Year: 2017

A New U.S. Strategy to Bolster Tunisia’s Struggling Democracy

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The country that set off the Arab Spring of 2011 is now widely hailed as its only success story. However, the factors that have aided the formation of the post-2011 Tunisian Republic cannot be counted on to sustain it. The country’s ongoing transition is, in fact, deeply contested by forces both inside and outside the nation. Despite significant aid from the U.S. and other Western countries, Tunisia remains beset with tremendous security, governance, and economic challenges. Moreover, Tunisia’s enemies like Islamic State and others are seeking to further splinter the…

Pos Malaysia strengthens digital presence via Tunisian pact

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Pos Malaysia Bhd and its Tunisian counterpart La Poste Tunisienne has signed a bilateral arrangement for collaboration in the e-commerce business. In a statement, Pos Malaysia chief executive Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said the arrangement covers cooperation in areas such as developing and enhancing the e-commerce portfolio in terms of exchanging e-commerce parcels and small packets between the two parties at a competitive price. He added that the collaboration will foster continued regular exchanges between officials for the betterment of the e-commerce products and services. The agreement will also…

After Debate, Italy Allows NGO Rescue Vessel Into Port

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The migrant rescue vessel Golfo Azzurro has arrived in Pozzallo, Sicily after three days of attempting to convince authorities to permit it to enter port. Italian and Maltese officials had refused access to the Azzurro, which had just rescued three Libyan migrants from a position near Lampedusa upon request from Italian SAR coordinators. Malta told the Azzurro to go to Lampedusa to discharge the survivors; however, the Italian coast guard maintained that the migrants had been rescued in the Maltese area of responsibility, and should disembark in Malta. On Wednesday, after waiting 70 hours for a resolution,…

Tui confirms it may return to selling UK trips to Tunisia

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Tour operator Tui has confirmed it is looking at reinstating holidays from the UK to Tunisia, but will make a final decision based on demand. TUI is already flying tourists from Belgium to the whole of Tunisia and Germans to some parts. The Foreign Office relaxed its travel advice for Tunisia at the end of July after two years of restrictions. TUI said sales rose by 12.6% in the third quarter to 4.78bn (£4.3bn) while profits rose by 37.7% to 221.6m euros. The firm also said the rebranding of Thomson…

Veteran US diplomat to serve as acting assistant secretary for Middle East affairs

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Veteran American diplomat David Satterfield is expected to become the new acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs beginning next month, replacing Stuart Jones, who is leaving the department, senior State Department officials confirmed to CNN. Satterfield has vast experience in the Middle East, serving in a number of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia. He was a senior adviser to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and served as the State Department’s coordinator for Iraq, which is expected to become one of his primary…

Tunisian solar power plant could power five million homes in Europe

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A UK-based solar developer has this week applied to the Tunisian government for authorisation to build a 4.5 gigawatt plant in the country, making it a solar plant large enough to provide carbon-free electricity to over five million European homes or over seven million electric vehicles. Powering Europe TuNur is looking to build the new solar complex in the Tunisian Sahara, supplying energy to both Tunisia and Europe. Three high voltage submarine cable systems are planned, allowing for the transport of power to Europe with low loss. The first will link Tunisia…

Dictator-Themed Restaurant Has a Melania Trump Mural

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Tunisia’s Le Dictateur also lures diners with dishes like the “grilled freedom” At Le Dictateur, a dictator-themed restaurant in an upscale suburb of Tunis, Tunisia, cartoonish portraits of former oppressive world leaders adorn the walls, alongside current political figures like Vladimir Putin and, curiously, First Lady Melania Trump. Dishes called “anarchy,” “fascism,” and “grilled freedom” are all on the menu. Owner Seif Ben Hammouda chose the restaurant’s theme to acknowledge Tunisia’s newfound freedom of expression, Malaysian site Star2 reports. According to Le Dictateur’s owner, before the country’s 2011 revolution and the subsequent…

Tunisia: Swedish franchise Lindex opens store in Soukra

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Lindex, the leading Swedish fashion franchise, opened its first store in Tunisia at Soukra, according to AC Franchise. Tunisia is thus added to the 480 stores of the brand distributed in 16 countries. The company decided to make its first steps on the African continent by opening a store, which employs 20 employees, on an area of 560 m² spread over 2 floors.  The collections, designed for women, children and adolescents, are presented in a typical Swedish setting. The brand works for the preservation of the planet … so, 100%…

HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS Egypt, Tunisia and PALESTINE are among the fastest-growing holiday destinations of 2017

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The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has revealed which countries have seen the biggest rise in visitors IF the standard sun, sea and sangria is getting a little bit boring, why not try some place new next year? Spain, France and Italy are still the favourite holiday hot spots for Brits, but there are also plenty of other places to visit. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has revealed the fastest growing tourist destinations of the year so far, which includes the Middle Eastern country of Palestine The United Nations…

Tourism bounces back in the Middle East

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Six years since the Arab Spring started in Tunisia, causing turmoil in the Middle East, the tourism map of the world has been redrawn several times – and there are signs that it is shifting again. Spain has long been Britain’s top holiday destination, but global events have seen its popularity soar to record levels in recent years. Arrivals peaked at an all time high of over 10.1 million in August 2016 with numbers up again this year, responding to a perceived threat of terrorism elsewhere in the world. Holidays cancelled…