The millionaire mercenary chief who long benefitted from the powerful patronage of President Vladimir Putin moved into the global spotlight with a dramatic rebellion against Russia's military that challenged the authority of Putin himself. He also organized catering for Kremlin events — earning him the nickname "Putin's chef" — and provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. As his forces fought and died en masse in Ukraine, Prigozhin raged against Russia's military brass. In a video released by his team last month, he stood next to rows bodies he said were those of Wagner fighters. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Prigozhin and associates in the alleged election interference and over his leadership of the Wagner Group.

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The head of Libya’s east-based administration threatened Saturday to block oil and gas exports from territory under its control, claiming the UN-recognised government in Tripoli was wasting energy revenues. Oussama Hamad also said in a statement that he had “frozen” 2022 oil revenues “equivalent to more than 130 billion dinars (around $27 billion)” as a first step. Hamad accused the government in Tripoli of wasting energy revenues by making “extravagant spending”, without elaborating. He also demanded a “fair distribution of oil revenues”. Libya sits atop Africa’s biggest oil reserves but has been engulfed by conflict since a NATO-backed revolt toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Representatives who participated in the meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday, told MaltaToday, Robert Abela showed little empathy for the NGO’s requests. The Prime Minister showed no indication he would address our concerns. The Prime Minister was the only one who spoke from his entourage. In the meeting, the Lands Authority was also criticised for issuing public land to private entities. Two examples were brought to Abela’s attention: public land awarded to Anton Camillieri’s company in St George’s Bay and public land given to GAP developers at Mellieha.

Vladimir Putin finds himself in a significant military crisis as Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of a Russian mercenary group known as the Wagner Group, has declared war against the country's own defence ministry. Prigozhin claims to have withdrawn his troops from Ukraine and relocated them to Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia. There is a lack of verifiable evidence regarding Prigozhin's claims about Wagner troops entering Rostov, and he has not presented proof of the alleged troop movements. The feud between Prigozhin and Russia's defence ministry has been escalating for months and now seems to have reached a critical point. Ukraine's defence ministry acknowledged the developments in a tweet, indicating their monitoring of the situation.

Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian paramilitary organization known as Wagner Group, said he will end an attempted coup d'état against Russian President Vladimir Putin, turn his mercenary group around from Moscow, and start heading in the opposite direction. The Wagner mercenary group came within 200 kilometers of Moscow on Saturday, before agreeing in the evening to turn around because Russian "blood might be shed," Prigozhin said. This is what you need to know about the Wagner Group and its leader:What is the Wagner Group in Russia? The Wagner mercenary group is a paramilitary organization founded by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a longtime close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian president dined at Prigozhin’s restaurant with former French President Jacques Chirac and former U.S. President George W. Bush.

Wagner troops and equipment also rolled into Russia’s Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometres south of Moscow, where authorities “are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population,” said regional Gov. Prigozhin’s private army, known as Wagner, has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. Wagner forces have played a crucial role, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. “Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow,” Lutsevych said. The Kremlin said Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Turkiye, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about the events.

A nighttime video from the city posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery.

Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has supported Russia since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. -Miles J. HerszenhornWagner chief Prigozhin to "leave for Belarus," Putin spokesman saysRussian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said in a statement that a criminal case against Wagner Group leader Prigozhin will be dropped and he will "leave for Belarus." He's blamed Russian military bureaucracy and incompetence for high casualty rates among Wagner fighters in Bakhmut and his inability to fully capture the city. - Kim HjelmgaardFormer Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns Wagner rebellion is attempt to 'seize power.' "There are people on the street who unfurl the flags of the PMC Wagner," Prigozhin said.

He is missing and presumed dead, according to his brother, highlighting the perils faced by people who seek to enter Europe illegally. Cash-strapped Pakistan’s $350 billion economy is in a meltdown, with inflation at a record 38 percent. 3 nationality registered in Italy coming from Libya, after Egyptians and Bangladeshis, a Frontex spokesperson told Reuters in an email. At least 209 Pakistanis were believed to be on board, according to official data based on information provided by relatives. LURE OF WORK ABROADNadeem only had to look around his local area to see what Europe could offer.

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Public prosecutors in the Libyan city of Zliten have arrested 10 Chinese nationals for setting up an illegal crypto-mining operation in a disused iron factory on the western coast of Libya. “We are investigating two cryptocurrency mines in the jurisdictions of Tripoli and Misrata,” said the Attorney General’s office in a Facebook post. “10 Chinese nationals have been apprehended, who were found in possession of the computers performing complex calculations.”The devices and equipment found have been seized pending further investigation and the Chinese nationals held in custody, according to the statement. Disputed Tripoli-based Libyan prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has even blamed the electricity blackouts on massive energy usage by bitcoin farms across the country. “Libya is a key global hotspot for digital currency factories,” said Dbeibah in July last year, promising to clamp down on their energy usage.

This, he explained, is especially since Libya has sustainable economic resources and capabilities that make it a strategic partner for France, pointing to the importance of Libya in the global energy field, with its largely unexplored potential that needs huge investments. Learn about French experience and opportunities in LibyaOn France’s experiences in the field of energy, Al-Raied said that the French-Libyan Energy Forum brings together representatives of the main Libyan energy companies, including companies affiliated with the National Oil Corporation. The meeting shed light on the political, economic and financial situation in Libya, and gathered the experiences of French companies in Libya within the energy sector. The Franco-Libyan Oil, Gas and Energy Forum was held from 20 to 22 June in Paris under the sponsorship of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), the Movement of French Companies (MEDEF) and the French Association of Companies and Professionals in the Service of Energy (EVOLEN), The forum is organized by the Franco-Libyan Chamber of Commerce (CCFL). Franco-Libyan Oil, Gas and Energy Forum will be held from 20 to 22 June in Paris (libyaherald.com)

Putin’s five-minute address on TV came hours Wagner Group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, said he and his troops were going after Russia’s military leadership. "Those who organised and prepared the military uprising, who took arms against their comrades, have betrayed Russia and will pay for it." In his address, Putin avoided mentioning Prigozhin by name but, vowed “harsh” retribution for those behind the uprising. Putin distinguished between Prigozhin and Wagner soldiers, describing the latter as heroes who had died in Ukraine. In his address, Putin implied Russia’s enemies sought to “undermine us from within” and divide the country.