Alessandro Prunas, the Italian Ambassador to Tunisia, discussed the Tunisian-Italian economic and entrepreneurial forum on Express FM, focusing on mobility, training, and legal migration. He noted that a 2023 memorandum aimed to facilitate the entry of approximately 4,000 Tunisian workers into Italy annually for three years. Since then, the number of work visas issued has more than tripled, with over 15,000 work visas granted to date for the 2024-2026 period. Student visas have doubled, and overall legal mobility flows have nearly tripled. Prunas emphasized a shift towards "circular" mobility to prevent brain drain and promote "brain gain" by ensuring skills return to Tunisia. This involves targeted training to meet Italian labor market needs while preserving Tunisia's productive sector. He mentioned about 20 projects to create legal migration pathways, supported by approximately 15 million euros for vocational training for young Tunisians, aligning with the broader Mattei Plan for Africa. Prunas highlighted that, for the first time, regular arrivals of Tunisian citizens in Italy have significantly surpassed irregular arrivals. He views this trend reversal as crucial for worker protection, as legal entry provides social security, legal status, and access to banking, unlike irregular paths that expose individuals to exploitation. The ambassador also touched on the economic and strategic aspects of the partnership, noting the participation of over 200 Italian companies and more
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The coffin of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei arrived in Tehran for an unprecedented three-day national funeral, four months after his death in an Israeli-American strike. Authorities expect 15 to 20 million participants in Tehran alone for the tribute, which begins Saturday. Khamenei's body, draped in an Iranian flag, will be displayed day and night until Monday at the Grand Mosalla complex. The walls of the complex are adorned with large portraits of Khamenei, black flags for mourning, and red flags symbolizing martyrdom and vengeance. Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Revolutionary Guards, made his first public appearance since the war to pay respects. Ali Khamenei, the longest-serving Supreme Leader since the 1979 Islamic Republic, died at 86 on February 28 during bombardments on his residence by the United States and Israel. His national funeral, initially planned for March, was postponed due to the war and is expected to be the largest in Iran's history. In 1989, approximately 10 million people attended the funeral of his predecessor, Rouhollah Khomeini. Coffins of Khamenei's family members, also killed on the first day of the war, are displayed alongside his. A procession carrying his remains will parade through Tehran on Monday before heading to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday. The presence of Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, who succeeded him as Supreme Leader in early March, has not been confirmed. Dignitaries from about 30 countries, mainly neighbors, are expected, incl
Several civil society organizations in Tunisia have issued a joint statement expressing "total solidarity" with Ciné-Théâtre Le Rio and other independent cultural spaces. This follows Le Rio's allegations of measures by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, including subsidy cuts, closure of its cafe, threats of exclusion from major cultural events, and repeated administrative controls. The signatory organizations, which include the Tunisian League for Human Rights LTDH, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists SNJT, and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights FTDES, believe these actions are part of a broader campaign to restrict independent spaces that host public debate, cultural activities, political discussions, and human rights advocacy. They argue that Le Rio has become a crucial venue for opposition political parties, human rights organizations, and independent cultural initiatives as other spaces for freedom diminish. The organizations view the targeting of Le Rio as an attack on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, creation, assembly, and the right to participate in cultural life, all guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution and international conventions. They demand an end to administrative, financial, and political pressures against independent cultural spaces and call for transparent and equitable public subsidies. They also urge national organizations, unions, artists, intellectuals, and democratic forces to mobilize in defense of th
Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, has voiced serious concerns regarding the appellate confirmation of the conviction of Anas Hmaidi, president of the Tunisian Judges' Association AMT. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, Satterthwaite stated that fundamental fair trial guarantees were not upheld in Hmaidi's case. She highlighted that the appeal was decided without Hmaidi being summoned or heard, emphasizing that everyone has the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal. Satterthwaite added that judges should not be penalized for defending judicial independence and believes Hmaidi's conviction should have been annulled. The criminal chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal confirmed Hmaidi's one-year prison sentence for "obstructing freedom to work" on Wednesday, July 1, with immediate execution. A judicial source indicated that Hmaidi had appealed the initial judgment but did not appear at the hearing despite two postponements requested by his lawyers, and had reportedly left Tunisian territory. The AMT, however, disputes the procedure, asserting that their president was never properly summoned to the Court of Appeal and that a request for a further postponement for his appearance was denied. The association argues this deprived Hmaidi of his right to be present at his trial, present his defense, and fully benefit from legal assistance. They also noted that the judgment was