Tunisian Minister of Interior Khaled Nouri spoke by phone with his French counterpart Laurent Nuñez on Monday, July 13, 2026, at the initiative of the latter. Their discussions focused on shared security challenges, particularly the fight against cross-border crime and drug trafficking. According to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Interior, the two officials addressed various issues under the purview of their respective ministries. The exchanges specifically covered ways to strengthen coordination against criminal networks operating across borders, especially given the increasing regional security challenges. The telephone conversation also provided an opportunity to explore consolidating Tunisian-French security cooperation. Both ministers emphasized the importance of continuing joint efforts to address common threats, including illicit trafficking and organized forms of crime. Security cooperation remains a major aspect of the relationship between Tunis and Paris, alongside economic, migratory, and diplomatic matters.
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A highly violent video circulating on social media features an individual issuing insults, calls for execution, and threats of murder and hanging against several political figures and lawyers, including Hamma Hammami, the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party. Hammami has decided to file a complaint with the justice system. The three-minute video, widely shared, shows a man identified as a supporter of the President of the Republic, making repeated calls for Hammami's "execution" and stating his willingness to kill him. The threats extend to other named individuals, including Samir Dilou, Mohamed Abbou, Ezzeddine Hazgui, and Rached Ghannouchi. The video's author expresses a desire to gather them, "tie them together," and place chains around their necks, while also urging authorities to prevent some of these individuals from leaving the country. The video also contains continuous insults, labeling the targeted individuals as "traitors," "mercenaries," and "dogs," and claims they are acting against the President of the Republic. The author attributes statements to Hamma Hammami calling for a "new revolution" starting July 25, which are presented in the video as justification for the calls to violence. The article highlights the public nature of these explicit death threats and the question it raises about the normalization of political violence on social media, especially when such content is openly accessible and features specific acts of violence.
Tunisia ranks 110th out of 135 countries and jurisdictions in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI GIRAI, scoring 16.37 out of 100. This places Tunisia significantly below the global average of approximately 35 points and far behind European nations that lead the ranking. The index assesses public authorities' capacity to regulate AI, protect fundamental rights, ensure system transparency, and establish oversight and recourse mechanisms, rather than technological development or company performance. The data for the report covers November 1, 2023, to September 30, 2025. Tunisia's scores across the five dimensions of AI governance are: 19.22 for inclusion and diversity, 9.61 for ethics and sustainability, 13.46 for labor and skills, 23.52 for trust and security, and 16.04 for AI use in public services. Trust and security is the highest-rated dimension, while ethics and sustainability is the lowest. The country received a zero score for civil society engagement in AI governance. General conditions for responsible AI development, such as institutional, legal, and technical capacities, scored 49.22 out of 100. These results indicate that while Tunisia has some favorable conditions, they have not yet translated into effective public policies or control mechanisms. Globally, Norway leads the index with 75.26 points, followed by Italy 72.71 and Ireland 71.39. France is fourth 70.32, the Netherlands fifth 69.51, and Germany sixth 68.98. The UK is seventh 67.27, followed by Slovenia
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Donald Trump announced that the United States would "take control" of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route, and would require payment for its protection. Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated, "We will become the guardians of the strait," and added that the US expects significant reimbursement for the risks faced by its troops, claiming the US has provided this service "for free" until now. This declaration comes amid high tensions between Washington and Tehran, despite a recent ceasefire. Trump's statement that the US is "taking control" contradicts Iran's assertion that the strait remains closed "until further notice." Days prior, Trump had threatened to "decimate and completely destroy" Iran following intelligence from Israel about an alleged Iranian plot against him. Tehran, however, maintains it has respected the ceasefire and accuses Washington of violating its commitments by reinstating economic sanctions. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, facilitating approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas exports. Disruptions in this area typically lead to increased energy prices and international market concerns. Iran has frequently threatened to close the strait in response to Western military and economic pressure, while Washington justifies its naval presence by the need to ensure freedom of navigati