Mohamed Hwej, the Minister of Economy and Trade in the Tripoli-based Libyan government, met several businessmen and owners of Algerian companies specialized in the fields of industrial engineering and oil at his Tripoli office yesterday. The meeting was also attended by the Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, Saad Al-Haneish, the Undersecretary for Free Zones Affairs, Nouri Al-Gatati, and the Director of the Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Department in the Ministry. This is since Algeria possesses economic potential, great resources, and good experience in several fields. Reopen border crossingsAl-Gatati Emphasized Libya’s desire to reopen the land ports between the two countries to increase the volume of trade exchange, activate free zones and transit trade towards the African market, especially. He said the Ministry of Economy and Trade is keen to provide all necessary facilities in the investment and trade sectors and support the private sector to contribute to the diversification of the Libyan economy.

Libyan border guards have recovered the bodies of several migrants from a desert area where many have reportedly been forcibly taken by Tunisian authorities, Tripoli's interior ministry said Tuesday. The border agents "have discovered five unidentified bodies of irregular migrants of African origin during a patrol in the Dahr al-Khass area" near the Tunisian boundary, the interior ministry said in a statement. Since mid-July, Libyan border guards have rescued dozens of migrants who said Tunisian authorities had taken them to an uninhabited area near Al-Assah, 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Tripoli and around 15 kilometres inside Libyan territory. Online videos published by border agents show migrants arriving by foot across the Tunisian border. On July 18, independent UN experts urged Tunisia to stop the "collective expulsions" of migrants, following reports that dozens had been left by Tunisian police in the desert near Libya.

France is not competing with Italy nor does it rivalry with the country when it comes to energy investment in Libya, said French ambassador in Tripoli Mostafa Mihraje. During an interview with Libyan TV channel Al-Wasat, which aired today, Mihraje pointed out that French company TotalEnergies has been present in Libya “for more than fifty years”, conducting various projects including a solar energy project in east of Misurata. He also recalled a meeting organized by Paris last June between Libyan officials and institutions in the field of energy and French companies to “get acquainted and build bridges of cooperation.”Speaking in reference to upcoming French activities in Libya, the French ambassador confirmed his team’s work to finalize a French Cultural Center in Libya, and arranging the start of issuing visas from Tripoli as soon as possible.

Direct flights between Libya and Italy will resume after a hiatus of almost 10 years, announced the Libyan government on Monday. In a press conference following the arrival of the flight, Dbeibah said that the test flight is a practical announcement to lift the ban on Libyan civil aviation using European airspace, confirming that commercial flights between Libya and Italy will officially resume in September. “The decision to resume flights between Tripoli and Rome comes after intensive meetings of the committee formed by the Prime Minister to lift the air ban on international airports with the aim of facilitating movement and travel for Libyan citizens,” the statement said. In December 2014, the European Commission banned all Libyan airlines from operating in European airspace citing security reasons. Tensions began to rise after Italy refused [Read More] Libya declares force majeure on major oil field stormed by protesters Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared a state of force majeure over the El Feel oil field on Sunday as protesters forced the closure of the country’s major oil field.

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush arrived in Tehran today where she met with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian. According to Iranian state-owned news agency IRNA, the two chief diplomats reportedly discussed bilateral issues, as well as the latest regional and international developments.

The Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, said on Tuesday that “what came out of the House session on June 26 is as if it never occurred and is null and void,” in concluding remarks at the today’s session in Benghazi. On June 26, the House of Representatives voted on selecting the head and members of the Constitutional Court and appointing Khaled al-Mabruk as head of the Administrative Oversight Authority, and Ahmed Abridan as head of the National Planning Council. Around 40 lawmakers protested these decisions and the legality of the session, threatening to boycott House sessions and hold them in Tripoli, considering this session invalid and not rising to the level of legislation or parliamentary decision. By annulling the session, Saleh appeared to acknowledge mistakes and ease tensions with opposing MPs to ensure their participation in Tuesday’s session that approved the election roadmap.

Libya’s House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a proposed roadmap from the speakers of the House and the High State Council on holding elections and forming a new government. House Speaker Aguila Saleh announced that the chamber voted by absolute majority to adopt the roadmap with some amendments and remarks suggested by lawmakers. He stressed the House of Representatives has the sole authority to grant confidence to any new government formed, based on its program and working methods. The roadmap adopted by the House of Representatives today includes a detailed timeline specifying necessary steps and procedures to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on scheduled dates. The High State Council previously approved the same roadmap in late June, in a move aimed at expediting elections as soon as possible to end the transitional period.

A report from Libya’s state-run media claims the recent Rome International Conference on Migration and Development “will not establish mechanisms” to stem irregular migration from Africa to Europe, raising concerns about hidden motives to permanently settle migrants in Libya. “Despite the fanfare surrounding it, this is not the first nor last conference to produce impractical proposals on south-north migration,” wrote WAL’s Africa editor. Rome Conference Seen as Imposing Western AgendaWAL reiterated Libya rejects “Western dictates” and the exploitation of its instability to permanently settle migrants and make it “pay the price” for Europe’s benefit. WAL remains skeptical the Rome conference represents another attempt “to impose Western colonial-era policies on North Africa” and settle migrants permanently in Libya and the Mediterranean “under the guise of cooperation.”Absence of Haftar Raises QuestionsSome Libyan observers have expressed concerns over the notable absence of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, from the Rome conference. They question whether this risks straining relations between Italy and Haftar’s forces, potentially impacting security coordination along Libya’s borders to restrict illegal migration into Europe.

