Algiers households are urged to ease pressure on the power grid
Sonelgaz-Distribution has asked households, shops and businesses in Algiers to reduce avoidable electricity use while the intense heat continues. Demand is heaviest between 2 pm and 6 pm, when air conditioning and commercial equipment place the greatest strain on local networks. The company recommends switching off lights that are not needed, including illuminated shop signs during daylight, keeping doors shut in air-conditioned premises and setting cooling units at about 25°C. These are conservation measures, not mandatory temperature rules, and they are intended to preserve service during the most demanding hours.
Exceptional demand caused some low-voltage outages in parts of the capital, and technical teams restored supply in the affected areas. That does not indicate a citywide interruption. The cited heat bulletin runs through Tuesday, 21 July, so residents can help by moving energy-intensive tasks outside the afternoon peak where practical. Anyone who encounters an electrical fault should use the utility’s official reporting channels and avoid handling cables or distribution equipment. The advice is specifically attributed to the Algiers area and should not be presented as a uniform national instruction.
Fire crews remain mobilised across several wilayas
Civil Protection resources remain deployed in northern and eastern Algeria as hot, dry conditions complicate operations. The latest detailed snapshot available was issued for 1 pm on Sunday: 69 fires had been recorded, 43 had been extinguished and teams were still dealing with 26 at that exact point. Sixteen people had received care for smoke-related breathing difficulties, with no deaths reported in that dated update. Those figures describe a defined reporting moment and should not be treated as a live Monday total or combined with the different figures published on Saturday.
Local crews, mobile columns and aerial assets are working together in areas where access can be difficult. AT-802 water bombers, military helicopters and a BE-200 aircraft were among the resources supporting the response. The public safety message is to stay away from affected forests, keep approach roads clear for emergency vehicles and follow instructions issued locally. People without the proper training and equipment should not try to tackle a forest fire themselves. Wind and terrain can change a manageable-looking edge into a dangerous front very quickly.
A national summer programme welcomes children from the diaspora
Sofiane Chaïb, the secretary of state responsible for Algeria’s community abroad, launched the first Summer Camp 2026 session in Algiers. The opening session continues until 30 July, and a second is planned for 2 to 13 August. Designed for children aged 8 to 16, the programme combines educational activities, cultural discovery and leisure. It gives young members of the diaspora an organised opportunity to spend time in Algeria, meet peers with similar family connections and learn about the country through visits and group activities rather than through classroom instruction alone.
Fourteen wilayas are involved: Chlef, Béjaïa, Biskra, Tlemcen, Tiaret, Algiers, Jijel, Sétif, Skikda, Annaba, El Bayadh, El Oued, Khenchela and Aïn Témouchent. That spread takes participants through coastal cities, inland regions and Saharan settings. The announcement confirms the age group, dates and broad format, but it does not say that registration remains open or that places are still available. Families seeking practical travel, accommodation or guardian details should therefore rely on direct notices from the state services responsible for the national community abroad.
Police and Gendarmerie warn about impersonation scams
The National Gendarmerie and the DGSN have issued a joint warning about criminals who impersonate security officers in calls, text messages and social-network applications. The callers may claim that they need to verify a file or protect an account, then ask for personal information, an Edahabia card number, postal-account details or a confidential code. Both institutions stress that legitimate police and gendarmerie personnel do not request this sensitive information by telephone or messaging service. A convincing uniformed profile image or an Algerian phone number does not prove that the contact is genuine.
The safest response is to end the exchange, avoid opening any link and disclose nothing. Suspected impersonation can be reported through official channels, including 1055 for the Gendarmerie and 1548 for the Police. If card or account credentials have already been shared, the account provider should be contacted quickly through a verified number. Fraudsters often create urgency by threatening legal action or claiming that money is about to disappear. Pausing to verify the story independently breaks that pressure and can prevent a loss.
CNEP plans two new branches in the Algiers area
CNEP-Banque is scheduled to inaugurate branches in Douéra and Sidi Abdallah, in the municipality of Mahelma, on Monday. The Douéra location carries branch code 658 and Sidi Abdallah code 659. Once the planned openings are completed, the bank says its national network will comprise 234 branches. Both sites are intended to serve individuals, professionals and companies with conventional products as well as Islamic-finance options. Until confirmation follows the ceremonies, the development remains a scheduled service expansion rather than a completed opening.
The Sidi Abdallah branch is also expected to include a self-service area available around the clock. That description applies to automated access and does not mean that every counter transaction will be possible 24 hours a day. The new locations may improve banking access in two growing districts, but customers should check branch hours and product conditions directly. The announcement supplies no additional fee schedule, eligibility test or processing guarantee, so none should be inferred from the network expansion.
Sonatrach signs industrial cooperation protocols in Berlin
Sonatrach has signed separate cooperation protocols with Siemens Energy and Bosch. The Siemens Energy framework covers possible work on equipment maintenance and repair, staff training, green hydrogen, compression technology, digitalisation and predictive maintenance. It also allows the parties to explore local value chains for green steel and ammonia. The protocol creates a structured basis for technical discussions; it is not a final investment contract and does not announce a factory, production volume or funded project. Detailed commitments would require further studies and agreements.
The Bosch protocol focuses more closely on green hydrogen, including possible electrolyser manufacturing, hydrogen production and exchanges of technical expertise. Together, the two documents show an effort to connect Algeria’s energy sector with advanced industrial skills and lower-carbon technologies. No budget, construction timetable, job number or export commitment has been published. The immediate step is therefore evaluation: specialists can identify viable areas, compare industrial requirements and decide whether any proposal should proceed to a binding phase.
Vehicle inspectors must record the actual odometer reading
ENACTA has reminded approved roadworthiness centres and their inspectors that a vehicle’s actual mileage must be entered in the technical-inspection report. Periodic monitoring found that the field was not being completed consistently. The instruction enforces an existing data requirement rather than creating a new duty for motorists. During an inspection, the examiner should read the odometer and record that value accurately in the vehicle’s file, giving owners a clear figure to check on the printed report before they leave.
More complete mileage information also supports better estimates of greenhouse-gas emissions from road transport. ENACTA says compliance will continue to be reviewed at inspection centres. The reminder does not change inspection intervals, introduce a new traffic rule or establish a newly announced fine. Its practical effect is administrative accuracy: a basic measurement that was sometimes missing should now be captured reliably and become more useful for both vehicle records and national transport analysis.
Football: Aymen Boutoutaou moves from Sochaux to Bucharest
Algerian winger Aymen Boutoutaou has left FC Sochaux-Montbéliard for Steaua Bucharest. The French club confirmed the move after a productive season in which the player helped Sochaux win promotion to Ligue 2. He had arrived from Valenciennes in the summer of 2025 and ended the league campaign with nine goals and six assists. Sochaux wanted to retain him, but the 25-year-old chose a new challenge in Romanian football and an opportunity to carry his attacking form into a different competition.
Reports have suggested a transfer fee, but neither club’s official announcement provides a financial figure suitable for confirmation. The length of the contract, salary and shirt number are also outside the verified details. The reliable sporting picture is therefore straightforward: a confirmed club change following an effective year in France, backed by a measurable contribution to promotion. His next appearances will show how quickly he adapts to a new league and tactical setting.