Year: 2018

Enrolment opens for Summer School on Migration in Tunisia

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Registration is now open for the fourth edition of the Summer School on Migration in Tunis from September 10-15, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia and the National institute for labour and social studies said. This year the school takes the theme ‘Migration and the integration of migrants in host societies. Registration is free of charge and open until June 30 via the website www.ecole-ete-migration.tn. Applicants can come from within academia, the institutions, civil society and social partners and the 50 selected candidates will enjoy a multidisciplinary programme…

Island of Djerba ranks 3rd city where people go to play, not work

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Djerba is ranked 3rd destination in the world where people go to play, not work, according to the Global Destinations Cities Index (GDCI ) released on Thursday by the world’s most advanced payments technology company “Mastercard.” “Travel allows us to broaden our horizons by exploring new places, people and experiences,” said Francis Hondal, president of loyalty and managed services at Mastercard. “The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index: Play shows that special cities around the world are tapping into that trend and building a brand of fun, relaxation and enjoyment for…

World Cup 2018 opening ceremony: Robbie Williams and giant fire bird feature in snappy show

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The World Cup got underway this afternoon in a short and sweet opening ceremony, with Robbie Williams dominating the centre of the park with a short medley of his hits. Where previous ceremonies have featured lengthy performance art projects about the environment, the football family and children being the future, this Russian effort was snappy: long on energy, and short on too much tree-hugging.  Williams was excellent, there were representatives from the competing countries, and a giant fire bird made out of crepe paper. There was, naturally, juggling, and the obligatory giant footballs.…

Tunisia: World Bank and IMF grant nearly $760M to finance state spending

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Tunisia will receive $759 million from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to finance government spending.  Marouane El Abassi governor of the country’s Central Bank (BCT) revealed. According to the official, relayed by Maghreb Emergent, a first tranche of $500 million should be provided by World Bank at the end of this month. This financing granted as a loan would help cover State’s budgetary expenditure. The second financing ($259 million) is expected to be granted by IMF under an extended credit facility. Let’s note that the fund comes a few…

Central Bank of Tunisia raises its key interest rate from 5.75% to 6.75 %

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The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) said on Wednesday it had raised its key interest rate from 5.75 percent to 6.75 percent, the second hike in three months, to tackle inflation that has reached the highest level since 1990. The bank’s last rate increase was in March, to 5.75 percent from 5.00 percent. Annual inflation hit 7.7 percent in May. At its meeting Wednesday, the Executive Board of the Central Bank of Tunisia noted the persistence of these pressures which “are likely to intensify over the coming period, in the…

Independents win most seats in municipal polls

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Independents have won most seats in the municipall polls held last May 6 in Tunisia, the Independedn Higber Authority for the Elections (ISIE) announced on Wednesday. The official results announced by ISIE  reveals that independent candidates won 2,373 seats. Ennahda movement came in the second place with 2,139 seats, followed by Nidaa Tounes party with 1,600 seats and the Popular Front party with 261 seats, the ISIE said. ISIE president Mohamed Tlili Mansri said the polls saw a %35.6 voter turnout. “Forty-seven percent of winning candidates are women while the…

74% of Tunisians do not trust banks’ transparency

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Some 74 per cent of Tunisians do not trust the transparency of the country’s banks, a survey on the quality of banking and telecommunications services conducted by the Tunisian Organisation to Inform the Consumer (OTIC) has revealed. OTIC, which polled 2,415 customers of banks and financial institutions across Tunisia, also found that 84 per cent of the respondents were not satisfied with banking services and 94 per cent were not aware of the free services that were available to them. President of the OTIC, Lotfi Riahi, expressed concern at the…

IMF calls on Tunisia to take decisive action to strengthen public finances and address rising inflation and falling reserves

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Executive Board members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged the Tunisian authorities to strengthen “their commitment to the economic reform programme and take urgent and decisive action to put public finances on a more sustainable path, address rising inflation and falling reserves, and ensure macroeconomic stability.” In a statement released by the Fund Tuesday, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation with Tunisia and advised the authorities to press ahead with fiscal consolidation. “To increase investment and social expenditure, adjustment efforts should…

A lingering scene

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“Beb Bhar” was in full swing, as always is. Many were on the move, tending to their businesses or so methought; others were strolling about; still some other tourists were standing in reverence, looking at the stupendous “Beb,” taking some snapshots and she was there in the midst of all that hustle, with her back against an about-30-centimeter- street post, her legs thinly covered and her head bent down while stretching her wrinkled and feeble hand. Her frail face was downward most of the time oblivious to the passers-by. She…

‘Kerkennah 01’ festival of photography and digital arts

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Tunisia’s Kerhennah islands will host Kerkennah 01, the first festival in the north African country devoted to photography, video and digital arts. The festival, to be held on June 21-27, aims to “encourage the emergence of a photographic scene involving Tunisian artists by opting to abandon the traditional channels. Kerkennah 01 also aims to become a platform for exchange, development and introduction to photography in north Africa and to create infrastructure for the local population, sensitising public opinion and politicians to the cultural, tourist, economic and educational potential of the…