Tunisian actor Rezgui El Ouni passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026. Throughout his career, El Ouni became a familiar face in Tunisian fiction, participating in numerous productions including Choufli Hal, And Azaiez, El Hssad, Hayet wa Amani, and Kamret Sidi Mahrous. He also contributed to Arab productions and collaborated on many radio creations. Beyond acting, he was involved in radio directing, enriching the Tunisian audiovisual landscape with his experience and creativity. His passing marks the loss of one of Tunisia's most respected artists, whose significant roles and contributions to national creation leave a lasting legacy in television, theater, and radio.
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Tunisia's tourism sector is experiencing significant difficulties due to repeated electricity cuts during the summer season, impacting hotel operations and raising concerns about the country's image as a tourist destination. H茅di Hamdi, a specialized press editor and tourism expert, highlighted the alarming situation on LinkedIn. Hotels are dealing with increased customer complaints and a rise in requests for tourist repatriation. Tour operators are reportedly seeking explanations from Tunisian professionals, with some considering changes to their programs if the situation persists. The reputation of establishments on specialized platforms is also deteriorating due to negative reviews related to power outages, potentially affecting future bookings. Operationally, hoteliers face soaring costs for generator rentals, which are essential for maintaining basic services. The power cuts also disrupt the cold chain, leading to food spoilage and potential shortages, as suppliers are also affected. This crisis comes as Tunisian tourism was already experiencing a slowdown in bookings, partly due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Hamdi stated that the sector is once again "against the wall," facing an uncertain outcome. Professionals are concerned about the duration and financial cost of this energy crisis, its impact on Tunisia's image in key markets, and the potential for these disruptions to become recurrent in future summer seasons, jeopardizing efforts to revive tourism.
Tunisian journalist Mohamed El Meherzi passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the age of 92. He was a prominent figure in national broadcasting, known for his role in establishing televised news in Tunisia and training early generations of public service journalists. Born on September 3, 1934, Meherzi began his media career in 1956 at Tunisian Radio, where he contributed to the "Tunisification" process of the institution. During his time at the radio, he covered significant events in Tunisia's post-independence state-building, including political, economic, and social developments, as well as issues related to national sovereignty. After seven years, he joined the United Nations, leading the UN Information Office in Tunisia and overseeing programs across various sectors. He also managed communication for international conferences held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. In 1966, at the request of Mohamed Mzali, then director general of Tunisian Radio-Television, and under instructions from President Habib Bourguiba, Meherzi returned to establish the information department for the newly launched Tunisian television. He became the first editor-in-chief of televised news and the first presenter of the national television news. He structured the news service and supervised various information and analysis programs. Following his departure from television, Mohamed Meherzi pursued a diplomatic career, serving as an advisor at the Tunisian Embassy
A recent heatwave in Tunisia, with temperatures exceeding 45掳C, has led to the deaths of thousands of animals in farms, pet shops, and small family operations. Widespread electricity and water supply interruptions exacerbated the situation, depriving animals of ventilation, cooling, and sufficient water. Social media has been flooded with distressing images from farmers showing dead fish, birds, and poultry, highlighting the catastrophic losses. In fish farms, power outages halted aeration systems crucial for maintaining oxygen levels, causing fish to die from asphyxiation as water temperatures rose and oxygen capacity decreased. Poultry farms faced similar devastation; chickens and other birds, unable to sweat, rely on respiration to regulate body temperature. Prolonged power cuts disabled vital ventilation systems, leading to heat accumulation and mass mortality from thermal stress. This tragedy represents not only significant economic losses for farmers, often losing their sole source of income, but also a profound emotional toll. Pet shops also reported animal deaths. Climate specialists have warned about intensifying heatwaves in the Mediterranean, and this event underscores the critical need for resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions. The combination of high temperatures and infrastructure failures created hostile environments where animals could not survive, leaving a lasting trauma for affected breeders.