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☆ Tunisian opposition figure Moussi begins hunger strike in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTUNIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Abir Moussi, a prominent opponent of Tunisian President Kais Saied, went on a hunger strike in prison on Tuesday to protest what her lawyers said was a violation of her rights to freedom and political activity. Her lawyers said in a statement that Moussi would be on hunger strike for 16 days, coinciding with a campaign to highlight violence against women in Tunisia. Police this year have detained more than 20 leading political figures, accusing some of plotting against state security. In recent months, the PDL has organised protests against Saied. Moussi accuses Saied of ruling outside the law.

Persons: Moussi, Zoubeir, Kais Saied, Saied, Zine El Abidine ben Ali, Tarek Amara, Grant McCool Organizations: Tunisia's Free Destourian Party, REUTERS, Rights, Free Constitutional Party, PDL, Police, Saied, Thomson Locations: Tunis, Tunisia, Rights TUNIS

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday dismissed the country's prime minister and replaced him with the head of his cabinet as the country struggles with inflation and next year's national elections approach. Benabderahmne's sacking comes three years into Tebboune's tenure and is the latest upheaval to shape North African politics. In August, Tunisia's president dismissed his prime minister, while the head of Algeria's powerful state-run oil company and eight of his vice presidents were dismissed several weeks ago. For Tebboune, the changing of the guard takes place at a time of economic anxiety and ahead of next year's presidential elections. Larbaoui, the incoming prime minister, rose from being an athlete on Algeria's national handball team to a member of the country's diplomatic corps, having served as Algeria's ambassador to Egypt and the United Nations.

Persons: Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Aimene, Mohamed Labaoui, Benabderahmne's, Tebboune's, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Tebboune, ”, Larbaoui Organizations: Saturday, handball team, United Nations Locations: ALGIERS, Algeria, Tebboune, Ukraine, Europe, East, North Africa, Gaza, Israel, Egypt

“This process is not behind schedule.”The July agreement included a pledge of 105 million euros ($110 million) earmarked for migration. As arrivals increased last month, the European Commission announced it would send an initial 127 million euros ($133 million) to Tunisia. Apart from migration, the bulk of the funds are contingent on Tunisia reaching agreement with the International Monetary Fund on stalled loan negotiations. In April, he called the terms “diktats from abroad.”Supporters, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, have hailed Europe's agreement with Tunisia as a regional model. Since taking power in 2019, Saied has repeatedly characterized sub-Saharan African migrants as violent and a threat to Tunisia.

Persons: Kais Saied, ” Saied, Saied, Marcus Cornaro, Saied's, “ We're, ”, Giorgia, ___ Sam Metz Organizations: —, Monday, European Union, TAP, EU, UNHCR, European Commission, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, — Tunisia, Europe, Rome, Tunisian, Italy, North Africa, Italian, Germany, Europe’s, Rabat, Morocco, Georgia

☆ Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into soccer, golf, and Formula 1. Its crown prince doesn't care if anyone calls it 'sportswashing.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into sports in a bid to transform its economy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the sector a key part of his Vision 2030 plan. But the reality is that the crown prince has a grander ambition: to level up Saudi Arabia's economic growth. "But Saudi Arabia is piling into other sports too, because they want to achieve a lot in a short period of time." AdvertisementAdvertisementAs Crown Prince Mohammed made clear last week, all this forms part of a broader strategy to supercharge Saudi Arabia's economy through investment.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bankrolled, —, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Joshua, –, Jamal Khashoggi, they've, Steve Luciano, AP Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio, PIF, LIV Golf, Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, LIV, Joshua, that's, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Frank Warren, Prince Mohammed, Mohammed bin Salman, Leon Neal, Simon Chadwick, Chadwick, megastars, Ronaldo –, Salman, bin Salman, Saudi Arabia –, St Andrews, Nick Kyrgios, who've, Elsa, he'd, they'll Organizations: Newcastle United, Service, Washington Post, Saudi, Investment Fund, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, AP, Saudi Pro League, Georgetown University Qatar, PGA, WWE, Fox News, SKEMA Business School, Indian Premier League, FIFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, England, Riyadh, Brazil, Liverpool, Kingdom, Jeddah, Lille, France, Reiche, Iran, Miami, Augusta, bankroll

