Tasheer center and Umrah platform inaugurated in Tunis

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced on Monday the opening of a “Tasheer” visa application center in Tunis and the inauguration of a platform dedicated to the Umrah. In a joint press conference with Minister of Religious Affairs, Brahim Chaibi, the Saudi minister explained that the center would issue electronic visas for Saudi Arabia and various other services within a few hours. As for the digital platform for Umrah, the Minister explained that it will enable Tunisians to choose their accommodation and means of transport, as…

Tunisia-US scientist Moungi Bawendi wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023

Along with American Louis Brus and Russian Alexei Ekimov, Tunisian-American scientist Moungi Bawendi has won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”, which light up computer and television screens and are used by doctors to map tumours. Bawendi, 62, is the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The three scientists were awarded the prize on Wednesday for “the discovery and development of quantum dots, nanoparticles so tiny that their size determines their properties”, according to a press…

We will not accept any implicit resettlement of immigrants, says FM to UN General Assembly

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Ammar, said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that “Tunisia will not accept the implicit resettlement of irregular migrants”, according to Foreign Ministry’s Facebook page. “Tunisia, in turn, condemns any irresponsible political and media exploitation of the suffering of the victims of irregular migration”, he continued, stressing the need to follow up the process of the “Conference on Development and Migration” hosted by the Italian capital, Rome, early last summer, with a Tunisian-Italian initiative”. The Foreign Minister declared that…

€127 million aid package announced by EC to support implementation of MoU with Tunisia

” In support of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a strategic and comprehensive partnership between the EU and Tunisia, the European Commission announces a 60 million euro budget support package for Tunisia and a migration operational assistance package worth around 67 million euros, to be disbursed in the coming days, contracted and delivered rapidly respectively, according to a press release from the Commission of the European Union published on Friday. This follows Thursday’s telephone conversation between Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy, and Nabil…

Tunisia foils 23 illegal immigration attempts

Tunisia recently thwarted 23 illegal immigration attempts to Italy overnight, the Tunisian National Guard announced on Wednesday. “The Tunisian Maritime Guard thwarted these illegal immigration attempts late Tuesday and early Wednesday off the country’s southeast and central coasts,” the Tunisian National Guard said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. Guard units also rescued 463 people from sinking boats. “Among the illegal immigrants, 349 are of different African nationalities and the others are Tunisian nationals. “Seven boats and a large sum of money were seized, in addition to the…

Tunisian and Saudi officials assess bilateral cooperation and discuss crises in region

The 3rd session of the monitoring and political consultation committee between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia was held on Sunday in Riyadh, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud TAP reports. The committee agreed to step up the pace of consultations between the two countries, to ensure regular and recurring coordination meetings and to work to speed up the resolution of crises in certain “sister countries” in order to ensure security…

Tunisian Hatem Sellami uses artificial intelligence and data science to optimise promotions

A computer scientist, he has extensive experience in predictive analysis. His company Cognira helps retailers and wholesalers to better manage and optimise their promotions. Hatem Sellami is a Tunisian computer scientist who graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1995 with a doctorate in computer engineering, and from the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business in 1996 with a master’s degree in finance and technology management. He is a co-founder and the CEO of Cognira. Founded in 2015, Cognira is a US-based company that provides retailers and wholesalers with…

Nearly 700 migrants on boats from Tunisia and Libya reach Italy overnight

Nearly 700 migrants reached the Italian Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in boats overnight, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Thursday morning. Altogether, 14 disembarkations were recorded. The boats arrived in port unassisted or the people were rescued at sea off the island. By Wednesday, more than 1,200 people had arrived, bringing the total number of migrants who have reached Lampedusa since Wednesday to almost 2,000. Ten of the 14 boats left from the Tunisian coastal town of Sfax, ANSA reported. Another boat left from Kerkenna, also in Tunisia, while…

New $5m medical fellowship fund to benefit Tunisian universities for next decade

The scholarship will offer faculty at Tunisian medical schools the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Twenty qualified professors, clinicians and academic researchers from the Universities of Tunis El Manar, Sousse, Monastir and Sfax will receive the funding over the next 10 years. Selected high-potential scholars who are active in medical education in Tunisia will have an opportunity to apply for admission to one of Harvard Medical School’s master’s degree programs with tuition support and funding, to cover their living expenses in Boston for…

5 dead after boat carrying migrants sinks off Tunisia’s coast

The coastguard rescued 20 migrants who had been on the overcrowded boat, which sank off Louata in the Sfax region on Friday, the official told Reuters. The coastline of Sfax has become a major departure point for people fleeing poverty in Africa and the Middle East for a chance at a better life in Europe. In recent months, hundreds of people have drowned off the Tunisian coast, with an increase in the frequency of attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya towards Italy. In light of an unprecedented economic and financial…