Month: February 2017

Tunisia waives visas for Chinese visitors to boost tourism

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Tunisian officials said Thursday that the visa exemption for Chinese would boost the tourism industry badly hit by terrorist attacks during last two years in this North African country. “From today, the tourists of Chinese nationality will not need a visa to enter Tunisian territory, in the conditions of having a round-trip flight ticket and a valid hotel reservation voucher within 90 days,” said Chafik Hajji, general director of consular affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This is good news for Tunisian tourism, which has succeeded in attracting the…

Tunisia: slight increase in industrial sector exports

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Exports from the industrial sector rose from 24,544.5 million Tunisian dinars(MTD) in 2015 to 26,396.8 MTD in 2016, posting an increase of 7.5%. This increase is mainly due to the sector of the mechanical and electrical industries whose exports reached 13,251.0 MTD, against 11,450.7 MTD in the year 2015, UP 15.7%. Similarly, exports from the chemical industry sector grew by 18.3% from 1,876.3 MTD to 2,218.8 MTD in year 2016. The sector of miscellaneous industries followed suit with exports of the order 1,876.2 MD against 1,650.5 MD during the year…

Tunisia in front of the outside confusion between migrants and terrorists

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Foreign policymakers, security experts as well as some famous foreign media report every time that a high number of Tunisians have joined the Islamic State groups. It is worth reminding that figures surfacing from time to time are contradictory. We are convinced as Tunisians, that such high number of Tunisians joining the Islamic State is overblown which is very  painful for us. Though the Tunisian Security Authorities confirm on a regular basis  the actual numbers of those Tunisians, according to the official security data available, some analysts insist on providing…

Belgian authorities keep an eye on IS fighters’ children

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Belgian authorities fear for the fate of some 80 children of Syrian fighters from Belgium, who may currently be residing in territories occupied by the jihadist group Islamic State. The Mediahuis group publications are reporting today (Thursday) that several such fighters wish to return to Belgium. Up to now, the authorities have already received an indication that some twenty Syrian fighters, mainly women, are now wishing to return to Belgium. A spokesman for the Interior Minister, Jan Jambon (of the New Flemish Alliance) indicated, “Some may possibly come back with…

FM: meeting on Libya scheduled for March 1 in Tunis (interview)

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Tunisia will host, on Monday, March 1, a meeting of foreign ministers of Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt to take stock of the outcome of contacts established by the three countries with the Libyan stakeholders ahead of a comprehensive political settlement of the Libyan crisis, Foreign Minister, Khemaies Jhinaoui announced on Wednesday. He added that the encounter will also prepare for the summit meeting of the three presidents before sitting the Libyan parties down at the dialogue table. In an interview with TAP, Jhinaoui said the president’s initiative on the Libyan…

Tunisian designers make their mark with outfits inspired by their country’s heritage

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 Traditional embroidery on modern dresses, men’s robes turned into women’s jackets – Tunisian designers are making their mark with outfits inspired by their country’s heritage.Drawing on a diverse range of regional styles, designers like Zeineb Chiboub are adding modern touches to the North African country’s traditional garb.Wearing a hooded coat inspired by the kachabiya, a winter robe usually worn by men, Chiboub says the idea of reworking generations-old designs is catching on.”Tunisians, especially young people, are increasingly fond of Tunisian heritage. They want to show their identity,” she says.  Every…

White House confirms Trump’s conversation with Buhari

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The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with his Nigerian counterpart. The US leader spoke with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, and Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman, released details of the conversation. Adesina said Trump endorsed the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration and promised to support the fight against insurgency. He added that the US president invited Buhari to Washington DC, but those who were skeptical demanded a confirmation from US authorities. Speaking at a briefing, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary and communications director, acknowledged that Trump…

Tunisian gov’t to start regularising situation of Petrofac sit-inners

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The Tunisian Government will start regularising the situation of sit-inners in Kerkennah as activity in Petrofac has been halted since last December 14 and expects Chargui gas field will resume activity in the coming days, Minister of Energy, Mining and Renewable Energy Hela Cheikhrouhou and Sfax Governor Slim Tissaoui said. A first batch of work contracts will be given to 68 people out of a total of 266 under the agreement signed with the British oilfield services company in September 2016, they told a news conference Tuesday following a working…

Arab Chamber reaffirms partnership with ambassadors

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Delegates from the Chamber, now under a new administration, convened with Arab diplomats in Brasília and pledged to work on increasing promotion of Arab goods on the Brazilian market. São Paulo – The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce reaffirmed its partnership with the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil this Tuesday (14) in Brasília. It was the diplomats’ first meeting with the Chamber’s new administration, including business executive Rubens Hannun as president. One of the issues on the agenda was the need to increase promotion and exports of Arab products…

German Newspaper Bild Apologises For False Story Alleging Cologne-Style Sex Attacks By Migrants

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A German tabloid has apologised for running a false story about Cologne-style sex attacks by migrants. Police investigated after Bild, the country’s biggest selling newspaper, reported that 900 migrants had attacked women in a Frankfurt shopping district, Fressgass, on New Year’s Eve. The allegation had echoes of attacks in Cologne the previous year, which fuelled the anti-migrant movement in Germany after the country took in hundreds of thousands of those fleeing war and poverty amid the migration crisis. Bild’s claim was picked up by The Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph…