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☆ 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

☆ Tunisia places senior official in main opposition party under house arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Tunisian authorities placed Abdel Karim Harouni, the senior official in the opposition Ennahda Islamist Party, under house arrest, the country's main opposition coalition said on Saturday. Harouni heads the Shura Council, the highest-ranking body in Ennahda, which was the biggest political party in the parliament closed by President Kais Saied in 2021. The Salvation Front coalition said "the arbitrary decision" against Harouni was in the context of the arrest of leaders of Ennahda and the closure of its headquarters. The government also banned meetings at all Ennahda offices, and police closed all party offices, in a move Ennahda said aimed at consolidating a dictatorial regime. The opposition parties have decried their leaders' arrests as politically motivated, and local and international rights groups have urged authorities to free the detainees.

Persons: Abdel Karim Harouni, Harouni, Kais Saied, Rached Ghannouchi, Noureddine Bhiri, Riadh Bettaib, Said Ferjani, Sahbi Atigue, Mohamed Ben Salem, Ennahda, Saied, Tarek Amara, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Islamist Party, Front, Police, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Ennahda

☆ Tourists from Morocco shot dead after straying into Algerian waters on jet ski- survivor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Algerian authorities shot dead at least one Moroccan tourist after a group of five strayed into Algerian waters on jet skis, according to one of the survivors. Another member of their group was detained by the Algerian authorities, Kissi said. Moroccan authorities said they could not comment on the case, calling it a judicial matter. Mustafa Mechouar, the father of Abdelali Mechouar, told Reuters he believed his son was dead and wanted to bury him. "I appeal to Moroccan and Algerian authorities to reach an agreement to bring my son back to me to observe a proper funeral and burial for him," he said.

Persons: Mohamed Kissi, Morocco's, Kissi, Bilal, Abdelali Mechouar, Mohamed, Bilal Kissi, Bilal Kissi's, Mustafa Mechouar, Ahmed El Jechtimi, Tarek Amara, Geert de Clercq, Angus McDowall, Mike Harrison Organizations: Rabat, Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: RABAT, Moroccan, Saidia, Algeria, Morocco, Algiers, Algerian, Oujda, Rabat, Tunis, Paris

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Tunisia recovered 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TUNIS, July 26 (Reuters) - 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, Kamel Feki, said on Wednesday. Tunisia is facing record waves of migration this year and frequent catastrophes of the sinking of boats of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa heading to Italian coasts. Reporting by Tarek Amara; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kamel Feki, Tarek Amara, Leslie Adler Organizations: Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisian, Jan, Tunisia, Saharan Africa, Italian

[1/5] Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on stage during the Carthage Jazz Festival in Tunis April 4, 2013. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File PhotoDUBLIN, July 26 (Reuters) - Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer known for her stirring voice, 1990 chart-topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" and outspoken views, has died at the age of 56, Irish media quoted her family as saying on Wednesday. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. 'PROTEST SINGER'Sinead Marie Bernadette O'Connor was born in the affluent Dublin suburb of Glenageary on December 8, 1966. O'Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, though continued to perform under the name Sinead O'Connor.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Zoubeir, Brash, – O'Connor, Sinead, O'Connor, Prince, Pope John Paul II, Michael D, Higgins, Sinead Marie Bernadette O'Connor, Nua, Shuhada, Dave Fanning, Padraic Halpin, Graham Fahy, Suban Abdulla, Amanda Ferguson, Kylie MacLellan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Carthage Jazz Festival, REUTERS, RTE, Church, Irish, Channel, Thomson Locations: Carthage, Tunis, Irish, Ireland, Dublin, Glenageary, London

