🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia increases social assistance to 280 dinars per month starting January 2026
via Business News1 min read
A joint decree from the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Finance, published on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Tunisian Republic, announces an increase in direct monetary transfers for beneficiaries of the "Amen Social" program. The basic allowance will rise from 240 dinars to 280 dinars per month for an individual or household, effective January 1, 2026. This measure revises a previous decree from May 19, 2020, concerning the calculation and amount of direct financial transfers for disadvantaged groups. The increase aims to support purchasing power and enhance social assistance for low-income households. The "Amen Social" program provides financial support and guidance to vulnerable populations through direct aid, improving living conditions and mitigating the effects of economic hardship.
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Recent health concerns have been raised regarding the common use of certain indoor air fresheners. Reports suggest these products may contain undeclared or poorly identified chemical substances on their labels, prompting questions about their potential long-term effects on human health. The primary concern is that indoor air, where most people spend significant time, can be affected by external sources and by products used to "freshen" the air. Key potentially dangerous chemicals often found in air fresheners include volatile organic compounds VOCs like formaldehyde, a known irritant and carcinogen, and benzene, also a carcinogen. Many products also contain terpenes such as limonene or alpha-pinene, which can react with ozone to produce harmful secondary pollutants. Phthalates, suspected endocrine disruptors, are sometimes used to fix fragrances. Some air fresheners may also contain synthetic musks, glycol, irritating solvents, and allergenic preservatives. Additionally, some sprays release fine particles and complex fragrant substances whose exact composition is not always listed, making repeated inhalation potentially problematic, especially in enclosed spaces. These compounds can also react with other elements in indoor air to form even more harmful secondary pollutants. For instance, terpenes can produce formaldehyde or ultrafine breathable particles in the presence of ozone. Studies indicate that air fresheners emit not only their advertised ingredients but also a comple
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