France's president Emmanuel Macron meets with members of Tunisia's French community in Tunis on February 1, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP
France's president Emmanuel Macron meets with members of Tunisia's French community in Tunis on February 1, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP

France's Macron pledges to double investment in Tunisia



France's president Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he would push to double French investment in Tunisia over five years to help support its faltering economy and transition to democracy.

In a speech to parliament in Tunis, Mr Macron paid lengthy tribute to Tunisia's 2011 revolution — which sparked uprisings and protests across the region — and to its efforts to build a democratic system, saying they remained an example for a troubled region.

"The challenge which is yours today is to transform this cultural and democratic spring into a political, economic and social spring" that benefits all social classes, he said.

Mr Macron's visit comes less than a month after protests erupted in towns and cities across Tunisia, triggered by price and tax hikes.

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Although Tunisia has won praise for political compromises and a 2014 democratic constitution, successive governments have failed to resolve deep economic and social problems, including high youth unemployment and marginalisation in the country's interior.

Activists also say some democratic freedoms appear to have been eroded, criticising mass arrests carried out during the recent demonstrations.

As Mr Macron visited, protesters calling for jobs brought all production in the country's declining phosphate industry to a halt by staging sit-ins at plants, an official said.

The French president told MPs they had a "vast responsibility" to ensure that "nothing that has been undertaken in the last few years is weakened or overturned".

Holding delayed local elections, fighting corruption and reforming public services were all crucial to bolster democracy, he added.

"The Arab world, the Maghreb, all the shores of the Mediterranean are watching you. They are watching you work and they need to see you succeed."

To support job creation, France aimed to double the rate of private sector investment over the five years of Mr Macron's term, which ends in 2022.

"A number of companies have already confirmed their willingness to invest," the president said, without naming any.

French direct investment in Tunisia was worth 3.3 billion dinars (Dh5.1bn) in 2016, making it the second biggest foreign investor behind the UAE, according to figures from the French economy ministry.

Mr Macron had pledged more than 270 million euros (Dh1.2bn) in new financing for Tunisia on Wednesday, as he began his two-day visit to the country.

In his speech to parliament, Mr Macron also said France would put all its energy into finding a solution to the conflict in neighbouring Libya and would push for elections to be held there by the end of the year.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

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Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

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Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

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The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

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If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

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Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
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  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Company%20Profile
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5