Migrant boat with 130 aboard capsizes off Libya: NGO
Ten bodies were spotted near a capsized rubber boat off the coast of Libya on Thursday, which had around 130 people aboard, a rescue charity said. The NGO's Ocean Viking ship, as well as merchant vessels, headed to the area in difficult conditions, with up to six-metre waves. We are heartbroken," said Luisa Albera, search and rescue coordinator aboard Ocean Viking. On Wednesday, the Ocean Viking spent all day searching for a wooden boat in distress, with no success. Over 450 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the IOM, most attempting to reach Europe from Tunisia or Libya.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 20:37 UTC
Special Envoy Ján Kubiš continues engagement with international stakeholders to advance the peace process in Libya leading to the holding of elections on 24 December - Libya
Special Envoy Kubiš met in Bern with Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor accompanied by Ambassador Maya Tissafi, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division, and Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division, and discussed the latest developments in Libya and the region. On 17 April, Special Envoy had a phone call with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov. Yesterday Special Envoy Ján Kubiš, along with Ambassador Christian Buck of Germany, co-chaired a meeting of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya that warmly welcomed H.E. PM Dbeiba and German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heiko Mass. In Geneva, Special Envoy Kubiš held discussions with High Commissioner of OHCHR, Michele Bachelet, Antonio Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Peter Maurer, President of ICRC, focused on the issue of migrants, refugees, detainees, displaces, and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law principles.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 18:56 UTC
Bibles Get American Pastor Tangled Up in Turkish Politics
The Republic of Cyprus and its 840,000 people are 89 percent Greek Orthodox, with a 2 percent Muslim minority. The occupied north is 97 percent Muslim, divided between original Turkish Cypriots and Turkish settlers—violating Geneva Convention restrictions on population transfer. But it helped achieve a 2013 agreement for Greek Orthodox and Muslim leaders to freely cross the 110-mile Green Line that divides the island. A Turkish Christian and his American wife were fined at the airport for bringing in religious materials. “We hope to be an example of reconciliation among Greek and Turkish Cypriots.”Cyprus, meanwhile, finds itself increasingly contested in Mediterranean politics.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 18:22 UTC
Libya’s oil ministry authorises NOC funds: Update
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Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 14:42 UTC
Italy to resume construction of Largest coastal road in Libya extends from borders with Egypt to Tunisia
Libya’s coastguard has received European Union funding and training to stop smugglers taking migrants to the water in flimsy boats. (Source: Google Maps)CAIRO – 22 April 2021: Italy will continue the establishment of a coastal road that connects Libyan borders with Egypt to its borders with Tunisian, said Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday in media remarks. "Italian companies are about to resume construction work on the largest Libyan highway, extending from the Tunisian border to the Egyptian border and pass by Tripoli International Airport," he continued. In September 2019, Libya and Italy agreed to kick off the conduction of the road that will extend from the Libyan border city of Ras Ajdair with Tunisia to Imssaed border city with Egypt, Libya Observer reported. The agreement comes in light of the 2008 “Friendship Agreement” that signed between Italy and the late Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 12:56 UTC
Libya’s oil ministry authorises NOC funds in budget row
Notice: By accessing this site you agree that you will not copy or reproduce any part of its contents (including, but not limited to, single prices, graphs or news content) in any form or for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 12:10 UTC
Libyan Coast Guard saves 104 migrants, child dead - MRW - General news - ANSAMed
Libyan Coast Guard saves 104 migrants, child dead - MRW Woman's body also recovered, trafficker stopped(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, 22 APR - Migrant Rescue Watch (MRW) tweeted on Thursday that the Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat 'Ubari' "rescued 104 migrants, including 10 women and three children, and recovered two bodies, one female and one male child". It said that those rescued disembarked safely at the naval base in Tripoli. Police took one person into custody in connection with the deaths aboard the boat, MRW said. It said the migrants included 43 people from Mali, 33 from the Ivory Coast, 16 from Guinea, eight from Sudan, three from Senegal and one from Niger. The European walls of silence continue to grow taller".
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 10:41 UTC
UKRAINE AND LIBYA AGREE ON EXPORT OF MILK
The State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection has agreed with Libyan experts on the form of an export veterinary certificate for the supply of milk and dairy products, the State Food Service said in a press release. She clarified that the possibility of exporting sunflower oil, grain, fruit and berry products from Ukraine to Libya is being considered. The forms of international veterinary certificates for the export of cattle, poultry and products from it have already been agreed. As reported, Ukraine in April agreed with Argentina the form of an export veterinary certificate for the supply of milk and dairy products to this country. RelatedEXPORT, LIBYA, MILK
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 07:30 UTC
Where Did Chad Rebels Prepare for Their Own War? In Libya.
