🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunis appeals court upholds 38-year sentences for five Mornaguia prison escapees
via Business News2 min read
The specialized criminal chamber for terrorist crimes at the Tunis Court of Appeal issued its verdict on June 9, 2026, in the case of the escape of five terrorist detainees from Mornaguia Civil Prison. The court upheld the initial judgment, confirming the convictions and 38-year prison sentences for each of the five main defendants: Ahmed Melki, also known as "Somali," Ameur Balaâzi, Raed Touati, Alaa Ghazouani, and Nader Ghanmi. These individuals were involved in the October 31, 2023, escape of five dangerous detainees from Mornaguia prison. Four of them were apprehended on November 7, 2023, in the mountainous area of Boukornine, Ben Arous governorate, while the fifth was arrested two days earlier in Cité Ettadhamen, Ariana governorate. The appeals court, however, overturned the initial judgment against four prison administration agents, acquitting them. The court also confirmed the guilt of eight other defendants, reclassifying their actions as negligence by a public agent responsible for guarding an escaped detainee. Each of these eight received a two-year suspended prison sentence with a warning against reoffending. Additionally, the court increased the sentences for two other defendants to seven years in prison and reclassified the charges against seven other defendants as complicity by an agent responsible for guarding an escaped detainee, sentencing them to seven years of imprisonment.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
The Swedish Embassy in Tunisia released a video on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, showcasing a symbolic moment of friendship before the upcoming football match between Tunisia and Sweden. The video features six individuals, three wearing the Tunisian national team jersey and three in the Swedish jersey, embracing warmly. The accompanying message, "Together in friendship, see you on the field," emphasizes fair play, respect, and camaraderie beyond the competition. This initiative highlights football's role as a universal language that brings people together. The highly anticipated match between Tunisia and Sweden is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 03:00 local time at Monterrey Stadium.
Must ReadThe Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Monday, June 8, 2026, that the number of confirmed deaths from the Ebola epidemic has reached 101. This is according to the latest data released by the country's health authorities. The Congolese Ministry of Health also reported 550 confirmed cases since the outbreak began. This particular outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is under close international health authority surveillance due to the lack of an approved vaccine specifically for this strain. The health response continues in several eastern provinces of the country, where medical teams face significant logistical and security challenges. Congolese authorities have highlighted that the persistent activity of armed groups in some affected areas complicates screening operations, patient care, and contact tracing. In response to the evolving situation, health authorities are continuing awareness campaigns and epidemiological surveillance measures to try and contain the virus's spread. The World Health Organization classified this epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern last May, calling for increased regional and international mobilization to support efforts to combat the disease.
Divers have captured what is believed to be the first underwater footage of an adult great white shark in its natural Mediterranean habitat. The images, released on June 8, 2026, show an impressive animal, highlighting the species' extreme rarity in the Mediterranean basin. While some surface sightings have been reported over decades, no underwater sequences of an adult specimen had been recorded by divers until now. Derk Remmers, one of the divers, described the encounter as special, noting the shark was very close and his fingers trembled while operating the camera. Great white shark populations in the Mediterranean have declined dramatically due to overfishing, scarcity of prey, accidental catches, marine pollution, and habitat degradation. Scientists fear a regional disappearance of the species, as documented encounters are few, limiting knowledge about their movements, breeding areas, and populations. This sighting follows another event in 2025 off Sfax, Tunisia, where fishermen observed a great white shark, estimated at over five meters, circling their boat without aggression. The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, is a top marine predator, crucial for regulating marine ecosystems. Despite its fearsome reputation, it is not a "killing machine" but a key species maintaining biodiversity. Its exceptional sensory capabilities, including detecting minute traces of blood and perceiving electrical fields, make it an effective hunter. It is also one of the few fish tha