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☆ Tunisian police arrest Ghazi Chaouachi, a prominent critic of president
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TUNIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Tunisian police on Friday arrested Ghazi Chaouachi, the prominent critic of President Kais Saied, Ghazi's son said, the latest arrest targeting the president's opponents. About 20 policemen searched the house and arrested Ghazi, his son Elyess said. The arrest comes amid a crackdown on dissent this month that has targeted more than 12 people including opposition politicians, activists, protest organisers and a media figure as well as an influential business leader and two judges. Reporting by Tarek Amara Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ African Union criticises Tunisia over 'racialised hate speech' against migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Feb 25 - The African Union (AU) has criticised Tunisia and urged it to avoid "racialised hate speech" after President Kais Saied ordered the expulsion of undocumented migrants and said immigration was a plot aimed at changing his country's demographic make-up . Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it was surprised by the AU statement issued late on Friday, and rejected what it called "baseless accusations" that it said misunderstood the government's position. Saied this week ordered security forces to stop all illegal migration and expel all undocumented migrants, prompting a campaign of arrests that caused widespread fear among sub-Saharan Africans as well as Black Tunisians. In response to criticism from rights groups that his remarks were racist, Saied said he was not racist and that migrants living in Tunisia legally had nothing to fear. Rights groups are holding a demonstration on Saturday to protest against Saied's comments and the clampdown on migrants.

☆ Tunisia opposition says it will hold new protest over arrests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A Tunisian protest coalition said on Friday it would not stop working to unite the opposition against President Kais Saied despite the arrest of its top leaders, and added that it would hold a demonstration on March 5. Tunisian police have cracked down this month against prominent critics of Saied, including senior figures in the National Salvation Front, an umbrella organisation that brought together political parties and protest groups. The police and interior ministry have not made any comment on the wave of arrests this month that has targeted prominent politicians, protest leaders, media figures and others critical of Saied. Salsabil Chellali, the Tunisia director at international monitoring group Human Rights Watch, said Saied was going after his critics "with utter abandon". France on Friday expressed "concern at the recent wave of arrests in Tunisia and calls on the Tunisian authorities to ensure respect for individual freedoms and public freedoms, in particular freedom of expression," its Foreign Ministry said.

☆ Powerful Tunisian trade union defies president with mass protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Supporters of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), carry flags and banners during a protest against what they say authority's attacks on freedoms and union rights, in Sfax, Tunisia February 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jihed AbidellaouiSFAX, Tunisia, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Thousands of members of Tunisia's powerful UGTT trade union took to the streets of eight cities on Saturday to protest against President Kais Saied's policies, accusing him of trying to stifle basic freedoms including union rights. In Saturday's demonstrations, thousands of protesters in the southern city of Sfax carried national flags and banners with slogans including "Stop the attack on union freedoms" and "Cowardly Saied, the union is not afraid.". Senior UGTT official Othman Jalouli told the crowd Saied's government "wants to silence the voice of the union". Addressing the Sfax protest, Esther Lynch, confederal secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said she had come to convey a message of support from 45 million European trade unionists and called for the immediate release of detained union officials.

☆ Tunisian Authorities Arrest Opposition Politicians Amid Social Discontent
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Noureddine Bhiri, pictured in the foreground in light-colored frames, right, is a senior figure of the Ennahda opposition party. Tunisian authorities have detained a handful of opposition figures and businessmen whom President Kais Saied views as posing a threat to his rule, according to human-rights activists and the United Nations, which called for their release. At least nine people have been detained or arrested since the weekend, including politicians, judges and the head of the country’s main independent news outlet, according to Human Rights Watch, which is tracking the cases. Some have been accused of posing a danger to state security, according to the rights group and lawyers.

☆ Tunisia police arrest ex-judges sacked by president, lawyer and media say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The local Mosaique FM radio network said Akremi's arrest was linked to the investigation into the assassination a decade ago of Chokri Belaid, a political activist. Ennahda, the biggest opposition party, said the arrests were aimed at intimidating opponents of Tunisia's president. Saied's political opponents, whom he has labelled traitors, have accused him of a coup aimed at dismantling the democracy built after a 2011 revolution. The president has denied those accusations, saying his moves were lawful and necessary to save Tunisia from chaos. Over recent months, authorities have arrested or opened investigations into several of Saied's political opponents.

