Observer
February 18, 2020 14:03 UTC
AP Interview: UN chief says new virus poses 'enormous' risks
LAHORE, Pakistan — The U.N. secretary-general said Tuesday the virus outbreak that began in China poses “a very dangerous situation” for the world, but “is not out of control. The World Health Organization is looking into how to help handle such a development, he added. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. He called for an immediate cease-fire, urging Turkey, Russia and Iran to find a political solution. "We absolutely need to seize this opportunity for peace,'' Guterres said.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 13:07 UTC
EGX Roller of 2019
Throughout the year, EGX lost around LE 41.44 billion, ending trading at LE 708.3 billion, compared to LE 749.71 billion recorded during the last session of 2018.The benchmark EGX30 climbed 925.79 points during 2019, ending the year at 13,961.56 points, compared to 13,035.77 points by the end of 2018. Meanwhile, the small and mid-cap index EGX70 declined 159.36 points by the end of 2019, to close at 534.47 points, compared to 693.83 points at the last session of 2018. The broader index EGX100 dipped 329.11 points, to record 1,398.10 points, from 1,727.21 points by the end of the previous year. The small and mid-cap index EGX70 jumped 0.23% (1.21 points), to close at 534.47 points, compared to 533.26 points at the last session of November. The equally weighted index EGX50 lessened 3.21% (65.22 points), to end the month at 1,967.45 points, compared to 2,032.67 points the prior month.On the other hand, the small and mid-cap index EGX70 jumped 2.71% (14.08 points), to close at 534.47 points, compared to 520.39 points by the end of September.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 11:48 UTC
UN-backed government in Libya suspends talks after attack
Ghassan Salame, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, talks at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. The United Nations says Libyas warring sides have resumed talks in Geneva aimed at salvaging a fragile cease-fire in the North African country. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) The Associated PressGhassan Salame, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, talks at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. The United Nations says Libyas warring sides have resumed talks in Geneva aimed at salvaging a fragile cease-fire in the North African country. The Geneva talks come amid intensified diplomacy among world powers seeking to end the conflict that has ravaged Libya for nine years and increasingly drawn in foreign powers.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 11:05 UTC
BBC News Russian reveals killing of first Russian soldier in Libya
The BBC News Russian confirmed Monday the killing of the first Russian soldier in Libya identified to be "Gleb Mostovoy" on February 6. According to the BBC "Mostovoy" was a commissioned officer in the Russian army and not a mercenary." The website pointed out that the police did not allow reporters to attend the memorial service of Mostovoy, despite their approval of the journalists' papers. It is noteworthy that the Libyan army forces disclosed in recent statements that they had targeted Russian mercenary posts southern Tripoli, confirming that several of them had been killed.
Source:Libya Observer
February 18, 2020 09:33 UTC
Khums Cement Factory reopens with more environmentally friendly process methods
The Municipality of Khums has announced the reopening of the Khums Cement Factory of the National Company after introducing modern technical modifications to address the environmental pollution emitting from the cement manufacturing process. New filters were installed to limit the emissions of dust and gas that results from the production process, the municipality has explained on Facebook. "The National Company has taken this step as evidence of its commitment to protecting people living in areas located near the factory against risks of pollution," the municipality stated. The reopening of the factory coincides with the celebrations for the 9th anniversary of the February 17 revolution.