And they were based last year at a sprawling Libyan military air base alongside mercenaries from the Wagner Group, the Kremlin-backed private company that is considered a spearhead for Russia’s covert efforts to spread its military influence across Africa. Experts say the unexpected coup by the Chadian rebels offers a stark example of how the decade-old power vacuum in Libya, starting with the ouster of the dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in 2011, has incubated an array of mercenaries and other armed groups, some of which are now spreading chaos in the region. “The civil war in Libya has created an environment in which armed groups, not just from Chad but from all over the place, can thrive and find sponsors and allies,” said Nathaniel Powell, a research associate at the Center for War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University in Britain, and the author of “France’s Wars in Chad.”Uncertainty has seized Chad since the death of Mr. Déby, casting doubt on the stability of a nation viewed by the United States and France as a linchpin of their efforts to counter Islamist militancy spreading across western and central Africa.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 07:00 UTC
Today's top business news: Stocks rally to recover from morning session losses, oil falls 3rd day on U.S. stock build and surging COVID-19 cases, S&P forecasts 11% growth for India, and more
India registered over 3.14 lakh new coronavirus cases in a day, the highest-ever single-day count recorded in any country, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,59,30,965. India registered over 3.14 lakh new coronavirus cases in a day, the highest-ever single-day count recorded in any country, taking the the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,59,30,965. 3:30 PMS&P forecasts 11% growth for India this fiscal, flags 'substantial' impact of broader lockdownsThe threat of lockdowns to economic growth. 12:30 PMSales of EVs in India fell 20% in FY'21 to 2,36,802 units: SMEVA setback for the electric vehicles industry. 12:00 PMOil falls 3rd day on U.S. stock build, surging COVID-19 casesAnother bad day for oil.
Source:Libya Today
April 22, 2021 04:46 UTC
House votes to curb power of presidency on travel bans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House passed legislation Wednesday designed to constrain a president’s power to limit entry to the U.S., a response to former President Donald Trump’s travel ban covering five Muslim-majority countries. But Democrats say Congress has a responsibility to prevent future administrations from enacting similarly broad restrictions. The bill passed the House by a vote of 218-208. “But former President Trump abused this authority, twisting it in ways that were never intended.”The White House announced its support for the measure earlier this week. “The prior Administration’s haphazard misuse of this authority highlights the need for reasonable constraints," it said.
Source:Libya Today
April 21, 2021 22:21 UTC
Egypt-Libya direct flights resume, key pacts signed
But to her critics, she’s a tool of her backer, Lebanon’s president, who they say uses her to punish his political opponents and protect his allies. Ghada Aoun is a Maronite Christian, like the country’s president, Michel Aoun, and her supporters are mainly members of the president’s Free Patriotic Movement. The country’s top financial prosecutor is a Shiite Muslim, chosen by the country’s top Shiite factions, Amal and Hezbollah. President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Hariri have been locked in a power struggle that has prevented the formation of a Cabinet for more than six months. Outside, supporters of the president and the prime minister got into scuffles and nearly into fist-fights before the army separated them.
Source:Libya Today
April 21, 2021 18:15 UTC
Libya: NOC blocks oil terminal due to rift with Central Bank - Economy - ANSAMed
(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 21 - Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has declared a state of emergency and stopped operations at the oil terminal of Marsa al Hariga due to a problem with the Central Bank. "This announcement was the result of the refusal by the Central Bank of Libya to fund the budget of the oil sector for long months", a situation that "led to the worsening indebtment of some companies, first of all the Arabian Gulf Oil Company", NOC said Monday, as noted today by the website Libya Observer. NOC expressed understanding for the company's reasons in suspending operations in Hariga. According to initial estimates by NOC, daily losses could exceed 118 million Libyan dinars and negatively influence revenues in April and thus money in public coffers.
Source:Libya Today
April 21, 2021 15:00 UTC
Libya: NOC blocks oil terminal due to rift with Central Bank - Energy - ANSAMed
(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 21 - Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has declared a state of emergency and stopped operations at the oil terminal of Marsa al Hariga due to a problem with the Central Bank. "This announcement was the result of the refusal by the Central Bank of Libya to fund the budget of the oil sector for long months", a situation that "led to the worsening indebtment of some companies, first of all the Arabian Gulf Oil Company", NOC said Monday, as noted today by the website Libya Observer. NOC expressed understanding for the company's reasons in suspending operations in Hariga. According to initial estimates by NOC, daily losses could exceed 118 million Libyan dinars and negatively influence revenues in April and thus money in public coffers.
Source:Libya Today
April 21, 2021 15:00 UTC