SET TO TAKE PLACE FROM DECEMBER 4-13, THE UPCOMING EDITION FOLLOWS THE RESOUNDING SUCCESS OF THE FOURTH RSIFF, A CINEMATIC CELEBRATION THAT DREW OVER 40,000 ATTENDEES. The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) today announced the dates for its highly anticipated fifth edition, set to take place from December 4-13 at its permanent home in Al-Balad, historical Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Marking a major milestone, RSIFF’s fifth anniversary promises to build on its legacy of championing cinematic excellence, fostering creativity, and supporting filmmakers from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The…
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Sharp 37.9% rise in food imports
The food trade balance recorded a surplus of 174.4 MD in January 2025, compared with a surplus of 469.2 MD in the same month of the previous year, resulting in a coverage rate of 125.0% at the end of January 2025, compared with 192.8% at the end of January 2024, according to ONAGRI data. In terms of value, food exports fell by 10.6%, while imports rose by 37.9%, as a result of lower exports of olive oil (-14.7%), dates (-2.7%) and fish products (-54.4%), and higher imports of sugar (+65.1%)…
Tunisia reaffirms commitment to peace and sustainable development at AU Summit
The 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit at the Heads of State level kicked off in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Saturday. The summit saw the election of Angolan President João Lourenço as the new Chairperson of the African Union for 2025, succeeding Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Additionally, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, was elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, replacing Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat. Tunisia is represented at this African event by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and…
Tunisia sees slight growth of 1.4% in 2024
The Tunisian economy showed signs of resilience in 2024, with sustained growth in Q4. In a quarterly report published Saturday, February 15, by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), according to the national accounts, the seasonally-adjusted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded an upward trend of 2.4% compared with the same period of the previous year. Compared with Q3 2024, quarterly growth was 0.9%, reflecting positive economic momentum. Over the year as a whole, the Tunisian economy grew by 1.4%, a result that testifies to a slight recovery despite the challenges…
Libya and Tunisia to formulate clear vision for transit trade into African markets
Libya and Tunisia stressed the importance of formulating a clear vision for developing transit trade between Tunisia and Libya, and from there to sub-Saharan African markets, in a way that contributes to strengthening regional economic cooperation, LibyaHerald reports. This came during a meeting between the Tripoli based Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, met with his Tunisian counterpart, Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Obaid. The meeting came on the sidelines of the Economic and Social Council meeting at the level of Arab ministers held in Cairo last…
Cairo International Film Festival Announces Its New Artistic Management from Berlinale
President of the Cairo International Film Festival, Hussein Fahmy, has announced that film critic and programmer Mohamed Tarek will assume the role of Artistic Director for the festival’s 46th edition. The announcement was made during their participation in the Berlin International Film Festival. Fahmy stated that this step is part of the early preparations for the upcoming edition, marking Tarek’s first official mission since his appointment. It aligns with a development plan aimed at delivering an outstanding edition that keeps pace with global cinematic trends and reinforces the festival’s position…
IsDB and IMF Strengthen Collaboration on Economic Resilience and Islamic Finance
President of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser Friday hosted Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and her delegation at IsDB Headquarters in Jeddah for high-level bilateral talks on economic resilience, sustainable development, and global financial stability. The visit marks a historic milestone in IsDB-IMF cooperation, as it is the first time an IMF Managing Director has visited IsDB HQ. Discussions focused on enhancing coordination on member countries’ economic priorities, strengthening collaboration, and advancing solutions for post-conflict and vulnerable economies. President Al Jasser,…
53rd ISTANBUL MUSIC FESTIVAL11–26 June 2025
CENTERED ON THE THEME OF ‘BEYOND BORDERS’, THE 53rd ISTANBUL MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTES 25 CONCERTS BY OVER 45 SOLOISTS AND ENSEMBLES Türkiye’s longest-established classical music event and the very first festival organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Istanbul Music Festival will be held from 11 to 26 June this year, with the sponsorship of Borusan Holding. The festival features captivating performances by world-renowned ensembles and soloists from across the globe, tributes to the prolific musical cultures of the region, and genre-bending performances. Highlights of the…
Africa must look beyond USAID
The loss of the agency, which spends billions on aid and supports programmes such as Power Africa, could be a huge blow to the continent. At midnight on Friday 7 February thousands of staff at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were due to be placed on “administrative leave”. Those working overseas on aid programmes have been told to prepare to return to the United States, African Business reports in an article by Ben Payton (Ben is Energy and Infrastructure Reporter at African Business). The Trump administration has already…
RED SEA FILM CHAMPIONS ARAB AND AFRICAN CINEMA AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL WITH NINE SUPPORTED FILMS
Nine Red Sea-Supported Films to Screen at Berlinale, Including One in Competition The Red Sea Film Foundation presents nine supported films across six sections, including one in Competition, at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (13 – 23 February 2025), reinforcing its commitment to elevating Arab, African, and Asian cinema worldwide. Yunan, supported by both the Red Sea Fund and the Red Sea Souk, is competing in the festival’s Competition, vying for the Golden and Silver Bear awards alongside 20 other films. Two titles supported by The Red Sea Fund and…