Month: January 2020

Tunisia launches First Internet Universality Indicators Assessment in Arab Region

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On 15 January 2020, the Internet Universality Indicators (IUIs) assessment was officially launched in Tunisia, breaking ground by making Tunisia the first country in the Arab region to initiate this assessment at national level. The launch was convened on the occasion of the first meeting of Tunisian Multi-stakeholder Advisory Board (MAB), participated by 11 prominent members of the Board. “The Tunisian MAB endorsed the use of UNESCO’s Internet Universality Indicators and the proposed methodology for the assessment in Tunisia and encouraged all other concerned stakeholders, on a voluntary basis, to…

Tunisia’s annual inflation slows to 5.8%

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Tunisia’s annual inflation rate fell to 5.8% in January from 6.1% in December, central bank governor Marouan Abassi said on Friday. The central bank raised its main interest rate to 7.75% from 6.75% in February last year to combat high inflation which stood at 6.8% for 2019. Abassi expressed the hope that this downward trend will continue so that it has a positive impact on the national economy, estimating that the inflation rate will remain below 6% for the whole year 2020. Lower inflation remains dependent on restoring the value…

ISESCO: 32 million children do not go to school in African countries

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Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Salem bin Muhammad al-Malik, announced the organization’s commitment to provide support and proposals to member states in terms of tools and approaches, in order to achieve the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, related to ensuring quality, equitable and inclusive education for all, especially Through its partnership with the Education Relief Foundation. ISESCO considers the Foundation’s approach an opportunity to unleash the energies of millions of girls and boys in order to secure a prosperous, fair and resilient future…

Ons Jabeur and Bourguiba: the lesson

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In her last interview with the Australian third channel, Tunisian professional tennis player Ons Jabeur revealed that she dedicated her victory as a free woman to the soul of leader Habib Bourguiba, who remains a beacon of light to Tunisians. Firstly, thank you Ons for your great victory, which came after years of work and disappointments and at a time, some people thought that you would not achieve a similar win, by reaching the quarter-finals of 2020 Australian Open and becoming the first Arab women tennis player in history. Thank…

40th ISESCO Executive Council starts Wednesday in Abu Dhabi

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The works of the 40th Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Executive Council will begin on Wednesday (January 29, 2020) in Abu Dhabi. This session is of great importance, during which the Council has the powers of the General Conference, the highest authority representing the 54 member states in supervising the work of the organization and its public policies. Director-General of ISESCO Salem bin Muhammad Al-Malik said that it is a pivotal session in the history of the organization, where its new vision will be presented to member states…

Activist Lina Ben Mhenni dies at 36

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Blogger and human rights activist Lina Ben M’henni died on Monday at the age of 36, from a chronic illness. Late Lina Ben Mhenni who worked at the University of Tunis as an English language assistant is known for her opposition to Ben Ali’s regime and her fight against the abuses of dictatorship. During the revolution, the activist contributed to the media coverage of demonstrations and clashes, especially in the delegation of Regueb, the governorate of Sidi Bouzid. She received the Best Blog Award 2011 in Bonn on April 12,…

“Entrepreneurship for All” theme of Entrepreneurship Fair “Riyeda”

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The Tunisie Place de Marché SA (TPM) will organize the 7th edition of the Entrepreneurship Fair “RIYEDA” on February 12 and 13, 2020 at the Culture City in Tunis, on the theme “Entrepreneurship for All”. This year, the fair will focus on support and financing for business start-ups by national and international experts, support structures and business leaders. “Other than the first Hackathon by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML), there will be a Riyeda challenge “Pitch Competition” to identify the carriers of innovative ideas who need support and financing…

Ons Jabeur first Arab woman to reach Grand Slam quarterfinal

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Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur beat China’s Wang Qiang to become the first Arab woman to advance to the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. She faces Sofia Kenin next. Ons Jabeur hopes her success at the Australian Open will inspire other players from her region after the Tunisian became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal on Sunday. The 25-year-old dazzled the crowd at Margaret Court Arena with her variety and power, striking 29 winners to defeat China’s Wang Qiang 7-6(4) 6-1 in the 77-minute contest. “(I am) trying to inspire…

1st edition of Demo Day to boost startups

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The first edition of “Smart Tunisian Technoparks Demo Day” will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2020, at the initiative of the new management company of “Elgazala Technopark”, a major player in the ICT sector in Tunisia, Smart Tunisian Technoparks (S2t), a press release published on the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII) website, reads. The Demo Day, a technology show of member companies of the technopark community, aims to gather bearers of innovative ideas, startups and SMEs to attract investors, thus ensuring the exchange and direct…

Boosting dialogue between two Tunisian-Indian democracies

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Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar met with Tunisian officials in his official visit to Tunisia from January 22 to 23, which was the first high-level visit from India after the successful presidential and legislative elections in the country. The Indian Minister of External Affairs met with President Kais Saied, Speaker of the House of the People’s Representatives (HPR) Rached Ghannouchi as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Sabri Bachtobji. The meetings provided the occasion to discuss regional and international issues.   Mr S. Jaishankar also reviewed with the Tunisian…