FILE PHOTO: A logo of Airbus in Blagnac near Toulouse, France, July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File PhotoPARIS (Reuters) - Airbus has reached a settlement with the French financial prosecutor (PNF) concerning judicial investigations related to Libya and Kazakhstan, an Airbus spokesperson said on Thursday, confirming a report by news agency AFP. It said the agreement is now subject to court approval. Last month, Airbus confirmed it was negotiating a new bribery settlement with French authorities over past dealings in Libya and Kazakhstan as an extension to a settlement struck in 2020 which included record fines against the planemaker. The initial agreement followed a four-year probe which originated in Britain and later expanded to France and the United States, shedding light on a network of middlemen and disguised payments.

The Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, held talks on Thursday with Qatari Ambassador to Libya, Khaled Al-Dosari, at his office in the city eastern city of Qubba. The two discussed “bilateral relations”, “developments in the situation in Libya” and “ways to end the Libyan crisis through holding elections,” according to a statement by House spokesman Abdullah Bliheg. Bliheg said that the Qatari diplomat affirmed Qatar’s support for Libya in “overcoming the current crisis and preserve the unity of the Libyan soil”.

Funding comes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which hit Chinese industry and businesses in its latest wave from March to May. Chinese Emerging Tech AmbitionsThe news comes after Chinese media reported Shanghai aims to boost its 5G network infrastructure to accommodate emerging tech demand for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) across national industry verticals. The news comes amid increasing rivalry in the global tech community, namely as governments compete for top spots among the world’s tech hubs. Numerous sanctions have triggered urgent demand for domestically-produced tech solutions after former US President Donald Trump slapped Beijing with sanctions, restrictions, and blacklistings. Despite trade restrictions, Shenzhen-based firm has developed several key emerging tech solutions.

The “First Conference for Investment in Africa – Libya its Gate” was held in the Turkish city of Istanbul for two days, under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, according to what was announced by the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Omar Katti. Katti said that the conference seeked to establish “clear mechanisms for a real and strategic partnership between Libyan investment institutions and Turkish companies as a first stage, provided that this partnership extends to regional and international countries interested in investing in the African continent.”The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Organizations and International Cooperation confirmed that his government “has developed a new approach for the return of investment inside Libya and within Africa in order to achieve the aspirations of the Libyan state and its regional and international partners.”

Comment on this story Comment Gift Article ShareATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities say a dilapidated fishing boat crammed with migrants that was towed to port after losing steering in rough seas south of Crete was carrying a total of 483 people who had sailed from Libya. ArrowRight The coast guard said Thursday that those on board were Syrians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Palestinians and Sudanese and included 336 men, 10 women, 128 boys and nine girls. The passengers had been crammed into a 25-meter (82-foot) fishing boat that had set sail from Libya and had been heading to Italy, the coast guard said. AdvertisementA major rescue operation was mounted, involving a Greek frigate, two coast guard vessels, five nearby merchant ships and two Italian-flagged fishing boats. Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi sent a letter to the European Commission Tuesday afternoon, requesting that the passengers be relocated to other European Union nations.

The Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, warned against the continuation of the interim unity government in power under Abdel Hamid Dbeibah. “The conspiracy that took place against Libya is bigger than what we can imagine, and it was intended to divide Libya and insult the Libyan people, but the social fabric was cohesive and all conspiracies were thwarted,” Saleh said in a speech during his meeting with citizens. He noted that “the House of Representatives welcomed the Dbeibah government that was chosen in Geneva, which came for a fixed period of 18 months, and the day it was granted confidence, December 24, 2021, determined the end of this government’s term.”He stated that “its tasks were to unite institutions and provide the basic requirements for citizens, national reconciliation and elections, but this government did not do anything about iall of that, and its mission ended and the House of Representatives withdrew confidence from it.”

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said he was not encouraged by the fact that “there is no indication of any possible agreement on elections any time soon in Libya.”“The European Union and its international partners can make a difference by proactively supporting mediation efforts, which is what we intend to do, and we must encourage the different Libyan actors on all sides to promote dialogue and reach consensus,” Borrell said in a speech during the European Parliament session. “The call for foreign forces to withdraw from Libya must be translated into action, and we must support the work of the UN envoy and Libyan stakeholders to build a new and joint road map towards elections,” he added.