☆ Rybakina withdraws from Pan Pacific Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Byes for the Pan Pacific Open were given to Maria Sakkari, who won the Guadalajara Open title on Saturday, and Caroline Garcia, who reached the semi-finals. Both players are ranked lower than Rybakina, who was drawn against Linda Noskova in the first round. "As a player I want to give my all on the court and at the moment my body is not ready to do that," Rybakina said on Instagram. "That's why I decided to listen to my body and withdraw from the tournament. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, Hannah Mckay, Maria Sakkari, Caroline Garcia, Linda Noskova, Rybakina, Japan, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Pan, Guadalajara, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Tokyo, Bengaluru

☆ EU to Disburse $135 Million to Tunisia as Part of Migration Pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission on Friday said it would disburse 127 million euros ($135 million) in aid to Tunisia as part of its deal with the country aimed at fighting illegal immigration from Africa to Europe. The commission said 60 million euros would be made available in budget support to Tunisia, while a package worth around 67 million euros aimed at strengthening Tunisia's capacities to combat human traffickers and tighten border controls would be disbursed in the coming days. Tunisia and the EU in July signed a "strategic partnership" deal to fight illegal migration in return for financial support during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe. ($1 = 0.9401 euros)(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Persons: Bart Meijer, Alex Richardson Organizations: European, EU Locations: BRUSSELS, Tunisia, Africa, Europe

☆ Tunisia Arrests Migrants, Seizes Boats in Major People-Smuggling Crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Tarek AmaraTUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian police supported by planes and anti-terrorism units arrested hundreds of migrants and seized boats on Saturday in a major crackdown on people smuggling in the coastal region of Sfax - a key departure point for migrants heading to Europe. Tunisian National Guard units raided homes where hundreds of migrants were staying, intercepted trucks carrying migrants towards the beaches and seized vessels used by the smugglers, officials and witnesses said. "The air operation is intended to target smugglers who trade in the pain of frustrated people," National Guard Colonel Houssem Jbebli told reporters. Saied ordered the crackdown to confront the "unacceptable influx of migrants", the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday for the European Union to act jointly "with a naval mission if necessary" to prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa.

Persons: Tarek Amara TUNIS, Kais Saied, Houssem Jbebli, Saied, Giorgia Meloni, Tarek Amara, Helen Popper Organizations: Tunisian National Guard, National Guard, Interior Ministry, European Union Locations: Sfax, Europe, North Africa, Jebiniana, Tunisia, Italy, Lampedusa

More than 120 small boats arrived in Lampedusa in the span of roughly 24 hours, bringing the number of people at the local reception center to 7,000 people at one point. But consecutive arrivals on the small island in a short period of time made things difficult to manage, Di Giacomo said. Most of those boarding smugglers' boats for Europe are young men and unaccompanied minors, though women and children are seen but in smaller numbers. As soon as the weather improved, they launched more than 100 small iron boats from Tunisian beaches carrying between 30 to 40 people. Migrants pay smugglers between 1,500 and 5,000 Tunisian dinars (roughly $500-$1,600) for a spot on the dangerous boats.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Kais Saied, Flavio Di Giacomo, Di Giacomo, Daniel, “ It's, ”, Chris Borowski, Saied's, Giacomo, Ursula von der Leyen, It's, ” Abderrahim, Saied, doesn’t, “, ___ Frances D'Emilio Organizations: Union, Italy's Interior Ministry, International Organization for, WHO, IOM, Border, Coast Guard Agency, Global, Transnational, EU Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Lampedusa, Tunisia, Italy, North Africa, Italian, Europe, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Sfax, Tunisian, African, Greece, Rome

