Wajih Dhokkar, president of the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors OTJM, highlighted the alarming prevalence of aggression against medical staff, stating that 73% of young doctors have experienced some form of aggression during their careers. He noted that violence in healthcare facilities is no longer an isolated issue but a persistent problem. Dhokkar attributed these incidents to years of impunity and deteriorating conditions in public hospitals, where patient frustration over long waits, medication shortages, and access difficulties sometimes escalates into aggression against healthcare providers. He emphasized that doctors and nurses should not be scapegoats for underfunding or a declining health system, noting that healthcare professionals are themselves advocating for sector reform. Dhokkar cited two recent cases: a surgeon in Monastir assaulted by a patient after medical care, and a doctor at Ibn Jazzar Hospital in Kairouan attacked while organizing a queue. An OTJM national study of over 700 young doctors revealed that 73% reported at least one violent aggression, verbal or physical, and over 12% of aggressions involved threats with a bladed weapon. The study also found that security intervention was absent in two-thirds of cases, and insufficient in over a quarter of situations where security agents were present. Approximately 69% of aggressions involved patient companions rather than patients themselves, a situation exacerbated by ineffective access control in
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The Ministry of Cultural Affairs announced the passing of Tunisian cinema decorator Taoufik Béhi on the night of Monday, July 6, to Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The ministry honored Béhi as a key figure in set design and artistic direction for Tunisian and international cinema. Throughout his career, he contributed to numerous Tunisian and foreign cinematographic works, collaborating with renowned directors. He was recognized for his professionalism, artistic standards, and his view of set design as crucial to cinematic storytelling. The ministry noted his belief that "a successful set is one that the viewer does not see, but whose effect they feel." Beyond Tunisian productions, Taoufik Béhi also worked on Arab and foreign projects, promoting Tunisian expertise in the field. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs extended its condolences to his family and the cinema and cultural community in Tunisia and abroad, acknowledging his significant impact on the cinematic landscape.
Algeria's legislative elections on July 2 recorded an unprecedented low voter turnout of 21.24%, the lowest in the country's history, according to official results announced on Monday, July 6, 2026. The Front de libération nationale FLN, the historic independence party, secured the most seats with 90 out of 407 in the Assembly. The Rassemblement national démocratique RND followed with 73 seats, and the Front El Moustakbal obtained 59. Islamist parties, the Mouvement de la société pour la paix MSP and El Binaa, secured 43 and 38 seats respectively. Non-Islamist opposition parties experienced a decline, with the Front des forces socialistes FFS getting 12 seats, the Rassemblement pour la culture et la démocratie RCD winning four, and the Parti des travailleurs three. Female representation also decreased, with only 23 women elected, down from 38 in 2021 and 118 in 2017. Despite polling stations remaining open an extra hour to encourage participation, mobilization remained low. Karim Khelfane, interim president of the Autorité nationale indépendante des élections Anie, noted that low turnout is not unique to Algeria, citing similar trends in other democracies, and praised the transparency of the election. The electoral campaign took place during the World Cup, under high temperatures, and before a long weekend, contributing to the low engagement. The previous legislative elections in 2021 also saw a low participation rate of 23%.
The Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has clarified the conditions under which Tunisian doctors trained abroad can obtain diploma equivalency without an examination. In a written response to the President of the Assembly of People's Representatives on July 1, 2026, the Ministry stated that a Tunisian doctor with a foreign degree can receive equivalency without an evaluation test or additional training, provided they have at least five years of effective practice after obtaining their specialty diploma. This possibility is already covered by existing regulations and does not require legislative changes. The Ministry highlighted that rules governing diploma equivalency, particularly in medical specialties, were revised by a ministerial decree on October 10, 2023. This reform was the result of consultations initiated in 2018 with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, medical faculties, and the Order of Physicians. The text explicitly allows doctors with five years of professional practice post-specialization to directly benefit from equivalency, bypassing aptitude tests or supplementary training. The Ministry noted that this provision is already applied by the sectoral commission for medical and paramedical diploma equivalencies, with favorable decisions granted to several doctors who specialized in Germany after verifying their professional experience. This clarification comes amid ongoing discussions about the return of medical profess