Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting at Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that a landmark deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea amid the war won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow's demands on its own agricultural exports. Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the Kremlin’s demands as a ploy to advance its own interests. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other goods that developing nations rely on. In addition to pulling out of the grain deal, Russia has repeatedly attacked the Odesa region, where Ukraine’s main Black Sea port is.

Israel to suspend exporting goods from Gaza until further noticeThe Israeli authorities have said that it will suspend exporting goods from the Gaza Strip, starting Tuesday, until further noticeBy IANS Published Date - 08:40 AM, Tue - 5 September 23Gaza: The Israeli authorities have said that it will suspend exporting goods from the Gaza Strip, starting Tuesday, until further notice, according to Palestinian sources. The decision came after Israel thwarted an attempt to smuggle explosive materials at the crossing, according to the sources. “The Israeli authorities decided to stop shipping goods from Gaza to Israel and the West Bank after the smuggling attempt,” he added. Despite the suspension’s potential negative impacts on the economic situation in the strip, Israel will not allow the “terrorists to exploit the civil and humanitarian field in Gaza,” Alyan said. Israel has imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million people, since the Hamas movement seized control of the enclave in 2007.

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying clash between Libya and Equatorial Guinea, including predictions, team news and possible lineups. Libya and Equatorial Guinea draw the curtains in Group J of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they lock horns at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Wednesday. Libya Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:WLLLLLibya form (all competitions):LLWLLLEquatorial Guinea Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:LWWWWEquatorial Guinea form (all competitions):LWDLWWWAdvert - content below:Team News© ReutersLibya boss Bataw has called up a youthful and inexperienced 24-man squad, with 18 players earning their first call-up to the Mediterranean Knights' senior national team. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea have called up 22 players for their final game of the qualifiers, including Alaves goalkeeper Jesus Owono and Huesca midfielder Alex Balboa. Libya possible starting lineup:Al-Maqsabi; Salama, Amir, Jaddour, Khalil; Khouja, Al-Qulaib, Andalusi; Bousheiba, Ayad, JalidahEquatorial Guinea possible starting lineup:Owono; Ndong, Anvene, Nsue, Anieboh; Bikoro, Eneme, Buyla; Salvador, Miranda, NlavoWe say: Libya 0-2 Equatorial GuineaWith top-spot potentially on the line, we expect Equatorial Guinea to come out guns blazing at the Martyrs of February Stadium on Wednesday.

Libya has chosen to overlook Italy’s proposed candidate to lead the European Union’s mission in the country, opting instead for a French diplomat, local Libyan media reports. According to the report, Interim Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh’s government in Tripoli has rejected Italy’s candidate, Nicola Orlando, in favour of France’s Patrick Simonnet. The move, deemed unusual in diplomatic circles, signals a departure from the status quo and suggests Libya’s inclination toward strengthening ties with France. Italy’s candidate, Nicola Orlando’s extensive engagement with Libyan National Army leader, Khalifa Haftar, a prominent figure in eastern Libya and seen as a rival to the current Libyan government, seemed to have played a role in his rejection, the report added. The rivalry between Italy and France for influence in Libya has been ongoing, fuelled by Libya’s significance as a major oil provider and a crucial departure point for migrants bound for Europe.

Share Comment on this story CommentCAIRO — United Nations-commissioned experts on Monday called for forces of a powerful Libyan military commander to stop evicting residents and demolishing their homes in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. The demolition is part of a development project in the city, according to local reports. Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, was the epicenter of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising which toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi who was later killed. The city has become the stronghold for Hifter’s forces in 2014, when the powerful commander launched a major military operation against militant groups and other armed factions. Oil-rich Libya has plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising and is now ruled by rival administrations in the east and the west.

Nishimura brought a trade delegation of 80 Japanese company representatives as Tokyo and Jerusalem explored a possible free trade agreement that would expand their USD 3.3 billion commercial relationship. Israeli free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and South Korea went into effect in 2023. In August, Israel signed a free trade agreement with Vietnam and launched negotiations with Moldova towards another. Meanwhile, finalizing a free trade agreement with Bahrain is high on Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s agenda as he visits Manama. Israel and India are also in the process of expanding their current free trade pact.

