News
Cheb Mami receives 5-year sentence
03/07/2009
A French criminal court on Friday (July 3rd) imposed a 5-year prison sentence on Algerian rai superstar Cheb Mami (Mohammed Khalifati) for a 2005 forced-abortion attempt on his ex-girlfriend, international press reported. Characterising the alleged crime as "violence from another era", the female prosecutor on Thursday requested a 7-year prison term. During the hearing, a sobbing Mami confessed that he made a grave mistake.
AU Commission to become "African Authority"
03/07/2009
African leaders attending the AU Summit in Sirte, Libya, approved early on Friday (July 3rd) a Libyan proposal to transform the union's executive body, the AU Commission, into the "African Authority", AP reported. Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has often discussed his desire for greater African unity through a federalised system dubbed the "United States of Africa".
ISESCO congress opens in Tunis
03/07/2009
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) Congress opened Thursday (July 2nd) in Tunis. APS quoted Algerian Education Minister Boubekeur Benbouzid as saying in Tunis that Algeria supports ISESCO's "work towards the West for the re-establishment of the genuine image of the Islamic World…an image free from the clichés of extremism and violence".
Algeria, Tunisia ink energy co-operation accords
03/07/2009
Algeria and Tunisia signed a series of energy co-operation deals Thursday (July 2nd) in Algiers, El Khabar reported. Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil and his Tunisian counterpart, Afif Chelbi, agreed to increase electric power interconnection capacity and boost natural gas distribution in Tunisian border towns and villages.
Algeria to sign Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline agreement
03/07/2009
Algerian Energy and Mining Minister Chakib Khelil arrived in Nigeria on Thursday (July 2nd) to sign an inter-governmental agreement for the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, APS reported. Algeria, Nigeria and Niger on Friday will reportedly sign a deal to send 20-30b cubic metres of natural gas from Nigeria - via Algeria and Niger - to Europe each year, starting in 2015.
Tunisia announces VAT refund
03/07/2009
Tunisia plans to begin refunding the value-added tax (VAT) on purchases made in the country by tourists and non-residents, Ansa reported on Thursday (July 2nd). The measure aims at increasing sales and boosting the commerce and craft sectors.
Pan-African Cultural Festival to open Sunday
03/07/2009
For the first time in 40 years, African nations will join together for the Second Pan-African Cultural Festival on Sunday (July 5th) in Algiers. The official opening of PANAF coincides with Algeria's Independence Day. More than 8,000 artists and writers from Africa and Diaspora nations will participate in two weeks of events at multiple sites across Algeria. On Saturday, the celebration gets underway with a parade in Algiers feature showboat-style floats representing each African country.
