Tunisia

TUNIS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will soon grant Tunisia 250 million euros (279.21 million U.S. dollars) to support the North African country in its fight against the spread of COVID-19 and reduce its social and economic repercussions, announced Tunisian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

"In a telephone conversation, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Oliver Varhelyi informed Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Noureddine Erray that EU had decided to grant 250 million euros to Tunisia," said a ministry statement.

TUNIS, March 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Employees at a Tunisian factory are churning out 50,000 face masks a day and other protective medical gear after opting to go into lockdown at work.

The 150 workers, mainly women, have isolated themselves at the Consomed factory for a month.

They were spurred on by patriotism as the country battles coronavirus, their manager Hamza Alouini said.

Employee Khawla Rebhi said she greatly missed her family, but her colleagues’ good cheer provided some compensation.

26 Mar 2020; MEMO: Tunisia’s Trade Minister has accused Italy of seizing a shipment of medical alcohol en route to Tunisia from China. “What happened to this shipment is similar to the Czechs stealing a cargo of medical face masks that China sent to Italy to help combat the coronavirus,” explained Mohamed Msilini in televised comments on Monday evening. “Today, all European countries are hysterical, and all of them are stealing equipment for fear of this virus.”

21 Mar 2020; MEMO: Tunisia’s president on Friday ordered a general lockdown, limiting citizens’ free movement in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, reports Reuters.

The North African country, which has already shut down cafes, restaurants, and mosques, has so far reported 54 confirmed cases of coronavirus and one death.

06 Mar 2020; MEMO: At least one militant on a motorbike blew himself up outside the US embassy in Tunisia today, wounding police officers, witnesses said, in the country’s most serious attack in months, Reuters reported.

The explosion took place near the embassy’s main gate, where a Reuters journalist saw a scorched, damaged motorbike and a damaged police vehicle lying amid debris as police gathered around and a helicopter whirled overhead.

05 Mar 2020; MEMO: Tunisia will suspend passenger ferry services to northern Italy and take other measures in response to the spreading coronavirus, Health Minister Abdelatif el-Mekki said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

TUNIS, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied received Arab interior ministers attending the 37th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council opened in Tunis on Sunday, according to a Tunisian presidency statement.

Saudi Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the honorary chairman of the Arab interior ministers council, described a meeting with the Tunisian president as one that "emphasized the deep-rooted Saudi-Tunisian ties".

TUNIS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia's new head of government Elyes Fakhfakh and members of his cabinet took the oath in front of President Kais Saied on Thursday, said Tunisian presidency.

"It is a historic moment that we are experiencing after a difficult and painful struggle," Saied said on the sidelines of the ceremony.

He said that the greatest challenge facing the new government "is the economic and social issues."

The Tunisian president called on the new ministers to fight against corruption which has spread to all sectors in the country.

27 Feb 2020; MEMO: Tunisian Prime Minister-designate, Elyes Fakhfakh, identified seven major economic and social priorities that top his government’s work plan, aimed at covering large economic sectors and supporting all social categories.

Fakhfakh said, in a statement today before Parliament to gain confidence, that his government will deal with the file of economic monopoly through working to counter-trafficking activities, especially smuggling of subsidised commodities.

TUNIS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s parliament approved a new coalition government in a confidence vote, after months of political wrangling that has slowed the north African country’s efforts to tackle looming economic problems.

There were 129 votes in favor, 77 against.

Elyes Fakhfakh, who was designated prime minister last month by President Kais Saied, has brought parties from across the political spectrum into his cabinet – and they continue to disagree on several big policy areas.