Algeria

The culture minister of Algeria resigned over the weekend after a stampede at a packed concert by prominent French-based rapper Soolking killed five people.

French police arrested over two hundred people on Sunday following Algeria’s qualification for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, which sparked scenes of joy as well as clashes with police in several large cities.

London-based fans of Algeria’s association football team celebrated its win in a match in the Africa Cup of Nations by pouring into the streets of the hyper-diverse British capital to block traffic, hurl fireworks, and trash police cars.

Lyon bombing suspect Mohamed Hichem M. has confessed to the terror bombing that injured 13 on Friday, and according to French television, has pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State. 

According to an Egyptian media report, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is considering his resignation as protesters emboldened by the ouster of the Algerian president grow more confident and the military begins intervening to protect demonstrators from Bashir’s security forces.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday after months of turmoil, street demonstrations demanding his ouster, and finally the military taking steps to force him out by questioning the sick and reclusive 82-year-old president’s fitness for office. The question of what comes next is on the minds of both international observers and Algerians, who continued demonstrating in the streets after Bouteflika’s announcement, demanding the rest of the corrupt political elite depart as well.

A top leader of the North Africa-based al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), seeking to take advantage of protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s administration in Algeria, recently urged Muslims to “unite” to establish an Islamic emirate in the country, according to several reports.

The political situation in Algeria remained at a stalemate on Tuesday, as thousands of protesters once again packed the streets and called for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign. A new activist group asked the military to stay out of the fight and “play its constitutional role without interfering in the people’s choice.”

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced on Monday that he will not run for another term after 20 years in power, satisfying the demand of thousands of protesters filling the streets for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, he also canceled the election entirely and gave no indication he is prepared to step down, so the protests continued.

TEL AVIV – The Algerian government on Monday released blogger Marzoug Touati after he embarked on a hunger strike last summer in protest over the seven-year prison term he received for interviewing an Israeli Foreign Ministry official.

(AFP) — Mehdi Nemmouche stands accused of carrying out Europe’s first attack by an Islamist fighter returning from the war in Syria.

Algeria is closing its southern border to Syrian migrants, citing security concerns.

All of the countries of the North African region have rejected a proposal from the European Union to build migrant reception facilities in their countries.

Algerian authorities have set a court date to try five Christians who have been accused of “inciting a Muslim to change his religion,” a criminal offence, and “performing religious worship in an unauthorized place.”

An Algerian migrant male was shot dead early Monday morning by Spanish police after he attempted to attack officers with a knife.

AFP — Germany’s government launched a renewed attempt Wednesday to declare three North African states and Georgia “safe countries of origin”, which would raise the hurdles for asylum requests by its citizens. Legislation, which aims to reduce the migrant influx

Events in Morocco present the U.S. with an array of opportunities to secure a series of gains in northern and western Africa, as well as in Europe and beyond, as it seeks to curb Iranian power.

Increasingly isolated in Europe, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Algeria Tuesday for a whirlwind five-day tour of Africa intended to boost his economy and raise the diplomatic profile of his country tarnished by an ongoing invasion of Syria and repeated failures to prevent terror attacks in urban tourist centers.

TEL AVIV – In what is fast becoming policy, Lebanon once again banned Gal Gadot from theaters, this time for reprising her role as Wonder Woman in the new movie, Justice League. The movie was barred by Lebanon’s Office of the

Contents: CNN investigation finds thriving slave trade in Libya; Italy defends its role in Libya’s slave trade

PARIS (AP) – French authorities have detained a man linked to an Algerian driver who sped his car into a group of soldiers near Paris. It is the first arrest in the case. A judicial official said Thursday the man

The prime suspect arrested Wednesday afternoon after he is alleged to have driven a car into a group of soldiers in a Paris suburb, injuring six, has been identified — and remains in hospital after being shot by police.

Jordan’s parliament on Tuesday scrapped a controversial article in the penal code that allowed a rapist to escape punishment if he married his victim.

The Palestinian terror movement Hamas, which has been trying to relocate senior officials who were asked to leave Qatar, has asked Algerian authorities for permission to open an office there, the Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported Monday.

Saudi Ambassador to Algeria Sami Bin Abdullah Salih on Wednesday unequivocally said in an interview that Hamas is a terrorist organization.

A court in Algeria sentenced a man to two years in prison after he posted a photo where he dangled a baby from a high-rise balcony. He threatened to drop the toddler from the 15th story balcony if he didn’t receive 1,000 Facebook likes.

TEL AVIV – Jordan has banned a screening of “Wonder Woman” because its Israeli lead actress, Gal Gadot, served in the IDF, and has instructed theaters nationwide not to screen the movie until an official government decision has been made.

Contents: Arrest of Berber activist in Morocco raises Berber-Arab tensions; Brief generational history of Berbers and Arabs

TEL AVIV – The head of a watchdog organization slammed Arab states at a UN Human Rights Council meeting for their “Orwellian” and “false” claims of Israeli “apartheid” while Arab nations have practiced apartheid against Jews for decades.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting Algeria as she seeks to enlist North African countries in Germany’s efforts against Islamic extremism and illegal migration.