Algeria ranks among Africa's happiest nations in the 2026 World Happiness Report
via Alg茅rie3603 min read
The 2026 World Happiness Report, supported by the UN, assesses citizen satisfaction in over 140 countries, considering six key factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and political transparency. In Africa, the top 10 happiest countries exhibit diverse strengths. Mauritius 73rd globally, Libya 81st, and Algeria 83rd lead the continent, with Mauritius benefiting from stability and governance, Libya from strong family solidarity, and Algeria from subsidized social protection. Other countries in the top 10 include Mozambique 93rd with community cohesion, Gabon 96th due to oil wealth, C么te d'Ivoire 98th with economic growth, and Cameroon 100th with a diversified economy. South Africa 101st faces challenges from inequality and unemployment, while Niger 103rd demonstrates happiness through local solidarity, and Tunisia 105th is affected by a tense socio-economic context. The report emphasizes that happiness is not solely tied to wealth, as countries with modest economies can rank highly due to strong community support, trusted institutions, and family ties. The 2026 edition also examines the impact of social networks on youth well-being.
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Algerian rai singer Reda Taliani was arrested in Mohammedia on the evening of Thursday, July 23, 2026, following a road accident. Security services, including the anti-gang brigade and traffic units, responded to the scene. According to local media Hespress, Taliani was driving at the time of the incident and allegedly refused to present his vehicle documents to the police. The situation escalated when a passenger accompanying him had to be evacuated to Moulay Abdellah Provincial Hospital in Mohammedia. Taliani initially refused to be transported by emergency services but was later taken to the same hospital in a police vehicle. After initial medical examinations, he was transferred to judicial police premises. A search of his vehicle at the accident site reportedly uncovered several bottles of alcohol. Taliani, who appeared disoriented during the intervention, was placed in police custody under the instruction of the public prosecutor. He is currently under investigation by the judicial police, supervised by the public prosecutor, to determine his state at the time of the incident and establish responsibilities. Taliani was scheduled to appear before the prosecutor on Saturday, July 25, for a decision regarding his detention or release. This is not the first time Taliani has been arrested in Mohammedia; he was previously apprehended in 2020 for similar reasons, involving driving under the influence, causing an accident, and refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.
Five Algerian cities were ranked among the world's hottest on Friday, July 24, according to EldoradoWeather. Biskra registered the highest temperature globally at 49.4 掳C, followed by Ouargla at 49.1 掳C, and El Oued at 48.9 掳C. Hassi Messaoud recorded 48.8 掳C, and Touggourt reached 48.7 掳C, completing the list of the top five hottest cities. This extreme heat is attributed to a "heat dome" phenomenon, where a high-pressure zone over North Africa traps hot air from the Sahara, preventing cloud formation and sea breezes. The National Meteorological Office ONM explained that this phenomenon has caused temperatures to reach up to 50 掳C in some areas. The heatwave has also led to over 160 fires across the country, affecting more than half of the municipalities in certain wilayas, resulting in six deaths and the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests and agricultural land. The Minister of Interior stated that the majority of fires have been brought under control with the deployment of 18 aerial firefighting units, Civil Protection, and the National People's Army. The government is assessing damages to compensate victims, and judicial investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires, some of which are suspected to be criminal. The high energy demand during this period also caused electricity outages in 16 wilayas. An easing of the heatwave is expected early next week with a drop in atmospheric pressure and the arrival of cooler north-westerly winds.
Must ReadThe US administration is set to implement new tariffs on imports from 60 trade partners, including Algeria, starting this Friday at 00:01 New York time. This move follows a revision of Washington's tariff policy after previous surtaxes were canceled by the US Supreme Court. According to an exclusive report by Asharq Business with Bloomberg, 11 Arab countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, and Morocco, will face a 12.5% customs duty on their affected exports to the US. Jordan is an exception among Arab nations, receiving a reduced rate of 10%. This new tariff policy is based on an investigation by US authorities into compliance with forced labor prevention standards. The assessment covered 60 US trade partners and forms the basis for the new customs system, aiming to adjust tariffs according to the investigation's findings and establish a legal framework consistent with recent court decisions. Exempted sectors include energy products fuels, foodstuffs, and fertilizers. However, specific regimes will continue for sectors like automotive, metals, and pharmaceuticals, which remain subject to separate investigations and duties. The immediate implementation of these new taxes aims to prevent any legal vacuum in the processing of US imports following judicial decisions that challenged previous tariff measures. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, India, and Jordan, will benefit