Medical charity records hundreds of measles cases in Houthi-controlled HajjahAL-MUKALLA: The international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said that its medical teams in Yemen’s northern Hajjah province have recorded hundreds of measles cases, many critical, as the Iran-backed Houthis oppose the distribution of vaccines. In 2022, the same UN body recorded 22,000 measles cases, including 161 fatalities, as well as an increase in diphtheria and whooping cough cases. Yemeni health officials and international aid organizations attributed the epidemic of measles in northern provinces, primarily Hajjah, to anti-vaccine campaigns by the Houthis. Six civilians, including three children and a woman, were killed and six others, including two children, were injured in land mine blasts in Hodeidah, Taiz, Saada, Jouf and Al-Bayda. Masam, a Saudi-funded demining program, has defused more than 400,000 land mines and unexploded ordnance in Yemen since mid-2018, enabling hundreds of Yemenis to return to their homes, workplaces and schools.

ROME: Around 40 people are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the UN said. The shipwreck took place on Thursday and at least one newborn baby is among those missing, said UNHCR representative to Italy Chiara Cardoletti. The boat capsized in strong winds and high waves, he said. “We have noticed more arrivals of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa than Tunisians” via the Tunisian route since November, he said. Last year, more than 46,000 people arrived there, out of a total of 105,000 in Italy, according to the UNHCR.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed a six-member human smuggling network and arrested gang leader from Gujrat, according to the investigation report into the deaths of Pakistani nationals in a migrant boat in February this year. “FIA busted a gang consisting of indigenous and foreign based Pakistani human smugglers & traffickers involved in the said incident. They operate in connivance with their counterparts who reside in Libya & Italy,” said the report. It identified the gang leader as Muhammad Saeed alias Saeed Sunyara; Afaq, now residing in Italy; Hamza Sunyara, now residing in Libya; Bilal Sunyara, now residing in Libya; Kashif Sunyara, now residing in Libya and Farhan Ali, now residing in Libya. The FIA has also approached the relevant authorities to seize the bank accounts and properties of the accused involved in human trafficking cases.

Brigadier Saddam Khalifa, son of Khalifa Haftar, has risen to prominence in Libyan politics, positioning himself as a potential future political leader in the country. His leadership roles within the Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade and the Libyan National Arab Army have garnered attention and respect. Brigadier Saddam Khalifa has spearheaded various initiatives aimed at improving Libyan society. In conclusion, Brigadier Saddam Khalifa’s leadership, vision, and dedication to Libya’s progress have marked his efforts for a better future. With ongoing initiatives in diplomacy, urban planning, and oil production, Brigadier Saddam Khalifa remains a significant figure in Libyan politics, shaping the country’s future with unwavering commitment.

But the house is now once again at the heart of a legal fight, this time between General Dynamics and Libya. “I've never seen anyone living there.”The former property of Saadi Qaddafi in London, which still appears to be in good condition. Records show a Unilateral Notice was registered against the North London property earlier this year by General Dynamics. Tariq Tahir / The NationalOnly $20 million of that was returned to Libya and half of that was the London property. The General Dynamics deal with Libya came after Qaddafi abandoned his nuclear weapons in 2003 and returned to mainstream international politics.

Migrant boat disaster has Greece and European authorities facing criticismLast week a boat full of migrants seeking a better life in Europe sank in Greek waters. With hundreds missing and dozens confirmed dead, Greek and European authorities are facing criticism. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: I'm still trying to see if his body is with the Greek authorities, but so far, no news. According to international law experts, Greek authorities had an obligation to act even if people aboard rejected assistance, which Greek authorities claimed they did. Greek authorities initially rejected using a rope, but their narrative has shifted over the past few days.