[1/5] Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on stage during the Carthage Jazz Festival in Tunis April 4, 2013. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File PhotoDUBLIN, July 26 (Reuters) - Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer known for her stirring voice, 1990 chart topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" and outspoken views, has died at the age of 56, Irish media quoted her family as saying on Wednesday. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. However, it was track six on the follow-up album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got", that catapulted O'Connor to global fame. O'Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, though continued to perform under the name Sinead O'Connor.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Zoubeir, Brash, – O'Connor, Sinead, O'Connor, Prince, Pope John Paul II, Leo Varadkar, Nua, Shuhada, Padraic Halpin, Graham Fahy, Suban Abdulla, Kylie MacLellan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Carthage Jazz Festival, REUTERS, RTE, YouTube, Catholic, Twitter, U.S, Thomson Locations: Carthage, Tunis, Irish, Ireland, Dublin, Glenageary, London

☆ Algeria applies to join BRICS, would contribute $1.5 billion to group bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, July 21 (Reuters) - Algeria has applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of BRICS Bank with an amount of $1.5 billion, Ennahar TV quoted Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as saying. It added that Tebboune said at the end of his visit to China that Algeria had sought to join the BRICS to open new economic opportunities. The BRICS group of nations comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. "We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members in the bank ... Algeria's first contribution in the bank will be $1.5 billion," Ennahar quoted Tebboune as saying. China will invest $36 billion in Algeria across sectors including manufacturing, new technology, the knowledge economy, transport, and agriculture, local media quoted Tebboune as saying this week.

Persons: Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Tebboune, Algeria's, Ennahar, Tarek Amara, Louise Heavens, Alison Williams Organizations: BRICS Bank, United Arab, Democratic, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Algeria, China, North Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, South, Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, Kazakhstan

☆ Algeria applies to join BRICS, would contribute $1.5 bln to group bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, July 21 (Reuters) - Algeria has applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of BRICS Bank with an amount of $1.5 billion, Ennahar TV quoted Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as saying. It added that Tebboune said at the end of his visit to China that Algeria had sought to join the BRICS to open new economic opportunities. The BRICS group of nations comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. "We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members in the bank ... Algeria's first contribution in the bank will be $1.5 billion," Ennahar quoted Tebboune as saying. More than 40 countries have expressed interested in joining the BRICS group of nations, South Africa's top diplomat in charge of relations with the bloc said this week.

☆ Tunisia’s president is accused of racism and dictatorship. He’s now getting a billion euros from Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Since 2011, the European Union has been supporting Tunisia’s journey of democracy,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after signing the agreement. But these difficulties can be overcome.”Several European lawmakers and human rights organizations have warned that any agreement that doesn’t include human rights assurances would be seen as an endorsement of Saied’s anti-democratic policies. Values lose.”Saied rose to power in 2019 after the death of Tunisia’s first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi. The EU is cooperating with Tunisia on migration despite serious allegations of human rights abuses against migrants on Tunisia’s part. It brokered a similar agreement with Libya in 2017 despite documented human rights violations there.

Persons: Kais Saied, ”, Ursula von der Leyen, Sophie, Veld, ” Camille Le Coz, Tunisia’s, Beji Caid, Saied, von der Leyen, Georgia Meloni, Mark Rutte, Tunisia “, ” Max Gallien, ” Le Coz, ’ Gallien, Gallien Organizations: CNN, European Union, Civil Liberties, Justice, Home Affairs, Migration, Dutch, European Commission, EU, UN Refugee Agency, UN, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, European Council, Commission, Libya Locations: Tunisia, Europe, ‘, Brussels, Italian, Tunis, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, France, Germany, EU, Africa, Libya

☆ In a Bid to Curb Migrants, Europe Strikes a Deal With Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Monika Pronczuk | More About Monika Pronczuk | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS — The European Union has struck a deal with Tunisia to try to stem the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, amid heated debate over the fallout of the bloc’s migration policies, including a shipwreck last month that was the deadliest in years. will provide a broad package of support for the North African country’s embattled economy. Tunis, the capital, is a major port city less than 130 nautical miles from the Italian island of Sicily, and even closer to smaller Italian islands. That makes Tunisia not just a source of migrants itself but also a major transit stop for sub-Saharan Africans who are trying to reach Europe. Tunisian authorities have come under fire for alleged rights abuses of sub-Saharan migrants, including rounding up hundreds of them and abandoning them at the desert border with Libya with no food or water.

