Tunisian security forces stormed Monday the office of Qatari news channel Al-Jazeera in the capital Tunis and asked correspondents inside to leave the channel's headquarters.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Tunisia Reda Tammam told Anadolu Agency that "a number of (unspecified) security personnel stormed the channel's office this morning, and asked our crews to leave the place."

Tammam confirmed that the channel's office was "evacuated" of employees, without giving any reasons for the move, or any other details.

Tunisian authorities have yet to comment on the incident.

On Sunday, Tunisian President Kais Saied ousted the government of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, froze parliament, and assumed the executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister.

According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, the Tunisian army and security forces erected barriers in the streets leading to the parliament headquarters in the capital Tunis to separate supporters and opponents of the Tunisian president.

Clashes erupted between opponents and supporters amid a state of hit-and-run and stone-throwing in the vicinity of the parliament headquarters. Injuries were reported in the violence.

Army forces repelled attempts of dozens of opponents to climb the gate of the parliament headquarters and enter the building.

Supporters of the Ennahda movement - which holds 53 seats in the 217-member parliament - denounced Saied's decisions as a “coup” against legitimacy and the revolution.

On the other hand, supporters described Saied's decisions as "corrective", especially after politicians failed to address the successive crises in the country.

In his Sunday speech, Saied said he will suspend the immunity of all members of parliament and take control of the general prosecutor’s office. He claimed that he has taken the decisions after consulting Mechichi and Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi.

Tunisia has been gripped by a deep crisis since Jan. 16, when Mechichi announced a cabinet reshuffle but Saied refused to hold a ceremony to swear in the new ministers. Tunisia also faces an unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 strains in most states, causing a rapid spread of the virus.

Tunisia is seen as the only Arab country that succeeded in carrying out a democratic transition among other Arab countries that also witnessed popular revolutions that toppled the ruling regimes, including Egypt, Libya, and Yemen./agencies

• BTC, ETH soar to the highest of latest ranges as shorts squeezed
• BTC strongest since June, ETH at three-week peak
• Discuss of Amazon acceptance, huge investor remarks a assist – brokers

– Cryptocurrencies popped to the highest of latest ranges on Monday as brief sellers bailed out within the wake of a robust week and whereas merchants hoped a handful of constructive feedback from influential traders may sign a turnaround in fragile sentiment.

Bitcoin rose so far as 12.5% to hit $39,850, its highest since mid-June in the course of the Asia session, whereas ether hit a three-week peak of $2,344. On the heels of bitcoin’s greatest week in virtually three months, the transfer put the squeeze on brief sellers.

Final week, cryptocurrency fanatic and Tesla (TSLA.O) boss Elon Musk mentioned the carmarker would possible resume accepting bitcoin as soon as it conducts due diligence on its vitality use. It had suspended such funds in Could, contributing to a pointy crypto selloff. 

Twitter (TWTR.N) boss Jack Dorsey additionally mentioned final week that the digital forex is a “huge half” of the social media agency’s future and, on Sunday, London’s Metropolis A.M. newspaper reported – citing an un-named “insider” – that Amazon is trying to settle for bitcoin funds by yr’s finish. 

Brokers mentioned that taken collectively the remarks have been sufficient to lastly elevate the market from the ground of help the place it has held regular since a Could plunge, whereas knowledge additionally pointed to heavy short-seller liquidations – suggesting many might need given up.

“During the last 5 buying and selling classes we have seen normal near-term bullishness out there, pushed by key technicals, in addition to latest constructive feedback,” mentioned Ryan Rabaglia, world head of buying and selling at digital asset platform OSL.

“With a document $1.2 billion in shorts liquidated over the previous 24 hours, the outlook and momentum for the week forward is constructive,” he mentioned.

Bitcoin was final up 8% at $38,064, placing it nearby of resistance round June’s $41,341.57 peak only a week after it was testing help at $29,500.

Ether was final up 5% at $2,304. / Reuters 

Turkey's communications director on Saturday criticized France's parliament for passing a controversial bill, stressing that it would further marginalize Muslims and other religious minorities.

Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that though France claims to be based on the principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity, it has increased interference in the way of life of religious minorities through the bill adopted on Friday in a bid to keep radical Islam and extremism in check.

This initiative, which aims to bring religious minorities under control, will further marginalize Muslims, Altun underlined, saying: "This new law, totally contrary to France's so-called fundamental principles, legalizes Islamophobia and restricts the freedoms of religious minorities."

States have great responsibilities in these times when attacks against Muslims in Europe are increasing, he said, adding that Turkey will continue to closely follow developments concerning the bill.

The so-called anti-separatism bill was adopted in parliament by a final vote of 49-19, with five abstentions.

