Inside Hifter’s Libya: A Police State With an Islamist Twist
BENGHAZI, Libya — The field marshal stares from billboards into the wreckage of the Libyan city of Benghazi. His uniform is festooned with epaulets and honors, even as the civil war he is waging has stalled into a bloody stalemate. “We are living in a prison,” said Ahmed Sharkasi, a liberal activist from Benghazi who fled to Tunis because of threats on his life. Khalifa Hifter, the 76-year-old commander known in his dominion as “the marshal,” is the military ruler of eastern Libya. He has been fighting for nearly six years to take control of the country, and he has been waging an assault on the capital, Tripoli, for the last 10 months.
Source:Libya Today
February 20, 2020 04:52 UTC
UN mission on Libya condemns Haftar attack, calls for resumption of talks
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) strongly condemned the bombing carried on by Haftar forces on the Tripoli seaport on Tuesday, which left several casualties. The UNSMIL added in a statement published on its website on Wednesday that the bombing would have resulted in a real catastrophe if the LNG carrier was struck. The UNSMIL expressed its hope to resume the Geneva talks, following the Libyan Presidential Council’s withdrawal from the negotiation rounds. The statement called on the warring parties to stop escalating the tension and provocative actions, especially the expansion of the fighting arenas, and return to the dialogue table as the only way to end the crisis. Read: Switzerland hosts second round of talks by Libya’s Joint Military CommissionOn Tuesday, the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) suspended its participation in the Geneva talks, after the bombing carried out by Haftar’s militia on the Tripoli seaport, which led to the death of three civilians and the injury of five others.
Source:Libya Today
February 20, 2020 04:07 UTC
Q&A: Former National Security Advisor John Bolton sits down with The Hustler prior CLS talk
The Hustler sat down with former national security advisor John Bolton before he delivers his Chancellor’s Lecture on global leadership Feb. 19. Bolton was the ambassador to the United Nations during President George W. Bush’s administration and national security advisor to President Trump. So it’s a completely different experience to be a National Security Advisor. What do you think the role of a National Security Advisor is in witnessing an impeachable offense? But you certainly have to consider a lot of factors in providing advice, especially on national security, which is often a matter of life and death.
Source:Libya Today
February 20, 2020 01:07 UTC
UN tries to salvage Libya talks after Tripoli government withdraws
Talks began on Tuesday in Geneva between the internationally recognized Tripoli government and its main rivals, the eastern-based Libya National Army (LNA), which has been trying to take the capital. Delegations in GenevaUN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame was trying to convince the Tripoli delegation to stay in Geneva and resume indirect talks, a source close to the talks said and the UN confirmed. They agreed a political settlement is the only option for Libya, according to RIA news agency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that outside players should push both sides in Libya to sit down for peace talks. “All those who in one way or another influence political or other forces in Libya should stimulate them to sit down for talks.
Source:Libya Today
February 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
ASX surges to record highs, Aussie dollar crumbles to GFC lows
The policy easing provided an additional tailwind for local shares, sending the Australian dollar tumbling to the lowest level since the GFC, supporting offshore earners. In late Asian trade, the Aussie dollar was down 0.4 per cent at 66.48 US cents. A strong earnings update and an upgrade from Bell Potter saw Perpetual shares soar 11.2 per cent to $47.27. Software provider WiseTech Global continued to crater after delivering an underwhelming interim profit result on Wednesday, sliding a further 11.8 per cent to $18.88. Domain Group skidded 6.3 per cent to $3.55 while Whitehaven Coal slumped 5.5 per cent to $2.23 after delivering disappointing results.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 23:03 UTC
An Italian prosecutor says a cargo ship captain was arrested for suspected arms trafficking between Turkey and Libya
It’s going to be WARM today with highs in the low 80s for the warmest spots! The last time we were in the low 80s was back in mid November! Big… Continue Reading
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 22:43 UTC
Libya government, Haftar's forces dim hopes of salvaging U.N. ceasefire talks
A damaged container is seen at Tripoli port after an attack, Libya February 19, 2020. The Tripoli government left the ceasefire talks late on Tuesday and a defiant Serraj, visiting the shelled port on Wednesday, rebuffed calls to return immediately to the negotiation table. Nearly nine years after rebel fighters backed by NATO air strikes overthrew dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya still has no central authority. U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame was trying to convince the Tripoli delegation to stay in Geneva and resume indirect talks earlier on Wednesday, the United Nations confirmed. Another round of political talks is scheduled next week in Geneva.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 22:28 UTC
Ship captain arrested in probe of arms trafficking to Libya
