Latest Breaking News and Updates
Tunisia's U21 volleyball team finished 16th in the FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship held in Bahrain, after losing, on Sunday, to the host country 0-3 ( 19-25, 16-25, 17-25) in the ranking game for the 15th-16th places.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte said that the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tunisia and the European Commission is a promising start to a strategic partnership that will benefit both the European Union and Tunisia.
Rutte, in a speech following the signing of the memorandum of understanding on a strategic and comprehensive partnership between Tunisia and the European Union, stressed that the main objective of this partnership is to create jobs for Tunisia and to ensure a promising future for the country.
He stressed that Tunisia is a great partner, but that there is scope for more, particularly in the fields of green energy and digital transition, on a bilateral basis between Tunisia and the Netherlands, he said.
He stressed his country's determination to intensify cooperation with Tunisia, noting that the Minister for Foreign Trade would be visiting Tunisia in September 2023 and that an economic delegation would also be visiting Tunisia to discuss investment prospects in the fields of water management, agriculture, the environment and renewable energy.
Rutte stressed that migration is part of the agreement signed today and that it is necessary to work to stop risking the lives of citizens on average and to control the most irregular migration, saying: "Today, we have signed an agreement to stop smuggling, fight human trafficking and border management".
He saw these points as steps that would make a difference, adding that emphasis would also be placed on the need to work on a strategic partnership between Europe and its partners in the region.
He stressed that Tunisia's presence within this strategic partnership provides a clear framework for working together towards a common agenda in favour of fair trade and the rule of law, adding that it is now up to the European Union to ratify this joint agreement between Tunisia and the European Commission.
At the same time, he stressed that this agreement will find support and that the agreement with Tunisia is a good example of this partnership.
On June 11, 2023, at the Carthage Palace, a joint declaration was signed between Tunisia and the European Union, at a meeting attended by the President of the Republic, Kais Saied, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, and Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte
The joint declaration includes an agreement to work together on a "comprehensive partnership package" to strengthen the ties that unite the two parties in their common interest.
. The comprehensive partnership will cover the following areas:
/ Strengthening economic and trade relations
/ Establishing a partnership in the field of sustainable and competitive energy
/ Immigration
/ Bringing people closer together.
According to the press release, the joint political dialogue between the EU and Tunisia, within the framework of the Tunisia-EU Partnership Council, will constitute, before the end of 2023, an important opportunity to revitalise political and institutional relations in order to face common international challenges together and preserve an international order based on the rule of law.
The press release adds that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Tunisians Abroad and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement have been tasked with preparing a memorandum of understanding on the comprehensive partnership package, which should be adopted by Tunisia and the European Union before the end of June 2023", the release adds.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Burkinabe army helicopters neutralized terrorists following an attack on a village in the east of the country, the AIB learned on Sunday from security sources.
Helicopters chased several bands of terrorists who had just attacked a village in the East region. They will be caught and then neutralized.
In the northern region, the Burkinabè army has pulled off a major coup.
Indeed, thanks to the information, she was able to locate an abandoned hamlet where a meeting was to be held between terrorist leaders and their elements, in order to sow terror.
The aerial vectors repeatedly and effectively struck the house which sheltered them.
In addition, the Combatant Forces were able to carry out supplies in the Center-North region.
Despite the difficulties on the ground, FDS and VDP continue their missions of securing and restoring territorial integrity.
Source: Burkina Information Agency
Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Mohamed Moez Belhassine called on professionals from the sector to encourage Tunisian tourists to spend their holidays in local tourist units while taking into consideration the quality-price ratio.
According to the Tourism Ministry, local tourism is crucial as it constitutes one of the sector's major pillars in Tunisia, said Belhassine who made an inspection visit to hotel units on Saturday evening in the tourist areas of Nabeul-Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet, governorate of Nabeul.
Belhassine inquired about the quality of services offered to customers in terms of accommodation, catering, cleanliness, hygiene and safety.
Until June 10, the tourist area of Yasmine Hammamet recorded an increase in the number of visitors of 5.17%, while the number of nights spent went up by 49%, said Local Commissioner of Tourism in Yasmine Hammamet Khaled Klouiaa.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Over a dozen artists in Seychelles have explored the many possibilities that lie in the grey area in a newly opened photography and digital media exhibition being displayed at Kenwyn House in Victoria, the capital.
With an even balance between photographers and digital artists, female and male, emerging and established, 17 artists have come together to showcase over 40 art pieces in an exhibition themed "Between the Lines" that is open until August 12.
Karyn Zialor, the curator, said that the exhibition was launched in January, with the aim of attracting photographers and digital artists. Speaking about the theme she chose for the exhibition, she shared that no additional information was provided about it as she wanted to see how the artists interpret it.
"From that, we ended up with a wide array of work from different artists. When you walk through this exhibition, you see different stories and ideas from the artists," said Zialor.
"There is a stigma around digital artists, and we need to realise that art is further than painting, photography, sculptor. We need to expand to include digital artists and from that, we will get a more rounded art space in Seychelles," said Zialor.
Talking about her artwork, Vanessa Lucas, one of the participating photographers, outlined that her piece centres around child abuse.
Lucas with her piece which centres on child abuse. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY
"As the theme is 'Between the Lines', I wanted to portray how children should have the freedom to be children. The piece is about child abuse – children who are neglected and not loved by their parents, grow up amidst alcoholism, or are beaten. I want anyone who stops by my artwork to interpret it in their own way because it is all about the emotion it evokes," said Lucas.
