Tunisian coastguard officials intercept migrants at sea during their dangerous attempt to cross to Italy. Reuters
Tunisian coastguard officials intercept migrants at sea during their dangerous attempt to cross to Italy. Reuters
Tunisian coastguard officials intercept migrants at sea during their dangerous attempt to cross to Italy. Reuters
Tunisian coastguard officials intercept migrants at sea during their dangerous attempt to cross to Italy. Reuters

Tunisia intercepts more than 1,800 migrants aiming to sail to Europe


Ghaya Ben Mbarek
  • English
  • Arabic

Tunisia intercepted more than 1,800 migrants, thwarting 59 attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, on Saturday and Sunday.

There were 18 Tunisian citizens among those who tried to set out on the journey, the National Guard said on Monday.

Two bodies were recovered, while 24 smugglers, including organisers and mediators, were held.

Last week, authorities said security forces prevented more than 30,000 people from crossing to Europe through Tunisia's territorial waters in the first five months of 2024.

According to the Tunisian coastguard, 30,281 irregular migrants were intercepted at sea between January 1 and May 31, compared with 21,652 last year.

The coastguard also said it prevented the entry of 26,619 irregular through Tunisia's land borders in 2024, compared with 7,299 a year ago.

The North African country has signed agreements with the EU and countries such as Italy, which have agreed to help it strengthen Tunisia's capacity to curb the influx of migrants into Europe, in exchange for large sums of money, including much needed budget support packages.

Tunisian authorities have stepped efforts trying to control the large number of migrants moving through the country and attempting to reach Europe through its maritime borders.

  • A migrant woman learns how to sew at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
    A migrant woman learns how to sew at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
  • Women learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
    Women learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
  • Migrant women learn how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
    Migrant women learn how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. It is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
  • A migrant woman learns how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
    A migrant woman learns how to use a computer at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
  • Migrants attend a class at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
    Migrants attend a class at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
  • Sub-Saharan migrant children learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in southern Tunisia.
    Sub-Saharan migrant children learn French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in southern Tunisia.
  • A migrant learns French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
    A migrant learns French at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
  • A woman learns sewing at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. The charity is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
    A woman learns sewing at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants, in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine. The charity is a rare, locally driven opportunity for migrants to better themselves and integrate in a wider North Africa region that is often far from welcoming.
  • Migrants gather at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.
    Migrants gather at a centre run by the Organisation for the Support of Migrants in the southern Tunisian city of Medenine.

In recent years, Tunisia has become a major transit point for migrants – most of whom are from sub-Saharan African countries – trying to reach Europe for better economic opportunities through the dangerous Mediterranean route.

Thousands die each year attempting to make the journey with the help of human traffickers who provide unsafe, and often small, boats in exchange for ever increasing amounts of money.

The UN's migration agency has described the Mediterranean crossing as “the deadliest route for migrants on record” estimating that at least 3,129 people died or disappeared trying to cross to Europe through it last year alone.

This is the highest death toll recorded in the Mediterranean since 2017, International Organisation for Migration said.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro
Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books 

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES

All matches at the Harare Sports Club:

1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets

2nd ODI, Friday, April 12

3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14

4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.

Sting & Shaggy

44/876

(Interscope)

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

Three ways to boost your credit score

Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

1. Make sure you make your payments on time;

2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;

3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.

The studios taking part (so far)
  1. Punch
  2. Vogue Fitness 
  3. Sweat
  4. Bodytree Studio
  5. The Hot House
  6. The Room
  7. Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
  8. Cryo
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch

Power: 710bhp

Torque: 770Nm

Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds

Top Speed: 340km/h

Price: Dh1,000,885

On sale: now

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

MATCH INFO

 

Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)

Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no

Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)

Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9

Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
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%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: June 18, 2024, 11:22 AM