Tunisia, France hold joint naval exercises in Bizerte

2009-11-19 Tunisia and French this week are carrying out joint naval exercises near Bizerte, ANSA reported on Wednesday (November 18th). The manoeuvres reportedly aim to strengthen bilateral military co-operation in surveillance and maritime security.

Tunisia 'least corrupt' Maghreb country, international survey finds

2009-11-18 Tunisia topped the Maghreb region for public sector transparency in the 2009 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Babnet reported on Wednesday (November 18th). According to the annual survey of 180 counties released this week by Transparency International, Tunisia ranked 65th worldwide. This year's result, however, was a 3-spot decline from 2008. Morocco ranked 89th, Algeria was 111th and Libya was 130th on the index. New Zealand was this year's number 1 nation. The CPI is compiled from reports by ten independent institutions, including the African Development Bank and the World Bank.

Ben Ali addresses World Food Summit

2009-11-17 Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Monday (November 16th) addressed some 60 heads of state and world leaders gathered for the World Food Summit at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Rome headquarters, TAP reported. Ben Ali noted Tunisia's progress to ensure national food security by "improving the living conditions of inhabitants in rural areas, enhancing women's development role in these areas" and supporting water resources through a network of dams and artificial lakes.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will be represented at the 3-day event by Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci. Pope Benedict XVI, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other world figures will also address the summit.

Morocco, Tunisia confirm first H1N1 swine flu deaths

2009-11-17 Morocco's first H1N1 fatality was a 23-year-old Oujda man who had been hospitalised since last week for a pulmonary infection, health officials announced on Monday (November 16th). Two deaths in Tunisia reported last week-end were also officially confirmed on Monday, PANA reported. One victim suffered from hepatitis and the other had cardiac problems. Both victims were under 30 years old.

Tunisia, Algeria swap handball friendly wins

2009-11-16 Tunisia defeated Algeria 29-24 in a friendly handball match on Sunday (November 15th), TAP reported. The first friendly clash in Sfax ended in a 29-21 win for Algeria on Saturday. The week-end games were part of both teams' preparations for CAN 2010 in Egypt.

Algerian woman wins Tunis City marathon

2009-11-16 Algerian runner Rabiaa Khaled won the International COMAR Marathon of the City of Tunis on Sunday (November 15th). Khaled clocked 3:10.42 to beat Tunisians Mahbouba Belgacem and Anes Raddaoui. Kenyan Vincent Kipchirchir won the men's race, while Tunisian Amor Rached finished third. Lakhdar Hachani of Tunisia and Algerian Jamia Jakkak of Algeria won the men's and women's half-marathons.

First H1N1 swine flu deaths reported in Tunisia

2009-11-16 A 33-year-old Tunisian fisherman allegedly died last Thursday from complications related to the H1N1 swine flu virus, local and international press reported on Monday (November 16th). According to Tunisian weekly Al Ousbou, the unidentified victim had a pre-existing health condition. If confirmed, the case would be the first virus fatality in Tunisia. A 40-year-old man also allegedly died of H1N1 complications on Sunday. The second victim reportedly suffered from cardiac problems. Neither death has been officially linked to H1N1 influenza.