ROME — Authorities in northern Italy arrested the captain of a Lebanese-flagged cargo ship on suspicion of international arms trafficking Wednesday while they investigate if the vessel transported tanks, rockets and other weapons from Turkey to LibyaROME — Authorities in northern Italy arrested the captain of a Lebanese-flagged cargo ship on suspicion of international arms trafficking Wednesday while they investigate if the vessel transported tanks, rockets and other weapons from Turkey to Libya. The captain is under investigation for allegedly transferring military goods to Libya with as-yet unidentified Turkish military officials in violation of a United Nations arms embargo, Italian prosecutor Franceso Pinto told The Associated Press. Italian authorities launched their probe based on allegations a crew member made after the cargo ship arrived in the port city of Genoa earlier this month. The cargo ship, the Bana, turned up on the radar of French authorities not long before it reached Genoa on Feb. 2. Its not just the sailor's allegations that aroused suspicions about the cargo ship.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 22:18 UTC
Five Years Ago, ISIS Executed 21 Christians on a Beach in Libya
After the Islamic State released a video of their murders, images of this massacre of Coptic Christians reverberated around the world. Your listeners will be more familiar with churches, like the Russian Orthodox church or Greek Orthodox church, and the Coptic Orthodox church is just the Egyptian Orthodox church—that's why I always used the term “orthodox” as well within the title. The Coptic Orthodox church is a scriptural church, using the Old and New Testament. Can you take us back to five years ago this month, and how you ended up hearing about this story of these 21 Coptic Christians? Your sisters and brothers in the Coptic Orthodox Church are also members of the body of Christ as your listeners are.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 17:48 UTC
Turkey clashes with EU over Libya weapons embargo
TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the EU today for “interfering” in Libya by trying to stop him landing troops and weapons there. Rebel General Khalifa Haftar of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is besieging the capital and already controls most of eastern Libya. Instead the bloc said that it would launch a new mission aimed at enforcing the arms embargo on Libya. Turkey is among the countries supporting the Tripoli government and Mr Erdogan has sent weapons and deployed jihadists relocated from Syria to Libya, including fighters aligned with al-Qaida and Isis. It is trying to interfere.”Turkey, he vowed, would ensure that the Tripoli-based government is able to “establish dominance” across Libya.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 17:26 UTC
Neville Gafa claims credit for migrant interceptions by Libyan coastguard
Neville Gafa has claimed that through his contacts in Libya, thousands of migrants would be saved at sea by the Libyan coastguard. The former official within the Office of the Prime Minister, told the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry on Wednesday that “Malta was spared thousands of immigrants”. Gafa courted controversy last year when it turned out that he had met a senior Libyan militia leader in Tripoli, Haithem Tajouri, who faced UN sanctions. “I take responsibility for this… through my intervention, Malta was spared thousands of immigrants. Gafa said that he used to be accompanied on his trips in Libya by Kenneth Camilleri, a member of Muscat’s security detail.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 17:03 UTC
Hillary’s War: Nine Years Later Libya Still a Living Hell
Nine years after a US-led attack on Libya and murder of its leader, the democracy and liberation promised by Hillary Clinton and her band of “humanitarian interventionists” has never arrived. Instead, the once-wealthiest African country is mired in civil war and the standard of living has plummeted. There are several warring factions and militias vying for control, none of which seems strong enough to rule the country. This is a valuable cautionary tale about the disasters of US interventionism – which is precisely why no one wants to talk about it. Watch today’s Ron Paul Liberty Report:Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 16:41 UTC
IOM Calls on the International Community for Urgent Action to Find Alternatives to Disembarkation in Libya - Libya
“Libya cannot wait," says IOM Libya Chief of Mission Federico Soda. More than 3,000 others arrived in Italy and Malta, many of whom were rescued by NGO search and rescue vessels. The lifesaving efforts of NGO vessels operating in the Mediterranean should be recognized and any restrictions and delays on disembarkation must be lifted. A new approach to the situation in Libya and the central Mediterranean is needed. Concern must now be translated into action to avoid further tragedies bound to occur, should the status quo continue.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 16:30 UTC
Inside Futures: Relevant trading-focused information authored by key players in the futures, options and forex industries
Libya was exporting 1.2 million barrels a day. S@P global Platt’s reports that, “The EIA revised its February total US shale oil production forecast downward from last month’s prediction. The EIA sees total U.S. oil production at 9.156 million b/d in February and 9.174 million b/d in March. The Permian in West Texas/New Mexico is pegged to grow in February by 42,000 b/d on a month to 4.816 million b/d and increase by 39,000 b/d in March to 4.855 million b/d. The kingdom’s oil inventories declined to 155.199 million barrels in December, from 167.013 million barrels in November, according to data on the website of the Riyadh-based Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI).
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 14:03 UTC
Crude-oil prices settle at a nearly 3-week high
Oil futures posted their highest settlement in nearly three weeks on Wednesday, with Brent oil tallying seventh straight session advance. Venezuela is already under severe U.S. sanctions as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign to remove Maduro from power. April Brent crude BRNJ20, +0.32%, meanwhile, picked up $1.37, or 2.4%, to $59.12 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe. The American Petroleum Institute’s report will be released late Wednesday and Energy Information Administration will issue its own figures Thursday morning. On Tuesday, prices rallied by 7.8% to settle at their highest in a month on colder weather forecasts.
Source:Libya Today
February 19, 2020 13:27 UTC