☆ Swiatek pulls out of Guadalajara
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Swiatek had said she needed a reset after her 75-week run as world number one came to an end. "Unfortunately I need to withdraw from the tournament in Guadalajara due to a change of schedule," Swiatek posted on social media platform X. French Open champion Swiatek, who was set to make her debut in the Sept. 17-23 Guadalajara tournament, said she would return to action in Tokyo at the start of next month. U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, defending Guadalajara champion Jessica Pegula, 2022 runner-up Maria Sakkari and Tunisia's Ons Jabeur have all entered the Mexico event. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Brendan Mcdermid, Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Slovenia's Kaja Juvan REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Guadalajara, Belarus, Tokyo, Mexico, Bengaluru

☆ Morocco earthquake: Foreign offers of aid arrive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Following are some of the offers of aid and support from foreign governments following the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco late on Friday. A unit from the Spanish Emergency Military Unit (UME) was set to fly to Morocco, Spanish television RTVE reported. FRANCEFrance stands ready to help Morocco but the government there has not yet requested it, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. Separately, the Foreign Ministry said it was activating a fund of local government contributions to support solidarity actions. TAIWANTaiwan’s fire department said on Saturday it had put a team of 120 rescuers on standby to go to Morocco the moment they get instructions from Taiwan’s foreign ministry.

Persons: Jose Manuel Albares, Albares, ISRAEL Israel's Magen David Adom, Magen David Adom, Algeria's, Nawaf Al, Ahmad Al, Jaber, Frances Kerry, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Interior, Catalunya Radio, Moroccan, Spanish Emergency Military Unit, Foreign Ministry, Orange, Crescent, Ministry of Health, Israel Defense Forces, Sunday, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Morocco, TUNISIA Tunisia, SPAIN, Spain, Spanish, FRANCE France, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moroccan, ALGERIA Algeria, TURKEY, AFAD, Turkish, Turkey, KUWAIT, Jaber Al, Sabah, TAIWAN

☆ Tunisian heatwave hits wine output
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jihed Abidellaoui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Estimates of how far wine output has fallen vary, from a roughly 20% drop according to the Agriculture Ministry's Kilani Belhaj, to a reduction of 40-50% according to Vineyard Producers' Syndicate head Salim Chaouch. Winemakers in France and elsewhere in southern Europe have also warned of lower wine output this year due to the heat. "Climate change has impacted both the quantity and quality of production, with a broad effect on the sector. In ancient times Tunisia was a major wine producer under the Carthaginian and Roman empires and commercial-scale output began again under French colonialism, though it has not become a significant exporter. The grapes are picked early in the morning and driven to a modern processing facility at Takelsa in central Tunisia to be turned into wine.

Persons: Kilani, Salim Chaouch, Farmer Wajdi Graya, Hammadi Brik, Latifa Guesmi, Angus McDowall, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Agriculture, Vineyard Producers, Syndicate, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, North Africa, France, Europe, Tunisia, Bon, Takelsa, Coteaux

☆ Tunisia to reopen Bardo national museum shut in 2021 power seizure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Tunisia will soon reopen its Bardo national museum, the Culture Ministry said on Tuesday, two years after it was closed when President Kais Saied shuttered the parliament, which shares the same building. The new parliament started work this year but there had been no firm information about reopening the national museum - one of the capital's main attractions in a country economically dependent on tourism. Enormous mosaics with rich details and vivid colours are displayed throughout the museum including ones showing the Roman sea god Neptune, hunting scenes and spectacular arrays of sea life. The Bardo mosaics, along with others in the museums at Sousse and by the amphitheatre at El-Djem, are taken from the luxurious villas built during the Roman era and into late antiquity. Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kais Saied, Saied, Bardo, Tarek Amara, Angus McDowall, Josie Kao Organizations: Culture Ministry, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, Bardo, Carthage, Sousse, El

☆ 'Zombie' Jabeur refuses to let illness defeat her at US Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I'm a zombie because I have a flu," said Jabeur, adding that she had taken a break in July following her Wimbledon final defeat to stay fresh for the rest of the season. Jabeur said she had been struggling for about a week with the illness and was "taking a lot of medicine". Jabeur meets Czech Marie Bouzkova in the next round and is determined to continue her run. Reuters has reached out to U.S. Open officials about the illnesses and they said they were looking into it. ESPN said earlier this week that John McEnroe was absent from his analyst duties at the U.S. Open after testing positive for COVID.