Instead, he decided to leave Tripoli and head for Benghazi, Eastern Libya. Libya's Foreign Ministry issued a statement "deploring" Mr. Dendias' behaviour which, it said, is counter to all diplomatic norms. He also met with General Khalifa Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army in eastern Libya, followed by another meeting with Speaker, Aguila Saleh. Favourably received in Eastern Libya, the Greek Foreign Minister found support from both the Parliament and Mr Haftar. In the meantime, Egypt, Cyprus and Greece have been working on the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum as early as 2018.

The European Parliament called for the cancellation of a controversial 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya, which has caused tensions in the Mediterranean ever since. The Turkish-Libyan deal ignores the island of Crete, and Greece says Turkey wants to set a legal precedent with an MoU that is “illegal” under international law. The European Commission and the EU Council have repeatedly condemned the Turkey-Libya MoU as “illegal” and the EU House took a step further calling for its annulment. Yet, the European Parliament wants a special EU envoy for Libya to be appointed as a matter of priority, as well as a roadmap for holding free and fair elections. Since 2011, the EU has invested some €700 million in Libya, for matters including development, aid and controversial security and coast guard project.

– The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) on Wednesday expressed concern over deadly explosive remnants of war in Libya, urging Libyans to be aware of the danger. “UNICEF and UNMAS are deeply concerned by the continuing loss of civilian life, especially children, from explosive remnants of war, and urge all Libyans to be aware of the risks,” the statement said. “At least 39 people have been killed or injured this year in incidents involving explosive remnants of war,” said Justin Smith, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Mine Action Programme. According to the Humanitarian Response Plan, 505,486 people are currently at risk from mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, the statement said. Libya has been suffering from insecurity and chaos since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.

Still, Libya’s oil production is declining despite efforts by the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to maintain production levels and prevent further decline. In addition, it became a norm to interrupt oil production to get the attention of the central government in Tripoli. Despite these challenges, Libya is well-positioned for an energy transition: it is one of very few oil producing countries that also have large reserves of natural gas and renewable energy resources. Rethinking the Oil Sector ReformThe NOC should aim to harness the opportunities provided by the national accord on the new leadership and international oil market developments to develop a concrete plan to reform the oil sector. Even with the government pledging to get to 10% renewable energy by 2025, many believe this is still not aggressive enough.

Abuzakouk stressed that Libya does not currently have the finances to complete its railway projects, let alone all the other projects it needs to complete. He gave the UAE’s Jabal Ali Free Port project as a good example of the BOT formula for a large infrastructure project. The BOT formula would enable Libya to benefit from advanced international knowhow and experience and gets round Libya’s lack of finances. Abuzakouk gave Morocco as the prime example of use of the BOT method. The BOT method is much better for the Libyan state than being stuck in a loan process with all its vagaries, he added.

European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas delivers his speech during a debate on asylum and migration including search and rescue Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022 in Strasbourg. EU interior ministers are holding emergency talks on Friday in an effort to find a permanent solution. “By giving the keys to our migration and asylum policy to countries like Libya, we are making ourselves complicit in violence, torture, rape and ransom. And it’s so-called coastguard are armed gangs in uniforms paid for by the European Union,” he said. But we need to manage migration, and we need to welcome people (by) legal ways.

The European Parliament urged Wednesday the Libyan authorities to cancel the 2019 Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea. The Parliament also called on the relevant parties not to implement any clause included in the subsequent agreement on hydrocarbons signed on 3 October this year, as it foresees illegal drilling activities in other countries’ exclusive economic zones, including those of Cyprus and Greece. The text was adopted by 454 votes in favour, 130 against with 54 abstentions.

Ericsson is set to build a new 6G research facility in the United Kingdom with tens of millions in investment over ten years’ time, the company announced on Wednesday. 📣 Ericsson has announced a multi-million-pound investment in #6G research for the UK. Find out more 👉 https://t.co/0vfZeuWfyY pic.twitter.com/EMbsLXwnCM — Ericsson (@ericsson) November 22, 2022Industry verticals and consumers will benefit from the programme, adding over 20 researchers. It will also back doctoral students working with key affiliates for future 6G research projects. Katherine Ainley, Chief Executive of Ericsson UK and Ireland, said that the networking giant had connected the UK for over 120 years.