☆ Tunisian police detain prominent politicians and businessman
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TUNIS, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Tunisian police detained politicians and a prominent, politically connected businessman on Saturday, their lawyers said, in a case that local media said was based on suspicion of conspiracy against state security. Ennahda, an Islamist party that is the biggest in the opposition, said the arrest of Turki was aimed at intimidating the president's opponents. The Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition against Saied, condemned his arrest, saying police had questioned him several times for meeting opposition figures at his home. Neither Turki nor Ltaif have been prominent critics of the president. The businessman, Ltaif, was also arrested at his home, his lawyer Redha Bel Hadj said by phone.

☆ Polls open in Tunisian election with turnout under scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A voter casts his ballot at a polling station during the second round of the parliamentary election in Tunis, Tunisia January 29, 2023. Polls are open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (0700 GMT-1700 GMT). On Friday Moody's credit ratings agency downgraded Tunisian debt saying the country would likely default on sovereign loans. Saied's new rules make the parliament subservient to the president, who now takes the lead in forming or dismissing governments. The rules also reduce the role of political parties, with parliamentary candidates listed only by name without reference to their party affiliation.

☆ Rybakina meets Sabalenka in clash of big hitters for Australian Open crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While that victory brought prestige and financial reward, it did not boost her up the rankings. Rybakina would have climbed into the top 10 had the ranking points been available but she has proved she belongs in the spotlight at Melbourne Park, knocking out three Grand Slam champions en route to this year's title clash. "I think it was a great challenge for me because for sure, they have experience of winning Grand Slams, so it was nothing new for them," Rybakina, who beat Azarenka 7-6(4) 6-3 in the semi-finals, said. With Russian and Belarusian players only allowed to compete as individual athletes without national affiliation at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka could become the first neutral athlete to win a Grand Slam. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Djokovic resumes quest for perfect 10 at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was denied the opportunity to win a record-extending 10th Australian Open title last year after his deportation but he returns to Rod Laver Arena holding no grudges when he begins his campaign in Melbourne on Tuesday. Winning the title in Melbourne will also make Djokovic the second player to win one Grand Slam at least 10 times after Nadal's 14 titles at Roland Garros. As Djokovic aims to equal defending champion Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 Grand Slam titles, Ons Jabeur renews her quest for a first when the Tunisian takes on Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek. The pair played two engrossing matches last year at the Stuttgart final and at the U.S. Open where Berrettini triumphed on both occasions. Men's second seed Casper Ruud, runner-up at last year's French Open and U.S. Open, wraps up the night session on Margaret Court Arena against the Czech Republic's Tomas Machac.

☆ Thousands of Tunisians rally against president on revolution anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TUNIS, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters marched against Tunisian President Kais Saied's seizure of near total power in central Tunis on Saturday, demanding he step down as they marked the anniversary of a key date in the 2011 revolution that brought democracy. "We were on Bourguiba in January 2011 when Saied was not present... today he is closing Bourguiba to us. We will reach it whatever the price," said Chaima Issa, an activist who took part in the 2011 revolution before the crowd pushed through the barriers. [1/5] Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied, on the anniversary of the 2011 uprising, in Tunis, Tunisia January 14, 2023. However, Saied unilaterally changed the official anniversary date and has said he regards Jan. 14 as a moment when the revolution went astray.

☆ Djokovic faces Carballes Baena, Swiatek meets Niemeier at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Second seed Casper Ruud - twice a runner-up on the Grand Slam stage last year - plays Tomas Machac. A pre-tournament practice match between Nick Kyrgios and Djokovic saw tickets sold out in 58 minutes and the pair could potentially meet in a blockbuster quarter-final. Five-times runner-up Andy Murray plays Matteo Berrettini while fifth seed Andrey Rublev meets wildcard Dominic Thiem in other first-round matches. The Polish player could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and third seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. Women's world number two Ons Jabeur will begin her latest attempt to become the first Arab player to claim a Grand Slam singles title when she plays Tamara Zidansek.

