Sixt car rental opens Mitiga airport branch
Sixt car rental opens Mitiga airport branchBy Sami Zaptia. London, 27 April 2021:Sixt Libya car rental opened its Mitiga airport branch last Friday. It is the first rental company to launch operations at Mitiga airport. The first phase will aim to cover transportation operations to and from Mitiga airport. The variety of up-to-date rental cars on offer that can accommodate a range of travel needs.
Source:Libya Herald
April 27, 2021 09:07 UTC
PM’s trip to eastern Libya delayed after security row
The fire, which erupted late Saturday at the Ibn Al-Khatib Hospital’s coronavirus ward, raged for hours before claiming 82 lives and injuring 110 people. Officials said the blaze was set off by exploding oxygen cylinders; days later, speculation has run rampant about what caused them to explode. “The fire spread so quickly because of the combustible oxygen cylinders,” said Samer. Dr. Kamal Al-Rubaie, 28, was on the hospital’s second floor ICU ward, filled with COVID-19 patients on oxygen when the fire started. He said he had feared the oxygen cylinders ever since his first rotation at the ward last October.
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 23:02 UTC
Amnesty: Haftar’s military is holding sham trials and sentencing civilians to death
Amnesty International today accused the military courts under the rule of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, of holding sham trials of prisoners who had been tortured, resulting in the death sentence of at least 22 people since 2018. “Hundreds of civilians in eastern Libya have been convicted in secret and grossly unjust military trials, aimed at prosecuting oppositionists and actual or perceived opponents of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), headed by Haftar and allied armed groups,” the rights group said in its report. “Two individuals targeted specifically for their journalistic work, a group who took part in peaceful demonstrations, and tens of people who defended human rights or expressed criticism of the LAAF or related armed groups on social media,” according to the report. Former detainees were quoted in the study as saying that they were tortured “abducted and held incommunicado for up to 20 months in circumstances similar to enforced disappearance, beaten, abused, and waterboarded Some people said they were required to sign “confessions” for crimes they didn’t commit.”Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, explained that “Military trials of civilians are inherently unfair and breach international and regional laws. Such courts are held in secret in eastern Libya, often without the presence of lawyers or defendants, undermining any sense of justice.”She urged the Government of National Unity to “immediately put an end to civilian military trials and order international law inquiries into torture and other violations committed by armed groups against prisoners,” adding that Haftar’s forces “seek to exercise effective control over eastern Libya.”
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 22:18 UTC
Libya PM postpones visit to Benghazi as division continues
Head of the Government of National Unity in Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, today delayed a scheduled visit to the east, which was aimed at exhibiting the progress made in ending political division in the country. This came as Dbeibeh's comments concerning displaced people fleeing Benghazi to Tripoli angered armed factions east of Libya. The prime minister's spokesman Mohamed Hammouda announced that the visit had been postponed, without providing further details. The two rival camps, Tripoli and Benghazi, the stronghold of renegade General Khalifa Haftar's militia, are still divided over political issues. Dbeibeh was appointed in March to lead a national unity government as part of an UN-facilitated process to bring peace and stability to Libya by reunifying state institutions and holding elections in December.
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 17:03 UTC
Libya PM calls off Benghazi visit after security turned back
CAIRO (AP) — Libya’s interim prime minister called off his visit Monday to the country’s east after a government advance security team was turned back from the airport in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and his Cabinet were to hold a meeting in Benghazi, the main stronghold of Libya's east-based forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Hifter. A government official in the capital, Tripoli, said the development came after authorities at the Benghazi airport turned back an armed entourage that was sent to secure Dbeibah’s visit. An official with Hifter’s forces said the entourage had asked to take over the airport security during the prime minister’s visit, a demand rejected by airport officials. He said many government officials, including the head of the presidential council, had visited Benghazi and their trips were secured by forces already in the city.