Persons: Colombia's Camila Osorio, Mike Segar, Linda Noskova, Jabeur, they've, Czech Marie Bouzkova, Dominic Thiem, Chris Eubanks, Hubert Hurkacz, John McEnroe, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Tennis, U.S, Noskova, Wimbledon, Reuters, U.S ., ESPN, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Czech, New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Changing climate pushes migrating birds from parched Tunisian wetlands
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jihed Abidellaoui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It's the first time I've seen Sijoumi lagoon dry out in this way." Hicham Azafzaf, the scientific coordinator of Tunisia's Bird Lovers Association, said he had never seen such dry wetlands in his 20 years of monitoring them. However, while this summer has been particularly bad, it follows a longer trend that had already had a clear impact on birds. Climate change is not the only danger to Tunisia's wetlands, he said. Yet the lagoons and other wetlands are important for human residents too, regulating local temperature during heatwaves and helping avert dangerous floods by absorbing rainfall from sudden storms.

Persons: Radhia Haddad, Sijoumi, Haddad, Hicham Azafzaf, Tunisia's, Azafzaf, Jihed Abidellaoui, Angus McDowall, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Association, Thomson Locations: Tunisia, Tunis, TUNIS, Africa, Europe, Ariana, Sicily

ROME, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Italian authorities on Wednesday said forty-one migrants are thought to have died in a shipwreck last week in the central Mediterranean, according to accounts by survivors who have been taken to the island of Lampedusa. Local public prosecutor Salvatore Vella confirmed media reports that four people who survived the shipwreck told rescuers they were on a boat carrying 45 people, including three children. They were then transferred onto an Italian coast guard vessel and disembarked in Lampedusa, where they shared their story. The Italian coast guard did not respond to a request for comment. A source with knowledge of the matter said it was unlikely that the shipwreck experienced by the survivors was one of two the coast guard had reported on Sunday.

Persons: Salvatore Vella, Tunisia's, Vella, Federico Maccioni, Federica, Keith Weir, Crispian Balmer, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Watch, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa . Local, Italian, Lampedusa, Sfax, Italy, Europe

☆ Four dead, 51 missing after migrant ship sinks off Tunisian coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Aug 7 (Reuters) - At least four migrants died and 51 were missing after a migrant ship sank off Tunisia's Kerkennah island, a judicial official told Reuters on Sunday, adding that all the migrants onboard were from sub-Saharan Africa. The Tunisian coast guard recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast from Jan. 1 to July 20 this year, the country's interior minister said in July, marking an unprecedented number of victims off the country's coasts. The North Africa country is facing a record wave of migration this year and frequent catastrophes of boats of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa heading to Italian coasts sinking. Tunisia replaced Libya as the region's main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in hopes of a better life in Europe. Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tarek Amara, Lisa Shumaker, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Saharan Africa, Tunisian, Jan, North Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Africa, Europe

☆ Two dead, 57 rescued from migrant shipwrecks off Italy's Lampedusa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Migrants on board of NGO Proactiva Open Arms Uno rescue boat looks at boat Guardia Costiera heading to Lampedusa island, in central Mediterranean Sea, close to Lampedusa island, Italy, August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Juan Medina/File PhotoROME, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Italy's coastguard said on Sunday it had recovered two bodies and rescued 57 people off the southern island of Lampedusa, amid reports that more than 30 people were missing following two shipwrecks. A coastguard spokesperson said he could only confirm the number of survivors and the recovery of two bodies. Italy's right-wing government has adopted a policy of assigning far-away ports to charity ships, rather than letting them disembark rescued migrants in nearer Lampedusa or Sicily, with the aim of spreading arrivals across the country. Reporting by Angelo Amante and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Toby Chopra and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Juan Medina, Ansa, Angelo Amante, Toby Chopra, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Migrants, Uno, Guardia, REUTERS, Italy's coastguard, coastguard, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Sfax, Europe, Ivory Coast, Brindisi, Sicily

