Category: voices

From Trash to Treasure: How Tunisia Is Powering Its Future with Waste

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At the sprawling Oued Laya landfill outside Tunis, a faint hum breaks the usual silence of a desolate site. This isn’t the sound of more garbage trucks arriving; it’s the sound of a revolution. Here, methane—a potent greenhouse gas once destined to leak into the atmosphere—is being captured, converted, and funneled into the national grid. It’s a tangible sign of Tunisia’s ambitious pivot: turning its mounting waste crisis into a strategic energy source. Facing chronic energy dependency, with over 90% of its electricity generated from imported natural gas, and severe…

From Sochi to Cairo: Russia and Africa Seek to Reignite a Historic Partnership

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In the coming months, the Egyptian capital will become the diplomatic stage for a significant gathering, as foreign ministers from Russia and across Africa convene to chart the future of a relationship both describe as one of old friends seeking new horizons. This ministerial conference, slated for 2025, marks a first: the official meetings of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum will be held on African soil, a move agreed upon during the inaugural ministerial in Sochi a year prior. The Forum itself, established in 2019, has already overseen two major summits—in…

Tunisia Emerges as a Crucible for Africa’s Homegrown Innovation Model

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While global tech narratives often focus on scaling Silicon Valley blueprints, a more pragmatic and collaborative dynamic is taking root across Africa. The continent is forging its own innovation paradigm—one measured not by mere technological replication, but by solving local problems and boosting economic competitiveness. At the forefront of this shift is Tunisia, transforming from a startup producer into a structured laboratory for continent-wide co-innovation. This African model redefines traditional roles: startups as solvers of concrete industrial challenges, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) leveraging innovation for growth, and the state…

Qatar National Day Feted in Tunis Amid Strong Bilateral Ties and Investment Pledges

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Marking Qatar’s National Day, the Qatari Embassy in Tunisia hosted an official reception on Sunday, drawing a high-level assembly of Tunisian government officials, diplomats, and cultural figures in a display of robust bilateral relations. The event saw the attendance of key Tunisian leaders, including the Ministers of Interior, Health, and Investment, the Speakers of Parliament, and numerous Arab and foreign ambassadors. In a significant economic overture, Tunisian Interior Minister Khaled Al-Nouri, conveying a message from President Kais Saied, expressed Tunisia’s keenness to attract and facilitate more Qatari investment, aiming to…

UAE Commits $550 Million to UN’s 2026 Global Humanitarian Lifeline

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The United Arab Emirates has pledged $550 million to the United Nations’ 2026 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, injecting critical funding into a global effort aiming to raise $33 billion to assist 135 million people across 23 crisis zones. The commitment, made under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, targets the plan’s most urgent priorities. A core objective is delivering life-saving aid to 87 million people in acute need, a segment of the response requiring $23 billion. The funding will also bolster programs for refugees and…

IsDB Chief Ties Bank’s Global Clout to Saudi Hub, Reveals $200 Billion Financing Milestone

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 The strategic advantage of being headquartered in Saudi Arabia is a key driver behind the Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) ability to deliver impact worldwide, its Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, stated during a major development finance conference in the Saudi capital. Speaking at the high-level panel “Building Sustainable Futures on a Global Scale” during the National Development Fund’s MOMENTUM conference, Dr. Al Jasser detailed how the Kingdom’s support has been instrumental to the bank’s operations. “Our presence in the Kingdom is a strategic advantage that strengthens our ability to deliver…

UNESCO Inscribes Diwali as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

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In a historic decision, the festival of Deepavali, commonly known as Diwali, has been formally added to UNESCO’s prestigious Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription was confirmed on December 10 by the UN agency’s Intergovernmental Committee, recognizing the global significance of the ancient “Festival of Lights.” In an op-ed shared with media, Dr. Devyani Uttam Khobragade, Ambassador of India to Tunisia, hailed the move as a milestone that celebrates the festival’s universal message of “light prevailing over darkness” and its role as a vibrant, living…

Tunisia Tourism: A Phoenix Rising from the Sands

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Nestled on the Mediterranean coast, where the Sahara meets the sea, Tunisia has long been a jewel of North African tourism. For decades, it attracted sun-seekers to its golden beaches, history buffs to the ruins of Carthage, and adventurers to the dunes of the desert. However, the past years have been a story of profound challenge and resilient recovery. Today, Tunisian tourism is not just bouncing back; it is actively reinventing itself, offering a more nuanced, authentic, and diverse experience to a new generation of travelers. Emerging from a Perfect…

Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: A Visionary Leader Shaping Dubai’s Cultural Future

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Under the visionary guidance of her father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has built a global reputation not only as a hub of business, innovation, and advanced infrastructure, but also as a flourishing center for culture and creativity. At the heart of this cultural momentum stands Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum—Chairperson of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority since September 2019—whose leadership has been instrumental in positioning Dubai as one of the world’s most dynamic creative capitals. Sheikha Latifa believes that culture is…

Her Highness Ahad bint Abdullah Al Busaidiyah: A Guiding Symbol in Oman’s New Era

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Oman’s First Lady Honoured with Top Royal Award, Symbolizing Women’s Evolving Role The recent bestowal of the Grand Order of Honour by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik upon Her Highness the First Lady of Oman, Ahad bint Abdullah Al Busaidiyah, captured a moment far richer than its ceremonial appearance. Though the event itself was singular, its depth and symbolism echoed across the nation—an image with many dimensions, carrying layers of meaning about leadership, national identity, and the evolving role of women in Omani society. The Grand Order of Honour,…