The Aviation Security Training Centre in Tripoli concluded last Thursday the training of airport security supervisors on the special methods used in international airports to maintain civil aviation, in addition to training in quality and control tests. To meet ICAO standardsAs the Head of the Aviation Security Office at the Civil Aviation Authority, Makram Khashkhusha, stated in an exclusive interview with the Libya Herald that the training courses that were planned by the Authority were aimed at raising the efficiency of security personnel at Libyan airports to meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and raise the quality of security services to maintain the security and safety of civil aviation. Help from the Egyptian Civil Aviation AuthorityKhashkhusha emphasized the cooperation between the Aviation Security Office of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority in holding these courses by providing trainers specialized in training on international requirements for security and safety of civil aviation around the world, with updated knowledge of all international methods related to airport security. These airports, he added, have all began to implement all requirements imposed by the ICAO on airports by providing the necessary equipment, devices, and systems to maintain the security and safety of civil aviation. Security personnel were also trained on how to apply international standards on these equipment and systems.

TRIPOLI, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Direct flights between Libya and Italy will resume after a hiatus of almost 10 years, announced the Libyan government on Monday. "Today, Monday, Italian Airlines ITA launched a test flight from Rome to Tripoli, carrying Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah, after a suspension of about 10 years as a result of the European Union air ban on Libya," said the government in a statement. In a press conference following the arrival of the flight, Dbeibah said that the test flight is a practical announcement to lift the ban on Libyan civil aviation using European airspace, confirming that commercial flights between Libya and Italy will officially resume in September. "The decision to resume flights between Tripoli and Rome comes after intensive meetings of the committee formed by the Prime Minister to lift the air ban on international airports with the aim of facilitating movement and travel for Libyan citizens," the statement said. In December 2014, the European Commission banned all Libyan airlines from operating in European airspace citing security reasons.

“We must redouble efforts to find a solution that ensures the continued delivery of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian assistance. The constitutional-reform process is essential for determining the future of Syria and laying the groundwork for reconciliation and stability, Pedersen added. “As has been said so many times in this chamber, cross-border aid is a matter of life and death for millions of people in northwestern Syria,” he told council members. However, Rajasingham said that the short duration of the permission for these cross-border operations, which is due to expire in mid-August, poses serious challenges to humanitarian efforts, including funding, logistics and procurement. He called for greater predictability when granting cross-border permissions to ensure effective humanitarian responses.

As temperatures hit 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) in parts of the North African country, it recorded 97 blazes across 16 provinces, fanned by strong winds, said the interior ministry. The fires killed at least 34 people, including 10 soldiers, as they raged through residential areas, the interior ministry said, revising an earlier toll of 15 dead. The interior ministry said that 7,500 firefighters and 350 firetrucks were mobilised with aerial support to fight the flames. In August 2022, massive blazes killed 37 in Algeria's northeastern El Tarf province. This was followed by the interior ministry similarly announcing the imminent acquisition of one such aircraft and the leasing of six others the following month.

Tripoli-based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabiba, and his delegation, participated in the work of the International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome yesterday. The Tripoli-based Libyan government said the conference aims to regulate the phenomenon of migration, combat human trafficking, and promote economic development, according to a new model of cooperation between countries. This comes through joint planning and implementation of initiatives and projects in six main sectors, namely agriculture, infrastructure, education, training, health care, water, and the environment. Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria and the UAE, as well as the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, attended the conference. I always affirm that our priority in foreign relations is the interest of the Libyan people.’’

Libyan Railroads is considering extending its incomplete rail network south into neighbouring Chad and Niger to establish a rail transit route. The news was revealed during a consultative meeting held yesterday at Libyan Railroads’ Tripoli headquarters between Said Al-Kilani, the head of Libyan Railways, and the ambassadors of Chad and Niger. Al-Kilani briefed the ambassadors on the transit trade plan through a rail line linking Chad and Niger with the southern Libyan city of Sebha. He reminded that Libya possesses elements of transit trade from large commercial ports and a railway project, parts of which have been implemented, but others have stopped due to the country’s recent instability. He said they had all expressed their willingness to cooperate for the return of the implementation of the components of the Libyan railway project.

An Italian Airlines (ITA) test flight arrived from Rome at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport today, carrying Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba. Its arrival ends a hiatus of about 10 years because of the European Union flight ban on Libya. He confirmed the start of flights for citizens via commercial aviation to Rome in September. ‘‘We have work ahead of us to abolish the ban imposed on Libyan aircraft in the European Union, and today’s step will help in this direction.’’, he explained. First flight between Rome and Tripoli to start tomorrow – ending a ten-year hiatus (libyaherald.com)Libya must fulfil certain preconditions before flights to Italy resume by September – but flights could resume earlier (libyaherald.com)