Many charities in our community send out beautiful legacy magazines every year. I receive quite a few and love reading all the inspiring stories of those who share why they are leaving a lasting imprint on the organizations that have been important to them. Have you ever read any of these st…

Libyan authorities have dismantled a crypto mining operation in the country’s west, the prosecution in Tripoli said Thursday, adding that 50 Chinese nationals had been detained. A video shared on the Facebook page of the Tripoli prosecutor’s office showed several structures without any windows but dozens of industrial fans, with large quantities of computers and hardware. On Wednesday, prosecutors announced authorities had dismantled another illegal crypto-mining farm in the port city of Misrata, adding it was operated by 10 Chinese nationals. According to tech watchdog Digiconomist, mining for bitcoin — the world’s most popular cryptocurrency — requires about 1,150 kWh of electricity. Many countries worldwide have banned crypto mining including China, which had been a global leader in manufacturing virtual currency before forbidding it in June 2021.

The EU delivered two patrol boats to Libya in a ceremony on Thursday (22 June) in the Sicilian city of Messina in the presence of European Commission officials, the Italian authorities, and the Libyan coastguard, according to a press statement on Friday (23 June). The delivery was made despite a series of recent reports documenting the links between the official Libyan coastguard and militia groups involved in the long-running civil war in the North African state. The EU delivered “two Currubia Class” vessels which, according to Radio Radicale journalist Sergio Scandura, were former Italian Finance Guard patrol boats. According to the report, the latter “are reportedly connected to militia groups, in the context of the interception and deprivation of liberty of migrants”. UN rights mission blasts EU on Libya migrant abuses European Union backing for Libyan authorities who stop and detain migrants means the bloc has “aided and abetted” rights violations against migrants, an investigator for a UN mission said on Monday (27 March).

Under pressure from the UN, foreign powers and the Libyan public, the two Chambers finally agreed, last April, to form 6+6 commission tasked with drafting election laws. In fact, some members of both Chambers have already objected to what the 6+6 Commission has produced. In his briefing to the UN Security Council he appeared to, quietly, announce the death of 6+6 Commission. It is credited with producing the current Government of National Unity, headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah, after a bribery-tainted elections process, supervised by the UN mission. READ: UN envoy says proposed Libya laws not enough to enable electionThe only certainty now, it appears, is that no elections are likely in 2023.

FILE - Hannibal Gadhafi, son of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, watches an elite military unit exercise in Zlitan, Libya, Sept. 25, 2011. Hannibal Gadhafi who has been held in Lebanon for more than seven years began a hunger strike Saturday, June 3, 2023, to protest his detention without trial, his lawyer said.

It also exports illegal immigrants. Yet the view of heroin as a problem created by the West also applies to illegal migration. In the same way, the West offers the prospect of a certain lifestyle, and illegal migrants aspire to that. The illegal immigrants from Pakistan are all solidly economic migrants. The other illegal immigrants in the Messenia boat disaster included Syrians, Afghans and Palestinians, all from countries where lives are routinely threatened.

Greek authorities rescued 145 migrants after crews found them stranded on a small island in a river that runs along Turkey's northeastern land border, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The group of migrants were made up of 70 men, 45 women and 30 children who were all healthy. The rescue began after Greek authorities were alerted about the migrants' location. The boat, which was up to an estimated 750 migrants, was heading for Italy and refused help when the Greek coast guard attempted to aid them. Historically, the Evros River, where the migrants were found Thursday, is a common crossing point for migrants who are traveling from Turkey to Greece.

Azhar Siddique, the head of the Judicial Activism Panel, has proposed the formation of a judicial commission comprising three Supreme Court judges to uncover the truth behind the incident. The city of Gujranwala, in Punjab province, mourned the loss of at least 20 individuals who went missing in the tragedy. One of them, Mohsin, left a voice note as he boarded the boat in Libya’s Tobruk on June 9th. Malik shared that Mohsin informed them about his forced journey by boat, expressing his helplessness and the lack of alternatives. In response to the boat incident, Pakistani authorities have taken action by arresting multiple suspects involved in human smuggling.

Malta and Libya have signed a memorandum of understanding on a new interconnector for renewable energy between the two countries. Prime Minister Robert Abela was in Tripoli on Thursday, and signed the MoU together with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. The government said in a statement a number of issues were discussed by the PMs, including energy, security and economic cooperation. Electricity interconnector will strengthen the energy connection between Europe and North Africa and supports @MaltaGov green transition plan. Robert Abela was accompanied on the state visit by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, and Cabinet Secretary Ryan Spagnol.