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Migrant crisis: EU summit seeks action plan with Libya BBC News European Union leaders are meeting in Malta to discuss how to stem the influx of migrants from North Africa. Boosting the Libyan coastguard and tackling people smugglers are the main proposals. Hundreds of thousands of migrants try to reach Europe each ... Rights concerns loom over plan to block migrants in LibyaGreeneville Sun Italy-Libya Deal on Migration Lays Groundwork for EU SummitNew York Times Italy and Libya reach agreement over Mediterranean migrant crisisITV News Libya Herald -Voice of America all 200 news articles »

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Migrant crisis: EU summit seeks action plan with Libya - BBC News

MOSCOW Russia said on Friday that it expected the head of the U.N.-backed Libyan government, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, to visit Moscow this month, the latest sign of Russia's desire to play a greater role in the divided country.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, told a news briefing that Russia was trying to help ensure Libya held together as a single country and wanted competing factions to resolve their differences through talks, not violence.

"We are carrying out consistent work with both centers of power in Libya," said Zakharova. "We are trying to encourage them to overcome their internal differences and seek compromises on all contentious questions."

Last month, Russia welcomed Khalifa Haftar, a prominent commander in eastern Libya, on board one of its warships.

Haftar, who visited Moscow last year, is a figurehead for east Libyan factions who harbors national ambitions, and his renewed engagement with Russia comes at a time when the U.N.-supported government in Tripoli that he has shunned is once more in crisis.

Western officials see the U.N.-backed government as a way to stabilize Libya, which has been caught in fighting and rivalry among competing armed factions since the 2011 civil war that toppled veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Opponents of Haftar, head of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), worry that his engagement with Russia is an attempt to challenge the fragile U.N.-backed government.

An official and a military source said on Wednesday that around 70 of Haftar's soldiers had been sent to Russia for treatment, in one of the first overt signs of cooperation between Moscow and one of Libya's armed factions.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

TOKYO U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary on Friday reaffirmed America's commitment to its mutual defense treaty with Japan during a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

SEOUL U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned North Korea on Friday of an "effective and overwhelming" response if it chose to use nuclear weapons, as he reassured South Korea of steadfast U.S. support.

WASHINGTON The Trump administration said on Thursday that Israel's building of new settlements or expansion of existing ones in occupied territories may not be helpful in achieving peace with Palestinians, adopting a more measured tone than its previous pro-Israel announcements.

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Russia expects Libyan PM Sarraj to visit Moscow this month - Reuters

The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said Wednesday that they are prepared to offer assistance for establishing a modern ministry of defense, a joint military staff, and security and intelligence services under civilian control, if requested by Libyan officials.

In a joint presser with the Head of the UN-proposed governments Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj at the NATO premises in Brussels, Stolenberg added that the offer for Libya could be another successive model similar to those NATO conducted in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

NATO stands ready to assist Libya in building effective security and defense institutions, strengthening your ability to fight terrorism and create conditions for peace. Said Stolenberg.

On the other side, Al-Sirraj indicated that his government is willing to work with the NATO to help restore peace, security and stability in Libya.

NATO is well-versed in the issues of military and security and it can influence our institutions after the recent division and fragmentation in Libya over the political stalemate. It also can build a united military body that would fight the joint enemy, terrorism. Al-Sirraj explained.

Al-Sirraj did not rule out NATOs assistance in the improvement of Libyas military performance and the Navy, especially in terrorism and illegal immigration as well as smuggling.

If requested, the Alliance could also support the efforts of the European Union to strengthen the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy. Stolenberg remarked, while Al-Sirraj commented that the step is very likely to take place if a joint force with the Libyans was formed.

Because NATO can develop the capabilities of the Libyan Navy, Al-Sirraj concluded.

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NATO Secretary General: We're ready to place Libya under civilian control - The Libya Observer

A jury convicted Allen Scarsella on Feb. 1, 2017, of assault for opening fire and wounding five men demonstrating against the fatal shooting of a black man by Minneapolis police officersHennepin County Jail/AP

A jury on Wednesday convicted a Minnesota man of shooting five Black Lives Matter protesters in 2015, the Associated Press reports.

Allen Scarsella, of Bloomington, was found guilty of all charges, which ranged from assault to rioting. The 24-year-old was accused of shooting and injuring five black men who were protesting against the death of Jamar Clark , another black man who was killed by a police officer in 2015, according to AP.

Prosecutors argued that Scarsellas shootings were racially motivated. He and three other men were arrested after the incident, according to WCCO, a local CBS affiliate.

A video from the night of the shootings showed Scarsella waiving a gun and making racially charged statements about the protesters, WCCO reported. Other evidence included text messages saying Scarsella wanted to shoot black people and a second video in which he said he was on a mission and locked and loaded.

His sentencing will take place March 10, and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman told WCCO that Scarsella could face up to 19 years in prison.

Mr. Scarsellas conduct was truly outrageous, Freeman said. Racist language, his conduct is simply not acceptable.

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Minnesota Man Allen Scarsella Found Guilty of Shooting Black Lives Matter Protesters - TIME

by: Ty Russell Updated: Feb 2, 2017 - 11:24 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. - Community activists are hoping to see hundreds of people show up for a Black Lives Matter protest march in downtown Orlando Friday.

Some people on the other side of the issue, though, already have.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office is investigating a possible hate crime after organizer Stetia Allen reported someone had slashed her tires and left a racist note on her car.

Its disgusting, she said. Its absolutely disgusting that people are still hateful.

Allen isnt going to let the incident affect her plans to march Friday.

The march will go from Lake Eola to Callahan Park before heading toward the Orlando Police Department and then back to Lake Eola.

One of the big motivations for the march is the dramatic increase in homicides in the Pine Hills neighborhood, Allen said.

Pine Hills is a beautiful neighborhood, she said. I dont understand why our security cant be through our community.

Change, Allen said, starts at home.

We can patrol our streets as a community, she said. We can work with the police force.

I love my community and my community has always taken care of me.

The march is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

2017 Cox Media Group.

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Activists face backlash after announcing Friday's Black Lives Matter march in Orlando - WFTV Orlando