馃嚬馃嚦TunisiaNorth Africa
Kia Tunis Open returns with ambitious 2026 edition
via Business News7 min read
The 21st edition of the Kia Tunis Open, an ATP Challenger 75 tournament, will take place from May 11 to 16, 2026, at the Tennis Club de Tunis. A press conference held on May 7, 2026, at the Sheraton Tunis Hotel, announced details of the event, which serves as a significant stepping stone for young Tunisian players. Attendees included Selima Ben Mustapha, President of the Tennis Club of Tunis and Tournament Director; Bassem Zouaoui, President of the Tunisian Tennis Federation; Chiraz Elloumi, President of the Organizing Committee; Riadh Annabi, General Manager of City Cars Kia; and Nabil Lakhoua, Commercial Network Director of UBCI. The tournament will feature players preparing for Grand Slam events like Roland-Garros, with notable participants including Czech Dalibor Svr膷ina, ranked 116th, and Tunisian Moez Echargui, ranked 140th. Twenty different nationalities will be represented, competing for a total prize fund of $107,000. The singles winner will receive $17,000 and 75 ATP points. Three wild cards for the main draw were awarded to Tunisians Skander Mansouri, Aziz Dougaz, and Aziz Ouakaa, with four more for qualifications. Chiraz Elloumi stated that the 2026 edition builds on the previous year's success, with a budget increase of 10% from 2025's 550,000 dinars, aimed at improving infrastructure and player experience. Innovations include the renovation of court number 9 to ATP standards, bringing the total of international standard courts to three. Enhanced media coverage w
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Tunisian authorities have launched a major investigation into several companies operating the country's salt pans, focusing on an alleged export under-invoicing mechanism. This scheme is suspected of transferring profits abroad, thereby reducing Tunisia's tax revenues and foreign currency earnings. Since early 2026, the Research and Anti-Tax Evasion Brigade, known as the "tax police," has been conducting checks on salt sector operators. According to a Ministry of Finance source cited by TAP news agency, fourteen companies exploiting salt pans are involved in the inquiry. Most of these companies are wholly or partly owned by foreign capital. The investigations cover over twenty production sites across various regions, including Sfax, Gab猫s, Monastir, Mahdia, Sousse, and Zarzis. Investigators are working to determine if an export under-invoicing system exists, where companies allegedly sold salt extracted in Tunisia to foreign subsidiaries or related companies at below-market prices. The product would then have been resold on international markets at significantly higher prices, allowing a substantial portion of profits to be transferred out of Tunisia while artificially reducing locally declared earnings. Preliminary estimates suggest these practices could have cost the Tunisian state hundreds of millions of euros annually in tax revenues and foreign currency income. The investigations now include all accounting, commercial, and logistical documents of the companies. Control s
Tunisia has been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the first round following a 0-4 defeat to Japan and a 1-5 loss against Sweden. Coach Herv茅 Renard, who took over after Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal, accepted full responsibility for the results, stating his role was to make the team competitive. He noted that the team started well against Japan but could not maintain their level against a quality opponent. Captain Elyes Skhiri delivered a harsh assessment, suggesting Tunisian football needs deep introspection and reforms in governance, youth training, and grassroots development, concluding that the national team is not at the level to participate in a World Cup. Defender Ali Abdi apologized to fans for the catastrophic campaign, highlighting unfavorable preparation conditions. He pointed to numerous changes made just weeks before the tournament, including replacing experienced players with younger ones, which prevented the team from developing necessary cohesion. Abdi emphasized that most qualified teams prepare for years, while Tunisia had to rebuild its squad urgently. The statements from Renard, Skhiri, and Abdi collectively point to a lack of preparation, instability, and structural dysfunctions beyond the field, potentially reigniting debate on Tunisian football governance and the reforms needed for the Carthage Eagles to regain international competitiveness.
Tunisia has been officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a 4-0 defeat to Japan, following an earlier 5-1 loss to Sweden. This marks Tunisia as the first Arab team to be eliminated from the tournament. Daichi Kamada opened the scoring for Japan in the 4th minute, a goal contested by the Tunisians. Japan, described as superior and better organized, extended their lead with Ayase Ueda scoring a brace and providing an assist. The match also marked the 1000th game in the competition's history. Herv茅 Renard was appointed as the national team coach after the initial defeat against Sweden, replacing Sabri Lamouchi, whose tenure included one win, one draw, and three consecutive losses in five matches. Renard's mission was to revitalize the team, which was at the bottom of Group F. Japan, having previously drawn 2-2 with the Netherlands, is now close to qualifying for the round of 16 and will compete for the top spot in their group in the final match. Tunisia has one remaining match without stakes.