The wreckage from a boat washes ashore at a beach near Cutro in southern Italy on February 26, 2023. Advertising Read more"As of a few minutes ago, the number of confirmed victims was 59," Crotone Mayor Vincenzo Voce told Italian TV channel Sky TG-24. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said some 200 migrants had been crowded into a 20-metre-long boat. Italy's coast guard, which was coordinating the rescue, said about 120 migrants were believed to have been on board. Many of these boats, including sailboats, often reach remote stretches of Italy's long southern coastline unaided by the coast guard or humanitarian rescue vessels.

After Sunday's session was postponed, 54 HCS members issued a statement affirming their rejection to pass the 13th constitutional amendment without resolving the controversial points and transferring them to laws. The signatories said the reason for their rejection is the failure of the amendment to include the conditions for the president’s candidacy, granting the president broad powers, and not obligating the elected National Assembly to fulfill the constitutional tasks within a specified period of time, in addition to canceling the parliamentary elections in the event of the presidential failure, as stated in the amended constitutional text in Article 29. They said that it is necessary to include and resolve these issues in the text of the constitutional amendment. In a televized statement Saturday, Al-Mishri said that more than 95% of the 13th constitutional amendment corresponds to the articles voted on by the HCS, with the exception of 3 or 4 articles. He explained that the system of government in the 13th constitutional amendment is not presidential, but rather a mixture between presidential and parliamentary, pointing out that this amendment dispels fears about the powers of the head of state.

2021Dec. 17: 9 dead, 93 missing, 8 survivors after boat sinks off Sabratha, Libya. 2020Nov. 12: 57 dead, 18 missing, 48 survivors after boat sinks off the coast of Al Khums, Libya. July 25: 75 dead, 75 missing, 134 survivors when boat sinks off Al Khums, Libya. 2018Sept. 1: 2 dead, 128 missing, 55 survivors when boat sinks off the coast of Al Khums, Libya. June 29: 3 dead, 101 missing, 16 survivors when boat sinks off the coast of Tripoli, Libya.

CAIRO — At least 22 Syrian migrants detained for more than five months in Libya began a hunger strike Monday to demand their release, a Libyan rights group said. The group of migrants included three minors and have been held in a prison in the western town of Zawiya in appalling conditions, the group Belaady said. They then moved to western Libyan where they were detained as part of a crackdown on migrants. The group, which visited the prison twice this year, said the detainees have suffered from scabies and other skin diseases. Human traffickers have benefited from the lawlessness in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the country's lengthy borders with six nations.

The exact number of people who were on the boat when it broke apart is not clear - rescue workers told the AFP news agency that the vessel had been carrying "more than 200 people", which would mean more than 60 people unaccounted for.

The Head of the High Council of State (HCS) Khalid Al-Mishri, said that the 13th amendment to the constitutional declaration issued by the House of Representatives (HoR) recently did not come overnight, but rather, it was the result of lengthy consultations between the two chambers, pointing out that this amendment "immunizes the upcoming elections against any constitutional appeals". Al-Mishri added that some of those who now reject the presidential system ran for office during the presidential elections that were scheduled for December 24, 2021, asking, "Does the momentum accompanying these elections not signify popular acceptance?" He also indicated that the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, proposed that the UN Support Mission in Libya forms a high-level committee for elections concerned with completing electoral laws. The HoR published last Thursday the 13th amendment to the Constitutional Declaration in the fourth issue of the Official Gazette, including 34 articles, after it had approved it on February 07. By doing so, the HoR did not pay any attention to the political agreement that requires the parliament to agree with the HCS when making any constitutional amendments, knowing that the latter was unable to hold a session to discuss the amendment.