It may have to pass the final hurdle of the Constitutional Council -- the highest constitutional authority which has the right to overrule provisions of the approved bill.

Several parties have opposed the bill's text and threatened to seek recourse from the council on what they deem as discriminatory provisions, particularly those related to the prohibition of homeschooling.​​​​​​​/aa

GAZA CITY, Occupied Palestine

“Israel” on Sunday prevented the entry of fuel trucks allocated for Gaza's sole power plant via the Kerem Shalom crossing, the territory’s main commercial trade route, according to a Palestinian official.

"The [Israeli] occupation authorities barred the entry of 25 trucks loaded with fuel for the Gaza power plant," Rami Abu Elreish of the Hamas-run Ministry of Economy told Anadolu Agency.

He said “Israeli” authorities did not clarify the reason behind the move.

There was no comment from the “Israeli” authorities on the report.

Last month, “Israel” allowed the entry of fuel for Gaza's power plant after a suspension of 49 days following an 11-day military offensive on the Palestinian territory in May, in which 260 Palestinians were killed and thousands injured. Thirteen “Israelis” were also killed by Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza./aa

Bill, named 'reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic,' passed into law with 49 votes against 19

France has adopted a bill titled "reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic," criticized for marginalizing Muslims.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced Friday on Twitter that the parliament had adopted the bill.

"We give ourselves the means to fight against those who put forward religion to question the values of the Republic," Darmanin added.

The bill, rejected by the Senate in its session on Tuesday, was voted on in the French National Assembly, which has the last word on the validity of a law. The bill was passed by 49 votes in favor versus 19 against.

Meanwhile, right-wing parties announced that they would appeal against the law with the Constitutional Council, claiming it does not going after "Islamists" enough, while left-wing parties said they are preparing to do the same over its alleged violation of the Constitution.

Content of law

France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, has been criticized for interfering with the lives of Muslims with the law .

It contains measures to ensure the religious neutrality of public officials, while moving from a homeschooling system in which parents' declaration is sufficient to one that requires authorities' permission.

Besides, the text contains an array of articles, including on the fight against certificates of virginity, polygamy, and forced marriage, as well as others punishing online hate crimes, protecting public officials and teachers and mandating greater "transparency" in funding management.

France criticized by international groups, civil society

France has been criticized by international organizations and non-governmental organizations, especially the UN, for targeting and marginalizing Muslims with this law.

Since announced as a bill, attacks on mosques and masjids, including arson, have increased in the country.​​​​​​​/agencies

Germany's conservative candidate Armin Laschet apologized Sunday for laughing during a speech by the president in the flood-stricken town last week. This has caused his ratings to fall two months before the federal elections.

Laschet's conservative bloc is around 10 points ahead of the Greens in most polls, but his lapse last weekend at Erftstadt, when he was caught on camera laughing at a joke while the country's president was giving a somber speech, has cost him.

"It was stupid and shouldn't have happened and I regret it," he told ZDF television. "I am sorry, I can't say much more."

The incident spawned a Twitter storm under the hashtag "laschetlacht" (Laschet laughs). An INSA poll on Sunday showed that 57% of Germans viewed Laschet's actions in the catastrophic floods, which killed at least 180 people, as negative.

In a direct vote for chancellor, Laschet would only get 15%, down five points from last week, compared with 21% for his Social Democrat rival, Olaf Scholz, the poll showed.

In a wide-ranging interview with ZDF television, Laschet said he was determined to shift the campaign for the Sept. 26 election on to issues such as the economy and climate change.

"It is understandable that polls will fluctuate in a difficult week but in the next few weeks I want to shape the discussion on issues," he told ZDF.

Playing down differences with his Bavarian conservative rival, Markus Soeder, who has pushed for more ambitious climate targets, Laschet said he believed Germany would have phased out its coal before the target date of 2038.

"We should stick to the plan. But I think we will exit it more quickly than we all think due to CO2 prices," he said.

He also said he was not at odds on tax with Soeder, whose CSU forms a parliamentary bloc with Laschet's bigger CDU. Popular Soeder lost a bid to become the conservative chancellor candidate thanks to vested CDU interests in Laschet.

"In tax we are very close," said Laschet, when asked about Soeder's calls for tax reductions.

Making clear that his priority was not cutting taxes, Laschet said the conservatives wanted stable state finances and that to promise blanket cuts was "not serious."

Saying major investment was needed for Europe's biggest economy to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, he pointed out that Germany was bound by strict rules limiting new debt which are enshrined in the constitution.

"If there is the financial scope, we will support reducing the burden on low- and medium-earners and that should happen for families by 2023," said Laschet./agencies