The Angolan Football Federation (FAF) has confirmed the holding of the friendly match between Angola national soccer team and Tunisia on 20 August, probably to take place in Tunis city.

On 21 July 2008, Reporters Without Borders voiced its relief at the news of the release of Slim Boukhdir four months before the end of his sentence. The freelance journalist has been held since 26 November 2007 in very harsh prison conditions at the civil jail in Sfax, 230 kilometres south of the capital.

Following intense lobbying and campaigning by the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), the Observatory for the Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation in Tunisia (OLPEC) and other IFEX members, freelance journalist Slim Boukhdhir, known for his outspoken views on the Tunisian President, has been freed - four months before the end of his sentence.

Tunisia's positive international rankings have just been comforted with the latest ranking by the latest 2007-2008, World Economic Forum "Global Technology Report" which ranks the country 35 th globally with an overall score of 4,33 and the first in Africa insofar as networked readiness in concerned.

The 26 th edition of the Gabes International Festival was launched on Friday by Mr Taoufik Baccar, the Governor of Tunisia's Central Bank.

A three day workshop was officially opened on Monday in Tunis by Mr Lazhar Bououni, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology.

From July 25 to 30, 2008, Nabeul will host the second edition of the "Nabeul Cinematographic Nights" at the Sidi Slimene cultural space, in Neapolis. The event which will open with Naceur Kmir's "Bab Aziz", will feature some 128 films from all parts of the world.

Tunisair, the country's national air carriers has confirmed yesterday the buying of 16 Airbus planes.

Stretching over 1300 kms, Tunisia's coastline is heavily frequented in summer by crowds of holiday goers, most of whom are aware of environmental protection and especially of the necessity to keep beaches clean.

The 38th World Scout Conference, held in Jeju, South Korea, has re- elected Tunisia for a 6 year term as a member of the World Scout Committee, on Wednesday.

A delegation of Tunisian Agency for Technological Cooperation (ATCT) arrived Thursday in Luanda for a three-day visit to Angola, aimed at analysing with the local government officials, methods to formalise the bilateral cooperation, mainly on the technological sector.

A new all-female music group calling itself "Hourriet Tounes" (The sirens of Tunisia ) was recently created by the music production company 'Noujoum Ben Ammar'. It is composed of fifteen young musicians, namely instrumentalists and singers who share a common passion for music.

Tiesto the world's number one DJ, is soon due to give a performance at the Hammamet "Golf Citrus". After performing on August 6, 2008, at Hammamet, Tiesto  will go to Beijing , for a unique opening show at the Olympic Games.

In his address to the "Union for the Mediterranean" Summit in Paris on Sunday, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stressed the importance of the "the environmental dimension "in the Mediterranean region in particular, in "ensuring the human right to live in a sound environment".

Travel +Leisure , an international magazine specialized tourism and leisure activities has recently issued its 13 th Annual 2008 World's Best Awards Readers' Survey results, in New York.

Angola's senior males football team are to play against Tunisia on August 20, in preparation for the combined eliminatory round of access to the African and world cups, set for Angola and South Africa, respectively.

In a foreign policy address delivered on Thursday ON the occasion of the ceremony of accreditation of new foreign ambassadors in Tunisia, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali noted that "the deep and rapid changes characterized by the excessive and continuous rise of oil, food products and raw materials, compel us all to step up efforts in order to reduce the adverse effect of these changes, ...

"We have no other path than to invest in knowledge, work and development", said President Ben Ali on Friday in an address on the occasion of 'Knowledge Day'. He also announced a set of measures destined to boost training and promote the employability of university diploma holders.

Tunisia has received yet another favorable ranking in the latest 2008 World Economic Forum "Global Enabling Report".

The following is a 9 July 2008 IFEX-TMG letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy:

The 14 th session of Mahdia's "sea festival" which is expected to take place from July 19 to 26, will showcase leisure activities, culture, as well as the area's rich heritage inherited from a myriad of successive dynasties which have reigned on the legendary city.

A new sales guide destined to further promote Tunisian carpets, while preventing price speculation, has recently been issued in Tunis. The guide which has been set up jointly by the national tourist board with the Tunisian handicrafts office, is destined to tourists and Tunisians alike, said Mr Chokri Mamoghli, the Secretary of State in charge of handicrafts during a press point held in Tunis.

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has decided on Wednesday to increase the number of members of the Democratic Constitutional Rally's central committee by adding to the national list, two members of different gender, under thirty years old. The new members will be appointed from the coordination committee, as well as the Rally's structures abroad.

The Tunis Francophone Distance Campus is planning to launch its own Distance training programs. Inaugurated in 2002, it has so far provided courses designed by European universities.