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 12:56 UTC
NOC lifts force majeure on Hariga after government allocates it LD 1 bn to pay its debts
NOC lifts force majeure on Hariga after government allocates it LD 1 bn to pay its debtsBy Sami Zaptia. London, 26 April 2021:Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced today that it has lifted the state of force majeure on its Hariga port which had halted all production and exports through that port. The NOC had cited the lack of liquidation of its budget by the Central Bank of Libya as the reason for imposing the force majeure on 19 April. (49) allocating an amount of one billion dinars and considering it as part of the budget of the National Oil Corporation. NOC declares force majeure at Hariga port due to lack of funds – launches tirade at CBL and threatens legal action | (libyaherald.com)
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 12:11 UTC
UN delegation arrives in Sirte to participate in the meeting of the 5 + 5 Commission
UN delegation arrives in Sirte to participate in the meeting of the 5 + 5 CommissionThe delegation from the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) arrived in Sirte, Libya, for the fourth meeting of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission. The Commission is due to meet today, according to the Libyan News Agency (LANA), following the arrival of members of the Joint Military Commission of the two parties. According to Commission sources, the Joint Military Commission will look into what had been agreed upon during previous meetings on the framework for enforcing the permanent ceasefire signed in Geneva on October 23, 2020, in the presence of a representative of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Sources also reported that the Commission will be reviewing the reports of the Security and Police Sub-Committees’ work, as well as the clearance of mines and war remnants, in preparation for the opening of the coastal road between Sirte and Misrata. The withdrawal of foreign mercenaries from Libyan territory, as well as other issues decided upon at last month’s Joint Military Commission of 5 + 5 meeting in Sirte, will be discussed and evaluated.
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 10:41 UTC
Amnesty accuses Libya of sending 22 to death in ‘sham’ trials
TRIPOLI: Eastern Libyan military courts have sentenced at least 22 people to death and jailed hundreds more since 2018 in “sham, torture-tainted” trials to exert control, Amnesty International said today. “Military courts have convicted hundreds of civilians in eastern Libya in secret and grossly unfair military trials,” the London-based rights group said. The trials were “aimed at punishing real or perceived opponents and critics” of the forces loyal to eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar, it added. Amnesty’s Diana Eltahawy said military trials were used by the eastern forces as means of “exerting their power to punish those who oppose them and instil a climate of fear”. It was not clear if the 22 death sentences had been carried out, but Amnesty said Libyan rights groups had reported at least 31 executions between 2018 and 2020.
Source:Libya Today
April 26, 2021 01:18 UTC
From the Libyan desert to southern Italy, God was always at his side
This young Nigerian man disembarked at the southern Italian port of Reggio Calabria in 2016, at the young age of 17, after the odyssey of crossing the Libyan desert. Instead, God always has a different plan for us,” Ozekhome told lacnews24. Winner and the miracle of being savedHis unshakable Catholic faith helped sustain him during this difficult journey, which put him in life-or-death situations. GratitudeThanks to the difficult experiences he’s had, he’s very concrete and realistic, as well as grateful. Thanks to his faith, Ozekhome knows very well, from his lived experience and with his heart, what it means to be reborn and to hope.
Source:Libya Today
April 25, 2021 12:56 UTC
Egypt's national soccer team coach positive for coronavirus
APCAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s national team coach has tested positive for the coronavirus, the country's soccer association announced Sunday. Hossam el-Badry was diagnosed with COVID-19 after his daughter tested positive earlier this month, the Egyptian Football Association said in a statement. The 61-year-old el-Badry, who was appointed to lead Egypt’s national team in 2019, is the latest player or coach on the national team to test positive for the virus. Mohamed Elshenawy, goalkeeper of the national team and Cairo’s Al-Ahly soccer club, tested positive earlier this month and missed a game against archrival Zamalek in the local league. In November, Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah tested positive after he traveled to Cairo to play in Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo.
