Month: August 2018

Tory MPs complain over peer’s Tunisia trip

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Three Tory MPs have lodged a complaint against party colleague Lord Sheikh over his attendance at a conference on Palestinian rights in Tunisia in 2014. Lord Sheikh confirmed he was at the event, as Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn faced questions about his participation in a memorial ceremony during the same trip. The Conservative Muslim Forum founder said he did not attend the controversial wreath-laying ceremony. But MPs Zac Goldsmith, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy want an investigation. No Corbyn apology after wreath criticism The International Conference on Monitoring the Palestinian Political…

Tunisia’s Food Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in July

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The food trade balance posted a 182.7 MTD surplus in July against a 754.8 MTD deficit during the same period in 2017, which helped bring the coverage rate to 106.1%. Food exports and imports edged up 72.6% and 15.2%, respectively, according to data published by the National Observatory of Agriculture (French: ONAGRI). This surplus is the result of the rise in the value of exports, mainly olive oil (200.4%), tomatoes (38.3%) and fisheries (29.9%), the same data indicated.  Imports include durum wheat (532.2 thousand tonnes), soft wheat (729.7 thousand tonnes),…

Pinna –APDPE association celebrates India’s Independence Day by creating pathways for intercultural dialogue

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Independence Day is an annual observance celebrated every year on 15th of August. India’s Independence Day is a day of great significance for the people of India. This year in 2018, India is celebrating its 72nd Independence Day to pay tribute and remember all the freedom fighters who had contributed a lot and fought for the Independence of India. This day is, as usual, celebrated by the Indian community in Tunisia. This year the celebration got  a special flavour for Pinna –APDPE association in collaboration with the Indian embassy in Tunisia.…

Equal inheritance rights for women in Tunisia, landmark initiative for equal society

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The proposal of the inheritance law sparked debate among Tunisians who were divided between the secular who commends the proposed law and support women’s equal rights in accordance with the Tunisian constitution and the cleric conservatives who opposed any changes on the law that might be seen as challenging the Islamic laws. The bill to be submitted to parliament soon aims to give women equal inheritance rights with men, as the debate over the topic of inheritance arouses a controversy among the different fringes of the Tunisian society. President Beji…

Tunisian entrepreneurs roll up sleeves after encouraging startup law

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Tunisia’s Startup Act, enacted this spring to encourage the young entrepreneurs in the country, has got the ball rolling for projects that range from agriculture biotechnology to software development. One of those entrepreneurs, Suniya Elabyadi, left her job in the public sector last year to set up an agriculture technology company, which now exports edible flowers to France. “Previously it was impossible for us to deal with customers abroad, because small companies were banned from opening foreign currency accounts,” Elabyadi told Al-Monitor. “The Startup Act has given us the right to do so, and…

China-built dam boosts Sino-Tunisian hydroelectric cooperation

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Wearing red and white safety helmets, around 20 Chinese and Tunisian mechanics were binding reinforcement bars on the floor at a dam project which is under construction. “I have worked in this dam construction for one year,” said the 24-year-old Wael Torkhani, a local resident. “I not only learned skills from my Chinese colleagues, but also earned enough money to support my family.” Passing through the mountains in El Kef province in northwestern Tunisia, the dam is built by Chinese power construction company Sinohydro, over the Mellegue River, which provides…

Migration to Europe from Tunisia climbs

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After years of relatively steady or declining numbers of migrants leaving, in the past year, there’s been a five-fold increase in the number of people trying to get to Italy. And thousands more are queuing up to make the journey. The sea has always been kind to the people of Kerkennah Island. For generations, Tunisian fishermen have made a good living on Kerkennah island. However now‚  they’re seeing boats carrying a very different type of cargo. Rising unemployment and record low wages are creating a sense of hopelessness in Tunisia.…

International Kelibia Amateur Film Festival : Screening of the Parrot 

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Directors Darin J. Sallam and Amjad Al-Rasheed’s short film The Parrot will be screend as part of the 33rd International Kelibia Amateur Film Festival (FIFAK) in Tunisia held from 12 to 18 August. The screening will take place at the Open Air Theater on Tuesday, 14 August at 10:00 pm, as part of an honorary tribute to Palestine. Established in 1964, the Festival international du film amateur de Kélibia (FIFAK) is a film festival organized by the Fédération Tunisienne des Cinéastes Amateurs (FTCA). The festival is held with the support of the Tunisian Ministry of Culture and the Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image (CNCI), in collaboration…

Tunisian young man starts 300-km journey on foot to clean beaches

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The 27 year-old engineer Mohamed Oussama Houij is keen on ecology field.  As an environmentalist, he made the crazy bet to walk 300 km of Tunisian beaches to clean them. For his point of departure Osama chose the city of Mahdia. In two months, he has to cross the beaches of Nabeul, Korba and Kélibia the place where he is now (August 11)  to reach his point of arrival in Solimane.  Provided with trash bags, gloves, a rudimentary equipment but especially with a great determination, Osama began his journey on…

Futurallia Tunisia 2018 business development forum due next November

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The 22nd edition of Futurallia Tunisia is due on on November 14-16 in Tunis. The three-day forum includes  business meetings between entrepreneurs and SMEs seeking strategic trade, financial and technological alliances for the development of their activities at the international level according to  the Delta Center of Tunis, the sole concessionary for Italy of the event organized by Conect International, in collaboration with Futurallia. Entrepreneurs from over 30 countries will be taking part. They are Canada, Colombia, USA, Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Libya, Mali,…