Source:Libya Observer
February 18, 2020 09:11 UTC
EU stops Operation Sophia and sends warships to stop Libya weapons trafficking
EU foreign ministers in Brussels have agreed to launch a new mission to enforce the weapons embargo against Libya. Following on from the Libya peace conference in Berlin this January, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that a new Libya mission would entail a "maritime component" by dispatching navel vessels. Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, said the new operation with naval ships, planes and satellites will enforce the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. Over the weekend, the UN deputy special envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams, described the arms embargo as a joke. Libya’s latest cycle of violence has pitted Gen Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the Libyan National Army, against the UN-backed government of the prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 05:15 UTC
Turkey's Syrian mercenaries in Libya: 'We did it for the money'
Thank you for your reading and interest in the news Turkey's Syrian mercenaries in Libya: 'We did it for the money' and now with detailsHind Al Soulia - Riyadh - A voice message arrived in late January on the phone of Mansur, a Syrian refugee living in downtown Gaziantep, southern Turkey, 30 kilometres away from the Syrian border. Syrian Yassin Abu Obaida from Idlib was killled fighting in Libya for Jabhat Thuwar Surya. Since then, they have sent between 3,000 and 4,000 Syrian proxies to Tripoli and every week more flights carrying fighters take off from Gaziantep. He was planning to attend a routine meeting to discuss the situation in Syria when Turkey requested they divert course to Libya. On January 26, at around 4:30am, a commercial flight took off from Gaziantep airport with Salim an more than 200 Syrian mercenaries on board.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 03:33 UTC
UN: Impact of long Libya war on civilians is `incalculable'
FILE - In this July 3, 2019 file photo, debris covers the ground and an emergency vehicle after an airstrike at a detention center in Tajoura, east of Tripoli in Libya. The United Nations revealed on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 new details about an airstrike that smashed into a migrant detention center in Libya, killing at least 50 people. The July attack, which ranked among the deadliest assaults on civilians since the start of Libya’s civil war, sparked international condemnation and accusations of war crimes.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 01:30 UTC
UN: Impact of long Libya war on civilians is 'incalculable'
Debris covers the ground and an emergency vehicle after an airstrike at a detention center in Tajoura, east of Tripoli in Libya on July 3, 2019. The July attack, which ranked among the deadliest assaults on civilians since the start of Libya's civil war, sparked international condemnation and accusations of war crimes. UNITED NATIONS — The U.N humanitarian coordinator for Libya said Monday the impact of the country's nine-year war on civilians "is incalculable," pointing to its intensity escalating "exponentially" since a rebel commander launched an offensive last April, casualties rising and almost 900,000 people now needing assistance. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. pointing to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly health facilities, that have doubled since 2019, resulting in at least 650 civilians killed or injured.
Source:Libya Today
February 18, 2020 01:30 UTC
Al-Sarraj sends Libyans peace and stability message on February Revolution Day
The Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj has addressed Libyans and the world on February 17 revolution's 9th anniversary, saying his message is for peace and stability in Libya. Al-Sarraj added in his televised statement on Monday, commemorating the 9th anniversary of February 17 revolution that toppled the long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi, that his government is always calling for peace and stability in the country. Al-Sarraj added, saying "the clock doesn't work backward". He also said that many regional powers know that Libya has the resources to become a major country in the region if it became stable. Al-Sarraj explained that Libyans need to unify and help the country develop with steady progress so security, peace and stability can regain Libya its position in the region and the world.
Source:Libya Observer
February 17, 2020 18:56 UTC
EU foreign ministers agree on new Libya naval mission, replacing Operation Sophia
European Union's foreign ministers agreed on Monday, though only in principle, on a new mission — which would include naval assets — to monitor Libya's UN arms embargo, according to the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The agreement was also confirmed by the Italian and Austrian foreign ministers. "We all agreed to create a mission to block the entry of arms into Libya," said Italy's foreign minister, Luigi di Maio. According to the agreement, the new mission will replace Operation Sophia which was initially launched in 2015 to stop human trafficking from North Africa to Europe, while also enforcing a UN arms embargo. Details of the new mission will be finalized in the weeks ahead, however; it is expected to have three levels: "in the air, satellite and maritime,'' according to Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
Source:Libya Observer
February 17, 2020 18:56 UTC
The Future of the Middle East Looks Just Like This
The Middle East is not on the precipice of a great regional war. Directly or indirectly informing many of these opinions and reactions were arguments like Robert Malley’s November/December 2019 Foreign Affairs article: “The Unwanted Wars: Why the Middle East Is More Combustible Than Ever.” Malley contends that the Middle East currently epitomizes a paradox. Ultimately, this oversight of Lebanon inhibits more concise analysis, deeper comprehension, and U.S. policy recommendations for the Middle East. Look at Lebanon—not Iraq, Syria, or Yemen—for ClarityLebanon—not Iraq, Syria, or Yemen—is the model and the guide for the contemporary Middle East. The increased fracturing and integration of the Middle East is creating more Lebanons.
Source:Libya Today
February 17, 2020 17:26 UTC