Organizations: The European Locations: BRUSSELS, Tunisia, Europe, African, Tunis, Sicily, Libya

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Woman unresponsive after gunshots heard at Sierra Leone opposition HQ
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Cooper Inveen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The window of the room she was found in had a shattered hole the size of a fist, the reporter said. It is not immediately clear what happened outside the press conference or how the woman was wounded. Two witnesses caught inside the building, who were later released by security forces, told Reuters they heard gunfire and saw tear gas. The police and security forces did not respond to a request for comment. Bio and Kamara reported small-scale attacks on their supporters before the election, while the APC's recent questioning of the independence of election officials raised tensions.

Persons: Samura Kamara, Julius Maada, Sidi Yaya Tunis, Bio's, Kamara, Cooper Inveen, Edward McAllister, Philippa Fletcher, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, Congress, APC, Thomson Locations: FREETOWN

☆ UN rights chief urges Tunisian leader to stop curbing media freedoms
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, June 23 (Reuters) - United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday called on Tunisia to stop restricting media freedoms and said it was criminalizing independent journalism since President Kais Saied seized wide powers in 2021. But activists and journalists say freedom of speech faces a serious threat under Saied's rule. Dozens of journalists and activists protested last month against restrictions of freedoms and trials targeting journalists and bloggers. Turk said that since July 2021, the U.N. Human Rights Office in Tunisia has documented 21 cases of alleged human rights violations against journalists. Saied rejects accusations that is targeting freedoms.

Persons: Volker Turk, Kais Saied, El, Ben Ali, Turk, Saied, Tarek Amara, Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan Organizations: United Nations, Tunisians, Human, National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia

☆ Tunisians struggle to buy sheep for Eid as economic crisis bites
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Jihed Abidellaoui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A Tunisian sheep breeder waits for customers at a livestock market in Borj El Amri, ahead of the Eid al-Adha, Tunisia June 17, 2023. REUTERS/Jihed Abidellaoui/File PhotoSummary Tunisians traditionally buy sheep for Eid al-Adha festivalDrought and expensive fodder increase sheep pricesTunisians already struggling with inflation and economyTUNIS, June 20 (Reuters) - Tunisians hoping to buy a sheep to slaughter for Islam's Eid al-Adha festival next week are facing much higher prices because of a drought, adding to public anxiety at an economic crisis that looks set to worsen. "We can't afford these prices," he said. He has already decided to sell 200 of his 350 sheep because he cannot afford to feed them. Farmers Union official Khaled Ayari said Tunisia had produced 1.2 million sheep for Eid in 2022 but only about 850,000 this year.

Persons: Jihed, Eid, Ridha Bouzid, Khaled Frekhi, El, Nabil Rhimi, Rhimi, Khaled Ayari, Haithem, Jihed Abidellaoui, Angus McDowall, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Farmers Union, Thomson Locations: Borj El, Adha, Tunisia, TUNIS

☆ Man fatally stabs police officer outside Brazilian embassy in Tunis
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/5] Police officers secure the area near the Brazilian embassy in Tunis, after a man stabbed a policeman near the embassy, local media reported, Tunisia June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jihed AbidellaouiTUNIS, June 19 (Reuters) - A man fatally stabbed a policeman on duty outside the Brazilian embassy in Tunis on Monday before police shot the attacker in the leg and arrested him, the Interior Ministry said. A ministry official said the attacker, 53, was mentally ill and the stabbing was not being treated as terrorism. The policeman later died from his wounds, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said. Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Toby Chopra and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jihed Abidellaoui, Tarek Amara, Angus McDowall, Toby Chopra, Gareth Jones Organizations: Police, REUTERS, Interior Ministry, Thomson Locations: Tunis, Tunisia, Jihed, Jihed Abidellaoui TUNIS

