BENGHAZI – Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army, received Naguib Sawiris, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orascom Investment Holding, at the General Command headquarters in Benghazi. The meeting was attended by Dr. Jibril al-Badri, Head of the National Development Authority.

Discussions focused on investment opportunities in Libya and the potential role of Orascom in supporting reconstruction and development projects across different cities and regions. The meeting also addressed possible cooperation frameworks with the National Development Authority to enhance development initiatives, attract investment, and contribute to strengthening the national economy

Prime Minister of the Western region Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, inaugurated the International Planning and Development Forum, organized by the Ministry of Planning in cooperation with the Planning Institute and the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait.

The forum focuses on strengthening development planning efforts, exchanging expertise, and supporting cooperation in sustainable development and public policy.

Libya’s Minister of Industry and Minerals, Mohamed Abdelgader, has reviewed a new 100-day action plan aimed at accelerating reforms and strengthening the country’s industrial and minerals sector.

The plan was discussed during a high-level meeting held in Tajoura, Tripoli, at the Industrial Research Center, with participation from senior ministry officials, board chairpersons, and directors of affiliated institutions.

The initiative focuses on key priorities including institutional capacity building, digital transformation, and improved governance systems, alongside better coordination between state-owned industrial entities to raise efficiency and performance.

Officials also reviewed the current status of affiliated bodies, highlighting both progress made and ongoing challenges, while proposing practical solutions to improve operations.

The meeting further addressed preparations for Libya’s upcoming hosting of the Arab Ministers of Industry meeting, which is expected to strengthen regional cooperation and expand market access for Libya’s private sector across the Arab world.

The minister stressed the importance of implementing the digital transformation agenda and adhering to strict timelines to ensure measurable results aligned with national economic development goals.

Libya’s Ministries of Tourism and Culture have announced plans to launch a joint Cultural and Artistic Tourism Caravan aimed at promoting national identity, showcasing Libyan heritage, and supporting domestic tourism.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industries Nasr al-Din Milad al-Fazani and Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Salem al-Alam in Tripoli.

The caravan is scheduled to begin its journey from Zuwara toward the eastern region at the end of July, visiting several Libyan cities and historical sites. The programme will feature traditional performances, artistic activities, a mobile book fair, heritage exhibitions, and craft events.

The initiative will include participation from folk groups from Ghadames and Ghat, along with artists, singers, writers, and cultural figures, with the aim of strengthening cultural exchange between Libyan regions and highlighting the country’s rich heritage.

The two ministries said the project reflects cooperation between state institutions and supports efforts to develop sustainable tourism across Libya.

Libyan athletes achieved strong results at the World Muay Thai Schools and Senior Championships 2026, which concluded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Libyan national team secured several medals, including two gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals across school and senior categories.

In the World Schools Muay Thai Championship, Hossam Munir Al-Habishi and Mohamed Ali Shahboun won gold medals, while Luqman Mohamed Bin Al-Sheikh, Mohamed Abdul-Razzaq Baryoun, and Qais Malik Al-Tashani earned silver medals. Youssef Magdi Nashnoush secured a bronze medal.

In the World Senior Muay Thai Championship 2026, Muayyad Khaled Al-Takbali won a silver medal, while Suhaib Ahmed Al-Mansali earned bronze.

The Libyan Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Similar Sports Federation praised the athletes and thanked the national coaches Mohamed Al-Maghribi, Abdulbasit Al-Warfali, and Ahmed Al-Malahi for their support and preparation of the team.

Libya is participating in the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games meetings held in the Italian city of Taranto, with Engineer Mohamed Quraimeeda, a member of the committee’s Executive Board, representing Libya.

The meetings brought together representatives from National Olympic Committees across Mediterranean countries to discuss preparations for the upcoming 20th Mediterranean Games, scheduled to be hosted in Taranto from August 21 to September 3, 2026.

Discussions included strengthening cooperation between Olympic committees, developing Mediterranean sporting initiatives, and reviewing preparations for the event. Several decisions were also approved, including the creation of a digital historical database for Mediterranean Games athletes, holding Mediterranean Beach Games every two years starting in 2029, expanding free-to-air broadcasting, and introducing new financial support mechanisms for participating Olympic committees.

Libya’s participation reflects its continued presence in regional and international sports forums and its role in supporting the Olympic movement across the Mediterranean region.

The Libyan Volleyball Federation has announced that the national team will not participate in the African qualifiers for the African Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco later this month.

The Federation said the decision was made due to current circumstances and difficulties in securing the financial resources needed to prepare and participate at the required level. It added that all efforts were made to secure the necessary support before reaching the decision.

The withdrawal comes despite the team’s strong recent performance, including winning the bronze medal at the last African Championship in Egypt and making a historic appearance at the World Championship in the Philippines.

The Federation apologized to Libyan sports fans, describing the decision as beyond its control.

Apple is preparing for its next iPhone cycle, with early reports suggesting the iPhone 17 series will focus heavily on artificial intelligence features and camera improvements. The company is expected to deepen its AI integration across iOS, potentially improving on-device processing for tasks like writing assistance, photo editing, and personal automation. This shift reflects Apple’s attempt to compete more directly with Android manufacturers that have already pushed AI-powered features into their latest devices.

Leaked industry reports also suggest that Apple may redesign parts of the iPhone 17 lineup, with improvements in performance efficiency and battery management driven by a new generation of chips. Camera upgrades are also expected, continuing Apple’s strategy of positioning the iPhone as a leading device for mobile photography and video creation.

While Apple has not officially confirmed these details, analysts say the company is under pressure to deliver stronger AI capabilities as the smartphone market becomes increasingly driven by software intelligence rather than hardware alone..

Major technology companies including Google, Amazon, and Meta are increasingly developing their own custom AI chips to power internal systems. This strategy allows them to reduce reliance on Nvidia while lowering long-term operational costs and improving performance for specific AI workloads. These in-house chips are tailored to each company’s artificial intelligence platforms, giving them more control over efficiency and scalability. The trend shows a growing shift in the tech industry toward vertical integration, where companies control both software and hardware infrastructure.

Qualcomm is expanding its business beyond smartphones and entering the fast-growing AI data center sector. The company is positioning itself as a competitor in high-performance computing, where demand for AI processing power is rapidly increasing. Qualcomm estimates that its push into AI infrastructure could generate up to $15 billion in future revenue. This strategic shift highlights how traditional mobile chipmakers are adapting to the new AI-driven technology landscape, where data centers are becoming the core of global computing power.