The People's Representatives Assembly ARP approved the 2026-2030 development plan bill on Friday, July 10, 2026, with 64 votes in favor, 15 abstentions, and 24 votes against. This adoption concludes the parliamentary process for a document the executive branch presented as a roadmap for the country's economic and social directions over the next five years. The plan aims to boost growth, support investment, strengthen regional development, and implement structural transformations across various sectors. The government defended the project, stating it offers a new development vision focused on improving competitiveness, leveraging national resources, and mobilizing new funding sources. Critics, however, raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the financial means required for its implementation, especially given the state's limited budgetary margins. Economic experts and elected officials expressed doubts about the plan's ability to effectively address persistent economic challenges, including unemployment, regional disparities, weak private investment, and difficulties in several productive sectors. Opponents viewed the project more as a statement of intent than an operational program, citing the absence of sufficiently detailed mechanisms to guarantee the achievement of stated objectives. While this vote marks a crucial step, questions remain about the plan's capacity to translate its ambitions into tangible results.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
A repatriation operation for Tunisian women and children held in Syria is underway, according to Mostafa Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights OTDH. The group is to be transferred to the Turkish border before being taken over by Tunisian authorities. Abdelkebir stated on July 10, 2026, that this would be the first repatriation of Tunisian children from Syria, whose fathers were involved with the Daesh terrorist organization. He estimates that over 200 Tunisian children and more than 60 Tunisian women are in Syrian prisons and camps, though these figures are unconfirmed by Tunisian authorities. The OTDH has been working on this issue for several years, documenting and monitoring cases. This announcement follows Abdelkebir's earlier statements in January 2026 about an international process to transfer detainees from former Daesh strongholds, with an estimated 6,500 Tunisians involved. He noted the complexity of the issue, including verifying identities, nationalities, and parentage, as well as determining judicial, security, and social support. Tunisian authorities have not yet officially commented on or confirmed this operation.
New clashes erupted on Thursday, July 9, 2026, between the United States and Iran, with Tehran retaliating against Washington's allies in the region. Iran accused its enemies of attempting to disrupt the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This resurgence of hostilities, the most significant since a fragile memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17 to solidify an April ceasefire, raises fears of a return to a large-scale conflict. Donald Trump declared the truce "over" and criticized Iranian leaders as "sick" individuals he no longer wished to deal with, though he left the door open for his negotiating team to continue talks. For the second consecutive night, the United States launched massive strikes against Iran, targeting approximately 90 military sites, including anti-aircraft defense systems, coastal surveillance facilities, and missile and drone storage sites on the southern coast. Iran accused Washington of also targeting civilian infrastructure to "cast a shadow" and prevent worshippers from attending Ali Khamenei's funeral. Bridges and the railway link between Tehran and Mashhad, where the former supreme leader was to be buried that evening, were reportedly hit. Strikes were also reported in the "perimeter" of Iran's only active nuclear power plant in Bushehr, according to an Iranian official cited by the official Irna agency. Badriyeh, a 44-year-old housewife from Bandar Abbas, reported that American raids resulted in 17 deaths and 93 injuries, with wind
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