Category: voices

Kairouan Carpets: Tunisian Heritage Craft on Brink of Extinction

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The renowned carpet industry of Kairouan, Tunisia, is on the brink of extinction due to a confluence of challenges, including rising raw material costs, declining demand, weak marketing strategies, and competition from imported products, particularly from China. Once a vital source of income for thousands of Tunisian families, Kairouan carpets are famous for their long wool, vibrant colors, and authentic Arabic designs and engravings. Traditionally, skilled women meticulously hand-wove these intricate pieces. These carpets are crafted from natural wool or pure silk, distinguished by a border of parallel stripes that…

Jabeur finds it ‘hard to breathe’ as asthma flares up

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Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur gets medical attention during her match against Colombia’s Camila Osorio on Thursday A bad bout of asthma nearly derailed the comeback of former world No 2 Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open on Thursday, with the Tunisian saying she found it hard to breathe and nearly gave up in her second-round victory. The 30-year-old three-time Grand Slam finalist is aiming to get back to the top after a shoulder injury last year threatened her career. But she said asthma was now becoming an issue. Jabeur, ranked 39,…

Adelaide International 2025: Jabeur beats Collins to step up comeback ahead of Melbourne

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Photo Credit: Getty Images Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur stepped up her comeback ahead of the Australian Open by beating fourth seed Danielle Collins 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 on Tuesday at the Adelaide International. The 40th-ranked Tunisian wildcard, who last week reached the Brisbane quarterfinals, had a shoulder injury last year that kept her off court after August. Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up who cancelled a retirement scheduled for the end of 2024, was playing her first WTA match since September. Jabeur faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in the last 16 and said she relied…

Tunisia’s Tourism Revenue Reaches New Heights, with a 7.8% Increase in 2024 and More Than 10 Million Tourists Expected to Arrive

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Tunisia’s tourism sector has experienced a significant boost, with revenues reaching an impressive $2.3 billion by December 20, 2024. This marks a 7.8% increase in tourism revenue compared to the same period last year, reflecting the growing appeal of Tunisia as a tourist destination. With over ten million tourists expected to visit the country by the end of 2024, Tunisia’s tourism industry is on track to achieve record-breaking revenues, Travel And Tour World reports. The surge in tourism revenue has also played a crucial role in strengthening Tunisia’s foreign currency…

TAP Referendum for Best Athlete of the Year 2024

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The results of the TAP referendum have been announced: Ali Abdi, Firas Kattoussi, Maroua Bouzayani, Amenallah Tissaoui and Raoua Tlili are the winners of the 13th TAP referendum. Tunisia Afrique Press (TAP) news agency organised a sports press day to announce the results of the 13th edition of the vote for the best athlete for 2024. The Sports Press Day which was held, on Wednesday, at the TAP headquarters was marked by a round table discussion on the theme: “Professionalism in Tunisian football: Achievements and expectations”. In his opening speech,…

Day Three of RSIFF 2024 Explores the Full Gamut of International Cinema

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The third day of the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival marked the international premiere of SUKKAR: SABAABAA W HOUBOUB AL KHARZIZ and world premieres of HOBAL and TALES ON THE BANKS OF THE BOSPHORUS. There were also MENA premieres for LUMIERE, LE CINEMA; TO KILL A MONGOLIAN HORSE; SIMA’S SONG and RED PATH, the GCC premiere of THE INEVITABLE JOURNEY TO FIND A WEDDING DRESS and a gala screening of NAPOLI – NEW YORK. Stars, directors, producers and key crew from all the films walked the red carpet at Culture Square in the heart of Al Balad, celebrating a phenomenal mixture of cultures.…

Academy Award Winners, New Voices and Global Superstars Rule Day Two of RSIFF 2024

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It was a busy day in the ‘In Conversation’ series at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) with Academy Award® winners Catherine Zeta-Jones (WEDNESDAY), Michelle Yeoh (EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE) and Michael Douglas (BEYOND THE REACH) and megastars Cynthia Erivo (WICKED); Kareena Kapoor (CREW) & Eva Longoria (LAND OF WOMEN) sharing their experience of performing – and their stories of life beyond the screen. Kareena Kapoor spoke passionately about the magic that happens when the stars align to make a film spectacular and thanked her legion of…

RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES WOMEN IN CINEMA

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In celebration of female voices in the global film industry, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) hosted the 7th Women In Cinema Gala event this evening, shining a light on the achievements of women both on and behind the camera who are helping shape the film industry and inspire a new generation of talent in the Arab World, Africa, and Asia. The evening was MC-ed by celebrated Tunisian Egyptian actor and producer Hend Sabri (Four Daughters). The Women In Cinema Gala embodies the Red Sea Film Foundation’s dedication to…

Arab Coordination Group (ACG) pledges US$10 billion by 2030 to combat desertification and land degradation

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The Arab Coordination Group (ACG), a strategic alliance of ten leading development finance institutions, announced a landmark commitment of up to US$10 billion by 2030 to address the critical challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought. The announcement was made during the Ministerial Dialogue on Finance: “Unlocking public and private finance for land restoration and drought resilience”, at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This transformative commitment, made as part of a…

At COP16 Ministerial Meeting on Drought: IsDB President Announces US$ 1 Billion Pledge to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership

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The first day of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hosted Ministers convening from more than 196 nations plus the European Union from around the world. The high-profile ministerial session was held under the theme: “From Geneva to Riyadh and beyond, Enhancing Global and National Policy Instruments for a Proactive Drought Management Approach.” Addressing the event, the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, announced that the AAA-rated…