☆ Tunisia and EU sign pact to stem migration
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The deal follow weeks of talks and Europe's pledge of major aid to Tunisia amounting to 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) to help its battered economy, rescue state finances and deal with a migration crisis. All essential measures for bolstering efforts to stop irregular migration," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter. The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyens said the bloc will allocate 100 million euros to Tunisia to help it combat illegal migration. Thousands of undocumented African migrants have flocked to the city of Sfax in recent months seeking to head for Europe in traffickers' boats, amounting to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia. "We are very pleased, it is a further important step towards creation of a true partnership between Tunisia and the EU, which can address in an integrated fashion the migration crisis," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Miloni said.

Persons: Kais Saied, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, Read, Europe's, Ursula von der Leyens, Giorgia Miloni, Meloni, Saied, Tarek Amara, Crispian Balmer, Anthony Deutsch, Hatem Maher, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Dutch, European Union, Twitter, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: Italian, Tunisia, EU, Tunis, TUNIS, Europe, Sfax, Rome, Italy, Libya, Amesterdam

☆ Unseeded Vondrousova stuns Jabeur to win Wimbledon title
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The 24-year-old left-hander, who a year ago needed wrist surgery, proved too steady for the error-strewn Jabeur who ended up as runner-up as she did in 2022. "Today is going to be a tough day for me but I'm not going to give up and I am going to come back stronger. "It's been a tough journey but I promise I will come back and one day win this tournament." The unassuming Vondrousova had managed to win only one match in her previous four visits to Wimbledon and last year came with her wrist in a plaster cast to support a friend and go shopping. It looked as though Jabeur was getting on top as she won three games in a row, but Vondrousova never panicked.

Persons: Marketa Vondrousova, Andrew Couldridge, Vondrousova, Jabeur, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, I'm, It's, Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Stepan Simek, Frankie, Wales, Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, REUTERS, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Czech, Prague

☆ Tunisia's 'Minister of Happiness' chases her dream
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Latifa Guesmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Ons made Tunisians happy being our champion and Minister of Happiness. We are proud of her, so I tell her play comfortably and avoid pressure," Tunisia's Minister of sports Kamal Daqish told Radio Mosaique. "My joy was doubled with Ons Jabeur reaching the final and me passing the baccalaureate exams," Mohamed Hedi, 19, told Reuters. "She can fulfill our dream, and she will remain distinguished in a sport that is new to Tunisians," he said. Before Jabeur, Tunisians followed the fortunes of Malek Jaziri, who was ranked 42nd in the world in 2019, but never got past the third round of a Grand Slam.

Persons: Belarus ’ Aryna Sabalenka, Andrew Couldridge TUNIS, Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka, Vondrousova, Kamal Daqish, Mohamed Hedi, Jabeur, Ben Rehouma, Tunisians, Malek Jaziri, Jaziri, Shady Amir, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Jabeur, Belarus ’, Belarus ’ Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS, Wimbledon, All England Club, U.S, Radio Mosaique, Sabalenka, Reuters, Indian Wells, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Czech, French, Indian

☆ Tunisia says undocumented migrants in the country received $1 billion this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, July 15 (Reuters) - Undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia received three billion dinars (about $1 billion) in remittances from their countries during the first half of 2023, an official from the national security council said in a meeting late on Friday. Saied denounced this year undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to his country, saying in comments criticised by rights groups that it was aimed at changing Tunisia's demographic make-up. The amount of the announced transfers for undocumented migrants is higher than revenues of the vital tourism industry in Tunisia during the first half of the year, which amounted to 2.2 billion dinars. Thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to coastal city of Sfax in recent months with the goal of setting off for Europe in boats run by human traffickers, leading to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia. Tunisia has removed hundreds of the migrants this month to a desolate area along the border, following days of violence in Sfax between residents and migrants.