The new European Ambassador to Libya will be announced at the appropriate time after a final decision has been made, said the spokesman of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Peter Stano, during the daily press conference in Brussels today. Answering a question on the alleged refusal of the Libyan Government of National Unity to accept the appointment of Italian envoy Nicola Orlando as the new ambassador, Stano stated that “the profession of diplomats does not take place through public announcements, but in discretion and confidentiality, and all our appointments are usually signaled and announced when appropriate.”“In this sense, we will publish the new rotation of ambassadors, also at our delegation in Tripoli, when the time comes,” he added. “This means when all the necessary procedures are completed, including the acceptance received from the host country and the ambassador’s willingness to travel to the country”, said Stano. The procedure for each country, the EEAS spokesman added, “may require different times”. “In the end, the decision of whether or not to accept an ambassador by the host country rests with the latter, which can take into account many criteria,” he concluded.

The Libyan National Army must immediately cease the forcible eviction of residents and demolition of homes in the Benghazi centre and end reprisals and violence against those protesting the evictions, UN experts* said today. According to reports received by the experts, there were no prior consultations with concerned residents and no publicly communicated decision-making process. Instead, residents who opposed or protested the eviction plans were pressured into compliance or silence, including through power cuts, harassment and violence. There are allegations about the involvement of different domestic or foreign companies, but authorities have a duty to clarify the situation and prevent further abusive destruction and human rights violations,” the experts said. The experts have been in contact with the Libyan National Army (https://apo-opa.info/3P5esFn) , the House of representatives (https://apo-opa.info/3EnNKTt) and the Government of Libya regarding these issues.

CAIRO - 4 September 2023: The historical bond between Egypt and Libya is multifaceted. This move paved the way for flourishing trade between Libya and Egypt. Recent Economic Collaborations: A high-level Egyptian-Libyan committee convened in Cairo, culminating in the signing of a strategic framework for economic cooperation. Furthermore, in March 2008, agreements were inked to boost Libyan investments in Egypt to 3 billion and 15 million pounds, spanning across seven domains. Egypt and Libya, bound by history, are now further strengthening their ties through robust economic collaborations.

According to reports received by the experts, there were no prior consultations with concerned residents and no publicly communicated decision-making process. The experts have been in contact with the Libyan National Army, the House of representatives and the Government of Libya regarding these issues. The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. UN Human Rights, country page – Libya

Libya's chief prosecutor said on Saturday he would launch a fact-finding mission to investigate a meeting last month between the foreign minister and Israel's chief diplomat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that any clandestine diplomacy has to go through his office and requires his personal approval before leaking or disclosing anything to the public.

Saddam, Haftar’s youngest son, has made no secret of his desire to stand in the next presidential election. There's more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Subscribe Now cancel anytime Already a a subscriber Sign In

Israel seemed to be trying to show that normalisation with Arab countries is gaining momentum despite no new states joining the Abraham Accords for almost three years. “I believe that at this stage, Biden’s administration would do everything to have [more] Arab countries joining the Abraham Accords,” Carnelos said. “The problem here is the focus in Washington should be on public legitimacy and preparing elections [in Libya],” Krieg said. For Abu Dhabi, the expansion of the Abraham Accords is important because it can help solidify its standing in Washington. Because it is using its leverage to expand the accords, the UAE has been granted a “degree of freedom of manoeuvre” in Washington, Krieg told Al Jazeera.

With heatwaves destroying crops in Libya and Jordan, farmers and refugees are finding hope in a popular new farming technique. In Ubari, an oasis town a thousand kilometers south of Tripoli in Libya, the summer heat can be lethal. Temperatures now frequently top 50 degrees Celsius - so hot that schools and offices are shut for public safety. For 35-year-old Ubari farmer Khalifa Muhammad, the extreme heat is a matter of life and death for something else: his fruits and vegetables. Hydroponics has been a godsend after years of failed crops," Muhammad says while inspecting some 900 seedlings he has grown in his plastic hydroponic tent.

The Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, has approved appointing Italy’s Special Envoy to Libya Nicola Orlando as the European Union’s ambassador to the country, Italian news agency Nova reports. Orlando was chosen by Brussels as successor to Jose Sabadell who ended today his three-year tenure as EU ambassador in Libya. However, Italian press, including news agency Nova and Il Foglio newspaper, reported a week ago that Dbeibeh initially rejected Orlando’s nomination. He was deputy ambassador to Tripoli from 2017 to 2019, when the Italian diplomatic mission was led by Giuseppe Perrone. He was appointed in May 2021 as Italy’s special envoy by former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.