Year: 2018

Tunisian pilot kicks off passenger over racist slur towards black stewardess

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A pilot with Tunisair – Tunisia’s national carrier – kicked a passenger off the flight over racist comment towards a black flight attendant, as reported by Al Araby. Mounir Ajlani, the pilot, had made the decision on a flight to Tunis, Tunisia from Istanbul, Turkey earlier this month after the passenger verbally attacked a flight attendant for attempting to resolve a dispute between passengers. The crew member, Ghofrane Binous, took to Facebook on May 13 to depict the details of the incident. “I don’t need your help. The last thing I need is…

Messina Group announces new Italy-Tunisia line

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The Genoa-based shipping company Ignazio Messina has launched a new sea connection for roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) merchandise between Italy and Tunisia, with a weekly sailing between the port of Rades and the ports of Genoa and Naples, where the company will return after a five-year absence. The company will employ two leased ro-ro ships for the route, with arrival in the port of Rades on Tuesdays and departure for Italy on Wednesdays. TunisianMonitorOnline (ANSAmed)

Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia: Interference in Libya prolongs the crisis

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Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia have joined forces to reject foreign interference in Libya’s internal affairs. “Foreign interference undermines the country’s political process, prolongs the crisis and threatens security and stability in Libya and neighbouring countries,” a joint statement in support of the political settlement in Libya said. The statement was issued following a tripartite meeting held yesterday between foreign ministers Sameh Shoukry of Egypt, Khemaies Jhinaoui of Tunisia, and Abdelkader Messahel of Algeria in Algiers. They discussed the latest developments in Libya and prospects for a political solution with an…

China’s latest connection to Africa is via a boom in tourism

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hinese travelers are the world’s top tourism spenders, shelling out almost $260 billion in 2017 alone. A growing part of that spend is now happening in Africa, encouraged by relaxed visa rules, increased interested in the continent’s cultural and historical sites, and a initiatives that seek to appeal to Chinese tourists. Last week, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China launched a joint loyalty program with Kenya’s Stanbic Bank, aiming to create incentives for travel, shopping, and leisure to tourists visiting the two nations. The “I Go Kenya—I Go China” scheme follows the…

Disillusioned with the EU? – What Can Be Done to Support Tunisia

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any Tunisians are disillusioned with the European Union. Tunisia being the only North African nation to have embarked on the road of transition towards democracy, the EU needs to be engaged with Tunisians on top of pursuing fairer trading relations. Tunisia has reached many milestones, such as drafting a new constitution, free parliamentary elections, pluralism of political parties and political freedoms, but many other works remain in progress. One of the most critical endeavors that the country still needs to go through is to devolve power from the highly centralized…

Migrant door barely ajar as populists prepare to rule Italy

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The impending arrival of an anti- establishment, far- right government in Italy heralds even more controversy over how to deal with the flow of migrants as it raises the spectre of mass expulsions. With a coalition of the anti-system Five Star Movement (M5S) and the nationalist League party poised to take power, the prospects for migrants reaching Italy after a hazardous sea crossing from Libya look even dimmer. The outgoing centre-left government has already all but closed the maritime border following controversial accords signed with the Libyan government as well…

New Investment in Tunisia’s Future to Strengthen Primary Education and Ensure All Children Have Access to Preschool

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The World Bank Board of Directors approved recently a US$100 million investment loan to support the Tunisian government’s efforts to improve the quality of primary education and expand access to preschool in disadvantaged regions.  The investment will support improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, and, in targeted districts, will expand access to preschool and enhance the primary school environment. The new project is expected to benefit over one million children. The Strengthening Foundations for Learning Project was designed to support the government’s strategic objectives of improving learning in basic education and…

Al-Quds University gains membership in the Mediterranean Network of Engineering Schools

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In a streak of academic achievements for Al-Quds University, its Faculty of Engineering secured membership in the Réseau Méditerranéen des Ecoles d’Ingénieurs, the Mediterranean Network of Engineering Schools, following a unanimous vote during the conference of the public body held in Morocco. Since its establishment in 1997, the Réseau Méditerranéen des Ecoles d’Ingénieurs has housed dozens of faculties of engineering from countries overlooking the Mediterranean. With Al-Quds University’s newly accepted membership, Palestine now joins Algeria, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Al-Quds University’s Dean…

Tripartite meeting on Libya crisis to be held in Algeria

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Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, along with his Tunisian and Algerian counterparts, will take part in a tripartite meeting on Libya on Monday in Algeria, according to spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid. Abu Zeid said that the meeting comes within the framework of the mechanism of the Arab tripartite neighbors of Libya, which aims to discuss the recent developments in Libya and the ways to support Libyans to achieve national consensus and reach a political solution. Abu Zeid added that the meeting’s…

Farewell Maya, martyred as you fight for democracy

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The great lover of democracy and brave militant Maya Jribi passed away on Saturday 19 May, after a long fight against a cursed disease that afflicted her in a crucial time that  Tunisia needs her positive contribution. Her courage will remain legendary. Until the last breath, she had always devoted her energy to the struggle against dictatorship, to the fight for democracy, to the triumph of her noble ideals. All her life she had devoted herself to this land she had always loved, to this beloved people. Today we will…