Tunisia and Algeria are enhancing their customs cooperation, focusing on facilitating the movement of people and goods, intensifying efforts against cross-border smuggling, and accelerating the digital transformation of procedures. This initiative was the central theme of the Tunisian-Algerian joint customs commission meeting held on July 16 and 17, 2026, at the headquarters of the Tunisian Customs Directorate General in Tunis. Discussions addressed border management challenges and economic exchange support, with both Tunisian and Algerian customs officials emphasizing the need for increased coordination to improve control efficiency while ensuring smoother movement for travelers and commercial flows. Key areas of focus included combating smuggling, particularly along shared land borders, and strengthening joint operational mechanisms through better cooperation, information exchange, and coordinated field teams. Economically, the commission highlighted reducing customs clearance times and quickly resolving issues faced by operators, acknowledging efforts to facilitate goods exchange under the mutual administrative cooperation agreement. The meeting also reviewed progress on agreements, including recommendations from the previous joint customs commission session in Algeria in May 2025. Modernizing customs services through digitalization was a common priority, aimed at enhancing transparency, reducing administrative delays, and strengthening commercial operation control. A twin
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Tunisian Olympic and world champion Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui secured first place in the 200-meter freestyle at the Florida Summer Championships in the United States. The 23-year-old swimmer completed the distance in 1 minute 50.76 seconds, indicating his return to form ahead of upcoming international competitions. This victory is part of his preparation for the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, scheduled from August 21 to September 3, where he is expected to be a key medal hopeful for the Tunisian delegation. Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui gained international recognition by winning the gold medal in the 400m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. His achievements also include two world titles in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle, and a silver medal in the 400m freestyle at the Fukuoka 2023 World Championships. He also earned a silver medal in the 1,500m freestyle at the Abu Dhabi 2021 Short Course World Championships.
Amidst widespread power cuts and a heatwave, Tunisia's National Agency for Energy Management ANME highlighted the increasing number of air conditioners and their impact on electricity consumption. This statement, relayed by Agence TAP on Friday, July 17, comes as public criticism focuses on the management of the national electricity grid. The timing of the declaration is notable, as power outages have increased across the country, with temperatures exceeding 45掳C in some areas. Residents are experiencing repeated interruptions, affecting air conditioning, refrigeration, and sometimes even drinking water. Critics point to a lack of investment and anticipation for recurrent consumption peaks. Abdelkader Baccouche, director of energy efficiency in the building sector at ANME, presented data showing air conditioners are now the second-largest electricity consumer in households, up from third place in 2019. Approximately one million new air conditioners have been installed in five years, bringing the national total to nearly 2.7 million units, with over half of Tunisian households owning at least one. ANME estimates these appliances account for about 18% of residential electricity consumption and roughly 50% of peak summer demand. The peak electricity consumption reached 4.8 gigawatts in July 2024. Refrigerators remain the most energy-intensive appliances, accounting for an estimated 36% of consumption. While these figures illustrate the growing impact of air conditioning, they do
Journalist Hamza Belloumi announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, that he and journalist Insaf Boughdiri, former editor-in-chief of the political show Le Huiti猫me Jour, were sentenced to one year in prison and an 8,000 dinar fine. This ruling stems from a complaint filed in 2015 by former President Moncef Marzouki, following the broadcast of a video on their show that allegedly showed him calling for a "bloodbath" in Tunisia. It was later revealed that the video was a montage. Belloumi stated that he and Boughdiri believed the case had been closed and that they were unable to exercise their right to defense during both the initial and appeal proceedings. They have appealed the judgments, asserting their innocence and describing the incident as a professional error for which they had publicly apologized. A search warrant has also been issued for Belloumi and Boughdiri. In the same case, Noureddine Ben Ticha and Chahrazed Akacha also received one-year prison sentences and 8,000 dinar fines. Moncef Marzouki, in a Facebook statement, clarified that he filed the complaint in 2015, after his presidency, believing it was then legitimate to pursue legal action against those who disseminated a falsified video attributing a call for violence to him. He questioned the timing of the judicial decision, rendered more than ten years after the events, and why others who allegedly broadcast similar content were not prosecuted. Marzouki also criticized the state of justice in Tunisia, which he con