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English Experts Investigate Rising Groundwater Levels in Zliten City on Prime Minister’s Directive

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An expert team from an English consultations office arrived in Zliten city on Friday to examine the escalating issue of rising groundwater levels. This visit aligns with the Prime Minister’s directives to leverage both local and international expertise to address the crisis in Zliten, as reported by Hakomitna media platform.

Mohammed Ben Naji, the Director of Project Management at the Ministry of Local Government, revealed on Saturday that the English team, accompanying him since their arrival, has yet to determine the completion date of their study on the increasing groundwater levels.

The arrival of a British expert team in Zliten [Captured in a video clip released by the FB Page of Zliten Municipality]

After inspecting the affected areas and damaged homes in Zliten, a closed session was held with the mayor, members of the municipal council, and specialists. During this session, the experts were queried about the duration of the study and methods of water analysis to ensure its safety for human health, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

The English team emphasized the need to gather data on the city’s characteristics and understand its water sources before commencing their work. However, they did not specify a timeframe for delivering results, as clarified by Ben Naji.

Zliten has been grappling with a surge in groundwater levels, prompting the Government of National Unity to assemble a team dedicated to finding a resolution. This crisis has forced residents to abandon their homes and has impacted the structural integrity of buildings. Meanwhile, the Public Services Company persists in its efforts to pump out excess water from the affected areas.

Central Bank Reduces Maximum Limit for Foreign Currency Sales for Personal Purposes to $4,000

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The Central Bank of Libya announced through Circular No. (2) for the year 2024, issued by the Banking and Currency Control Management, the regulatory guidelines for foreign currency transactions concerning credits and personal purposes. These guidelines include a reduction in the maximum limit for selling foreign currency for personal purposes to $4,000, replacing the previous limit of $10,000.

According to the circular, the maximum amount sold to an individual through all operating banks in Libya is $4,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, with the possibility of reconsidering this limit later. The circular stipulates that the requester must manage a bank account with the bank through which the sale is conducted, covering the value of the currency at the time of the transaction. The account holder can use it to issue and load “Visa and MasterCard” cards or open accounts in foreign currency for citizens to deposit the currency and enable them to use it through cards or transfer it to another account.

The circular also allows individuals and legal entities to purchase foreign currency held in citizens’ accounts in foreign currency without a specific limit within the banking sector. However, this is subject to the condition that it is used for specified purposes or transferred through fast currency transfers such as “MoneyGram” or “Western Union” according to the agreed-upon commission with the two companies, without adding any additional fees.

Bengdara: “National Oil Corporation Mobilizes Resources to Address the Rising Groundwater Crisis in Zliten Municipality”

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The Chairman of the National Oil Corporation, Farhat Bengdara, affirmed that the National Oil Corporation is leveraging all its resources to address the crisis of rising groundwater levels in Zliten Municipality.

This statement came during a meeting of the corporation’s team and its affiliated companies, convened to support Zliten Municipality in resolving the groundwater crisis. The meeting, chaired by Bengdara, emphasized the need to provide full support to contribute to crisis resolution, urging for exceptional and bureaucracy-free measures.

Additionally, Bengdara issued directives to the Oil Research Center to promptly conduct urgent studies to formulate solutions for the crisis affecting the residents of the municipality.

Growing Concerns in Italy as Russia Considers Naval Base in Eastern Libya for Nuclear Submarines

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In a recent report, “The Times” newspaper has highlighted increasing concerns in Italy over Russia’s potential establishment of a naval base in eastern Libya, raising fears of deploying nuclear submarines and significantly bolstering Russian influence in the central Mediterranean, thereby placing nuclear weapons on Europe’s southern flank.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Bek Yevkurov conducted his fourth visit to Benghazi last Monday, marking the continuation of visits that began in August to meet with military commander Khalifa Haftar.

The discussions between the two leaders reportedly centered around the establishment of a Russian naval base in Tobruk. This move could potentially augment Moscow’s existing bases in the eastern Mediterranean, situated in Tartus and Latakia, Syria.

Vincenzo Camporini, former head of the Italian Armed Forces, expressed his belief that the Russians might prioritize deploying nuclear submarines in Tobruk over surface ships.

On Sunday, Khalifa Haftar hosted Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Bek Yevkirov at the headquarters of his forces in Rajma, Benghazi. Yevkirov’s frequent visits to Benghazi have raised concerns, especially in light of reports suggesting Moscow’s intention to establish an African Legion, replacing the Wagner Group. This new force is anticipated to operate initially in five countries, including Libya. The unfolding developments are closely monitored amidst growing apprehension in the region.

Minister of Economy Meets with Egyptian Companies Participating in Food Exhibition, Encourages Investment in Various Sectors within Libya

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The Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Huwaij, met, on Tuesday, with business owners and Egyptian companies participating in the Libya Food Exhibition. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Board of the General Authority for Investment Promotion and Privatization Affairs, the Chairman of the Management Committee of the General Authority for Exhibitions, the Minister’s advisor, and the President of the Libyan-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce.

During the meeting, Al-Huwaij was briefed on the bilateral trade between the two countries. He also followed up on the observations of company owners regarding the procedures at the land borders on both the Libyan and Egyptian sides, as well as the problems and difficulties faced by business owners and investors traveling between the two countries.

