Latest news with #Tunisia
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Tunisian court hands 15‑year sentence to opposition figure Sahbi Atig
TUNIS, June 20 (Reuters) - A Tunisian court has sentenced Sahbi Atig, a senior official in Ennahda, the country's main opposition party, to 15 years in prison on charges of money laundering, his lawyer said on Friday, the latest move against opposition figures under President Kais Saied. Atig was detained in 2023, one of many opponents of Saied who have been imprisoned since the president began expanding his powers in 2021, dissolving parliament and ruling by decree in what critics have denounced as a coup. Saied has said that all his steps are legal and aimed at ending years of rampant corruption and holding accountable what he calls a corrupt elite. Atig denied the charges against him, saying they were fabricated. "The verdict aims to eliminate political opponents and lacks any credible evidence,' Atig's lawyer, Mokthar Jmaayi, told Reuters. "It is a continuation of the punishment of opponents by using the judiciary and distracting people from their real problems,' he added. The 15-year sentence was shorter than some sentences handed down recently. In April, a court sentenced a string of opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers to prison terms of up to 66 years, on charges of conspiring. Saied has dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges in 2022, raising concerns about judicial independence. The president has said he does not interfere in the judiciary and that his actions aim to purge the judiciary of corrupt judges. Most of the leaders of political parties in Tunisia are in prison, including Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda - two of Saied's most prominent opponents.
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia: FDI up 21% in 2024 (UNCTAD)
Tunis - Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Tunisia increased by 21% in 2024, compared to 2023, reaching $936 million, according to the latest World Investment Report published Thursday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Along with Egypt, Tunisia contributed «significantly» to the rise in the value of new projects in North Africa, where investments grew by 12% to reach $76 billion, accounting for two-thirds of the continent's total investment spending. Tunisia contributed to this growth with investment announcements worth $13 billion, along with a considerable increase in the number of projects. According to UNCTAD, North Africa was the only region in the continent to record an increase in the value of new projects. It also attracted the highest amount of FDI on the continent, with a value of $51 billion, compared to $13 billion in 2023. Moreover, the report highlighted a significant rebound in FDI flows to Africa, which surged by 75% to reach $97 billion, representing 6% of global FDI flows, compared to 4% the previous year. This increase is largely attributed to an international financing agreement for urban development projects in Egypt, according to the same source. Excluding this boost, FDI in Africa still grew by 12%, reaching about $62 billion, which is 4% of global flows. Efforts to facilitate investment continued to play an important role in Africa, accounting for 36% of investor-friendly policy measures. Liberalisation also remained a key aspect of investment policy-making in both Africa and Asia, representing one-fifth of the measures adopted in 2024. The continent attracted a growing share of global megaprojects in 2024, including seven valued at over $4 billion each. Among the largest announcements was a megaproject in Tunisia's renewable energy sector, worth a total of $6 billion. At the sector level, construction and metal products saw the largest increases in investment in entirely new projects, while electricity and gas supply projects dropped by $51 billion. According to the report, European investors hold the largest stock of FDI in Africa, followed by the United States and China. Chinese investments, valued at $42 billion, are diversifying into sectors such as pharmaceuticals and agribusiness. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Red Path review — a severed head, football and an awkward romance
There's a lot going on in this grim Tunisian drama and I'm not sure that all of it works. It was inspired by a horrifying real-life incident from 2015 when Islamic State psychopaths beheaded a teenage shepherd on a remote part of Mount Mghila and then forced his cousin to carry the severed head back to his village as a gruesome warning sign. • Read more film reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews In the powerful opening scenes here, the shepherd Nizar (Yassine Samouni) and his cousin Achraf (Ali Helali) are pictured traversing the Tunisian landscape, climbing Mount Mghila and savouring the soulful beauty around them. 