Year: 2018

German government aims to streamline returns of irregular migrants to Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Georgia

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The Cabinet of Germany’s federal government has decided to add Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Georgia to the category of “safe countries of origin”, which makes it easier to return irregular migrants who have not obtained a right to stay in Germany. Before this change can be signed into law, it still needs to pass Germany’s two legislative bodies – the Bundesrat and the Bundestag. Find out more about the implications and what happens if these bodies decide in favour of the law. What are the safe countries of origin? Germany…

Look Back in Joy

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On July 29, 2018, the Faculty of Arts of Manouba hosted an alumni meeting involving former graduates and students from the various departments. They came from differrent parts of Tunisia. Some of them endeavoured to travel from foreign countries where they are now working to join the gathering. The meeting was overwhelmed by a lot of nostalgia and a sense of pride. This gathering was an occasion to celebrate and refresh good old relationships and memories. It was also an opportunity for the special guests to recollect their wonderful memories…

An economic malaise lies at the heart of Libya-Tunisia border standoff

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The Tunisian state has a responsibility to create economic alternatives to southern smuggling networks  “We let go if you let go,” reads a banner hoisted a few miles from Ras Ajdir, one of the main border crossings between Tunisia and Libya.It perfectly sums up a standoff that has shut the crossing in recent weeks. On one side, the crossing has been closed by Libyan authorities; on the other, the only road to the crossing has been barricaded by smugglers from the town of Ben Guerdane in southern Tunisia. Both sides have dug…

Algeria Ready for Joint World Cup Bid, but Politics May Get in the Way

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Algeria’s sporting authorities have reiterated a desire to jointly bid with neighbours Tunisia and Morocco for the hosting rights of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. While Algerian Minister of Sports Mohamed Hattab spoke more cautiously in June when Morocco first spoke of the possibility of a joint bid, the Algerian official is currently more welcoming of the proposal, as he “confirmed” his country would support a united Maghreb bid. Speaking on Thursday, July 26, Hattab suggested the countries sideline political differences for the benefit of the region’s many football fans…

Tunisia allows boat with 40 migrants to dock

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Tunisia on Saturday said it would take in 40 migrants, including two pregnant women, rescued by a commercial vessel. The ship, the “Sarost 5” a Tunisian flagged supply boat, has been blocked for two weeks from docking off Zarzis in southern Tunisia. “For humanitarian reasons, we will accept the 40 migrants,” Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said in parliament. The African migrants, five of whom are women, set off from Libya and were lost at sea for five days before being spotted. “Despite this delay in making this decision we are…

Tunisian economy continues to struggle

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More than any time in the country’s past, Tunisia must now engage in reforms to ease the financial and economic strains affecting its trade and balance of payments, according to the governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, Marouane el-Abassi. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month approved the fourth tranche of its $2.8 billion loan to Tunisia, which was arranged in 2016. The $250 million payment brings IMF’s total loans to Tunisia so far to approximately $1.14 billion. Speaking at a July 11 press conference in Tunis, Abassi said the country will focus on solving its own economic crisis rather…

IAEA Helps Researchers Worldwide Implement Sophisticated Isotope Techniques to Date the Age of Very Old Groundwaters

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Nuclear techniques enable scientists to understand more accurately the age and flow of particularly old groundwaters. This information can prove important for the long-term management of water resources. Groundwater is the main source of freshwater in many places of the world, but it is a limited resource. Many developed and developing countries are actively seeking the best way to use clean groundwater as sustainably as possible, considering the risks associated with water shortage, pollution, or land subsidence. To this end, the IAEA, together with 13 countries, collected over 100 groundwater…

Tunisian Producers See Promise in Olive Oil Tourism

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Tunisian producers are exploring how olives, one of the country’s biggest natural resources, can potentially lure a new kind of tourist. Tunisia has long been a tourist destination for mostly sun-seeking Europeans. But as alternative models for tourism are explored, there’s a new interest in developing opportunities for visitors to learn about aspects of Tunisian culture, including food. It’s a simple aspect of Tunisian life and culture that can be fun and meaningful for travelers who want an authentic experience.– Austin Hand, Engaging Cultures One-third of Tunisia’s land is covered…

El Haouaria Ecotourism: “The Symphony of the 5 senses” marks the Association Pinna APDPE culinary camp

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The Association Pinna APDPE in collaboration with the Indian embassy in Tunisia had organized on July 20-22 the Culinary  Yoga camp. The event, whose theme on  «The Symphony of the 5 senses», aimed to promote the village of El Haouaria located in the Cap Bon Peninsula as an  ecotourism destination by creating a yoga environment focused not only on yoga workshops, but also ecotourism activities such as responsible snorkeling, hiking, birdwatching and the promotion of local businesses and cultural aspects of the region. “We practised yoga, ignites the entire bodily system…

ADEA supports Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Mauritania in the technical validation of the EMIS Norms and Standards and their Assessment Framework for North Africa

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Experts in Education Management Information System (EMIS) from Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Mauritania technically validated the EMIS Norms and Standards and their Assessment Framework for North Africa during a workshop held in Tunis (Tunisia) from 18 to 22 June 2018. This technical meeting, organized by the Working Group on Education Management and Policy Support (WGEMPS) of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) with the support of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), was very well attended and all 16 participants made commitments. Only two…