New York Times | Israel, Snapchat, Libya: Your Friday Briefing New York Times Mr. Trump has brought a vision of Islam to the White House that sees the religion as inherently hostile. He also pledged to destroy a law restricting political speech by tax-exempt churches, a potentially huge victory for the religious right. _____ ... |
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Israel, Snapchat, Libya: Your Friday Briefing - New York Times
Greeneville Sun | 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 Libya Italy-Libya Deal on Migration Lays Groundwork for EU Summit Italy and Libya reach agreement over Mediterranean migrant crisis |
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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
BENGHAZI, Libya Around 70 soldiers from the forces of powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar have been sent to Russia for treatment, in one of the first overt signs of cooperation between Moscow and one of Libya's armed factions, an official and a military source said.
Opponents of Haftar, head of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) based in the east of the country, worry that his engagement with Russia is an attempt to challenge the fragile U.N.-supported government in Tripoli, which he has shunned.
Western officials see the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) as a way to stabilize Libya, which has been caught in fighting and rivalries among competing armed factions since the 2011 civil war that toppled veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.
An official from Haftar's forces' committee for the wounded said the fighters had left for Russia via Egypt, but did not provide any details.
A military source confirmed the transfer of 70 patients by plane from Benina airport in Benghazi to Egypt, from where they were taken to Russia. The source said this would not be the last such operation for LNA wounded.
Haftar, whose forces have been fighting against an alliance of Islamist militants and former rebels in Benghazi for two years, enjoys close ties to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. He has cultivated his friendship with Russia, visiting Moscow twice last year to ask for military aid.
Haftar, a one-time ally of Gaddafi who returned to join the uprising in 2011, has largely shunned attempts to shore up the U.N.-mediated peace deal. He accuses the government of aligning itself with some of the country's Islamist-leaning forces.
(Reporting by Ayman Al-Warfalli; writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
BEIRUT Syria's main opposition body said on Wednesday it would be "unacceptable" for the United Nations to choose opposition delegates to the next round of peace talks in Geneva planned for this month.
AMONA, West Bank Rightist protesters scuffled with Israeli police carrying out a court order to evict settlers from an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, hours after the government announced more construction in larger settlements.
PARIS France's Francois Fillon accused his opponents in the government on Wednesday of fomenting a scandal in an attempt to scuttle his presidential campaign, as a new poll showed him no longer favorite to win power.
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Eastern Libya forces fly wounded to Russia in growing cooperation - Reuters