Day: March 19, 2024

Medenine: The Ras Jedir border crossing (Medenine governorate) was shut down overnight on the Tunisian side as a precautionary measure to protect Tunisian and Libyan travellers and preserve their safety, following skirmishes and gunfire on the Libyan side, a security source told TAP. The crossing was restricted to ensuring the return of Tunisians to their country, the same source added. The Ras Jedir border crossing was also closed from the Libyan side due to these skirmishes. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tataouine: The Dhiba-Wazen border crossing between Tunisia and Libya has seen an increase in road traffic in both directions following the closure of the Ras Jedir crossing on Monday evening, a security source told TAP. The same source stressed that the movement from Dhiba (Tataouine governorate) to Libya was "smooth and without congestion", noting that waiting times did not exceed one hour. "The situation is under control", he said, thanks to the joint work of the security and customs units, which are working to speed up procedures. A security source told TAP on Tuesday that the Ras Jedir border post had been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure following skirmishes and gunfire on the Libyan side. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Bizerte: Port traffic in the Bizerte movable bridge will reopen on Tuesday evening, said regional director of public works in Bizerte, Om Ezzine Tamni. The decision was taken after studying the preliminary report assessing the consequences of last March 4 collision between the Italian freighter Ekmen Sky and the Bizerte movable bridge. Tamni told TAP news agency the first lifting of the movable bridge was scheduled for Tuesday evening at 23:00 to allow ships to enter and leave the commercial port of Bizerte-Menzel Bourguiba. "The vessel involved in the collision is currently subject to precautionary seizure, subject to payment of a provisional amount estimated at 3 million dinars, pending an exact assessment of the material damage caused to the deck," the same source added. At its emergency meeting on March 4, the Regional Committee for the Organisation of Rescue Operations authorised the appointment of a consultancy firm to assess the damage caused to the movable bridge, to maintain the previous traffic plan and to suspend the use of quay 1 of the commercial port of Bizerte. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

TUNIS: The Ministry of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly announces a call for applications for the Best Female Scientific Research Award 2024. The call for applications is open from March 19 until May 10, 2024, according to a department press release. Awarded annually on the occasion of the National Day of Tunisian Women, observed on August 13, this 15,000-dinar prize is awarded for the best female scientific research carried out by a female researcher of Tunisian nationality over the last three (03) years (including 2024). The theme for 2024 is the circular economy and sustainable development in the Tunisian context (waste management and recovery), according to the same source. Created by decree n°2009-2060, the Award aims to encourage Tunisian female researchers and support their scientific careers. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse