GAFSA, TUNISIA // Once a fortnight, Leila Khaled, a Tunisian housewife, comes down from Tunis, the capital, to the dusty mining region of Gafsa, to visit her son Muthafer Labidi in jail.
The rest of the time, she holds vigil at a Tunis hospital where her husband, Bechir Labidi, a trade union leader, lies ailing and handcuffed in his bed.
The father and son were arrested last July amid angry demonstrations over unemployment that has risen as the state phosphate company has gradually reduced hiring. The government has stepped in with a scheme to transform the derelict region into a hub of industry and private investment.
That is welcome news to jobless locals. But the worldwide financial crisis presents risks, while resentment simmers over the jailing of protesters in trials that human rights activists say were unfair.
"There are still police everywhere and people are afraid," said Mrs Khaled. "We've heard all about the plans for development, but so far we've seen nothing."
The plight of Gafsa has sent ripples through Tunisia, where finding work is a persistent worry despite education and living standards approaching those of western Europe.
The region prospered for decades under French rule in the 20th century. Out went phosphate from deep pit mines, in came luxury goods imported from France. Coveted jobs with the state phosphate company passed from one generation to another among the local villagers, an arrangement that continued after Tunisia gained independence in 1956.
Things changed in the 1980s, when the company began replacing men with machines. Today, unemployment - officially around 20 per cent but believed to be closer to 30 per cent - is palpable, with ragged men crowding into cafes to spend the day smoking narjilehs and watching television.
Resentment exploded in January last year, when locals cried foul at a long-awaited round of hiring that siphoned jobs to out-of-towners.
"Many people here rely on the phosphate company for work," said Ali Kalthoum, a lawyer in Gafsa. "Most don't have the means to look for a job elsewhere."
Protesters clashed repeatedly with police, who arrested around 250 and last June allegedly opened fire on them, killing two, said Ridha Radaoui, a lawyer in Gafsa who has handled dozens of the resulting court cases.
Meanwhile, authorities have harassed media covering the unrest, lawyers said.
Fahem Boukaddous, a correspondent for the satellite television station, al Hiwar Attounesi, who was among the few reporters regularly following the situation in Gafsa, fled in July upon hearing that police were planning to arrest him, said his wife, Afef Bennaceur.
In December, Mr Boukaddous was convicted in absentia of forming a criminal group and undertaking armed rebellion with over 30 trade union leaders, including Bechir Labidi. Many received sentences of up to 10 years in prison, with some of these lowered marginally to eight years on appeal last month.
Trials have been marred by irregularities, including judges' refusal to order medical examinations of defendants who say police tortured them, said Mr Radaoui, the lawyer.
"For the state, the only way of dealing with social problems is police repression," said Mokhtar Trifi, a lawyer and president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, who helped defend Mr Boukaddous and Mr Labidi.
Authorities say it is time for Gafsa to move on.
"The courts have given their final word," said Mohammed Chaieb, the region's governor. "The matter is closed."
For Mr Chaieb, the priority is enticing companies to set up shop in Gafsa. Under a new development programme launched last year by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the government is improving infrastructure and offering tax breaks to sweeten the deal.
"This has been a mining region, but that's changing," Mr Chaieb said. "The goal is to make Gafsa a hub of industry through private investment."
That plan is not foolproof given the global financial crisis, said Roger Bismuth, an adviser to Mr Ben Ali who is helping craft the Gafsa development programme.
"If demand for exports goes down in Europe, naturally we're going to be hit," Mr Bismuth said. But But he expressed confidence that Tunisia could continue to attract both domestic and foreign capital.
"We are stable politically and don't have religious problems," said Mr Bismuth. "We have an agreement of free exchange with Europe and can respond to orders within 48 hours."
At the new industrial zone taking shape outside Gafsa, a local businessman called Ahmed Zeitouni has accepted the challenge. Armed with a contract from the Italian clothing company Benetton, he opened a factory last month making clothes for export.
"It's a viable project, so I decided to get involved as soon as I heard about it," Mr Zeitouni said.
Young women bend over a line of sewing machines, assembling up to 1,000 garments a day. Mr Zeitouni has 42 employees now, but wants to hire around 80 more in the coming months.
"We're trying to instil a new mentality in young people," said Mr Chaieb, the governor. "They expect public sector jobs - we want them to try something different."
jthorne@thenational.ae
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
RACE CARD
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8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Company%20profile
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