'Millions of years ago this place belonged to the fish,' Nizar says after cooling off in a mountain pool. The director, Lotfi Achour, then cuts to dramatic widescreen shots of undulating sedimentary rock, as if to provide comment on geological time and human impermanence. At this point Isis attack, Achraf is beaten unconscious and Nizar is beheaded off-camera. Then follows a mighty jump-scare, when Achraf awakes to see his decapitated cousin on the ground bedside him. And after that it gets strange. Achraf carries the head around in a sports bag, initially unable to reveal the truth to Nizar's loving family. He plays football with the locals, hiding the head in a tree, and it begins to feel like the Raymond Carver short story So Much Water So Close to Home, in which the friends go fishing despite discovering a dead body. There is an awkward romantic element too, as Achraf inconceivably starts crushing on Nizar's former girlfriend. Once Achraf comes clean and delivers the head, there's a wildly absurd scene in which Nizar's father has to remove a shelf from the family freezer to fit his son's skull inside. And then Nizar's ghost appears to Achraf to partake in vaguely philosophical conversations. None of this quite coheres as a single storytelling vision, however — all that remains is the horror.★★☆☆☆ 15, 101min In cinemas from Jun 20 Times+ members can enjoy two-for-one cinema tickets at Everyman each Wednesday. Visit to find out more. Which films have you enjoyed at the cinema recently? Let us know in the comments and follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
Wamda
a day ago
- Business
- Wamda
Algerian startup Talenteo raises six-figure round backed by 216 Capital
Algeria-based HRTech Talenteo has raised an undisclosed investment from 216 Capital. Founded in 2022 by Tarik Metnani and Louai Djaffer, Talenteo offers a comprehensive SaaS platform for human resources and payroll management tailored to the unique needs of African SMEs and midsized companies. The new six-figure investment will support Talenteo's entry into Tunisia, accelerate product development, and fuel expansion across Francophone Africa. Press release: Tunisia-based venture capital firm 216 Capital has announced a strategic investment in Talenteo, an HR Tech startup founded in Algeria. Talenteo offers a comprehensive SaaS platform for human resources and payroll management tailored to the unique needs of African SMEs and mid-sized companies (ETIs). This investment marks a significant step in Talenteo's journey toward becoming a key digital HR player across the continent. By 2030, Africa is projected to host more than 1 billion working-age individuals, making it the largest talent pool globally. With over 80% of jobs created by SMEs and ETIs, efficient HR and payroll management is critical for performance, compliance, and competitiveness. Talenteo addresses this challenge with a solution designed specifically for the realities of African markets. Already trusted by 150+ companies and over 10,000 active users, Talenteo's platform combines AI, local legal frameworks, and process automation to streamline: Employee administration Time and payroll management Talent development Regulatory compliance The platform helps HR teams reduce time spent on repetitive tasks while enhancing strategic decision-making in a rapidly evolving legal and economic landscape. 'We believe company success stems from investing in people,' said Louai Djaffer, CEO of Talenteo. 'Talenteo was built to help African businesses digitalise their HR processes in support of growth and impact.' Fueling Pan-African Growth with New Investment The six-figure round, led by 216 Capital, will enable Talenteo to: 'Talenteo is the kind of innovation we aim to support — locally rooted, scalable, and built to meet the operational realities of African enterprises,' said Dhekra Khelifi, Partner at 216 Capital Ventures.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Bell signs fleet purchase agreement for 12 SUBARU Bell 412EPX Aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces, at the Paris Air Show 2025, a signed purchase agreement for 12 SUBARU Bell 412EPXs to the Tunisian Air Force, marking the first order for this Bell 412 variant in region. The aircraft will be used for multi-role military and security missions. The Tunisian military expands its rotary wing fleet of 39 Bell aircraft, including Bell UH-1s, 205s and OH-58s. 'The Bell 412 is one of the most trusted platforms globally, and we are honored to support the Tunisian Air Force as it expands its fleet with this proven and versatile aircraft,' said Tim Evans, Managing Director for Middle East and Africa, Bell. 'The SUBARU Bell 412EPX has been gaining momentum as an international military platform, we're thrilled to bring it to the Middle East and Africa region with the Tunisian Air Force.' The Bell 412 is globally recognized for its adaptability and reliability, enabling operators to undertake a broad range of missions. To date, more than 54% of the global Bell 412 fleet performs parapublic and military missions. This sale builds on recent entries of the Bell 412 to the Japan Coast Guard, San Diego Fire and Rescue, Croatia Ministry of Interior, Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior and more. The SUBARU Bell 412EPX boasts a maximum internal weight of 12,200 lbs, external weight of 13,000 lbs and cargo hook capacity of 5,000 lbs. The platform enables critical missions with a useful load of 5,385 lbs. ABOUT BELL Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For nearly 90 years, we've been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA's first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we're defining the future of advanced air mobility. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront. ABOUT TEXTRON INC. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training.
