Author: BGMN

Deals on diplomatic training program, economic cooperation inked between China and Tunisia

BGMN

China signed Tuesday two agreements with Tunisia to launch a diplomatic training program and boost the bilateral economic and technical partnership, Xinhua reports. The deals were signed in Tunis by Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemais Jhinaoui and Qian Keming, visiting Chinese vice minister of commerce. Under the deals, the two countries will launch a program dubbed “Diplomatic Academy of Training and Studies,” and China will invest a total of 32 million US dollars in Tunisia’s economic and technical development. The diplomatic academy will provide training for Tunisia’s officials in…

Tunisia: MEPs confirm Commission blacklist of countries at risk of money laundering

BGMN

Tunisia, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago added to money laundering blacklist List is part of EU’s toolkit to protect itself against money laundering, terrorist financing Long record of disagreement between Parliament and Commission over compilation Despite fierce opposition, Tunisia has been added to the European blacklist of third countries thought to be at “high risk” of money laundering and terrorist financing. Despite intense efforts by some MEPs, they failed to achieve the 376-vote absolute majority needed to reject the inclusion of Tunisia, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago to…

Italy pledges 80 million euros to fight illegal migration through Libya

BGMN

Italy announced Tuesday an additional 80 million euros (98 million U.S. dollars) in its investment to fight illegal migration from Africa. Italy is allocating a further 80 million euros to its 200-million-euro Africa Fund, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told an Africa-European Union ministerial conference on migration here. Foreign ministers from African and European countries of migrant transit and destination gathered at the second edition of the conference titled “A Shared Responsibility for a Common Goal — Solidarity and Security”. Italy launched its Africa Fund in January 2017 to “fight illegal immigration,…

Thomas Cook to resume Tunisia holidays from Manchester Airport

BGMN

A TOUR operator is resuming flights and holidays from Manchester Airport to Tunisia, the Bolton News reports. Thomas Cook will start with three weekly flights to Enfidha, from Manchester, as well as London Gatwick and Birmingham, from next Tuesday, the source said. The decision was taken to put the destination back on sale after the UK government changed its advice for Tunisia, meaning that British holiday-makers can now travel to the majority of the country, the Bolton News said. Travel companies stopped flying holiday-makers to Tunisia after 30 British tourists were…

Africa needs to be firm against toxic wastes dumping

BGMN

Bamako Convention of 1998 prohibits importation into Africa of toxic goods Conference urges African leaders to rid the continent of toxic goods Recycling of used electronic goods could provide sustainable jobs Africa needs to do more to address the dumping of hazardous wastes, especially from the developed world, into the continent, a meeting has heard. Participants at the 2nd Conference of Parties (COP-2) to the Bamako Convention agreed in Cote d’Ivoire last week (30 January to 1 February) that the continent has to be secured from being a dumping ground…

Positive signs of trade balance improvement in January 2018

BGMN

The Tunisian economy got off to a good start in the new year, with improved trade and an increase in tourism in January 2018 compared to the same time last year, TAP reports. The coverage ratio of imports with exports improved by 7%, going from 64.8% to 72.8% between 2017 and 2018, with a 39% increase in exports and a 25.5% increase in imports, according to TAP. The general coverage ratio increased by 10.4% in January 2018, which allowed the value of the Tunisian dinar to stabilise on the foreign…

Saudi Arabia donates more than 12.6 million dinars to renovate mosques in Tunisia

BGMN

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated to Tunisia more than 5.3 million dollars (about 12.6 million dinars) for the restoration and maintenance of the Zitouna Mosque and the King Abdulaziz Mosque at El-Manar district in the capital, Imam of the Grand Mosque and advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid announced on Sunday, TAP reports. This donation is part of strengthening co-operation between Tunisia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of religious affairs and in the protection…

Carthage: a lost civilisation

BGMN

Tyre fell in 332 BC to the armies of Alexander the Great, and its citizens were massacred. Some escaped the wrath of Alexander’s army by bribery or stealth or luck, fled to North Africa and founded Carthage, in what is now Tunisia. Most people have never heard of it. Some don’t know where it is. Few know how long it lasted. And even fewer understand its contributions to the world, such as the invention of glass and the use of stars to navigate ships. Most Carthagians were Phoenicians who came…

Imam preacher of Grand Holly Mosque of Makka highlights peaceful coexistence

BGMN

The Tunisian Zituna University hosted last Saturday a memorable event enhanced by the visit of  Imam preacher  of the Grand Holly Mosque of Makka ( Masjid al-Haram) Dr. Salah Bin Abbdullah Bin Hamid. On this occasion, the eminent Sheikh gave a lecture on coexistence which according to him must prevail in the Muslim community. The conference, which was attended by many academics, Imams and Tunisian and foreign students, started by a special welcome voiced by Dr. Hichem Grissa, President of the Zituna University and his colleague moderator of this meeting,…

ATA commemorates 105th anniversary of first intercontinental flight

BGMN

The Tunisian Association of Aeronautics (ATA) celebrated the 105th anniversary of the first intercontinental flight made between Tunis and Marsala (Italy) by aviator Roland Garros. The celebration took place on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the racing racecourse of Ksar Said which was the first Tunisian aerodrome between 1911 and 1924. The Tunisian Association of Aeronautics provided for the guests attending the celebration the opportunity to watch a unique experience of free flight aboard Para-engines performed by Ali Barouni and instructor Biegnon Romain. On December 18, 1912, the aviator Roland…