The Minister of Economy emphasized the importance of activating the trade agreements between the two countries to support commercial exchange, facilitate the movement of business owners, and stimulate investment partnerships in the private sector. In his speech, he urged Egyptian companies to explore promising investment opportunities in various sectors and to build partnerships with the local private sector to establish investment projects, benefiting from the advantages provided by the Libyan Investment Law for both local and foreign investors.

Furthermore, the relevant departments and the ministry’s administration were instructed to communicate with the Egyptian Ministry of Trade to address and resolve the problems and obstacles facing trade and the movement of company owners between the two countries.

Takala and Shakshak Discuss Enhancing Regulatory Work and Its Effectiveness

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Today, Tuesday, the head of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, met with the head of the High Council of State, Mohammed Takala, to discuss the practice of the Audit Bureau in regulatory work, its enhancement, and the regulatory plans set by the Bureau for this year in monitoring and examining the entities subject to its oversight.

Both sides emphasized the importance of communication and coordination between regulatory and legislative institutions, aiming to ensure their stability and enable them to fulfill their duties in preserving and safeguarding public funds.

Zliten Protesters Demand Urgent Action on Groundwater Crisis

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A group of demonstrators in Zliten has voiced their grievances over what they perceive as the neglect of the city’s ongoing groundwater crisis. The protesters released a statement calling for immediate attention to this critical issue, highlighting the escalating deterioration of the situation on a daily basis.

Expressing discontent with the committees formed by Prime Minister Dbeibeh, the protesters emphasized the lack of tangible measures implemented on the ground. The statement held all parties accountable for ensuring the safety of the city’s residents amidst the worsening groundwater crisis.

Benghazi Hosts International Conference on African Migration

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Benghazi welcomed, on Monday, the International African Conference on Migration, sponsored by Libyan Prime Minister Dr. Osama Hammad. Over 40 delegations from African nations participated in the event.

Key figures, including Libyan Speaker of the House Aguila Saleh, African Parliament President Fortune Charumbira, and Prime Minister Dr. Osama Hammad, discussed the need for a unified approach to tackle the root causes and consequences of migration. They emphasized knowledge sharing, collaboration among African nations, and partnerships with international organizations to protect migrants’ rights and facilitate their reintegration into their communities.

Prime Minister Hammad highlighted the importance of addressing irregular migration, linking it to economic challenges and international security threats. He underscored Libya’s legislative measures against crimes like human trafficking and urged European nations to contribute to sustainable development in African countries. The conference also called for collective efforts in managing displacement due to wars and natural disasters.

Hammad assured that the Libyan government is ready to collaborate with genuine partners, outlining their approach, which includes legal frameworks, combatting organized crime, border control, and repatriation of migrants. The Prime Minister expressed commitment to working with international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to address irregular migration effectively while respecting the rights of all parties.

Dbeibeh and Meloni Explore Advancements in Implementing Friendship Treaty Between Libya and Italy

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In discussions held on Monday, January 29, 2024, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh of the Government of National Unity (GNU) engaged with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to deliberate on the progress made in activating the Friendship Treaty signed between Libya and Italy in 2008. The talks also covered various shared issues between the two nations.

During the meeting, Dbeibeh and Meloni explored avenues for ongoing collaboration in economic matters, specifically focusing on aspects related to oil and gas, as well as intra-trade between Libya and Italy, as reported by GNU media.

The leaders actively monitored the developments surrounding the activation of the friendship treaty, emphasizing their support for the efforts undertaken by the committees appointed by both countries. These committees are dedicated to reinitiating work on the treaty’s terms and overseeing the implementation of projects that Rome had previously committed to in Libya.

Al-Kabeer: “We Seek to Provide the Latest Technologies and Innovation in the Banking Sector”

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In his speech during the opening of the Innovation and Digital Transformation Forum in Financial Services, organized by the Central Bank on Monday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Seddiq Al-Kabeer, affirmed the bank’s commitment to providing the latest technologies and innovations in the banking sector to keep pace with the rapid changes witnessed by banks worldwide.

Al-Kabeer mentioned that the Central Bank has established the Financial Technology and Innovation Unit, aiming for rapid and sustainable development in the banking sector. The unit aims to lead transformative efforts, improve customer service, facilitate electronic payment operations, drive digital transformation, and enhance innovation in banking services.

He added that the forum, titled “Innovation and Digital Transformation in Financial Services,” reflects the Central Bank’s commitment to providing the latest technologies and innovations in the banking sector. The event will highlight collaboration with the Arab Banking Corporation “ABC.”

Al-Kabeer emphasized that the Central Bank of Libya is closely monitoring global developments in financial technology, particularly focusing on advancements in artificial intelligence. He reiterated the support for the Financial Technology and Innovation Unit in improving banking service performance.

The Governor further explained that the forum will focus on three initiatives. The first is the “Know Your Customer” initiative, enabling the banking sector to better analyze and understand customers by providing a reliable data source and facilitating registration processes faster. The second initiative is the “Instant Payments,” which will be significantly faster than current practices, contributing to easing and accelerating payment and transfer operations, reducing the use of paper currency. The third initiative is the “Open Banking Services,” helping open the door for private sector companies to offer innovative and competitive financial services that better meet customer needs.