The demonstrations went ahead despite heavy presence of security forces and riot control personnel to prevent protesters from joining

Several opposition parties have already indicated that they will not participate in any constitutional referendum or elections based on a new set of rules drawn up unilaterally by the president

Just hours after the suspended parliament passed the symbolic vote by a majority, the president dissolved the body

Today we look at the upcoming strike by Tunisian journalists; the unionization struggle of Starbucks workers in Seattle, US; and more

The announcement of the journalists’ general strike came a day before government authorities detained a local news reporter at Mosaique FM under anti-terrorism laws

Demands have been raised for the president to resign and the government to immediately hold legislative and presidential elections in the country

Journalists have accused the government headed by president Kais Saied of trying to weaken the press in the country and drastically reduce the freedom of the press by systematically bringing it under government control 

The decree, which was issued on Sunday, gave the president significant additional powers over judicial appointments, disciplinary action and dismissals, and introduced certain judicial reforms. It also bans judges from organized collective action

The rights group called upon the Tunisian government to immediately stop the use of secret arbitrary detentions, first introduced during the state of emergency imposed in 2015 to crush dissent in the country

The dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council is the latest in a series of undemocratic moves by president Kais Saied who wrested virtually all power in the country last year in July

57-year-old Ridha Bouziane died in hospital five days after he was injured during protests against the government of president Kais Saied in Tunis on January 14

Over the last few months, Tunisian president Kais Saied has consolidated his control over the executive and legislative authority in the country. His latest action was to announce the formulation of a new constitution to be put to a national referendum next year followed by general elections