Viral videos have raised concerns about the presence of "forever chemicals," or PFAS, in kitchen items like air fryers and Teflon pans. While these videos highlight a real scientific issue, they often lack nuance. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals developed since the 1950s, valued for their non-stick, waterproof, and heat-resistant properties. They are found in non-stick coatings, food packaging, waterproof textiles, and cosmetics. These chemicals are called "forever chemicals" because their carbon-fluorine bonds are extremely stable, leading to very slow degradation and persistence in the environment for decades. They can contaminate soil, rivers, groundwater, and living organisms, accumulating in the human body. A report by the international network IPEN, titled "Forever Chemicals in Single-use Food Packaging and Tableware from 17 Countries," found PFAS in 54% of 119 food packaging and disposable tableware samples from 17 countries, including Tunisia. These were detected in fast-food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, baking paper, cups, takeout containers, and packaging made from recycled paper. High concentrations were found in plant-fiber containers marketed as biodegradable or compostable, and in microwave popcorn packaging. PFAS can migrate from packaging to food, especially when food is hot, fatty, or in prolonged contact with the container. Studies show that regular consumption of microwave popcorn or fast food leads to higher PFAS concentrations in blood. Expo
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The US military announced new strikes against Iran on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, aimed at weakening Tehran's ability to target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This action followed a statement by US President Donald Trump, who had earlier declared that Washington would "strike hard" overnight. The US military stated on X that these strikes were intended to further diminish Iran's capacity to impede freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, holding Iran responsible for recent aggressions against commercial ships and civilian crews in the vital international shipping lane. President Trump made his remarks after the NATO summit in Ankara, assuring that the new confrontations would end "very quickly" while also indicating that diplomatic negotiations with Tehran remained a possibility.
A report released on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, by the Intersection association for rights and freedoms, details an increase in restrictions and prosecutions against Tunisian civil society over the past two years. Titled "Civil society facing repression: violations targeting associations from May 2024 to the end of May 2026," the document identifies 88 cases of violations affecting associations, activists, and human rights defenders. The report, which covers the period from May 2024 to the end of May 2026, notes 47 cases of restrictions and prosecutions against associations and organizations, and 41 legal proceedings initiated against activists, association leaders, and human rights defenders. Eight individuals have been detained, while 34 others are being prosecuted but remain free. Seven first-instance judgments have been issued against activists. Administratively, 22 decisions to suspend association activities for one month were recorded. Two organizations, Manamti and Al Khatt, face legal proceedings for dissolution. The report highlights the cases of Saadia Mosbah, president of the Manamti association, who was arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison despite a financial audit reportedly finding no irregularities, and Abdallah Saïd, president of the Enfants de la Lune association, who remains detained after a one-year prison sentence in the first instance. Intersection identifies four forms of pressure: using anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws against civi
The Association of Tunisian Doctors in Germany has strongly criticized the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's response regarding the equivalency of diplomas for Tunisian doctors trained abroad. In a statement released on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the association described the ministry's response as "succinct and selective" and called for a reform of the equivalency system as part of a national strategy to attract Tunisian medical professionals established in Germany. The association clarified that Tunisian doctors completing their training in Germany receive a German specialty diploma, recognized at the European level and issued by the Medical Council of the respective Land. They argue that the ministry's characterization of this title as a "certificate of competence" is "misleading" and does not reflect its value or international recognition. The association also contested the ministry's interpretation of Article 16 of the 2023 decree on equivalencies, stating that the text allows for doctors to "may" be exempted from certain procedures after five years of practice, which they believe grants too much administrative discretion without uniform criteria. They advocate for immediate and automatic recognition of the German specialty diploma, without the five-year practice requirement or an evaluation exam, proposing instead a short adaptation period of up to six months to familiarize doctors with Tunisian protocols. The association also supports shared practice m