ROME (AP) — At least 43 migrants perished when their overcrowded wooden boat smashed into rocky reefs just off southern Italy at dawn Sunday, the Italian Coast Guard said. “As of now, 80 persons were recovered alive — some of whom succeeded in reaching the shore after the shipwreck — and 43 bodies were found along the shore," the Coast Guard statement said shortly before noon. A helicopter and motorboats were deployed in search efforts, including vessels from state firefighters, border police and the coast guard. Firefighter boats, including rescue divers, recovered 28 bodies, including three pulled by a strong current far away from the wreckage. Many of these boats, including sailboats, often reach remote stretches of Italy's long southern coastline unaided by the coast guard or humanitarian rescue vessels.

UN Envoy for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily will today brief the UN Security Council on efforts to schedule elections inUN Envoy for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily will today brief the UN Security Council on efforts to schedule elections in Libya. Legal disputes and political stalemates led to the stalling of presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya last year. The head of the United Nations mission in Libya (UNSMIL) visits the UN headquarters following a “5+5” meeting held by the Libyan Joint Military Commission (JMC), during which he discussed the removal of foreign mercenaries with representatives Sudan, Chad and Niger, all sources of foreign fighters in Libya. Bathily is expected to encourage the UN Security Council to facilitate and sustain a ceasefire agreement as UNSMIL continues efforts to unify security institutions before elections are set. UN-backed dialogues between the House of Representatives, based in the east, and the High State Council, based in the western city of Tripoli, will also be a key component of resolving disputes and getting the Libyan peace process back on track.

At least 22 Syrian migrants detained for more than five months in Libya began a hunger strike Monday to demand their release, a Libyan rights group said. The group of migrants included three minors and have been held in a prison in the western town of Zawiya in appalling conditions, the group Belaady said. The migrants arrived in Libya last year on a flight by private Syrian airline Cham Wings which operates routes to eastern Libya, Lamloum said. They then moved to western Libyan where they were detained as part of a crackdown on migrants. Human traffickers have benefited from the lawlessness in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the country’s lengthy borders with six nations.

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Aguila Saleh, the Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, affirmed his country’s “solidarity with Syria” after meeting Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus today. Saleh visited the Syrian capital alongside from the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union. According to a statement by the House’s media office, Saleh confirmed that the Arab position is “supportive of Syria’s return to its relations with Arab neighbors” and that Syria should “play its role at all levels in the regional and international arena.”

ROME (AP) — A wooden boat crowded with migrants smashed into rocky reefs and broke apart before dawn Sunday off the Italian coast, authorities said. One man was taken into custody for questioning after fellow survivors indicated he was a trafficker, state TV said. But the children died, state TV said. Italian state TV quoted survivors as saying the boat set out five days ago from Turkey. Rosario Morrone told state TV.

The CEO of the Italian contracting company Bonatti, Andrea Colombo, said that Libya is a promising market for Italian companies operating in the onshore oil and gas supply chain, pointing out that Libya is likely to be more promising than Egypt for Italian companies in this field. Colombo told the Italian news agency "NOVA" that Egypt has good local state-owned companies, such as Petrojet, which monopolizes land construction, while it relies on international companies for marine construction work, while the Libyan industrial system is still in early stage that may be more promising. "Our contracts have already increased 3 times, and we are still on the sidelines to seize any new opportunities resulting from the gas agreements signed between the Libyan National Oil Corporation and Eni. Bonatti's presence in Libya has been constant over the years. We have always been in Libya, even during the war."

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has denied what it described as false allegations by Africa Intelligence website, which claimed that the Attorney General in Tripoli is investigating NOC payments to a Dubai-based oil firm called BGN International. In a statement, the NOC stressed that it is in the process of taking legal measures and prosecuting the parties that promote fake news in an attempt to distort the image of the Corporation. It also indicated that it is working in accordance with Libyan legislation, provisions, and laws, and is keen to implement its contracts in a professional manner, taking into account the importance of preserving the interests of the Libyan state and the Libyan people.

EventSandstorm-related disruptions are ongoing at Mitiga Airport (MJI) in Tripoli, Feb. 25. At least two flights have been diverted to Misrata Airport (MRA). Further flight diversions, cancellations, or suspensions are possible through Feb. 25. AdviceReconfirm the status of flights before departure. Prepare for disruptions.