French customs seize 2,000 prehistoric artifacts from Algeria at auction house
via Algérie3602 min read
French customs officials have seized 2,000 prehistoric archaeological artifacts from Algeria at an auction house in Béziers, France. The items, including stone tools, fossils, ceramic fragments, and ancient coins, were part of 118 lots with an estimated value of 5,000 to 8,000 euros. The seizure occurred after customs officers in Sète received a tip-off and conducted an inspection in collaboration with customs intelligence services and DRAC Occitanie. No documentation justified the acquisition or regular importation of the goods. The artifacts have been entrusted to the Archaeological Documentation Center of Gard in Nîmes for scientific study and heritage preservation. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of cultural heritage plundering in Algeria. Algerian police have also made significant seizures since the beginning of 2026, including over 10,000 Roman bronze pieces in Ain Defla, 335 coins, statuettes, and a handcrafted firearm in another operation. In Tébessa, a criminal network was dismantled, leading to the seizure of 4,365 Roman coins. An attempt to traffic 1,352 coins was thwarted at Algiers airport, and in Constantine, authorities seized 1,381 coins, 132 pieces of jewelry, 13 statuettes, a metal detector, and excavation equipment.
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Volotea, a low-cost airline, is expanding its presence in the Algerian market by introducing new routes connecting Spain and Algeria. The airline announced a new direct flight from Murcia to Algiers, scheduled to begin on November 28, 2026. This temporary service will operate until January 5, 2027, with two flights per week using Airbus A320 aircraft. Bookings for these flights will open in early November. Additionally, Volotea will inaugurate a direct route from Valencia to Algiers, with its inaugural flight also on November 28, 2026. The Valencia-Algiers route will initially operate three times a week throughout December, with flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Following two additional rotations in early January 2027, a regular flight schedule for the Valencia-Algiers route will commence on March 30, 2027, with two weekly flights until the end of October 2027.
Must ReadThe 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, Côte 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.
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.