Source:Libya Today
April 25, 2021 12:33 UTC
Libya's interim PM fires all appointed ministers by Al-Sarraj
CAIRO -25 April 2020: Head of the Libyan National Unity Government, Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, fired all the ministers appointed by previous governments, in preparation for the appointment of creative figures. This came as per a decision stating the prime minister of the national unity government has excused all secretaries of the ministries, appointed by the outgoing Fayez Al-Sarraj government and previous governments, of their duties. A number of the secretaries of Al-Sarraj’s ministries were accused of financial and administrative corruption, and their files were referred for investigation by the Attorney General. Some of them were arrested, while others fled abroad, such as the secretaries of the ministries of finance, education, local government, and health. Al-Dabaiba also canceled all decisions and procedures issued by Al-Wefaq and the interim governments, issued after March 10, which is the date his government obtained confidence from the House of Representatives.
Source:Libya Today
April 25, 2021 12:32 UTC
US Ambassador Norland sends gentle public nudge to Saleh on elections and budget
US Ambassador Norland sends gentle public nudge to Saleh on elections and budgetBy Sami Zaptia. London, 25 April 2021:The U.S. Embassy for Libya announced today that its Ambassador Richard Norland spoke with HoR head Ageela Saleh from London on Friday (23 April) to discuss progress on elections and on the 2021 budget. The Embassy statement said Ambassador Norland welcomed the Saleh’s ‘‘firm commitment to holding national elections on December 24 and his assessment of progress toward a constitutional and legal basis to facilitate the elections. The 2021 budgetIt will be recalled that Libya’s parliament, headed by Saleh, rejected on 20 April the draft 2021 budget presented by Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba’s government and sent it back with huge amendments. Norland’s call to Saleh, and its publication, was a gentle public nudge to the status quo/dinosaurs to get a move on as time is ticking.
Source:Libya Today
April 25, 2021 11:03 UTC
MI5 knew of bomb brother Ishmale Abedi’s Isis links
The security services had evidence of extremist material on the Facebook account of Ishmale Abedi, the older brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, two years before the attack in which 22 people were murdered. It can be revealed today that when the authorities checked the account, they found a picture of a Jordanian air force pilot whose plane went down in Syria in 2014. First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh, 26, was shot down in his F-16 fighter jet and burnt to death as a captive by Isis fighters. Ishmale’s profile showed al-Kasasbeh shortly before he was set on fire, with the caption: “Looking for seasoned firewood.”SponsoredAnother photograph featured Ishmale sitting beside the son of Abu Anas al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda figure. The son was armed
Source:Libya Today
April 24, 2021 23:05 UTC
Passenger and goods shipping line between Tunisian ports and Misrata are being considered
Passenger and goods shipping line between Tunisian ports and Misrata are being consideredBy Sami Zaptia. London, 24 April 2021:Tunisia is considering opening a passenger and vehicle shipping line between the port of Misrata and the ports of Sfax and La Goulette, Minister of Transport and Logistics Moez Chakchouk was quoted as saying yesterday by his Ministry. The initial plan is for the shipping line to connect Misrata to the ports of Goulette and Zarzis, with the port of Sfax following afterwards. These new proposed shipping lines would follow on from the existing lines transporting mainly Tunisian agricultural goods from Tunisia to Libya. Trade between Tunisia and Libya increased by 148.1% in March 2021, compared to February 2021, according to statistics from the INS quoted by TAP news agency.
Source:Libya Herald
April 24, 2021 17:03 UTC
Discord won’t help ease woes of migrants
Photo has been used for illustrative purposes. The quest for freedom through the seas comes at a great cost to human life. It accused governments of failing to provide search and rescue operations.In the years since the 2011 Nato-backed uprising that ousted and killed longtime leader Muammar Gadhafi, war-torn Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Smugglers often pack desperate families into ill-equipped rubber boats that stall and flounder along the perilous Central Mediterranean route.The International Organisation for Migration said that this would be the largest loss of life in the central Mediterranean since the beginning of 2021. The tragedy is that those related or very close to the migrants who died will never know what happened to their loved ones.
Source:Libya Today
April 24, 2021 16:52 UTC