"The situation is very dangerous because of years of continuous drought," said Hammadi Habib, an Agriculture Ministry official. Tunisia already has food supply problems thanks to high global prices and the government's own financial difficulties, which have reduced its capacity to buy imported food and subsidise farms at home. "It is time for the authorities to declare a state of water emergency," said Radhia Smine of the Tunisian Observatory of Water. Thousands of families will lack drinking water," she added. "If we do not take decisions in January to reduce irrigation water and ration water use now to prioritise drinking water... then for sure in August we will not have drinking water in the capital or coastal regions," said Habib, the agriculture ministry official.

☆ German police detain Iranian suspected of chemical attack plot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

German police have taken into custody a 32-year-old Iranian citizen suspected of having procured deadly poisons cyanide and ricin to commit an “Islamist-motivated” attack, authorities in western Germany said on Sunday. “The suspect is suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence endangering the state by allegedly procuring cyanide and ricin to commit an Islamist-motivated attack,” the statement said. Police seized electronic storage devices but found neither cyanide nor ricin during the search, Holger Heming of the Duesseldorf public prosecutor’s office told Reuters TV. The authorities are now investigating at full speed.”Heming said the tip came from a security agency of a “friendly state”, without elaborating. News about Sunday’s searches also comes a month after German authorities arrested 25 members and supporters of a far-right group that the prosecutor’s office said was preparing a violent overthrow of the state.

[1/3] TV cameras are set up in front of a building where German police have taken a 32-year-old Iranian citizen into custody, suspected of having procured deadly poisons cyanide and ricin to commit an "Islamist-motivated" attack, in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane NitschkeCASTROP-RAUXEL, Germany, Jan 8 (Reuters) - German police have taken into custody a 32-year-old Iranian citizen suspected of having procured deadly poisons cyanide and ricin to commit an "Islamist-motivated" attack, authorities in western Germany said on Sunday. Police said the Iranian was suspected of having planned a "serious act of violence endangering the state" by allegedly procuring cyanide and ricin to commit an Islamist-motivated attack. Islamist-motivated lone perpetrators are another considerable danger," German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said following news of the investigation. "Our security authorities therefore expect preparations for an attack at any time," she said, adding that since 2000 German security authorities had prevented 21 Islamist attacks in Germany.

☆ Noskova stuns Jabeur in Adelaide to set up Sabalenka showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Czech Republic's Linda Noskova in action during her semi final match against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur REUTERS/Loren ElliottJan 7 (Reuters) - Qualifier Linda Noskova continued her giant-killing run at the Adelaide International 1 on Saturday, as the 18-year-old toppled ailing world number two Ons Jabeur 6-3 1-6 6-3 to set up a final against second seed Aryna Sabalenka. She returned rejuvenated to grab the second set dropping only one game, but found herself a break down at 1-3 in the decider and Noskova held her nerve to grab the victory. "I'm happy with the level I played today, especially with her different game," Sabalenka said of Begu. The American will meet 2016 Junior Roland Garros singles champion Rebeka Masarova of Spain, who downed fellow qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium 6-3 6-3. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Five African migrants die, 10 missing after boat sinks off Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - At least five African migrants died and another 10 were missing after a boat sank off Tunisia, as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said on Saturday. The coastguard rescued 20 migrants who had been on the overcrowded boat, which sank off Louata in Sfax region on Friday, the official told Reuters. In recent months, hundreds of people have drowned off the Tunisian coast, with an increase in the frequency of attempted crossings from Tunisia and Libya towards Italy. In light of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis in Tunisia, more than 18,000 Tunisians travelled by boats to Europe in 2022, according to rights group Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. Reporting by Tarek Amara Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Raducanu suffers injury scare ahead of Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"So to be stopped by a freak injury, rolling an ankle is pretty disappointing, in the first week as well. The Australian Open begins on Jan. 16. AZARENKA THROUGHAt the Adelaide International 1 WTA 500 event, twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka saw off Zheng Qinwen 6-2 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals alongside unseeded duo Irina-Camelia Begu and Linda Noskova. China's Zheng, who was named WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2022, sent down 10 aces and 34 winners but also made 35 unforced errors at the Australian Open warm-up event. Belarusian Azarenka next faces Czech teenager Noskova, who followed up her first-round upset of Daria Kasatkina with a 6-2 6-2 win over fellow qualifier Clair Liu.