The black and white photograph of a boy sitting on a windowsill of a ruin, head bent to his knees and with bottles, and rope at his feet was shot in 2017 and has never been showcased.
Two other participating artists, Marquise and Rico Padayachy, stated that their interest to join the exhibition is founded on an upcoming project they are working on.
"This year, we are investing in and coming forth with 'Kartoon Seselwa' [Seychellois Cartoon], which is a new venture for us. This piece was supposed to be an animation but due to time constraints, we made a still instead. This is not just digital art, but also a taste of what we will be coming forth within the near future," said Rico.
"The artwork is made of mixed media – the background was drawn using watercolors and crayons and the guy in the middle is digital art. The art piece is about expression, expression through music, especially where words are not always enough," said Marquise.
Source: Seychelles News Agency
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar, Sunday, had a meeting in Kuwait with Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Ahmed Abdulaziz al-Sadoun who took this post on June 20.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ammar is on a tour to the Gulf region until July 20. He is expected to visit the UAE then KSA at the invitation of his counterparts in these countries.
The meeting with the Speaker of the Kuwaiti Parliament was an opportunity to highlight the solidarity of the relations between the two countries and their concern to develop and further strengthen them.
The Foreign Minister and the Parliament's Speaker stressed the need to boost bilateral cooperation, activate the parliamentary action, speed up the formation of the parliamentary fraternity and friendship committee and increase visits between Tunisian and Kuwaiti MPs.
They also discussed ways to consolidate coordination and consultation between the two countries about several issues including the Palestinian cause during regional and international parliamentary events.
Ammar reviewed the various stages of the ongoing political process in Tunisia, particularly the election of a new parliament in 2023.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Grape production in the governorate of Nabeul is estimated at 38 thousand tonnes this year, including 26 thousand tonnes of processing grapes and 12 thousand tonnes of table grapes.
According to statistics from the regional agricultural development commission, this is more or less the same quantity as in 2022.
The areas given over to these crops are 7,000 ha and 12,000 ha respectively.
Chokri Bouziri, President of the Regional Agricultural Union, said that the grape harvest in Grombalia should reach around 45% of national production, representing an increase of 11% for wine grapes (9.500 thousand tonnes) and 5% for table grapes (6 thousand tonnes) compared to the previous year.
He added that the rainfall and high humidity recorded in May 2023 had enabled better production despite the outbreak of certain diseases.
He pointed out that farmers are facing a number of problems, including the marketing of their produce due to falling prices, international competition and ageing vines.
The area under grapes has fallen by 47%, from 13,000 to 7,000 hectares, and by 41% for table grapes, from 2,150 to 1,200 hectares.
The wine-growing sector in the region is a major activity, with around 3,000 producers contributing 70% of the national production of processing grapes and 12% of table grapes.
The vineyards are located in Bouargoub, Takelssa, Grombalia, Korba and Kélibia.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Temperatures will continue to rise on Sunday, says the Institut National de la Météorologie.
Maximum highs will range between 39°c and 47°c and will be accompanied by spells of sirocco.
Winds will be light to moderate. The sea will be relatively calm.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
The administrative committee of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) called for negotiations to continue in the civil service and the public sector, and for important issues to be examined in consultation.
In a press release issued on Sunday at the end of a meeting of the administrative committee held yesterday in Hammamet under the chairmanship of Secretary General Noureddine Tabboubi, the trade union centre noted a deadlock in social dialogue and a violation of trade union rights with the non-application of agreements concluded.
The UGTT called for the dates of application of the commitments to be specified, including the increase in the minimum wage and the application of the agreements of February 6 and September 15, in addition to the holding of an evaluation session based on inflation indices and the movement of the dinar.
According to the same source, the trade union centre called on the executive authority to assume its responsibility in the face of "the failure of its policy in dealing with various issues, including agriculture and food security". The UGTT reiterated its willingness to lead militant movements to defend trade union rights and the right to negotiate within the framework of the law.
Referring to the issue of migration, the trade union centre stressed the imperative need to put in place a clear and transparent approach while respecting human rights. In this connection, it called for assistance to be given to irregular migrants and for them to be rescued, while involving civil society organisations in order to put in place a national approach to this issue, the same source added.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
The Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA) concluded on Sunday the work of a training session for agents of the monitoring unit under the authority on the media treatment of pending cases.
This was the second session organised in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
Chaired by the spokesperson for the Monastir and Mahdia courts, the session identified the areas of interdependence between the media and the justice system. Topics such as crimes of expression, monitoring and the role of HAICA in protecting freedom of expression were on the agenda.
Participants reviewed examples of good practice in this area and indicators that could help monitoring officers assess media content. Among these indicators was the media's respect for the principle of presumption of innocence in pending cases.
They discussed ways of avoiding defamatory speech and attacks on human dignity, highlighting the responsibility of journalists in this respect.
The training session also provided an opportunity to emphasise respect for the rights of victims, particularly vulnerable groups, as well as ways of avoiding discourse that could undermine the ongoing judicial investigation, stressing the need to respect the independence of the judiciary.
The programme also includes theoretical approaches to the human rights system, related legislation and the indicators and guarantees of a fair trial. It also covers the right to protection of personal data and the guarantees and limits of freedom of expression.
The session is part of a cycle of training on the relationship between the media and justice, workshops and meetings between judges and media professionals with a view to drawing up a policy paper on the areas in which the two sectors can intervene to protect rights and freedoms.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse