Tunisia’s prime minister has dismissed his foreign and defence ministers, two weeks after Kais Saied was elected the new president of the North African country.
According to a statement from the government presidency Tuesday, Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi and Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui were dismissed by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. Mr Chahed will keep his job until a new government is agreed.
Justice Minister Karim Jamoussi will become acting defense minister, replacing Abdelkarim Zbidi, who competed against Saied in September’s first-round presidential vote, the government said on its website.
Sabri al-Bachtobji was appointed acting foreign minister.
The two ministers were seen as being close to former President Beji Caid Essebsi, who died in July. Saied and Essebsi didn’t see eye to eye politically.
Economic Diplomacy Minister Hatem Ferjani was also relieved of his post.
Mr Saied, a former law professor who won more than 70 per cent of ballots in October’s run-off vote, became president at a critical time for the country that’s a democratic beacon in the Arab world but has struggled to revive the economy since its 2011 uprising.
He was sworn in before members of the constituent assembly and other top state bodies last week.
Tunisians, he said, "needed a new relationship based on trust with their politicians and those in power".
While Tunisia’s parliament has the majority of powers, the presidency has a strong say in defense and foreign policy and must approve ministerial changes.
Intense negotiations are currently taking place for the formation of a new government.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice