Climate expert warns of intensifying risks amid El Niño alert
via Business News4 min read
Hamdi Hached, a fisheries engineer and climate specialist, warned on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, about accelerating global warming and increasing extreme heat episodes, highlighting growing impacts on public health, ecosystems, and socioeconomic systems. This warning follows an update from the World Meteorological Organization WMO and the United Nations on the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to exacerbate extreme weather conditions in the coming months. The WMO estimates an 80% chance of El Niño conditions developing between June and August, with a 90% probability of continuation thereafter. El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon occurring every two to seven years and lasting nine to twelve months, involves abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific. Its effects on global climate are typically most pronounced in the year following its onset. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that El Niño's impact extends beyond the Pacific, affecting agriculture, energy, trade, water resources, supply chains, and livelihoods. The WMO also highlighted that tropical Pacific ocean temperatures are approximately 6°C above average, raising concerns about a potentially strengthened El Niño episode. The 2023-2024 El Niño was among the most powerful on record, contributing to global temperature records in 2024. While climate change may not alter El Niño's frequency, it amplifies its effects, with a warmer climate providing more energy for extreme events like heatwaves and
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The Tunisian Federation of Artisans and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises FTAPME has issued an urgent appeal to the President of the Republic, calling for intervention to safeguard struggling businesses and protect jobs. In a statement released on June 2, 2026, the organization depicted a challenging economic landscape in Tunisia, characterized by fiscal and social burdens, a surge in the parallel market, limited access to financing, and an increase in legal proceedings against companies. The FTAPME highlighted that Tunisian businesses continue to grapple with the cumulative effects of several years of crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and previous terrorist attacks that severely impacted the tourism sector. These events have weakened company treasuries, particularly for vulnerable small and medium-sized enterprises. While acknowledging state efforts to mitigate difficulties through tax and social penalty exemptions, the federation deems these measures insufficient given the extent of accumulated debt. It advocates for debt repayment schedules to be extended to at least ten years, rather than the current five, to allow businesses to recover. The FTAPME also criticized the "excessive" tax and social pressure on Tunisian companies, claiming Tunisia has one of the highest such pressures among African nations. Furthermore, the federation denounced the criminalization of financial difficulties, citing an increase in penal proceedings against business leaders by administrati
Tunisia's olive oil exports are experiencing significant growth, with a 63.9% increase in volume during the first six months of the 2025-2026 campaign compared to the previous season, reaching 295,400 tonnes. Revenue also saw a substantial rise, from 2,400 million dinars to 3,600 million dinars. Fiscal expert Mohamed Salah Ayari highlighted the strategic importance of this sector for the national economy, particularly its contribution to foreign currency earnings and agricultural development. The cultivation of olive trees is expanding beyond traditional regions like the Sahel and Sfax, now thriving in areas such as Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Kasserine, and parts of the Northwest, partly due to the olive tree's resilience to drought. Despite this positive trend, Ayari emphasized that the main challenge is enhancing the value of Tunisian olive oil through improved packaging. Currently, about 87% of exports are in bulk, with only 13% being packaged. A significant portion of this bulk oil is sent to Spain 32% and Italy 20% for packaging under foreign brands. Ayari advocates for accelerating incentives to increase the share of packaged oil to at least 20% of exports, which would boost the visibility of Tunisian brands internationally. He also called for diversifying export markets, noting that the European Union accounts for 56% of exports, North America 23.2%, and Asian markets only 12%. Ayari sees opportunities in China due to recent advantages for African products and believes tha
Four years after the decree-law of June 1, 2022, led to the revocation of 57 magistrates, the Tunisian Magistrates Association AMT issued a critical statement on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, asserting that the decision continues to undermine judicial independence in Tunisia. The AMT highlighted that the 2022 decree-law was applied without fundamental guarantees, such as the right to defense and access to disciplinary files. It also stated that the decision violated the principle of separation of powers and international standards for judicial independence. The AMT noted that magistrates from judicial, administrative, and financial jurisdictions unanimously rejected the measure, and the Administrative Tribunal ordered the suspension of the decree-law for 49 magistrates in August 2022, a decision the Ministry of Justice reportedly did not respect. The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights also issued conservatory measures in October 2024, instructing the Tunisian state to suspend the text's application, which remain unapplied. The AMT also cited condemnations from the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and the International Union of Magistrates. The association further denounced what it calls "continued judicial harassment" against the revoked magistrates, with over 109 cases initiated against them after favorable Administrative Tribunal decisions, in cases it deems lacking factual basis and legally admissible evidence. The AMT believes these proce
Following a food poisoning incident in Meknassy, Sidi Bouzid governorate, ten days ago, two people died and several others required medical attention. The National Food Safety Agency INSSPA announced on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, that laboratory analyses revealed the presence of anabasine, a toxic substance, in a sample of "osbane" consumed by the victims. Traces were also found in the sauce and couscous, suggesting contamination during preparation. Experts believe the anabasine originated from the accidental inclusion of leaves from the wild plant Nicotiana glauca, also known as "tree tobacco." This plant, common in Mediterranean regions including North Africa, contains toxic alkaloids like anabasine, which can cause severe poisoning, affecting the nervous system, and leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle weakness, neurological disorders, respiratory difficulties, and heart rhythm disturbances. In severe cases, it can be fatal. A key danger is that Nicotiana glauca leaves can be mistaken for edible leafy greens like chard or spinach, especially when gathered from the wild or informal sources. The plant is an shrub, 2 to 6 meters tall, with thick, bluish-green, waxy leaves and bright yellow tubular flowers. Originating from South America, it is drought-resistant and grows in abandoned areas and roadsides. All parts of the plant are toxic. Health and botanical experts advise against consuming wild plants unless their identification is formally established