LIA Chairman Hassan meets Russian Ambassador Aganin – discusses reinvesting Libyan assets previously frozen by the UN Security Council
The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) reported today that, yesterday, its Chairman, Ali Mahmoud Hassan, received the Russian Ambassador to Libya, Aydar Aganin. The LIA reported that the meeting addressed the progress of the LIA’s investments in the Russian financial markets. Discussions also focused on supporting the LIA in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2769 (2025) and the related procedures for its application, with the aim of strengthening the protection of the LIA’s assets and preserving their market value.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:54 UTC
A Russian-flagged tanker erupts in a massive fire and sinks off Libya
CAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. The tanker was under Western sanctions, suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet of energy tankers trying to bypass sanctions imposed on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The tanker, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, “completely sank” between Libya and Malta, a statement said. All 30 crew members were rescued and put on another vessel heading to the Libyan city of Benghazi, it said. Its last reported position was in the western Mediterranean off the coast of Malta, according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:47 UTC
Closing Syria’s border crossing with Lebanon to those departing
Damascus – The Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Crossings closed its border crossing with Lebanon. A media official at the Jdeidet Yabous crossing issued a statement. Mazen Alloush is the Director of Relations at the General Authority for Crossings and Customs. Movement through the Jdeidet Yabous crossing ceased in both directions. This followed a warning issued to the Lebanese side.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:15 UTC
Former Culture Minister declared yesterday that she does not accept her sacking by PM Aldabaiba – today she is prevented from entering the ministry
Following the appointment of Salem Al-Alem as Minister of Culture, the former incumbent, Mabrouka Tougui, revealed that she was prevented from entering to her former ministry’s headquarters this morning. Tougui said there was no official handover procedures between her and the new minister. This comes after Tougui had asserted in a statement yesterday that she did not accept her technical sacking by Tripoli Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba, and that she was not giving up her position. It will be recalled that there is opposition to Aldabaiba’s unilateral ministerial appointments which have not passed through the relevant legislative bodies. As Tripoli PM Aldabaiba fills two vacant ministerial posts, Presidency Council expresses a split over the legality of their appointment
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 18:00 UTC
Russian tanker on fire in Mediterranean Sea, Moscow accuses Ukraine of sea drone attack
A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, reportedly caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea, multiple media outlets reported on March 3. Russian state media TASS claimed on March 4, citing the Russian Ministry of Transport, that the gas tanker Arctic Metagas was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones. Kyiv continues to escalate its campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure, a key source of Moscow's revenues helping to fuel its all-out invasion of Ukraine. In recent months, Ukraine has ramped up its attacks on Russian tankers using sea drone, with Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claiming to have struck two sanctioned Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, off Turkey's Black Sea coast in late November. In December 2025, Kyiv struck a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, a source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent, in neutral waters more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 17:24 UTC
Moscow raised alarm over LNG tanker explosion with Malta's armed forces
Camilleri said the case unfolded at 1:10pm on 3 March 2026 when Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted to a vessel in distress outside Malta’s Search and Rescue (SAR) zone. Camilleri said the Armed Forces of Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was informed of the situation following communication from the Moscow Coordination Centre and the vessel’s company. In coordination with the competent Libyan authorities, the Armed Forces of Malta deployed a King Air aircraft, which located the vessel at 3:58pm. Acting on behalf of the Libyan coordination centre, Malta requested the nearest vessel, MT Respect, which was 33 nautical miles away, to assist those aboard the lifeboat. Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was subsequently informed by MT Respect that all crew members had been found safe and accounted for.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 16:37 UTC
Minister told Opposition AFM patrol boat was on site of stricken vessel, Darren Carabott says
An Armed Forces of Malta vessel was on site of the stricken Russian LNG tanker on Tuesday evening, Opposition national security spokesperson Darren Carabott said. The information was divulged to the Opposition by the government during a meeting held on Tuesday between Carabott, Opposition leader Alex Borg, Prime Minister Robert Abela and National Security Minister Byron Camilleri. Among others, Carabott asked at what time did the explosion happen and at what time did the AFM know about it. Carabott also asked at what time did the AFM vessel arrive on site of the Russian tanker, calling for a clear timeline of developments. READ ALSO | Russian LNG tanker left with gaping hole in its hull after explosion, photos show
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 13:56 UTC
Russian LNG tanker sinks off Libyan coast after explosions
A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea within Libya’s search and rescue zone after a series of explosions and a major fire, Libyan maritime authorities have said. The ship was carrying 62,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas and had been sailing from Murmansk in Russia to Port Said in Egypt. Libyan officials said the vessel sank at coordinates 34°17.6’N and 017°04.0’E, about 130 nautical miles north of the port of Sirte. Earlier reports by Malta Today said a fire broke out on board the tanker south-east of Malta and off the Libyan coast. Authorities warned of possible leakage of LNG cargo or fuel from the sunken tanker, posing both fire and pollution risks.
