Year: 2017

Eighth planet found in faraway solar system, matching ours

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A record-tying eighth planet has been found in a faraway solar system, matching our own in number. Even more amazing, machines and not humans made the discovery. NASA joined with Google on Thursday to announce the finding. This eighth planet orbits the star known as Kepler-90. Like Earth, this new planet, Kepler-90i, is the third rock from its sun. But it’s much closer to its sun — orbiting in just 14 days — and therefore a scorching 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427 Celsius) at the surface. In fact, all eight planets…

UNWTO: Southern and Mediterranean Europe, MENA drive tourism growth in October 2017

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Destinations around the world welcomed 1.1 billion international tourists between January and October 2017, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. This represents a 7% increase on the same period of last year, or 70 million more international arrivals. Strong demand for international tourism across world regions reflects the global economic upswing. The strong tourism demand of the earlier months of 2017, including the Northern Hemisphere summer peak season, was maintained through October. Destinations worldwide received a total of 1,127 million (+7%) international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) in the…

Secrets of the Roman Empire’s ancient and ‘luxurious’ harbour of Corinth are revealed in new underwater excavations

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Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of ‘large scale engineering’ at the port of Lechaion in Greece  The harbour was mostly destroyed in the 6th century AD by a massive earthquake and buried under sediment Wooden foundations preserved so well they look new have been found, as well as a host of Roman artefacts  These discoveries are helping researchers understand the infrastructure and layout of the ancient port  The secrets of the Roman Empire’s ancient and ‘luxurious’ harbour of Corinth have been revealed in a series of new underwater excavations. Archaeologists have…

EIB lends 21 mn to Tunisia’s One Tech Holding

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Tunisian group One Tech Holding (wiring, mechatronics, computer technology and electronics) signed an agreement in Tunis for a 21-million-euro financing deal to support the group’s expansion and modernisation in production capacity in the cable and mechatronics sector. One Tech intends to invest in research, development and innovation in these sectors with a project that will create 720 full-time contract positions in Tunisia. The loan is part of the Horizon 2020/InnovFin program dedicated to innovative businesses and co-financed with the European Commission. EIB Vice…

In Tunisia, many see EU tax haven blacklisting as political move

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In a new EU blacklist of 17 “tax havens”, Tunisia’s inclusion is drawing criticism at home, with many calling it a political decision. It was the first time EU finance ministers had published such a list, and while no agreement was made on whether the list was punishment in itself, or if further sanctions were needed, Tunisia’s inclusion on the list has made waves in the North African country. Some in Tunisia have used the blacklist to launch into criticism of their own government, while others have criticised the European Union for what they…

London museum to honour fashion giant Alaia with 2018 show

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French-Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaia will be honoured by London’s Design Museum with a major exhibition next year following his death on November 18 at the age of 77. “Azzedine Alaia: The Couturier” will run from May 10 to October 7, showcasing more than 60 pieces personally selected by the iconic designer. “Azzedine Alaia was recognised throughout his life as a master couturier who expressed the timeless beauty of the female form in the most refined degree of haute couture,” the museum said. “The Design Museum will now present this…

IMF Concludes the 2017 Article IV Consultation and Announces Staff-Level Agreement for Completion of Second Review of Tunisia’s Extended Fund Facility

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End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision. The Tunisian authorities have taken an important step in adopting a bold budget law for 2018, which aims at reducing the fiscal deficit…

Cinema: Global Migration Film Festival in Tunisia

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The second edition of the Global Migration Film festival is ongoing in Tunisia. The thematic film event is organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in over 100 countries at the same time. The festival, which runs on December 5-18 with short and feature films, is a unique opportunity to start a global dialogue on migration, celebrate cohabitation through artistic and cultural expression of migrations, pay homage to filmmakers from all over the world and start a global debate on the human dimension and focus on the destiny of…

Tunisia calls on UNESCO to include work of Ibn Khaldoun in its World Register

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Tunisia has called on UNESCO to include its Prolegomena of Arab thinker and historian, Abderrahmane Ibn Khaldoun to the Memory of the World Register. Hosting a conference yesterday at the National Heritage on “Ibn Khaldoun and its contemporary readings”, presented by French historian Gabriel Martinez-Gros. The initiative of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs was adopted by the Permanent Commission for Arab Culture of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) which met on 30 November in Casablanca, Morocco. The Prolegomena (Al-Muqaddima in Arabic) is a work of Ibn Khaldun…

Tunisian Four Seasons opens with Roman-inspired spa

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The Four Seasons Tunis has opened with a lavish spa inspired by Tunisia’s historic sites and traditions. Located just a short drive from the ancient Roman ruins of Carthage, the resort includes 203 bedrooms and a Roman-inspired spa which was 10 years in the making. Created by spa consultancy Blu Spas – which collaborated with HKS/Hill Glazier Studio and Brayton Hughes for the design – the spa includes 11 treatment rooms, many of which open to terraces with sea views. “The project is located on a sandy site that steps…