French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has accused Algeria of stoking a rapidly deteriorating diplomatic dispute, as tension grows despite his visit to Algiers earlier this month aimed at thawing ties.
"We are in a very regrettable situation in which dialogue dramatically deteriorated because of an unjustifiable decision by Algeria," Mr Barrot told radio station France Inter on Wednesday.
He spoke after a series of retaliatory measures that French media described as the worst diplomatic rupture between the two countries since Algeria gained independence in 1962.
On Tuesday, Mr Barrot announced the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats from France and recalled the French ambassador in Algeria for consultations, in response to Algeria's decision to expel 12 French officials from the embassy in Algiers.
Government critic
Algeria linked their expulsion to the arrest on Friday of three Algerian nationals in France, including a consular official, in connection with the 2024 abduction of prominent government critic Amir Boukhors, widely known online as "Amir DZ". The three men are also being prosecuted on charges of terrorist conspiracy and have been placed under pre-trial detention.
Mr Boukhors, who has more than a million followers on social media platform TikTok, has accused Algeria of organising his 27-hour kidnapping to intimidate him. Algiers has issued nine arrest warrants against Mr Boukhors, who obtained political asylum in France in 2023.
The Algerian Foreign Affairs Ministry has described the arrest of its official as an "unacceptable legal cabal" based "on the sole fact that the accused consular officer's mobile phone was located around the home address of the firebrand" - a reference to Mr Boukhors.
Algiers has blamed the arrests on French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has long advocated for a harsher stance towards Algeria. Bilateral ties have been strained since last summer after French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara region - a move that angered Algeria, which backs the region's separatist movement.
Mr Barrot, a centrist close to Mr Macron, described Algeria's reaction as "completely disproportionate", insisting that the arrests were a matter for France's independent judiciary. "Bruno Retailleau has nothing to do with this," he said. Daily newspaper Le Figaro reported that the 12 expelled French officials were all affiliated with the Interior Ministry.
Despite asserting a firm line, Mr Barrot, has faced criticism from the political right, with some like Mr Retailleau calling for a complete overhaul of France's relationship with Algeria, including scrapping a 1968 agreement that lays the foundation for Algerian immigration to France.
"This is what the 'graduated response' has led us to: a new humiliation," said Laurent Wauquiez, a Les Republicains MP and rival to Mr Retailleau in the party's coming leadership election. Algiers has accused the right of obsessing over Algeria for electoral gains.
Mr Barrot warned against "irresponsible" grandstanding. He referred to Mr Retailleau's trip to Morocco on Monday during which Rabat promised to double its acceptance rate for repatriation of Moroccan nationals expelled from France.
Heavy history
A deadly knife attack by an undocumented Algerian man in the eastern French city of Mulhouse in February reignited debate in France over how to compel Algeria to comply with international law on deportations.
The suspect, who killed a passer-by and injured five police officers, had been subject to 10 failed expulsion requests. Yet revoking bilateral agreements, as suggested by Mr Retailleau, will not lead Algeria to increase its acceptance rates, legal experts in France have warned.
France is a former colonial power in both Algeria and Morocco but has more difficult relations with Algeria. Unlike Morocco, Algeria was considered an integral part of French territory after colonisation began in 1830. The legacy of the 1954-1962 Algerian war of independence, which costs hundreds of thousands of lives, remains a deeply sensitive and unresolved chapter in both nations' histories.
In recent months, tension has been further stoked by the arrest of several pro-government Algerian influencers in France. On Tuesday, a court in the city of Lyon sentenced 54-year-old French-Algerian influencer Sofia Benlemmane to a nine-month suspended prison sentence for issuing death threats. The court also banned her from TikTok and Facebook for six months. According to daily Le Monde, Benlemmane had been expelled from Ivory Coast in 2023 for racist comments during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both Mr Barrot and Mr Macron have been working behind the scenes to ease tension. On April 6, Mr Barrot met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a visit to Algiers, a week after the countries' leaders spoke on the phone. At the time, Mr Barrot claimed relations were "returning to normal".
He had also raised hopes for the release of 80-year-old French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court in March on national security charges. They appear to be linked to his public support of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region. His French lawyer has said he is battling cancer.
On Tuesday, Le Figaro published a letter from Mr Sansal's daughters, Nawal and Sabeha, addressed to Mr Macron. In it, they described their father as a "hostage" caught in the crossfire of the diplomatic feud between France and Algeria.
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Could%20We%20Be%20More
%3Cp%3EArtist%3A%20Kokoroko%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Brownswood%20Recordings%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayvn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Flinos%2C%20Ahmed%20Ismail%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efinancial%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2044%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseries%20B%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHilbert%20Capital%2C%20Red%20Acre%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The%20specs
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RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
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More on Quran memorisation:
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Celta Vigo 2
Castro (45'), Aspas (82')
Barcelona 2
Dembele (36'), Alcacer (64')
Red card: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Pakistan 106-8 (20 ovs)
Iftikhar 45, Richardson 3-18
Australia 109-0 (11.5 ovs)
Warner 48 no, Finch 52 no
Australia win series 2-0
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Euro 2020
Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Wales, Turkey
Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria,
Georgia/Kosovo/Belarus/North Macedonia
Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Scotland/Israel/Norway/Serbia
Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden,
N.Ireland/Bosnia/Slovakia/Ireland
Group F: Germany, France, Portugal,
Iceland/Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