Source:Libya Observer
March 04, 2026 13:21 UTC
Russia blames Ukrainian sea drones after tanker explodes and sinks in the Mediterranean
ShareCAIRO (AP) — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. Russia asserted that an attack by Ukrainian sea drones was to blame. Russia’s Transport Ministry said the vessel was hit by Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast. Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships have reportedly come from the Libyan coast, though Kyiv officials haven’t publicly confirmed those reports. In the past, Ukraine’s military has said it used sea drones to sink Russian vessels in the Black Sea as part of efforts to combat Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began just over four years ago.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 12:45 UTC
Libya 2011 offers playbook for S&P 500 in Iran conflict: Citi
Investing.com -- The evolving conflict with Iran is keeping markets on edge, and Citi analyst Scott Chronert said in a note this week that investors should look to historical precedent for clues. To frame the current moment, Citi drew parallels to the 2011 Libya intervention. However, Citi emphasised that other macro shocks ultimately shaped 2011 market performance, with the S&P 500 finishing the year essentially flat, underpinned by 12% earnings growth. The key takeaway, according to Citi, is to “be prepared for unintended consequences of the Iran conflict,” including potential pressure from higher oil, inflation effects and economic headwinds. Still, Chronert said the U.S. market “may be a relative safe haven as oil prices trend higher.”Related articlesLibya 2011 offers playbook for S&P 500 in Iran conflict: CitiBuy the dip in this AI chipmaker, HSBC saysBofA upgrades Unity as stock price has baked in much of downside risks
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 12:28 UTC
Misrata Free Zone launches digital cargo management system
Misrata Free Zone has announced the launch of an integrated electronic system to manage the counting, sorting and documentation of incoming goods, in a move aimed at modernising port operations. According to the zone’s administration, the system allows operators to manage voyage schedules and operational data, record container details and conditions, and document any damage with photographic evidence. It also tracks lashing and sealing procedures, monitors unloading stoppages and their causes, and provides real-time statistics and workflow charts. Officials described the project as a significant step towards improving efficiency and accuracy, reducing processing time, and enhancing transparency, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the port’s competitiveness and advance digital transformation.
Source:Libya Observer
March 04, 2026 12:15 UTC
Libya needs unified institutions to restore economic vitality through UNSMIL’s efforts: Trumps Advisor Boulos
President Donald Trump’s U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, commented today on the UN Security Council statement on Libya released yesterday saying:‘‘Libya’s path to lasting stability requires a credible, Libyan-led political process that unifies institutions and restores economic vitality. The United States supports SRSG Hanna Tetteh and UNSMIL as they work to facilitate this effort. We will continue engaging Libyan stakeholders in a pragmatic and coordinated approach to create the conditions necessary for secure political institutions and long-term economic prosperity’’. Security Council affirms role of UN in Libya and Tetteh’s road map – calls for Libyans to demonstrate political will, refrain from unilateral action, and unification of institutions and budgetUS working for economic and military integration by bringing together senior officials from eastern and western Libya: Massad Boulos at Security Council
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 11:29 UTC
Flights evacuate stranded travellers in Middle East
(EPA Images pic)PARIS : Governments and airlines scrambled Tuesday to repatriate tens of thousands of travellers stranded in the Middle East following the eruption of a regional conflict sparked by Israel-US strikes on Iran. Some Emirates flights took off Tuesday morning, according to the Flightradar24 flight tracking website, flying south out of the Gulf region. Flights continued to come in and out of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman, though no civilian flights passed through airspace over Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Libya or Qatar. Britain said a charter flight would bring home nationals from Oman in the coming days, with Ireland and Spain making similar announcements. Airlines including Air France, British Airways, LOT, Norwegian and SAS have all suspended flights to the Middle East for the coming days.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:39 UTC
Russian shadow fleet LNG tanker sinks after 'sudden explosions' off Libya coast
India Confident To Evade Fuel Crisis Amid War As Russia Offers Energy Support Despite Trump ThreatsA Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Arctic Metagaz, has sunk in the central Mediterranean between Libya and Malta after a "sudden explosion" triggered a massive blaze on board, Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said on Wednesday.They added that all 30 crew members were rescued in nearby Libyan waters.Libya’s ports and maritime transport authority said Arctic Metagaz tanker "had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking," ultimately led to the tanker’s complete sinking north of the Libyan coast.There have been no immediate reports of casualties among the crew.According to local reports, Russia’s transport ministry later accused Ukraine of launching a naval‑drone attack against the tanker from the Libyan coast, claiming that the Arctic Metagaz was struck by uncrewed surface vessels, but Kyiv has not publicly commented on the allegation.Maltese armed forces, whose Rescue Coordination Centre helped coordinate the response, said survivors from the Arctic Metagaz were found in a lifeboat inside Libya’s search‑and‑rescue area and were all reported safe.Tracking data showed the ship had earlier loaded LNG at a Russian floating storage unit before sailing around Western Europe into the Mediterranean, where its Automatic Identification System signal disappeared roughly 30 nautical miles off Malta’s northeastern coast prior to the fire.The Armed Forces of Malta said they were alerted to a distress situation involving the Arctic Metagaz outside Malta’s search‑and‑rescue region and initiated verification procedures, locating the vessel and working with international partners before survivors were later found in a lifeboat in Libyan waters.According to Maltese and Libyan authorities, the crew abandoned ship as the fire spread, and were subsequently transferred to another vessel after rescue coordination messages were broadcast to nearby shipping.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:30 UTC
Russian LNG tanker catches fire and sinks off the coast of Libya
A Russian LNG tanker caught fire off the coast of Libya, with all 30 crew members on board the vessel unharmed and rescued, Moscow said. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENTThe Libyan port authority said the carrier sunk after "sudden explosions" north of the port of Sirte. The Arctic Metagaz tanker "had experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking" on Tuesday night, the authority said. Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking the tanker from the Libyan coast by naval drones, according to a statement by Russia’s transport ministry. The vessel was loaded and en route from the northern Russian port of Murmansk, according to Moscow.
Source:Libya Today
March 04, 2026 10:09 UTC