France is proposing that the UN Security Council impose targeted sanctions on human traffickers operating in Libya, Reuters reports. The call comes after CNN aired a documentary earlier this month that allegedly showed “an auction of men to Libyan buyers as farmhands and sold for USD 400 each.” French Ambassador to the UN François Delattre says his country will help to prepare a list of individuals and entities responsible for the trafficking trade in Libya. “Some council members expressed support for the possibility of imposing targeted sanctions, while others backed the council first issuing a statement,” according to the newswire.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry condemned the alleged slave auctions, saying in a statement yesterday that these abuses are a result of certain countries’ policies to close their borders to immigrants fleeing conflict zones. The ministry also praised the Libyan presidential council’s planned investigation of the auctions.

Other international highlights worth noting in brief include:

• Senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to thethrone, was freed after reaching a USD 1 bn settlement with Saudi’s anti-corruption authority, a Saudi official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Bn’aire investor Alwaleed Bin Talal is still imprisoned, but has received words of support from Bill Gates, Bloomberg supports.
• Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, Reuters reports. His rival Raila Odinga is contesting the elections swore he would have his own inauguration in December.
• North Korea fired what appeared to be an ICBM that landed close to Japan, officials said, according to Reuters. Analysts warn that this could mean in theory the country has the capability to hit the east coast of the continental US.