☆ Three prominent opponents of Tunisian president say they are under investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TUNIS, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Three prominent opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Monday that they had received notices from prosecutors that they were under investigation, including one related to assaulting public security and insulting the president. Chebbi is the leader of the opposition Salvation Front and has organized regular protests against Saied for months. Saied seized control of executive powers in July 2021 and later dissolved parliament, a step described by his opponents as a coup. The powerful UGTT Union also criticized the president, saying that it rejects his autocratic approach and will not remain silent. Hammami said a judge opened an investigation at the request of the justice minister on charges of spreading rumors and insulting the president.

☆ Tunisia seeks to cut fiscal deficit to 5.5% in 2023, led by economic reforms
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Tarek Amara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Economy Ministry said on Friday that economic growth in 2023 would be 1.8%, compared with 2.5% expected this year. Tunisia has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a $1.9 billion rescue package in exchange for unpopular reforms, including cutting food and energy subsidies, and overhauling public companies. The country's trade deficit is expected to shrink by 1.5% next year, to 15.8% of GDP in 2023. PAINFUL REFORMSAccording to next year's budget published by the economy ministry, Tunisia intends to reduce subsidy expenditure by 26.4% to 8.8 billion dinars. The ministry said it expects inflationary pressure to continue with the start of the reforms, which the union called "very painful".

☆ Tunisian Opposition Calls for President to Step Down After Low Voter Turnout
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The leader of Tunisia’s opposition alliance called for President Kais Saied to step down on Sunday after only a fraction of eligible voters turned out for parliamentary elections. More than 160 seats were up for vote. Yet once polls closed on Saturday night, only 8.8% of eligible voters, or roughly 803,000 people, had participated, according to the government. Tunisia has a population of roughly 12 million people, with about 9 million eligible voters.

Opposition politicians said Tunisia's lowest ever turnout stripped away any facade of democratic legitimacy for Saied's political project and called directly for his ouster. Saturday's dismal turnout strongly reinforced a perception of scant public support for his plans. As a political independent, Saied lacks the nationwide support of a party apparatus that can mobilise on his behalf. "Politics has become a luxury that we cannot afford," said Lamia Gharbi, who was queuing for bread at a Tunis bakery. Successive coalition governments have failed to find a fix for public finances that can satisfy lenders without prompting a domestic backlash.

☆ EIB bank lends Tunisia 150 mln euros in emergency support for food security
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TUNIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The European Investment Bank, the lending arm of the European Union, has approved a 220 million euro loan ($233 mln) for Tunisia, including 150 million euros in emergency support for food security, the Tunisian Ministry of Economy said on Sunday. Tunisia is in a deep financial crisis which has resulted in a shortage of many food commodities in recents weeks. Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Elyess Hamza said the loan will help Tunisia to regularly supply soft wheat. ($1 = 0.9450 euros)Reporting by Tarek Amara Editing by Raissa KasolowskyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tunisian opposition calls on president to quit after low turnout election
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tunisia's President Kais Saied speaks outside a polling station during parliamentary election in Tunis, Tunisia, December 17, 2022. Tunisian Presidency/Handout via REUTERSTUNIS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia's "Salvation Front" opposition coalition called for President Kais Saied to quit office, saying he had lost his legitimacy after Saturday's parliamentary election had a preliminary turnout figure of less than 9%. Although opposition groups have previously attacked Saied's political programme, they had not previously said he should quit office. "From this moment we consider Saied an illegitimate president and demand he resign after this fiasco," he said. Saied has presented his political changes as necessary to save Tunisia from years of political and economic crisis.

☆ Polls open in Tunisian vote boycotted by opposition
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during parliamentary election in Tunis, Tunisia December 17, 2022. Saied shut the previous parliament down last year, surrounding the legislature with tanks and assuming near total authority. The vote appears to have stirred little interest among a population jaded by political dysfunction and struggling with economic hardship. With the main parties absent, a total of 1,058 candidates - only 120 of them women - are running for 161 seats. For 10 of those - seven in Tunisia and three decided by expatriate voters - there is just one candidate.

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