☆ Tunisian judge bars broadcast media from opposition conspiracy cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, June 17 (Reuters) - A Tunisian judge has barred radio and television news programmes from covering the cases of prominent opposition figures accused of conspiring against state security in recent months, official news agency TAP said on Saturday. "The investigating judge of office 36 of the anti-terrorism branch issues a decision banning media coverage of the two cases of conspiring against state security," the court's spokesperson Hanan el-Qadas told TAP. Judges have detained or opened investigations into more than 20 political, judicial, media and business figures with opposition ties over recent months, accusing some of plotting against state security. The main opposition parties have decried the arrests as politically motivated and rights groups have urged Tunisian authorities to free those detained. Saied has denied staging a coup, saying his actions were legal and needed to save Tunisia from chaos and corruption.

Persons: Kais Saied, Hanan el, Saied, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Tunisian, TAP, Reuters, Interior Ministry, Ministry, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia

☆ EU considering major Tunisia aid package as migration surges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking in Tunisia, von der Leyen said 900 million euros in macrofinancial assistance, plus an immediate 150 million euros in budget support could be ready "as soon as the necessary agreement is found", without elaborating. She said the EU would also this year provide Tunisia with 100 million euros for border management, search and rescue, anti-smuggling operations and returns "rooted in respect for human rights". Von der Leyen was accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country is the main arrival point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Tunisia. She said on Sunday the EU and Tunisia had already signed a joint declaration, which she hailed as an important step "towards the creation of a real partnership". She said there was "an important window of opportunity" to finalise the aid agreement before the European Council at the end of June.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Kais Saied, Saied, Von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, Giorgia Meloni, Tunisians, Angus McDowall, Federico Maccioni, Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European, EU, International Monetary Fund, Dutch, Italian, IMF, European Council, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, European Union, Tunisia, Meloni, Europe, Tunisian, Tunis, Rome

☆ Tunisia will not be Europe's border guard, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, June 10 (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Saturday that Tunisia would not accept becoming a border guard for other countries ahead of a planned visit by European leaders concerned at the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and European Union Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen will offer aid when they visit on Sunday, Meloni said on Friday, with Tunisia facing a crisis in its public finances. "The solution will not be at the expense of Tunisia... we cannot be a guard for their countries," Saied said while visiting the port city of Sfax, the main departure point for migrants seeking to reach Italy by boat. European countries fear that would turbocharge what is already a big surge in cross-Mediterranean migration this year, particularly from Tunisia. Perilous Mediterranean crossings soared after Saied announced a crackdown on sub-Saharan migrants in February using language the African Union denounced as racialised.

Persons: Kais Saied, Giorgia Meloni, Mark Rutte, Ursula von der, Meloni, Saied, Fitch, Tarek Amara, Angus McDowall, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European Union Commission, IMF, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, Tunisia, Italian, Dutch, Sfax, Italy, African

[1/5] Abdessalem Maraouni, a Tunisian university student displays a medicine box of "Celluvisc" at his home in Tunis, Tunisia May 29, 2023. Tunisia imports all medicine through the state-owned Central Pharmacy, which provides drugs to hospitals and pharmacies around the country which offer them to patients at a subsidised rate. Amira said the Central Pharmacy owed about 1 billion dinars ($325 million) to suppliers. Tunisia's Health Ministry and Central Pharmacy did not respond to requests for comment. MEDICINE EXCHANGEFrom the roof of his Tunis house, retired soldier Nabil Boukhili has opened an unofficial medicine exchange for his neighbourhood in coordination with local doctors.

Persons: Maaoui, Faourati, Kais Saied, Naoufel Amira, Amira, Nabil Boukhili, Boukhili, I've, Najia, Abdessalem Maraouni, Kamal, Tarek Amara, Jihed Abidellaoui, Angus McDowall, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Monetary Fund, Central Pharmacy, Tunisia's Syndicate, Tunisia's Health Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tunis, Tunisia, TUNIS, Europe

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