Persons: Kais Saied, Saied, Tarek Amara, Moaz Abd, Diane Craft Organizations: Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, Sfax, Europe

☆ Vondrousova one step from 'mission impossible'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - For Marketa Vondrousova the very notion of winning Wimbledon was an impossibility a year ago, but on Saturday she has the chance to add her name to an esteemed list of Czech champions. Not only that, but Prague-based Vondrousova, 24, can become the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. I didn't play for almost six months, so it was very tough," Vondrousova told reporters when asked to cast her mind back 12 months. It was really sad," Vondrousova, who made a tentative return to the second-tier ITF Tour last October, said. But something clicked and she has beaten 12th seed Veronika Kudermetova, 20th seed Donna Vekic, 32nd seed Marie Bouzkova and fourth seed Jessica Pegula.

Persons: Miriam Kolodziejova, Stepan Simek, Elina Svitolina, Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Vondrousova, Marketa, Susan Mullane, Ash Barty, Karolina Muchova, Veronika Kudermetova, Donna Vekic, Marie Bouzkova, Jessica Pegula, Frankie, He's, Martyn Herman, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wimbledon, Court, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Slams, ITF, Thomson Locations: Czech, Wimbledon, Prague, London, United Kingdom, Berlin

☆ Jabeur ready to make it third time lucky after reaching Wimbledon final
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Last year was my first final of a Grand Slam. I'm going to learn a lot from not only Wimbledon's final but also the U.S. Open final and give it my best. She plays very good," Jabeur said. I'm not sure how she's going to play her second Grand Slam final. Jabeur, who will have the Arab world rooting for her on Saturday, has certainly earned her place in the final.

Persons: Belarus ’ Aryna Sabalenka, Toby Melville LONDON, Czech Marketa, Jabeur, Sabalenka, it's, Vondrousova, Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Belarus ’, Wimbledon, Czech, U.S ., U.S, Sabalenka, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, French

☆ Jabeur crushes Kvitova to set up rematch of 2022 final with Rybakina
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tunisian sixth seed Jabeur had to come from a set down against Bianca Andreescu on Saturday but had no such problems on a blustery afternoon as she raced through the first set in 22 minutes, almost unchallenged. Her crowd-pleasing variety of slice and change of pace and angle left the 2011 and 2014 champion flailing. The ninth-seeded Czech had the briefest of recoveries in the second set but it did not last and Jabeur finished off in style, breaking to love. Third-seeded Kazakh Rybakina, who beat Jabeur in three sets in last year’s final, went through after Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia retired at 4-1 down in the first set with a back injury. Reporting by Mitch Phillips; editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Petra Kvitova, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Elena Rybakina, Jabeur, Bianca Andreescu, flailing, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Czech, Court, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Tunisian, Czech, Kazakh

☆ Boat sinking off Tunisia leaves one dead, at least 10 migrants missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, July 9 (Reuters) - At least 10 Tunisian migrants were missing and one died after their boat sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said on Sunday. The latest tragedy raises the number of dead and missing off the North African country's coasts to more than 600 in the first half of 2023, far more than in any previous year, according to figures compiled by Reuters. Tunisia's coastguard rescued 11 people from the boat, which set off from the coast off the town of Zarzis, Faouzi Masmoudi, a judge in the city of Sfax, told Reuters. Tunisia is under pressure from European countries to stop large numbers of people departing from its coasts. Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Alison Williams and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Faouzi, Kais Saied, Tarek Amara, Alison Williams, Alexander Smith Organizations: Reuters . Tunisia's coastguard, Reuters, Tunisian, Economic, Social Rights, coastguard, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, Italy, Libya, Africa, Europe, African, Zarzis, Sfax, sinkings, Tunisia's

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