News Briefs

Tunisian Interim Prime Minister Unveils National Coalition Government

Tunisia's interim prime minister on Monday unveiled a national coalition government that included three opposition leaders in an effort to bring stability to the North African nation in the aftermath of a popular uprising that ousted its autocratic ruler and sent shockwaves across the Middle East.

But it remains to be seen whether the limited changes will satisfy Tunisia's discontented masses and prevent them from taking to the streets again. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, a staunch ally of deposed president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and several top ministers in the ruling party will retain their posts in the new government.

At a press conference Monday, Ghannouchi said the new government was serious about "bringing calm and peace to the hearts of all Tunisians."

He vowed to usher in political and economic reforms, including releasing political prisoners, removing restrictions on human rights activists, and recognizing all nongovernmental organizations that seek to operate inside the country. Ghannouchi also declared that the government would create commissions to investigate corruption and state-sponsored abuses committed during the months of protests.

After weeks of streets protests, Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia last week, effectively ending his 23-year rule. It marked the first time that such demonstrations had toppled an Arab despot and raised hopes across the region that Tunisia could not only become the first real Arab democracy but also inspire transformation in other autocratic regimes across the Arab world.

Since the fall of Ben Ali, Tunisia has had two leaders. Ghannouchi was the first to take over, but he then abruptly surrendered to Fouad Mebazaa, the parliamentary speaker, complying with rules set by Tunisia's constitution. Mebazaa is now the interim president until new elections are held, which is expected within two months.

Monday's appointment of the three opposition leaders was a major breakthrough in a nation ruled with a tight fist and a strong security apparatus for more than two decades.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets Monday, demanding that the entire ruling party be wiped away from the government, according to news reports. As the protesters surged to the Interior Ministry, security forces unleashed tear gas.

On Monday, the European Union said it would offer economic aid to Tunisia and help it transform into a democracy. Washington is worried that radical Islamic groups such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb could capitalize on Tunisia's chaos and deepen a foothold in the region, among other concerns.

Arizona Statute Could Endanger Giffords' Hold on Seat

Even as Representative Gabrielle Giffords shows signs of a near-miraculous recovery, with doctors on Sunday upgrading her condition from critical to serious, a little-known statutory provision in Arizona state law could endanger the Democratic congresswoman's hold on her seat through what doctors say will be a protracted medical struggle.

A statute buried in Arizona law states that if a public officeholder ceases to "discharge the duties of office for the period of three consecutive months," the office shall be deemed vacant. At such a time, a special election could be called to fill the vacancy.

The law does not specify what those duties entail – it does not state, for instance, that a vacancy is declared if a member of Congress does not cast votes in Washington during a three-month period. And it could not be determined what Giffords' legal recourse might be should she be incapacitated for more than 90 days.

Still, the discovery of the statute has created an unforeseen legal complication for Giffords and state officials nine days after a gunman attempted to assassinate the congresswoman outside a Tucson supermarket, killing six people and wounding Giffords and 12 others.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) was made aware of the statute on Monday. Brewer's deputy chief of staff, Paul Senseman, wrote in an e-mail, "With Rep. Giffords' tremendous progress, an answer to many prayers, we've deemed it to be far too early and entirely inappropriate to speculate, analyze, consider."

Senior aides to Giffords did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

An informal adviser to Brewer said it was "unimaginable" that the governor would call for a special election to fill Giffords' 8th District seat if it is legally deemed vacant after 90 days. He said the most likely course of action would be calling for a special session of the state legislature to amend the law in such a way as to allow Giffords a longer period for recovery.

Although the state legislature is controlled by a Republican super-majority in both chambers, there are no indications that lawmakers would pursue any action that would deny Giffords her seat.

Starbucks To Roll Out New 31 Oz. ‘Trenta' Size

Starbucks Corporation will release its biggest drink size yet in all of its U.S. coffee shops by May 3, the company said on Sunday. The new 31-ounce ‘Trenta' size will only be available for iced coffee, iced tea and iced tea lemonade drinks in the U.S. The size is 7 ounces larger than the ‘Venti' cup for iced drinks and will cost 50 cents more than the similar-sized iced drinks, the company said. At 916 mL, the Trenta is actually larger than the average 900 mL capacity of the adult human stomach.

The Trenta size debuted in 14 states, including Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Hawaii and Arizona, on Tuesday, and it will debut in California on Feb. 1. Starbucks said that unsweetned drinks in the Trenta size will have fewer than 90 calories and that sweetened versions will have less than 230 calories.